Reach

I just picked up an 8100. Sick little phone. Sadly at the moment T-Mobs is having an issue getting new signups for Enterprise Server to work (wtf... really they call themselves a provider...) at least that's what they're telling me.

The phone, organizer, and apps part of it is great though. I can't wait to get email and internet turned on.

What I'm really posting to say though, is that both battery life and signal strength show up on my MID on my 06 TSX w/ HFL. This is maybe the 4th or 5th bluetooth phone I've had since I got the car, and its the first one that showed both meters, not just 1 or the other, or none.

So far, this thing has worked perfectly and paired with everything on the first try. I haven't been able to say that about a phone in... well... ever. The only thing that's not so hot on it is the intellitext keypad. Using the keypad isn't bad, but its bad at putting together words that aren't in its limited dictionary. But after you use a word once, it keeps it and starts tracking your usage, so it learns in a way. In the end I may not gripe about that at all.

Anyway, cool phone. I didn't see any other posts about it so I thought i'd start a thread here if there are any other owners to chime in, especially about how well it works with your 'Ac!

mrdeeno

i've had one for about 2 months now.

i installed the O2 os which supports 2gb sd cards. I think T-mo issued an update, but it's more or less the same as the O2 version.

amisconception

Sweet looking phone. I might pick it up for biz purposes.

I'll need to do more research on it but I'm glad you have good things to say

mrdeeno

If you do some research, for those that want a full qwerty keyboard rather than the suretype keyboard (although the suretype on the 8100 is pretty damn good) the 8800 is coming out around the 1st or 2nd quarter if next year.

The only functional difference I hear is that it will not have a camera at first and the version with the camera will come out later next year.

The keys on the 8100 are barely big enough for my average finger size and the keys are really close, so I would suggest people try it out before purchasing. The keys on my previous 7130c were smaller but the spacing was much better so makes typing much easier.

Reach

I'm a big guy and I wouldn't say my fingers are small. Using the keypad is no problem for me. I think a lot of the people who gripe about it are just searching for an extended argument for why they want a full qwerty keyboard on such a small device. Everything has sacrifices, and I'd gladly take this keypad in this form factor over the larger 8700 series, which is what the 8800s will be like too.

cazzy

The 8800 will also feature WiFi.




Quad-Band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS, EDGE + Wi-Fi
Email
Phone and SMS
Corporate Data Access
Organizer
Wireless Internet
BlackBerry Maps
Trackball, ESC key and Menu key
Integrated earpiece and microphone
Integrated speakerphone
Bluetooth v2.0; headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported
Polyphonic, MP3 & MIDI ringtones, vibrate, on-screen or LED indicator
Embedded RIM wireless modem
Supported by version 4.2 or higher
Ultra Thin
Full QWERTY keypad
Large 320 x 240 screen
Full multimedia feature set
Possible on some versions of the 8800 (Camera - 1.3 mp, 5x digital zoom, flash and maybe even video recording)
Media Player - audio and video playback (Built-in streaming*)
stereo headset compatible.
64 MB Flash, expandable memory (Micro SD)
Great phone experience w/ Advanced noise and echo cancellation
Voice activated dialing, speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0

Reach

You have any idea how I check which version I have / download and install the latest version if necessary? I haven't even done much with it yet, just phone for now until they get my data package turned on. I'm starting to get frustrated again.

BEETROOT

oh shit... thanks for posting this. I was just on Amazon looking at the 8100... glad I saw this before I ordered, I'll definitely wait for this one.

Question though... since this has wifi, can I get this phone without any data plan, or any blackberry related service plans... and just use wifi connection for email and net? I'm in range of a network 99% of the time.

To order a blackberry now, t-mobile requires either a $20 or $30/month blackberry add on.

cazzy

No problem. You got me BEET.....ROOT I can't even tell you when T-Mobile will get the 8800. Similar to the 8100, where as T-Mobile has an exclusive till December 1st; the 8800 will be released on Cingular with an undisclosed exclusive time period. I think this says a lot about where RIM is going with their product, in regards to giving the consumer what they want. I am sure with WiFi, you can get all your e-mail/porn surfing activity done via network...but you know that the MAN will always require you to purchase something additional.

BEETROOT

Cool... well I'll just wait and see then. Looks like a good phone.

