Yup that is Solidworks. I wanted to see the comparison for myself and I figured that I would share it with everyone else. Bricked phone or not, still nice to see the size comparison.

BG and anyone else who's gotten their hands on the 8300...

What are your thoughts on the different keyboard layouts (8800 v. 8300)?

Is it more a matter of preference or is it functionally different regardless of preference?

Thanks!

From all of the reviews I have read, about four now, the consensus is that the 8300 keyboard is much better than the 8800 because they have space back between the keys, as the previous models did for BB.

Umm, nah , HONESTLY the 8300 is actual size to the 8700..

Actual no it is not. They keys are slightly smaller.

But to answer your direct question the keyboard on the 8800 in my opinion sucks. The keys are WAY too smashed together. Even with the little raised edge typing with any kind of accuracy and speed is difficult. Especially with my big bear hands you can forget about accurate typing.

Main reason I will move to the 8300 is because of the keyboard. I really hate leaving my Pearl but the 8300 device is too nice. And with the iPhone coming out I guess I will be back to 2 devices again :/

Not sure if you guys have used Sizeasy, but you can do the same thing online. It is a little hard to see when you have many devices. And I only wish it showed more angles, but cool none the less.

Here is a comparison between

iPhone, 8800, 8300, 8100

sizeasy - your size comparison website

No it doesn't...

8800 or 8300... i just pick up a 8800c and love it. as far as the 8300 i like they keyboard lay out (got to play with one today. the main cingular tech had it)(im a co tech lol). After about 10 to 15min of playing with it. I must say the size of the 8300 does feel better. The cam had ok pic but no video :(
. The 8300 compair to the 8800 size isnt that much diff. 8800 seems to be alittle taller and alittle wider but thiner. its all really about the same. 8300 does feel better in hands. The looks of the 8300 makes it look ugly. great keyboard ok cam and crap i mean crap looks (well to me) the 8800 just looks so much better. Guess i stick with my 8800 just bc of the looks, and gps is better to have then a 2.0 mp cam.

if the wait, which it is for me here in Hong Kong, is until the end of 2007 for the 8300 to be released, worth it? Or should I just get the Pearl?

No they are different sizes:

114 x 66 x 14.0mm - 8800
106 x 60 x 15.5mm - 8300

Actually from the pics that I've seen, it is both shorter and more narrow. It's an obvious size difference. You can even see it from the dimensions of the phone. Check out BlackBerry® Curve™ | The New Smartphone That's Brilliant and Beautiful

Why dont you just buy the 8300 un-locked. There is no way I could wait until the end of 2007 for the 8300.

Here's my dealbreaker: is the 8300's screen bigger than the pearl. I can't stand doing browsing and reading so much on the pearls tiny screen

This is very incorrect. The 8300 is a little shorter, more narror, and definitely thinner then the 8700. So it is smaller in every dimension.

Compare Phones (Phone Scoop)

not sold wwill grab an 8800

I think you need a spell checker more than anyone around here and 8800 doesn't have one.

I'll take it if you don't want it.

Cool, I added the 8700 and Treo and took out the iPhone. From the looks of it it is smaller than a Treo 750, which I thought was a good size...so it works for me.

All I can say is its smaller than a Treo 750, which I thought was a nice size...so it works for me.

Comparative screen size anyone? Sorry to harp on it too much, just curious

The Screen is the same size as the 8800 and the 8700. 320x240.

the part that bothers me is no GPS and no hot swapping of the media card. The slot for the microSD is behind the battery. Such a pain...

I find the feel of the 8300 is like the 7200 series. A little rounded at the bottom to conform to your hand a bit.
I would still take the 8800 over the 8300, GPS sells it for me.