I needed a replacement trackball unit for my blackberry pearl (despite my best efforts to clean it the ball still was having trouble). I was glad to see someone selling a replacement unit. The unit arrived quickly and completely assembled. I just had to pop the old one out and snap the new one in (these instructions are located all over the net, just google it and you'll get plenty of instructions). I would recomend this to anyone with a problem trackball on their blackberry (which means almost everyone with a trackball on their blackberry Blackberry Trackball/Joystick/Navigate/Pearl/Ring Repair Replacement Fix for Rim Blackberry Pearl
Well, it does work, to be fair. However it doesn't scroll very fast. You have to roll and roll and roll to get the cursor to move. On the upside, lots of free stuff is included. On the down side, none of it matters very much. A screen wiping cloth? Well, that's nice, I guess...how about getting me a trackball that works right? Oh, and I ordered three and tried two of them; they were both like this.
It really doesn't get any easier, and that is a fact. No instructions were included and for $[...] shipped to my door--- you CANNOT complain nor did I ever expect any. Truthfully, I still do not know how they shipped it to me so fast for the price, kudos. So a simple search on the internet and you will find dozens of videos of how to do it, and after watching 10-seconds I realized that it was easy as 1-2-3. In short: pop the chrome ring off with a small screwdriver, turn phone upside down and let trackball fall out, install new one with the tabs side to side, install new chrome ring with the missing prongs towards the top. Total time: 30-seconds.
As far as performance when compared to a good working OEM unit--- it is equal which, again, is all that you can ask for. The only real difference that I see is that the ball has a SMALL imperfection in the color ONLY--- again, $[...], no complaints as unlike the stock one that has definitely seen better days.... it resurrected a phone that otherwise was perfect and was only marred by a bad trackball (and previously an ailing battery). Plus, it beats taking a perfectly good phone to the local store and having them want to give you a refurbished unit that had who-knows-what wrong with it before.
Recommendation? If your trackball is at all not 100%, it is worth it hands down. So far I have spent $12 on repairs for my Blackberry-- one battery ($9) and this trackball ($3) which took it from needing to replace the phone to bringing it back to life.
The only thing that I did find out on another Blackberry was that when you push the ball down to select, it worked sometimes. This is something completely different than the trackball itself--- but rather the small circuit board that sits below the trackball. I repaired that one with a new board for less than $15 that I found on Amazon. So for the cursor to move around the screen--- that is the trackball, to select by pushing the ball---- that is the circuit board!
No need to replace your entire Blackberry (not unless you really WANT to.) Eliminate all your sticking trackball problems quickly and simply with this economical replacement. Pop out the old one with your fingernail and drop in the new one. Simple as that.
My only complaint is that for something so small and easy to ship, I waited over a week for its arrival. Great product, slow in shipping.
Fit my blackberry pearl 8100. Slightly tricky to get in, I was worried about snapping the clips (as that is what ruined by old trackball) but after a bit of fussing, it clicked right in. Now its like I have a completely new phone.
After several weeks of being able to use only one feature on my 8120 Blackberry pearl because of stupid trackball; I was relieve to find an inexpensive way to solve my problem. The trackball works great, but the rim to hold it in didn't fit my phone. I had to clip two of the prongs and still forced it in. We will see how long the trackball works, hopefully longer than the orginal!
The trackball and retainer ring fit well enough and do the job. It's nice to get the removal tool with the kit too.
Unfortunately though, it feels different than the original trackball. Its almost as if the ball is just a hair too small so its movement is ineffective.
Look around for a better part... - Blackberry Trackball - Blackberry - Blackberry 8900 - Blackberry Pearl'
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