Hi folks,

Got an 8100 this morning -- my first blackberry.

I'm having trouble getting it to sync with my MacBook Pro. PocketMac doesn't seem to work with Bluetooth, and when I plug my phone into my computer with USB, I get this error on the BlackBerry:

"USB charging current is not sufficient. Verify that your handheld is connected to a powered USB charging source and that the proper USB driver is installed."

What can I do to get this thing working?

Thanks,
Andrew

Bluetooth syncing will not work with Blackberry PocketMac. It only works (for now) on PocketMac Pro. Not gonna help us Blackberry users in the mean time. As for your USB port, sounds like a MacBook Pro malfunction. I hooked my 8100 up to my MacBook and it worked fine. Is the USB port powered? If not you'll have to use a powered hub, which would suck. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of a laptop.

My port is powered... and it gives me the same error when I'm connected to a powered hub. If I disconnect the powered hub from the MacBook Pro, the error message goes away, however.

So you got your system to sync alright?

According to pocketmac (reading the webpage -- they don't respond to email)

www -dot- pocketmacsupport -dot- net/?section=knowledge&action=view&article_id=31

Of course, the model number is wrong there, since the Pearl is the 8100, and PM already has support for the 8700. Anyway, looks like us pearl users are out of luck until PocketMac releases the new version, which, from reading threads here, has been promised since around mid-June.

Anyway. Wish this was noted a little more publicly...like by any of the reviewers of the Pearl, or do they just assume nobody who has a mac has a pearl?!?

Now I gotta see if i can at least import contacts from Mac to outlook to Blackberry, so I can know who I'm calling. I really liked the pearl until I plugged it into my Mac...

Bummer indeed. Not being able to sync on the Mac is a complete PITA. PocketMac/RIM is having issues with PM 4.0 apparently.

No luck getting it to sync using Parallels, either.

no luck for any programs for me either, can't even bluetooth vcards from another phone or my ibook i keep getting service not supported...

I really don't want to have to do all this manually

i did find out i can send from the pearl to my ibook

What about putting Mp3's on your Pearl with a Mac. Possible?

no bluetooth transferring of any kind is working on my ibook right now

I am sorry to say me and a friend had the same problem today: I paired the 8100 through the Bluetooth Exchange utility on my Powerbook G4 1.67 GHz and even though it seems to be possible to sync at least addressbook via Bluetooth (so the screen says), it never worked. Pocket Mac will most likely have to modify the recent software release to make the 8100 compatible. I also don't think the 8100 is suitable for someone who is a heavy email business user such as myself. The keyboard is just too small and I am not sure I like the Pearl-type joystick naviagtion either. This phone is more for recreational users who like to have the camera, mp3 stuff - i don't know what i was thinking: i guess i just wanted a smaller device with current technology but you simply can't have it all!

Needless to say, I returned it immediately for a refund. I am going to use my 7290 until it falls apart and will upgrade to the next model after the 8700 series which will hopefully include wifi.

A note of caution: if you decide to return the BB8100 as part of an handheld upgrade, make sure you call customer service to have them reset the system. Otherwise you will be in there as having extended your contract for 2 more years. The in-store refund does NOT accomplish this. I was lucky to ask.

I tried with Parallels as well with no luck.

What about putting Mp3's on the Pearl via the USB?

dont have a micro sd card yet

Upon further review, no dice. The MacBook recognized the Blackberry for a short while but then dropped the connection. I never did get a sync. My Pearl screen turned off before I saw the error message. Looks like Blackberry PocketMac needs an update. Now it won't recognize it at all, just gives the same error message about "insufficient power".

I thought the same thing, but actually the screen says it can be used with Address Book's Bluetooth functionality (send/receive SMS's, dial a number, etc.) NOT that it can sync using iSync with Address Book. I think the verbiage is just a bit misleading, but whatever.

Works 100% perfect with bootcamp...of course.....

Im going to try BDM to see if I can swap data from my old phone (7130) to this 8100. Its going to be very sad to not have synching. Im not getting much support from PM as to when we should expect the support.

Its odd - they should have had this phone for quite some time to get the PM 4.0 beta/release ready. It looks as if there may not even be a suitable beta ready yet. :(

Maybe we should call and complain to RIM!

I can confirm that I have put an mp3 on my blackberry via bluetooth from my Macbook Pro. There are extra steps to do it because if you try it by the send file then it says the phone doesn't have those type services. But it does work none the less.

If you don't have a memory card I found that there is a 2mb limit for things you send to your blackberry. Someone on this site told me that.

care to explain the "extra steps"

Ok.... well on the blackberry, go to media, then select the folder of which type of media you would like to send, ex. pictures, music, video. then hit the menu key and select "receive using bluetooth". Now on your mac run the bluetooth file exchange, choose your file and hit send. It should work then.

Hope this helps