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"Big Improvement Over the 8100" on by pcorning
Pros: Processor speed, WiFi, Keyboard, Software Improvements
Cons: Menu Complexity, No Touch-screen, No GPS
Summary: I just moved from the 8100 to the 8120 (T-Mobile), and am happy to report that the new model fixes most of my pet Pearl peeves.
Chief among these was the lag when you start typing a phone number from the home screen. Where the 8100 took time to collect its wits and would lose some of the input digits, the new model catches all of them for fewer required re-dials.
WiFi is nice to have at home, where GSM coverage is spotty.
The keyboard is more solid, loses almost all the 8100's squishy, cheap feel. Alpha-numeric keys are a hair shorter, to make room for larger control keys at the top, but typing feel has improved anyway.
Mail and other core applications have been dressed up to fix little flaws. Now mail shows you each mail's distribution list in the default window. SureType is faster and predicts more words, saving keystrokes. The Baroque appointment entry process has been simplified and beautified. Contact entries, too - they show the notes field in the default record view.
The 8120 adds a few new features (WiFi, video, instant messaging services), so the already complex Options menus have gotten more complicated still (you can set several different notification tones for each of the bundled messaging services...). Each time I dive into them (and whenever I use their stupid browser) I hanker for the iPhone. Then I spend some time typing with one hand, or I slip it into my pocket easily, and I'm glad to have this little thing.
At $150 after rebate it's worth upgrading from an 8100.Updated
Battery life is poor. Magazine reviewers will tell you the 8120 lasts longer than the original Pearl. It doesn't, especially when WiFi and Bluetooth are on - expect to go through a battery in a day of moderate use.
T-Mobile's WiFi is great! They don't do a good job of explaining it, but here's what I have found from web research and personal experience.
* You can make and receive WiFi calls as soon as you hook it up to a WiFi network (easy to do). No need to pay extra for T-Mobile's plan for a few WiFi calls. This is very helpful to me, since T-Mobile's coverage is spotty in my home.
* WiFi calls are counted toward your monthly call minute limits unless you sign up for T-Mobile's $10/month WiFi program.
* WiFi calls from anywhere in the world look like US-originated calls on your bill. A WiFi call made from your home in Cleveland is billed the same as one made from a public library in Moscow, or your friend's apartment in Sydney. Very cool.
* For $10/month you can make all the WiFi calls you want to US numbers, accept all you want from anywhere.
The new 8120 supports some Skype for Blackberry applications. I have made calls to Japan using Skype, received calls and chats on this client. It's clunky, but it works.
The phone supports 8GB memory cards, but the media application can only address 4GB of memory (whoops). To use more than 4GB of music go the media player app's home screen (where you can choose between movies, pics, music, etc.), hit the Option button and select Browse. You'll see all your stuff. -
"Amanzing phone!" on by Rukus505
Pros: Compact, easy-to-use design, hi-res display
Cons: trackball a bit touchy, slim learning curve, side buttons a bit easy to press by mistake.
Summary: I've gone from a T-Mobile Dash to a Pearl and I am very impressed and pleasantly surprised by the ease of use. I was at first hesitant by the two letter QWERTY keys (having a full QWERTY with the Dash) but there is really not much difference. The text input is where the learning curve comes in. While the dash has a key for each letter, the pearl has two letter per key, although it seems to learn the more commonly used words after a short time. The trackball works great yet can be touchy at times. Again just another part of the slight learning curve. Once comfortable with the sensitivity, no problems persist. The side buttons are a bit easy to push when talking on the phone or plugging in the hands free headset. One of which activates the camera and the other customizable...not a big deal. Overall the phone excels in all aspects thus far. I had my dash for just under a year and purchased my pearl two days ago and have no regrets. There is no windows mobile on the pearl, but the OS seems to run faster. I definitely recommend this phone as a dash replacement or as a first time smartphone.
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"UMA (Voice over IP is cool!) but reception is average" on by marco990
Pros: Voice over IP (hotspot @ home)
Cons: Small keys and poor tower reception
Summary: I love the edition of WiFi voice which is sort of equivalent to Voice over IP...I use my Cable wireless router and the phone seemlessly switches to this in my home!
The reception to the GPS towers is very average . It must have a tiny antenna. It was dead on a road that my Moto Razr held calls on with 1 and half bars . The Blackberry had NO signal on the road. The key are also not made for a man. Yu have to use your finger nails to 'dial' But it is loaded with features (although it doesn't have a full keyboard). I wish Blackberry would get away from their traditional design and offer something like the sidekick with the slide out full keyboard..... -
"Great phone...should have gone Blackberry sooner" on by cpreacher
Pros: Great form factor, perfect features for business users
Cons: Slighly clunky OS, annoying sync process with Outlook
Summary: I absolutely love the Blackberry 8120! The size is great. The only reason you should worry about the "learning curve" when it comes to typing on the phone is if you don't know how to type on a keyboard. I got the hang of it in no time and I type plenty fast on the phone now.
In my opinion, you run into a few too many menus while trying to accomplish certain tasks. I'm sure there are shortcuts or ways to set up short cuts, I just haven't had the patience to go through all the menus to find them. In that sense, the OS is a little clunky and bland. The trackball makes up for most of that issue since it makes scrolling through menus as quick as it could be.
The other major annoyance to me is the sync process with Outlook. I'm used to MS ActiveSync and it's simplicity. With my old Windows Mobile phone, you simply plug it in (or connect via Bluetooth) and it would automatically sync and stay synced while you worked. That's not the case with the BB. When you plug it in, it gives you options about the sync and you have to "accept" the changes it's going to make. If you make a change in Outlook while the phone is connected, you have to bo back to the BB desktop manager software and click to update the sync. It's annoying and I know there is coming a day where I will get all my tasks done, check them off in Outlook, unplug my phone and leave the office. I'll get home and the BB will say I haven't done anything. That kind of thing bugs me.
Anyway, I know the gripes have been long, but they're not huge. I would highly recommend this phone and the BB email service. The email on the go is fantastic. If some of these features were corrected, this phone would definitely be approaching a 10! -
"Absolutely Brilliant!" on by lilrocket1
Pros: wifi, querty keyboard, camera, syncing ability, call quality
Cons: battery life
Summary: This is the complete package...with wifi and great internet and email access, it's my pc away from home. I was never a fan of the original pearl but the 8120 is really awesome and I doubt I will ever use anything else now other than updated blackberry's. It has great reception and always clear on calls. The camera is great, pic's come out clear. Battery has tendency to run down fast but I recommend a backup batt and turning odd wifi when not in use. I am recommending this phone to everyone!!!
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