Okay, guys. I could use some help.

I have posted a few times about my 8800 and its issues. I truly do love my phone, but it has some issues that just aren't working out for me. I think the time has come for me to accept that I need to replace my phone since it gets obnoxious having to do a battery pull every five hours after looking down to discover that I don't have service and no way to restore it aside from the pull. I've changed the battery in the phone, changed the OS, and done everything else suggested as a fix - no dice. I miss too many important calls with my phone in its current shape. I don't hate the phone, but I do dislike its problems.

Anyway, to my new dilemma! My cousin has the 8130 from Verizon and I was playing with it yesterday as she was getting tattooed and I've discovered that - holy cow, I really like the phone. Now, I have T-Mobile, so obviously I wouldn't be getting that version of the Pearl and would either be getting a 8100 or 8120. Despite having a full QWERTY for years (and loving it) SureType is no problem for me because I also love it. I'd also prefer if the phone had Wi-fi, which would mean that the 8120 would be the way for me to go except for the fact that it's more expensive and I'm trying to cut costs. Other than that, I'm not too picky. I like the 8320 as well, but I feel like at this point in time I'm just looking for a smaller phone overall.

So this is where you shine, 81xx lovers. Help me convince myself that this is the phone I want to get next!

get the 8120. stay with tmobile and get it!

Oh, I am definitely staying with T-Mobile. No question about that - not only do I have 20 months left in my contract but they have the best coverage for me where I live during the school year (and soon to be year round).

The 8120 is nice.

get the new 8120, wifi, 2.0 mega pixel camera, a better keyboard, and external memory port.

but i have the 8100, which is great, just the new one has some better features, the good thing about the 8100 is it has 5 different colors.

If costs are an issue at present the 8100 is worthy of consideration, it is a great wee device.

Do you really need wifi or is it just a want? T Mobile US gives unlimited data does it not.

I was recently thinking about upgrading the either the 8110 or 8120 and was leaning toward the 8110 before I decided to wait for the new releases.

The 8120 does have a better camera but my 8100 pictures are not bad considering its only 1.3mp. (see attachment). The 8120 also has video recording which the 8100 does not.

Wi-fi is definitely not a need, it's just a want. I've lived without it on a phone ever since I've had a cell phone so I won't die without it! T-Mobile does have unlimited data and I am just fine with that. It's more of a curiosity that I have about the Wi-fi feature than anything direly needed.

That is great photo quality; I do miss having a camera on my phone. The 8100 is probably the one I would get if I do end up switching, because of cost.

However, I forgot to mention that I have also been reading up on all the KickStart info coming out and I am pretty interested in that phone as well since it looks like it might not be as expensive. But, we'll have to see what actually comes out!

You will love it and won't look back, period.

Now go get it and enjoy!

E-

And you had better be patient with Suretype and don't you dare turn it off!

Wirelessly posted

I went from the pearl to 8320, both great phones. However, I love the full qwerty on my 8320 and the phone is actually not that big. Either way, you will like your phone since they are both nice! Good luck.

i find the suretype works fine, as long as you don't have long or very many emails/txt to send in a day. The keys are so small that when I try to type i feel like I'm straining my hands. Could just be me, borrow her pearl again and try to type for 10 minutes.

Wirelessly posted

The KickStart does indeed look like it may be an affordable device for you and of course it will be a brand spanking new model. You may have to wait a good few months for it yet but that may be the one to go for.

8100 pearl red....clear case....color pearl trackball (red)


Love it

Never - that would practically be sacrilegious

Thanks for all the input so far, everyone. While I would love to go out and get one, I'm trying to figure out what the best option would be for me. I might end up waiting to see what the KickStart's full retail/upgrade prices are, but the Pearl is definitely a great phone - and still an option!

I was concerned when I got my Pearl about having to type as I did on my RAZR. Or suffering through some shoddy "try and read my mind" type of software to help me avoid hitting keys three times for a letter. But I found SureType to be really outstanding. BB's system can usually pick up words correctly without having to order through a list of possible alternatives. As long as you keep typing, even if it starts with the wrong sequence of words, it will eventually shift and find the one you want. I can pretty well type by hammering just one key at a time and without navigating through a list of choice words. So much so, that I'm content with the slim face and compact design, over the Curve...

Reception and feature wise, it's on par with all other BB's. I read your problem with losing reception, and can't comment on that. Mine has been rock solid (have the 8100). I don't know if the Pearl will work better for you, but as the phone goes, I haven't noticed that many differences from the Curve, aside from the screen and keyboard...

Wirelessly posted

I had an 8100 with T-Mobile before I decided to go CDMA. I used to have BIS connection problems where my BlackBerry internet browser would freeze. I would lose the signal while surfing the web. It didn't affect phone calls though. The 8100 seemed to process requests a little slower as well.

I don't know if it was the newer OS or if there is a different processor or internals from the 8100 vs. the Pearl 2's, but I haven't had that problem with my 8130.

Overall the Pearl 2's have a better feel and are a little sleeker than the 8100. For a Pearl choice, I would definitely recommended the 8120 over the 8100.

Wirelessly posted (8320 Curve)

If cost is an issue, I would stick with the 8100. If you really want the 8120, you could check on ebay for one. Make sure you follow the "buying a blackberry off of ebay" guidelines in the blackberry faq if you look at a ussed one. But personally, i would buy it straight from the store.
You could also wait for the kickstart which is basically a blackberry pearl flip phone. I was reading the price was 50 with a 2 year. Tmo Germany has it in a few weeks. So tmo USA isn't too far behind.

Thanks for keeping your opinions coming, guys. I really do appreciate it since I'm on the fence. SureType isn't a problem for me; I loved it when I was using it on my phone and I was a big fan of the T9 input on my old Motorolas though ST is way ahead of it. The keys were a little funky to me because I was having trouble remembering they're set up still like a standard keyboard but from what I've been reading, that just sounds like something that you have to get used to which isn't a big deal to me. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to those of you who had commented and feel free to keep on going!

You certainly get used to the key placement. Funny, I hated T9 input. I thought it was far worse than Sony's, which I also hated ;) ST is good enough at reading my mind that it's almost seamless

As JNHohol said, the 8120 is a sexier model (also nice to have wifi) if you don't mind poneying up the extra dough.

me: 8100 pearl black, clear case with clip, no color pearl trackball because it doesn't work on 4.5...but it was green or red, what ever my mood was, or if it matched my wallpaper or theme well or not.

Love It Too

One last bump in case anyone else has anything to add