I got my second one a few days ago. Compared to the first one this has keys which make crackling plastic sound as if they are stiff.

Anyone else notice this?

Also, the screen clarity looks less.

Wonder if in September T-Mobile had been shipping better pearls than in Nov.

mine make the crackling sound as well. it doesn't seem to affect use, and I assume that it will stop when it wears. doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Mine makes that sound too. I had to exchange for a third Pearl because of other issues. Crackling doesn't seem to be a problem

What are you comparing this to? Is the store agreeing with you when they look at the phone.

My keys don't make a sound at all [I also have the keyboard sounds turned off].

As to the display, is yours on auto-dim? If your is a T-Mo phone, go to

<settings>

<screen/keyboard>

and make sure <backlight brightness> is at 100%

and <automatic backlight> is set to "off"

press <escape> key to save your settings.

I have to assume that to do an exchange the carrier went over the above with you.

You might want to also take out the battery and see where the Pearl was made. There has been talk that those assembled in Mexico are not put together that well.

My pearl just started doing this recently--7,8,9...all lower keys. It's horrible. When you flex the keys up it just crackles. Grrr....

Mine does it with the "0" key. Usually if I pull on the bottom plastic piece a little it stops for a while. It's the keys rubbing on the lower plastic housing. It IS kind of annoying.

So are you guys calling T-Mo and telling them that your keys are creaking and having them send you another one?

It's not THAT annoying....change pins, reactivate on BES, reload add-on software, email all my friends/coworkers I've changed pins, resend service books for BIS mail to the new BB....not worth the hassle.

The second phone which has the problem with keys is made in Mexico.

I had one from Amazon ... it crackled (almost like a sticky glue sound).

I called them, they overnighted a new one to me and same thing! -- just different keys.

I went into another store locally and some do and some don't. Who knows.

But I agree, setting up everything all over again is not worth it to me. I'll live with it and hopefully it goes away with some good use.

my a key does it. My Pearl works great so I am not going to bother to exch it.

My green phone key does it. I guess its not worth the hassle to exchange?

My space key does the same. If you blow on the keypad, it stops. It might be dust accumulating between the key and the housing that is causing it. I agree... it is an annoyance once it starts happening. Decreases the "cool" factor when your device is squeaking as you email.

I've had mine too long, well after the 14-30 days...like when it first came out. I think I'm screwed.

Mine is made in Canada and it's the space key that squeaks sometimes...But I still love my Pearl.