[wildstar]

Just seeing how many people who have Pearls wish that they had gotten the 8800 instead? I'm about to upgrade to one of the two but I'm not sure which one. Is the only difference that the 8800 has the full keyboard. Thanks for your opinions!

[mckinneycm]

The 8800 doesn't have a camera. I had the original Pearl and went to a 8820 from ATT. I like the 8820 much better!

[wildstar]

yea, forgot about the camera/videocamera! Anyone else?

[Harley#356]

I was torn between the two. The camera, along with the split qwerty suretype won me over.

at 1st I thought i'd HATE the suretype with the split QWERTY, but after using it a few days, I'd never want anything different! It works exceptionally well, and can type much faster and less keys to have to find, so its easier to type without having to look at the thumbboard. and I could not STAND t9 predictive text on a normal cell phone, so I thought I'd definately hate the suretype as well, but I wouldn't want anything else now!

[nissmo66]

no, I love the size, and the suretype.

[Girion]

Not for me. I had the 8830 World Phone and for me it sucked. I traded it in as soon as I could for the Pearl and I will likely be a SureType BB style user forevermore. I might dig the Curve, but I'd have to see Verizon come out with it for a few months before even considering a switch.

[TylerMcKenzie]

I love my 8130! And it won me over because im a teenager! I need my camera/vidcam!

[haephaestus]

Tried an 8130 but switched it back for the 8830 after a couple of weeks. The Pearl's a nice phone but it just seemed too small and lightweight in my hands. Even after mastering Suretype (especially loved the predictive element of it and wished they would bring it over to the 8830 OS), my hand still felt like a pretzel when I had to tuck my thumb in just to get at certain keys typing one-handed.

I like the feel of the 8830, too. It felt more substantial and had very little play in my hand.

Wasn't too fond of the trackball. It felt like it had sand in it and wasn't smooth at all. The 8830 trackball is smooth and seems to be held tighter against the bezel.

Also, I actually prefer the larger screen as I deal with text and email a lot during the day. I'm a Millbank Tall 6 type of guy just so I can squeeze everything in. Is it just me or does the screen on the 8800 seem sharper? I didn't notice the difference until I switched back.

I only played with the camera briefly. Seems decent enough for a phone but with almost all the pictures I took of people, most had their eyes shut because the flash would come on almost half a second before the shutter went off. And the flash is blinding, too!

I did like having MMS again!

So it's just a matter of personal feel and preference. Both are fine phones. Why not go into a store and handle both to see what your preference is?

-h

[Redflea]

IMHO, the keyboard on the 8800 is not very good...did not like the feel, spacing, etc. A friend, however, likes it just fine.

Very personal decision, so I'd rely more on your own opinion than ours.

[Dawg]

I agree with flea. But I love mine. I love the size the speed I love everything about it.

[kings0r]

Originally Posted by Harley#356

I was torn between the two. The camera, along with the split qwerty suretype won me over.

at 1st I thought i'd HATE the suretype with the split QWERTY, but after using it a few days, I'd never want anything different! It works exceptionally well, and can type much faster and less keys to have to find, so its easier to type without having to look at the thumbboard. and I could not STAND t9 predictive text on a normal cell phone, so I thought I'd definately hate the suretype as well, but I wouldn't want anything else now!

Same here. I hated T9 on normal cell phones, but I love SureType. I wouldn't wanna trade in my 8120.

[Korexz]

Initially, yes, I wanted the full keyboard.

Then my sister got a Curve, and I was setting some things up on it for her, and sweet jesus I nearly lost my mind. The full keyboard is more a burden than a blessing. The keys are just too small. Sadly its easier to type on the iPhone than the full size BB keyboards.

Now I guess if you spend the time and have the patience, then it will be fine. But I don't think I can ever leave the 20 key layout.

Now where is my 8120 on TMOB?

[tgeekb]

I have both and switch back and forth depending on my need/mood. Both are excellent devices, I would try them out in the store and choose the one you like most. There should be a 30 day trial period where you could take it back for the other if you want.

[iceman027]

i like the smaller size of the pearl

[smyto]

the pearl is magnificent! im sure the 8830 is too, but i have had a treo, an htc mogul, and a 7100i. the pearl is currently rolling them up in paper and preparing to smoke them....

[ezrunner]

i carry both the 8100 and 8800

[artie]

I've had my 8130 since it came out last Nov and IT IS GREAT!!

[roadrage]

8800 is simply too bulky. The pearl fits in any pocket and has the same functionality. Suretype is just as fast, if not faster, for typing, so why in the world tie yourself to the full keyboard and the bloated size when it's not necessary? Camera's also handy from time to time.

[haephaestus]

The size I don't really mind since my hands are bigger. But the one thing I dig about the 8830, which for some odd reason is not in the 8130, are the shortcuts. On the 8830, there's a shortcut key for all the PIM apps and for composing and opening email so I can fly through my calendar, tasks, memopad, and email in a sitting without having to navigate through the icons. I'm a big fan of Suretype and wish parts of it were on the 8830, but on the other hand, I'm able to work much faster with dedicated keys.

For instance, I navigate through the menus using the keyboard exclusively, so on the 8830, I hit E to cycle through all the menu items beginning with E and hit R to cycle through all the R items. On the 8130, it'll cycle through all the E and R items until I get to where I want to get.

Another annoyance I have with the 2-letter keyboard is for password fields and the unlock prompt, it basically functions in Multitap, but I can totally understand this because I really don't want Suretype to 'learn' my passwords.

These are very minor inconveniences but I'm a keyboard jockey and masher so sometimes it works against me. Again, they are both fine phones but your usage patterns and how you work do factor in somewhat when choosing the device. Then again, I've been using 'berries since the early qwerty models so old habits die hard.

-h

[twitch3]

I love my Pearl. No regrets and I'll keep it even after the CDMA Curve is released.