omg... where is that box of tissues...

Now if only they would release something to compete with the Moto Q and Samsung i320.

how doesnt this compete with that?? New OS is sure to support a ton of new functionality

Genius, propers on the new avatar, gotta excuse the noobs once in awhile...

I was refering more to the form factor.

I want something the size of the samsung i320 that runs the Blackberry OS.

The voice dialing is something I've been waiting for... but when you hold something the size of the Q in your hands, your 8700 starts to feel a bit, brick like.

Again, something that competes with the Q or i320 would be full QWERTY and thin.

That sounds positively sexy.

Do tell.

ummm you know the moto Q is small......but it isnt that light.

someone find the specs. i am pretty sure it is heavier than the 8700's

Maybe it's just me, but I WAS really excited to hear about this new blackberry with camera/music. Now that I've seen it I'm pretty let down.
It seems like I've already seen a lot of phones just like this, granted they don't have the suretype keyboard thing but some have full qwerty and really good cameras. I don't know the models but Siemens (among others) have "candy bar" style phones that seem pretty similar to this.

I have an 8700g and it's probably the best phone I've ever had. I guess I was hoping for these camera/mp3 features on somthing more like an 8700 (or at least something with qwerty).
I know I'm not a big poster in this forum BUT I read it all the time. Maybe I'm just missing the reason why everyone is so hyped about this new bberry. The only thing that looks even remotely like a blackberry on this phone is the OS, is that really all that exciting? Before everyone jumps all over me, I really am being sincere here...

Hey johnarky,

I'm really excited about this because the whole reason I came over to BB was the reduced size form factor of the 7100 series. I am basically in jeans and a polo for work all the time and I don't like to caarry anything attached to my hip. I want a small phone that can fit in my pocket. This thing is incredibly small... do a mockup using the measurements from the ruler pic, then you will see why this is a huge improvement. Also, the camera is a huge step. I am out scouting places, I hate to have to carry another piece of equipment. Most of the time all i really need is a snapshot and being able to do that with my phone and then (hopefully!) be able to send that off in an email instantly will make my life so much easier.

I can't and won't carry a 3 inch wide brick. I don't want to deal with crappy windows software. I want to have messaging functionality. BB 7100/8100 is it!

8700: 4.7 oz
Moto Q: 4.06 oz


It doesn't matter... quite frankly anything under 5oz is fine. In fact I prefer devices with some weight to them. It makes them feel sturdier and less like a toy.

BUT size is a whole other issue... the 8700 is simply too big.

i dont think 8700 is too big, I think its perfect...wouldn't mind thinner but can't complain, now the solid gold BG edition thats gonna be too thick...

nope no scroll wheel at all and dont forget the add on gps

And no QWERTY either.

Voice dialing....WhooHooo! Media, GPS, camera - better suretype - this is a huge step forward. I would prefer a metal case like the E61, but we all have different preferences and no ONE device is going to satisfy everyone.

I will be in line the first day.

Can anyone tell me just how thick this device is?

Thank you!

I know it has already been said before but I'd like to see a Blackberry like this with a qwerty keyboard. I can't say for sure whether or not removing the trackwheel was a good idea or not...

I didn't notice any mention of GPS in the engadget article. Where is the GPS info coming from?

-Dude

ugh suretype - i just bought my 8700 and i'd buy this if it was qwerty but.. definitely not going near it until then

This device will no doubt appeal to many. But for the rest of us the real question undeniably is " what sorts of goodies await the rest of us in the v4.2 upgrade that is sure to follow!"!!!

I'll stick with my 8700g. The 8100 is going to be another phone that takes blurry pictures. whoopieee

Its funny my first blackberry was the 7100t. it took awhile but in short time I mastered the suretype.When i went to the 8700g it was an adjustment. but in retrospect I think the big keys are much quicker to type with.so I look forward to the 8100. too bad I finally just bought an mp3 player and now they finally put one in a blackberry.

I'll buy it. Im 22, I use my blackberry for my own personal use. Im the demographic they're after. Its good to be young.

Do you think they will ever make the cool BB's for CDMA (ie 81xx, 87xx)?

All we get at Bell, as far as Suretype goes, is the 7130e. I find it just a little to cumbersome.

It came from the device I saw and witnessed being used.

You take this thing that looks like a hockey puck and lay it on the dash and you get turn by turn directions.

