I have had the 7130e for a year and a half, and can upgrade via my corporate plan to the 8130 any time I wish.
What I am looking for is general feedback from users of the 7130 and the 8130 insofar as whether it has been worth the switch.
One of the current drawbacks of my 7130e is the inability to transfer pics from my pc to the phone. I'd like to do that - if possible, although it's certainly not a show-stopper.
Is the keyboard layout easy to get used to? I don't meant SureType - my 7130 has that - what I am interested in is whether the form factor of the keys is easy to get used to. On the 7130 the keys are individual and set apart quite well for a tactile feel - whereas the 8130 has the keys butted right up against each other.
I'm coming from the 7100i which is pretty similar to the 7130 and I can say I do wish the Pearl's keys were a little more spaced out. Don't get me wrong the pearl's keys aren't too bad and I can type pretty quickly with them but I just prefer a little more space. Not to mention the pearl's keys are rubbery with a clear coat on them so they're kind of slippery. Honestly If the 7100's had the same features as the 8100's i'd stick with the 7100's.
Get it.... I had the 7130 and this is hands down a better phone. You'll love the form factor and weight. The keys aren't gapped like the 7130 but I don't notice it at all.
grab it! coming from a 7130 for around 18 monthes and i got the 8130 the day it came out. its great! there are a few bugs in it still but nothing critical in my veiw. camera is awsome as is the ability to listen to wave files on it.
I agree, I'd had the 7130e for almost two years and just switched to the 8130. I didn't think it was possible to like any phone better than the 7130, but the 8130 has it beat for many different reasons. Overall, its much faster and much easier to handle in my smaller female hands. Love the camera, love the set up. I too have a few kinks to work out, and I do wish the keys were spaced a little differently, but as previously stated, none of that is anything I'd return this phone over.
Make the switch. I'm coming from a 7130 after using it for about 20 months. It was the best BlackBerry I used and have used several prior. You will love the added features the Pearl offers. As mentioned it is not perfect and their are a few bugs\kinks (software) to work out, but it is worth it.
The two main physical things to get used to is the track ball vs. scroll wheel and the keypad. I have been using BlackBerrys with scroll wheels for over 5 years, so I was concerned about the trackball. However, I found that I got used to the trackball quicker than I expected. I don't even think about it now.
I am still getting used to the keypad. If you ever had or seen one of the original 7100s (not the 7130), then you will understand what I am talking about. As mentioned, the keys on the 8130 are close together and the bevel on each key is in the middle (which sometimes causes my fingers to slip from one key to another). On the good side, the keypad on the 8130 is an improvement over the keypad on the 8100.
I have seen a lot of posts on here about battery life with he 8130. Maybe I just had an old battery with my 7130, but the battery life on the 8130 is great when comparied to my 7130. With the 8130, I'm getting 3+ days. With the 7130, I got 1 1/2 days at best.
Last edited by Wakefield103; 11-28-2007 at 09:26 AM..
you will not regret the switch. I had the 7130 for 2 years and loved it. It was my first BB. But the pearl beats it in almost every way. I think the keyboard is great and the track ball is good. From a functional stand point the TB works very well however it seems to get stuck a bit due to lint. I keep mine in my pocket---its so small! Anyway, I am enjoying the pearl and do not for a moment regret my decision. Good luck!
BB 7130 to Pearl 8130
