7 days with my BlackBerry Pearl

How this all came about:

Well I dropped my Dopod. It seemed to work but I started to notice the reception dropping out on a few phone calls so it was time to get a new phone. It has been seven days so what are my thoughts.

Why the BlackBerry Pearl?

Well since there aren't any iPhone's to have and personally after having touch screen phones for about 5 years now it isn't that interesting for me. I thought I would check out the BlackBerry range since they have always been associated with Business Email, which is what I really needed.

I had been looking at either the Pearl or the Curve. I was leaning towards the Curve just because it was a newer model however like the iPhone there were none in stock so it would have had to be ordered in. Hence the Pearl!

Initial Thoughts!

Well since I have been used to Touch Screen smart phones I wasn't sure if the size of the Pearl was going to be a problem. I mean it really isn't any bigger then a normal phone. Asthetically however it looks terrific. From the chrome bits and layout of the keys this is one smart unit.

One thing since it is all shiney I have noticed it is a bit of a finger print magnet but I'm used to it. (Just you wait you iPhone users it will happen to you).

Setting Up

Well I had major problems with my carrier Optus for some reason they didn't want me to spend more money with them. Anyway got that sorted.

The hardest thing I found was getting my head around how the BlackBerry operates. I have to go to a special website (I have since found it can be done via the phone) to set up email accounts. Which once setup just seem to appear on the device. Yet I can't seem to work out how to change the time between email checking and or turning email checking off. I'm not sure how this will go while I am Roaming on my next overseas trip?

Messages

All the messages are displayed in one single message application, with different icons denoting the different sorts of messages eg SMS, MMS, Email. This can be abit of a pain I like things a little more structured then that but hey it seems to work.

There is however a seperate email application icon for emails so you can at least read them quickly with out having to sift through SMS's and MMS's.

One thing that bugs me a bit is the lack of HTML email support. Is it really that hard?

User Interface

I have mentioned my thoughts on the messages. The navigation is easy to use however there is no quick keypad lock. You need to access this from an Icon. There is a standby mode which is available by the Mute button at the top of the device which works quite well.

Everything is in bold I know this is what it is set as and I can change it but would it have hurt to have some titles in bold and then text as normal. In saying this I have gotten used to it so it doesn't bug me that much anymore.

Media

It has an MP3 player, Video Player everything has this these days so lets move to the camera. Well the camera seems to work fine. I like the touch of the little Led Flash. It works quite well! Where is the video camera. I mean this isn't a new feature of phones but I can't seem to find away to record video. Even though I don't really use it I still feel this is one thing that could have been put in just to get it up with other smart phones. I can't seeing it making the phone any bigger can you?

Pros

Email, and the SureType QWERTY keyboard. I have had to write some large emails while sitting in traffic and I have done it with out any problems. It took about an hour to get used to it now I can tap out an email in no time.

The size is a big thing. It has the features I need and it is no bigger then a normal phone.

Cons

No video camera! No html email support. It didn't come with a case or Holster (in blackberry terms). This is something that most smartphones have, but not to worry.

Overall

I am actually quite pleased with it. I am glad I didn't wait around for a iPhone (I have heard there are a lot of problems with them). All in all i would recommend it to any business person like myself how needs email on the go. As for a personal phone I think the lack of video camera would be a turn off.