I knew I said I would post a review last night, but I was so tired after work so I stopped typing my review at page two, section 1. LOL, I was writing a 20 pages paper in-depth review! I think I will continue on that tonight. But I will just write some brief thoughts, the most important things I discovered in the past 24 hours of owning the 8800.

Note: I used to own a 8700c, so this review is from a perspective of a 8700c owner.

1. GPS works flawlessly, with some reservations:

I downloaded the BlackBerry map from the link provided in another thread, installed it, and I was able to get satellite signal and navigated on it. It was not very responsive however, as when I was driving, the compass did not update to the correct bearing fast enough. It is probably only good as an emergency back up or you are walking and have gotten lost.

Also, the whole phone became extremely slow when the application was running. Within the GPS/BB Map was ok, but if you switched the application to check your email for example, while the BB Map and GPS were still running in the background, the phone was entirely useless! It took probably 10 seconds for every change. It took 10 seconds for a name to show up, for a menu to show up, for a selection is scrolled down, etc. Basically the whole system froze outside the GPS app, something I have never experienced from a 8700.

2. Google Map works also.

There apparently are different versions of Google Map and only one version that would work correctly with keyboard shortcuts. The other version works, but keyboard shortcuts are messed up. I and O are no longer Zoom in and Zoom out. So make sure you download the right version. This is covered, yet again, in another thread I believe. I will post the correct links later if I have time. By the way, use over-the-air download if you haven't learned.

3. Form factor is mixed.

The metallic sides make the form classic, professional, and probably more scratch resistant, but the keyboard part seems to collect dust very easily. After few hours of usage I could visibly see clothing fibers and dusts in between those keyboard. Different than 8700's raise-up keyboard, 8800 keyboard is like a computer keyboard in which every key is built on a lower platform that easily gathers dust and hard to clean.

Aside form that, the screen looks nice (same as 8700c), overall design is superb.

I personally though, hate the scroll ball, because it is not as precise as the click-by-click trackwheel. I frequently found myself looking for the wheel. Reading a web page using the mouse is also kind of hard as the page might jerk down several pages. I recommend using the space bar to scroll one page down.

4. Typing

I think I hate the most about 8800 is its keyboard. It's simply does not have the tactile feedback as 8700. I found myself typing the wrong key more often, and I had to pay attention to it more as well. The keys all seem very soft and soft...

Still, I believe it's way better than other phones out there. Maybe I will get used to it.

5. Battery life.
So far it is above average. BB always has great battery life, and I believe 8800 comes with a much higher capacity battery (larger).

6. MicroSD.
The memory card works flawlessly as well. I was able to connect my 8800 to both Mac and Windows and access it as a mass storage device. I put mp4 video files on it and guess what? Read on.

7. Video playback.
AMAZING. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Great, high quality video playback (25mb file size range) with no lagging, and most importantly the sound quality, even bass, was amazing.

I was able to watch a music video I ripped from YouTube (by using PodTube) with my girl friend, placing my BB on a table. It was so loud and clear we both we watching it at the same time. I already loaded my card with several dozens videos and the card is still very empty.

By the way, the battery didn't drain much from video playback either.

8. Call quality.

Foremostly 8800 is a phone first before anything else. At that, RIM once again succeeded in making a quality phone.

We all know all the amazing, industry standard defying, features 8700c has: Profiles, Exceptions, Unlimited events per Call Log entry, Volume controls for different modes, dedicated mute button, in-call calls management...All these have been carried over and the sound quality and signal strength are both good like before.

In addition, when I get a call-waiting call during a conversation, now I have a choice to "drop the current call" or "hold the current call." I don't remember seeing that in 8700c, but I might be wrong.

9. Speaker phone quality.

AMAZING. Generally the speaker phone, ringer volume and audio playback are all greater improved because the speaker has been moved from back to the top, thus when the phone is placed on a tabletop the speaker is not blocked.

10. Sync:

I was able to sync with OSX via PocketMac and Windows XP flawlessly

11. Battery Charging time:

Very very fast. 30 minutes from 20% to 95%.

12. What is missing?

I wrote about how shortcuts from home screen were missing...

Edit: Apparently I was told that this function (shortcuts from home screen) is still available. I just need to turn off the "dial from home screen" setting. I am looking into it.

Edit 2: Apparently I disabled the "dial from home screen" by pressing the "BalckBerry" button when I am in the "Phone" application. There you can change many settings such as call forwarding, etc. After doing so I was able to reach to my applications by pressing their shortcut hotkeys. AWESOME!

13. Customizable key/buttons.

There is only ONE (on the left) and it is useless.