I just got restless and went to buy the 8100 anyway, but ship time on Amazon is 5-6 weeks... by the time it ships maybe the 8800 will be out.

cazzy

Give me a sec...let me get you this link that will give you the insight on what RIM is coming out with over the Next year.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2006/...view-road-map/

edit: Also, is it cheaper to get the phone from Amazon or something? I imagine it would be much faster to get the phone from a T-Mobile store. Cingular starts selling the 8100 next week, so I may just return my BlackJack.

Reach

Just buy it off eBay. I got a new, unopened box for $280. No contracts, no fees, 3 day wait time.

Oh, but yes, with a new service subscription, Amazon will offer you the phone for free. Just enjoy waiting for it and hope they don't charge you for phone service while you don't even have a phone yet.

BEETROOT

Thanks for the link cazzy.

and yeah... if a retail place sells a phone, the salesperson gets a commission off each phone. Amazon takes that commission amount off the sale price. The w810i, for example, is $280 unlocked, $100 in stores, -$25 on Amazon.

Why would you pay $280 when you can get it free? You are going to be paying for a plan anyway, is not having a contract really worth $280?

amisconception

That 8800 is awesome, I'm gonna wait for it.

Integrated GPS

chinoz

tried using the pearl the other day and can't get used to it... i'll wait for 8800..

Reach

More than 1 way to skin a cat. I hate contracts, and I'm already a T-Mobs customer. I want to keep my number and plan (they don't offer my plan anymore either.. 1500 anytime minutes for $39.99)

So, to keep my number, plan, and contract-free status, it is worth some coin to me. I sold my other phone for $200, so it comes out to an $80 upgrade. Tell me you wouldn't do the same under similar circumstances, vs have to cancel your existing number and get a new contract?

mrdeeno

yeah, go to Options and select "about".

The OS that I have is v4.2.0.64

If your OS is lower, there is a T-mo update avaailble (i think) which will bring it to the same as the O2 OS...but will not give you a choice to change the auto-dim feature. Some people switched back to the older OS just because of that, but I use the auto-dim anyway, so it was a non-issue for me.

new OS will also resolve the ringer-probelm...if you keep the phone in your pocket without a case or anything, when the phone rings even the slightest movement of the trackball will silence the ring, so if you are walking or moving the ring will silence before you hear it. The new OS solves this, but I have a sleeper clip anyway.

Reach

Thanks for the good info mrdeeno.

Next, I do need a holster / clip / case / something for this. I'm curious what people are using, cause I don't see much out there now. Post some pics if you can!

mrdeeno

i'm using www.bestskinsever.com skins for basic screen/case protection. it's clear and rubbery and is better than a lot of the other skins i have used before and also easy to apply. It is also very thin and basically preserves the phone's looks, unlike the thicker "skins" out there.

then i'm using the seidio belt clip which has the sleeper magnet for the 8100 at www.seidioonline.com

There are 2 types for the 8100 - skinned and "unskinned". the "skinned" version is to be used with the thicker skins that seidio also sells. I am using the unskinned clip because i'm using a much thinner skin than the one they are selling.

It's a rubbery feeling plastic and has a felt liner on the inner side. It does not feel cheap at all. you can put the phone in the clip face in or face out, and you can put the phone in upside down and face out if you don't want it to sleep (like when i'm playing mp3's or something and want to be able to change songs/volume without removing it from the clip). The clip rotates 180 degrees with pretty tough "clicks", so you can carry the phone vertical or horizontal.

agean

this is also the first BT phone i've had that actually shows the battery meter. my previous motorola PEBL did show the signal strength though.

however, the BT on this phone sucks in clarity compared to my PEBL. never had any clarity issues with the PEBL, but with the pearl i get occasional static and its just not as clear overall.

everything else is great though.

mrdeeno

Your static problems may be headset related as some phones work better with some headsets than with others.

i have 2 bluetooth headsets, one is a logitec and the other is a generic one i got for free with the phone. i have no problems with the logitech one but a lot of static with the generic one.
i also have no static problems when linked with my car.

Reach

This is the best sounding phone I've ever had linked to my car. I have a Moto bluetooth headset, but I barely use it. I never noticed any static with either tho.

BEETROOT

Makes sense I guess. Tough to beat 1500 minutes for $40.

I decided not to wait and bought a w810i a couple days ago. It is fantastic.