Endgadget may have not seen the puck and so they couldnt quote on it.

WOW! Voice dialing over Bluetooth? For reals?

But seriously - any idea if it's speaker-independent type or you have to train it? I would love to switch back to BB for this but I don't want to lose any features.

I'm currently using a Cingular 8125 (WM5 device) and it's OK - still miss BB - but I can't live without MS Voice Command now. It's so much fun seeing how long you can go without having to touch your phone

So Blackberry already dominates the business consumer. This we know. The 8100 is squarely aimed at making progress with everyone else, aka the non -BES users. It does have some exciting cross over technology however, namely the 4.2 firmware, the joystick controller, and the micro SD slot. As a BES admin I know I am most definately concerned about the security implications of adding an SD reader to a Blackberry. Hopefully They will include ways to limit/disable the SD and camera features via the BES. I am curious to see how many of these changes carry over into the full qwerty devices, but regardless, I know I'll have users asking to get one of these puppies on our BES. After all, who doesn't want their company to buy them an MP3 and video player Blackberry. Although these features are fun for myself, I'm pretty sure they are going to add some real headaches to my job.

Thank you everyone for the news.
The new device looks great, and it is nice to see RIM moving ahead in the consumer market.
I have heard of a similar device to this, but with a qwerty. (different forum)
Anyone know if that is true?

Thanks!

Actually the camera was suprisingly enough the best part of the whole deal the pictures were supurb. Crystal clear not like other phone pics I have seen.

i hope u got ur pampers pulled up... 8100 supports .wav attachments in email, aslong as you have BES 4.1 SP2, also supports bluetooth GPS and you can attach your photos to an email...amazing

So is there going to be something like this with a QWERTY?

This seems like a good enough thread to reply to (since they're all about the 8100 now a day).

Looking at the pix, it does look like I may have been wrong with my "RIM won't put out a camera in a BlackBerry" statement/arguments previously. I really didn't think they would.

Looking at the pix (and BG's avatar) I'm actually digging the shape of the keyboard on this model. I'm hoping the dip doesn't iterfere with the typing tho. But it does make for a more pleasing looking keyboard.

Zro

The "dip" is quite similar to the 7100t. Not a problem. One handed keyboarding is great on one of the best features of my "ancient" 7100t.

I understand this device will have an upgraded version of Suretype. It should satisfy many (of course, not all).

wait who who's getting this first? tmobile or some other carrier?

and anyone with a guess at how much this will cost?

The Gecko just wet his pants....

T-Mobile should have it in the next 1-3 months. Cingular will follow after that point. Speculation right now puts T-Mobile in September or October or November or December (although I've been told 'soon' so I'm leaning towards the first months in that range), with Cingular shooting for November (although they will have to abide by any exclusivity periods). T-Mobile likely has a 3-month exclusivity period. No prices have been set (by the carriers), but I'd speculate somewhere in the ballpark of $399-$499 with contract.

They're going to want this for the Black Friday - Christmas Season timeframe.

And the importers/unlockers are going to be happier than me in the Skittles distribution factory in Massachussets.

Can you imagine what an unlocked BB8100, T-Mo branded, is going to fetch, say Mid-October?

Just think what the unlocked, TMO-branded 8100 that was pulled from eBay fetched in the private market...

Take a look at the side view photo with the mini USB plug on it, then compare it side by side with an actual blackberry. From the looks of it the 8100 is significantly thinner than the 7100t (my comparison phone).

I guess the idea of a blackberry with a camera just doesn't really do it for me. Even camera phones when they hit didn't excite me. It's just another piece of hardware in there, and I can't ever think of a time in my life when I needed a camera that bad that I needed to pull out a phone. Though I am sure this will be a hot seller, and I look forward to increased sales when it hit. This will give the treo's and the WM5 devices something to compete with though.

Trackwheel > joystick thingy mabob

i agree, but obviously there was a reason behind the move, so we'll see. most likely, we'll get the new phone, use the new joystick and forget about the trackwheel (for some, atleast). i do know the trackwheel enclosure is the main source of entry for dust and dirt on current handhelds, though.

I think the stick or whatever it is in the middle is potentially superior to the trackwheel. If you type one handed on a suretype keyboard it keeps you from reaching up for the trackwheel. It can make typing a little bit quicker.