Pearl replaced
by Volker Weber
After less than 4 months my Pearl needed replacement. I though I could stick it out until the 8800 would come out, but it became terminally ill two days ago. No matter what I did, I could no longer roll the screen "down". The other three directions were still working, but it was stuck downwards. Note the dirty roller ball on the left.
Update: I removed the pearl per Abdelkader's instructions (can you see how I trust this guy?):
I removed the pearl with its case and cleaned out the mess that I could reach. However, I did not disassemble the unit that actually holds the roller ball. I was too afraid I would not be able to put it back together. There is one important area you can clean, and that is the black cylinders that turn with the ball. If they turn, you are getting a signal. If they are stuck, you won't.
Comments
I found using an alcohol wipe on the rollerball - using it to move the ball in the directions that still works - seems to get the rollers at the back clean.
---* Bill
I talked to the RIM guys about this while at the Real-time Seminar and they showed me how to pop the bal out of the Pearl, clean it and pop it back in. Makes it work without the little gummy stuff geting stuck inside.
Can you share the secret with us, while I still hold on to the old Pearl?
@Chris: Now you just have to do a VLOG showing the rest of us the trick! Or is it a Video-cast? Hmmmm.
Chris, Volker, if you get the old Pearl to work again and if you need somewhere to keep or dispose of it, I'll be happy to assist :-)
Oh dear. Unfortunately I'm going to have to just call this poor engineering. Gummy stuff behind it??? You would have thought a lesson was learned from mouse roller balls 15 years ago. RIM will be paying for this one all year.
Removing the "Pearl" from the Pearl is quite easy. You need to lift up the silver ring around the "Pearl". To do this you need to stick the corner of a SIM card (or something similar) between the silver ring and the escape key. Afterwards you need to repeat the step between the ring and the menu key. The ring should be lifted up by now. You can now remove the ring using your finger nail. The next step is to remove the silver clip which is holding the "Pearl". Remove this clip and you will be able to pop out the "Pearl". Be careful and don't break anything ;-)
I hope these instructions are helpful :-)
Now this is an argument for the iPhone. :-)
Ja, ihr haettet ruhig dran schreiben koennen, dass die Anleitung nur fuer Leute mit ruhigen Haenden ist, ich krieg den Silberteil nicht mehr rein, hab den scheiss erst gestern bekommen, jetzt kann ich es noch nicht mal einschicken an Mobilcom, was mach ich denn jetzt!
gruss yasin und warum hab ich auf einmal eine englische Tastatur, y und z ausgetauscht!
I dropped my Pearl and lost the trackball and everything else except the silver ring that goes around the trackball. Does anyone have any idea where I can get a new trackball and associated hardware. If so please email me at jordolang@hotmail.com
I dropped my Pearl and lost the trackball and everything else except the silver ring that goes around the trackball. Does anyone have any idea where I can get a new trackball and associated hardware. If so please email me at jordolang@hotmail.com
It works as described. You need to take out all 3 parts ( 1 plastic ring, 1 metal ring and the ball with holder). You only need a twezer to do it.