First of all, on 8700c there were only two, but I used the middle one for address book, and since there is no need for an address book key on 8800, one is theoretically enough. However, since 8800 doesn't have keyboard shortcuts anymore, I found myself in dire needs of more customized keys.

But I was given with this left key that is useless because you frequently press it accidentally. For example, when I set it on "voice dialing." When I am in the middle of a call, I raised the volume by clicking on the volume key on the right, but since I held the phone with my right hand, my finger on the left side of the phone touched that voice dialing hot-key, it brought up the voice dialing program and terminated my call....

I also kept hitting it when I put the phone in my pocket. Therefore I disabled the key and made it "none."

14. Voice Dialing.

Voice Dialing is really fancy, but I personally don't use it because it is simply not very consistent.

You don't need to record each voice tag for each address entry. The phone simply recognize your voice and match the name automatically. You can even say command such as "check battery" or "check coverage" in term the phone will tell you, "Battery High" (which in my opinion was useless).

15. Bluetooth.

You cannot transfer files from computer to phone. Access the phone as a "storage device" was an option from my computer, but it said it was not available. But you can transfer file from phone to other people though. For example, in media folder, you can send each song or video via bluetooth.

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Duplication, republication or quoting of the above review is not allowed without the author's permission.

One of the things I dislike about my 8700 is that the notifications/alerts are WAY TOO LOUD, even on low. Heck, on high, they are so loud that they are quite distorted.

If you have an 8700 lying around, how would you say the notification volume compares between the 8700 and 8800?

I do have them both, and believe me, 8800 is actually louder than 8700c.
I personally only use high because I rather it being too loud than not loud enough...

If being too loud is a concern, you can simply change the notification sound to something that is impossible to be too loud. I mean, there are many different sounds, some of them are quite quiet.

The 8800 is louder but there are quite a few ringtones and alert tones, some of which are not that lound at the highest setting and very quiet at the lower settings. You only get low, medium or high so the selection of ring or alert tone is what you got to use.

Different themes dictate a differing volume level also (at least on the 8700). 'Loud' under one theme may only be similar to 'Medium' under another theme.

Exactly what I said...but said in a much clearer way >_<

Thanks!

can it do HSPDA or only EDGE?

Use the search my friend - this has been discussed at great detail already.

8800 is EDGE only, no UMTS/HSDPA.

EDGE only

lol^^^...i think i may wait for the next bb that can do HSDPA.

My guess is it will take away the thunder from iPhone? Wireless broadband is probably only available for crappy phone like BlackJack that drops dead after 1 hour of usage so Cingular can push those out of their inventory.

Oh wait, maybe once a BB uses broadband its battery will also die in an hour...

first blackjack run that crappy windows mobile os that sux the battery life out of u. im sure blackberry os doesnt require as much battery as windows mobile os. and it is HSPDA is NOT wifi. wifi is the cuz for all of the crappy battery life.

I just want to commend the poster for an excellent review. He hit all of the important functionality questions that I have as a phone user. His review came from the perspective of a person who needs to know how the 8800 functions as a phone first. Really great info and will guide my purchase decision. I really liked his breakdown of volume and the keyboard layout.

Thanks so much

Srwilliams

Thank you underskybb for the review! I've been going back and forth on if I should really shell out $499.00 retail for this. I've decided to hold off for now. I'll wait until the next version comes out to see what else BB can offer. My current 8700c will last me awhile.

BTW - In addition, when I get a call-waiting call during a conversation, now I have a choice to "drop the current call" or "hold the current call." I don't remember seeing that in 8700c, but I might be wrong.

You can do this on the 8700c too. When on a call, and another call comes in you get the option to approve or deny it. If you approve then you can place the current caller on hold and answer the new call.

First of all, you are welcome.

Secondly, what you said about 8700c was different than what I said about 8800.

When I got a call during a call, instead of Approve or Deny, I had a choice of "drop the current call" as in hang up on the person I originally was talking to, then start a new conversation with the second person; or "hold the current call" which will allow me later to switch back to the first person, or join all three people at once.

When I got a call during a call, instead of Approve or Deny, I had a choice of "drop the current call" as in hang up on the person I originally was talking to, then start a new conversation with the second person; or "hold the current call" which will allow me later to switch back to the first person, or join all three people at once.

Different wording but it is the same function. The 8700c lets you put a current caller on hold to answer a new call, alternate between the two (placing one on hold), or set up a three way conference call (join).

Difference is the wording seems to have changed between the 8800 and the 8700.

hailer...i still think there is more than a wording difference.

can you find out, when you receive a call on 8700c, can you choose between 1. hold the current call and 2. drop the current call and pick up the incoming call?
from what you said, #2 is not an option. in 8800, i can decide that i want to simply hang up on the person i am talking to and pick up the incoming call (i believe).

by the way, Stinsonddog, I just gave as a honest review as I could, and personally I think the good far outweighed the bad on 8800, and in my opinion it's the strongest phone on the market. I am sure I will get used to the keyboard. Of course, I love my BB very much.

