[BB25]

I was ready to get my first Blackberry and then I heard about the 8800 coming in January. Should I wait or go for the Pearl? My uses are phone 1st, PDA 2nd, and light e-mailing 3rd. I tried the Pearl but I seem to favor the QWERTY keyboard. Maybe I just was not used to the 8100. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[mckinneycm]

Unless you have really fat fingers, I don't see what the difference is between QWERTY or SureType. You're still only hitting the button once no matter if it's the first or second letter on the key. Also, the layout is the same as the QWERTY. I use both QWERTY and SureType all the time. I don't think there's a difference, as far as ease of typing.

[BlackPearl]

Qwerty keyboard is over rated. Suretype on the 8100 is highly under rated. I was not even interested in texting and email from phone as a viable means to communicate when i had a standard phone keypad, and t9 or mult-tap.
Since I went with the 8100, I'm loving suretype & find myself sending loads more text & emails from my phone.
There is no reason to go qwerty, when I very rarely have to push a button more than once to get the desired result with suretype.

[SanFrancisco]

Originally Posted by BB25

I was ready to get my first Blackberry and then I heard about the 8800 coming in January. Should I wait or go for the Pearl? My uses are phone 1st, PDA 2nd, and light e-mailing 3rd. I tried the Pearl but I seem to favor the QWERTY keyboard. Maybe I just was not used to the 8100. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Read all the threads talking about the 8800. Just enter "8800" in the search box and loads of info will pop up.

Generally, the Pearl is fantastic if you want a very small phone, a BB device for e-mails, and the ability to play MP3, videos, and take pictures.

I don't send a lot of e-mails from a phone, so the small keyboard on the Pearl is not a bother. But if you want the qwerty keyboard, then wait for the 8800.

Probably the main reason I don't want the 8800 is that it's too big. Back in the old days [1996-2000] I was always paying $500 for cell phones whose only "feature" was that the phone was the smallest made. Boy how times have changed.

IMHO anyone wondering about which to choose should simply buy the Pearl, try it out for the two weeks that T-Mo gives as a trial period. If you don't like it, return it.

[secrecyguy]

Who knows when the 8800 will come out. I heard rumors that will ge out in January or February for Cingular and T-mobile.

(edited: fixed a misspelling)

[archer6]

Originally Posted by BB25

My uses are phone 1st, PDA 2nd, and light e-mailing 3rd. I tried the Pearl but I seem to favor the QWERTY keyboard. Maybe I just was not used to the 8100

Based on your list of priorities, I say go back to a Pearl and allow yourself time to adapt to the keyboard. I have both qwerty (which I had used for a long time) and then recently SureType. I really like SureType, it's fast, accurate and easy once you decide to learn it. I hated it at first then reframed how I thought about it. Gave it a chance and now I prefer it to qwerty.

The only reason I sold my pearl is that I have large hands, do a lot of email, and the 7130c with SureType fits my needs better. Also for me the list is 1) Phone 2) email 3) Outlook. I do a tremedous amount of email and the 7130c is perfect for me.

Since you are listing "Light emailing" I would go back to the Pearl and be patient until you adjust to SureType, I'm sure you will really like it. The Pearl is a great BlackBerry!

Cheers....

[RoadRider]

Another vote for the Pearl and SureType. I came from the 8700 (qwerty) and was very skeptical. The Pearl's form factor is obviously better.

[paulbblc]

I'm holding out for the 8800. Currently have the 8700 and was a former 7100 user. I hated the 'unsuretype' and never got used to multi tap. Full keyboard is the only way for me.

[blakeatl]

I love my Pearl, but just go ahead and do a side-by-side comparison and see if you need the extras that the 8800 offers. I know I won't be upgrading.

[DrMoze]

I'm finding that the Suretype is easier than the qwerty on my old 7290. Less distance to travel, which adds some speed. And I'm not sure about the "large thumbs" comments, as I have large hands and the Pearl's keys are much bigger. Too easy to hit adjacent qwerty keys IMO.

[nandco]

Love the Pearl, love the SureType, sometimes it takes a bit to get use to. BUT when you type in your "own" words, it remembers it and is included. I love the size, functions, and love the power. Perfect for a real estate investor...all in 1 device

[hf1khal]

I own both the 8700 and the pearl and I like both, to me the pearl with it being smaller makes it a bit easier for me and now I can give up using my Moto V3i. Basicaly if one is going to be a heavy email user then I would say teh wait for the 8800 with teh larger screen and the normal keyboard would be good (I still ahve to get used to the fact that i need to check if the word was right and I did not have to do that with 8700) The bottom line for me is to use the 8700 on the days where it is needed and use the pearl for the off times. Now for me when the 8800 is released I will be getting it.

[Scott403540]

I'm going to hijack this thread for a moment - I bought the Blackjack and while its an AMAZING phone, it won't do what I need it to do. I do a lot of e-mail (sometimes over 200 a day) and I need a device with that capability as well as being a good phone. My 7290 is great but I hate it as a phone (I've carried a Razr for my phone for the last 18 months, but its really time to converge to one device). So with that, a couple of questions:

1) how is the Pearl as a phone?

2) given the criteria l listed, I'm trying to decide whether to go with the Pearl, Treo 680 with Blackberry Connect (does BBC make the 680 just like a BB - is the push as immediate, etc.?) or wait for the 8800.

Thanks.

[canonbomb1987]

If your are not going to be emailing that much with the phone i would recommend the 8100 Pearl. It has a sleeker form factor and the sure-type keyboard is easy to get used to. The camera is also a plus on the Pearl. The preliminary photos of the 8800 show no camera.