I have both, but I didn't buy the 8300 out of disatisfaction with the 8800. I was planning to skip the 8300 until I saw one in the local AT&T store. It felt better in the hand and the keyboard is markedly better, because of the raised keys, and that tiny bit of space between makes a big difference and the click/feedback is more satisfying than the relatively mushy feel of the 8800 keyboard. And can you spell spellcheck? I never liked the 3rd party speller (I haven't figured out how to make the 8300 spellcheck all e-mails before sending yet). Calls are clearer, certain ringtones sharper and the display cleaner and brighter. I even have been enjoying the camera toy.

But I miss my GPS desperately! I was going to keep the 8800 alive just as a dedicated GPS receiver, but that seems too costly. I wish RIM wouldn't disable every other damn feature. I wish I could BT the GPS reciever in my 8800, though my 8300, and work around that way. But I guess I'll have to go out and get another GPS receiver.

I had heard rumors that the 8300 would have "real" BT, and not just the usual RIM runt version. So far, not good, but I'll do some searching here and see if I can wrest some utility from a hamstrung device.

I am growing increasingly tired of RIM's masterminding of its releases by refusing to put out something that actually uses its full capabilities. I would hate to work for a RIM-like company and develop great products only to have the suits contract away key elements. Directv does this too, in the way they pawn off crippled DVRs with their services. If ever I abandon RIM, it will because some other company will approach their customers by finding what they want and then trying to provide it, instead of trying to massage customers into an artificially "always leave them wanting more" posture. I hear the Blackberry 9900 will have 3G, real BT, Wi-Fi, GPS, but a deliberately lousy and non-functional keyboard, and a 20 minute battery life.