I’ve had my BlackBerry Pearl for 2 weeks now and I just admit, I have been impressed. My previous device, the 8700r, was the best BlackBerry I’ve ever had, from voice quality to screen resolution to internet speed. Well, the Pearl, also known as the 8100, has all those qualities, but in a smaller device which actually resembles the size of a regular mobile phone, with a camera.
My biggest hesitation was the SureType keyboard, meaning there are 2 letters per key instead of the full QWERTY keyboard, as on the 8700r. To my surprise, the smaller keyboard is actually not as bad as once thought, and is actually quite intuitive. The device has a working memory of a custom word list, meaning it is constantly scanning the device, from such items as email and calendar items, to find words which may be out of the ordinary. The first time I typed the combination of letters for my name, Vikesh, it actually spelled it out correctly. Now that’s impressive! Granted, a full keyboard is probably ideal for longer emails, but I find I read more than I send emails on my device.
The camera is a cool feature for me as I like the ability to take a picture on the fly, and then possibly blog about it, as shown by my previous Eaton Centre Christmas tree picture, taken by my Pearl.
The trackball is also new on the Pearl, compared to the trackwheel on the right side of all previous BlackBerry models. It is very easy to navigate, and can now be done from either hand, where the trackwheel previously can really be used comfortably with the right hand.
Lastly, the size. Wow. It really is so small for such a powerful device. I enjoy the ability to carry the device in my pocket, and not the holster most BlackBerry devices are attached to.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 model is definitely a great device, and I now see what all the hype has been about. Since the launch of this device, RIM, the company which makes the BlackBerry device, has seen their stock price skyrocket. This is truly the first BlackBerry which can be used for business or personal use.
Tech Spinning 