As the GPS...it's called LBS 1.0.7.0

When I was in GPS, I got an email, so I switched to email, then after that I couldn't even scroll. (There will be a 10 seconds delay on screen and my scroll, not to mention I couldn't even read the email or reply. So I just switched back to GPS, closed the program, then everything was fast again.)

Btw, thanks for the "R" advice.

If in fact it is LBS 1.0.70 (not 1.0.7.0) then I don't think the have put out the 8800 version yet. Check to see if you can upgrade over the next few days. That may be part of the performance issues.

On the Pearl, to transfer files to the phone you have to go to the media manager, select one of the types (doesn’t seem to matter), then select “Receive Using Bluetooth” from the menu.

Try that on the 8800 and see if it doesn’t work similarly.

-- Lew

I only have bluetooth on my MacBook..... so can't try, since Desktop manager isn't available for it.... sorry

Vibrate? Strong or weak.

I personally think it's not very strong.

The three choices the 8700 (and I think even older devices) when a new call comes in while you're already on a call:

1) Answer new call, hold existing call
2) Answer new call, drop existing call
3) Ignore new call

You can use the menu via wheel or pearl, or the green/red keys to get this done, but I think by using the green key you default to answer and hold.

Oh, I thought you were just talking about generic Bluetooth file transfer. That’s what I was talking about. Your mac doesn’t let you send files via Bluetooth? There is some sort of file size limit, but I’m not sure what it is.

Media Manager in DM likely won’t work over USB, at least it doesn’t on the Pearl.

can you not even use pocketmac to transfer files via the mac to your BB?

good read. thanks.

re: ( Edit 2: Apparently I disabled the "dial from home screen" by pressing the "BalckBerry" button when I am in the "Phone" application. There you can change many settings such as call forwarding, etc. After doing so I was able to reach to my applications by pressing their shortcut hotkeys. AWESOME! )


I'm not sure I get this.
I disabled "dial from home screen."
Now does that mean the old shortcuts (eg, B for Browser) will work? If so, what do I do? Right now all I get when I hit the B is "Assign a Speed Dial to the B Key?"

Also, to answer AngelJo008, yes. I've transferred everything.

comming from the blackjack which has a very strong vibrate. it will move itself off of a table. the vibrate on the 8800 is pretty weak. very similar to the pearl.

You are pressing too hard. Lighten up the press. See my tips doc in the sticky.

It just seems to work a little faster, a little clearer than the 8700C. Browsing, downloading, BT discovery and pairing all smoother and quicker. Call quality and volume way, way better. I'm not entirely sold yet on the trackball -- at one point it may have frozen for a few beats and it feels a little delicate -- but I don't miss the track wheel. I expected to have problems with the keyboard but actual prefer it to the 8700, although the letters and numbers printed on the keys are very small. I am just getting the hang of the GPS which works better than I expected, although it would be nice to hear it through a BT headset instead of treating passengers to the play-by-play. Over all, a definately worth it incremental advance. Main irritation is, of course, the hamstringing of the unit. No wi-fi, still stunted bluetooth, no camera. I guess it is all part of the too-clever-by-half business plan that forces us all to pledge ever higher percentages of our income to Cingular/ATT. I haven't gotten around to the added chip stuff, and it hardly seems worth it with all the contrived restictions on the unit. I know there are security issues. I am a big boy. I can handle my own security. If I am going to entrust an associate with a unit, I will likewise expect that they will be able to keep data secure when necessary. Definately a pleasant surprise. Who cares when black turtlenect and jeans aging boy-wonder gets around to gracing us all with the Iphone. I will be on the prowl for the next BB release by then!

Please Keep in mind I am still a die hard fan of the 72xx form factor. mostly the feel in my hands and the spacious keyboard. I have been using an 8700g for about a month solidly and am still adapting to that keyboard.


I had the oppurtunity to play with an 8800 w/o a sim I just wanted to get a feel for the device itself as i think the functionality is not an issue to me.

The form factor felt very nice to me, very solid in my hands despite the thinness. It isnt all that much longer than my 8700 and not a big deal.

Comparing the 2 screen side by side the 8700 seemed crisper and clearer to me. The 8800 screen is still very nice. (Might be that I walked through a cloud of smoke before looking at the 8800!)

The keyboard at first glance I thought "WTF"! After typing about 4 paragraphs in the memos section, The keyboard while different I like very much , though I am still adapting to the 8700g keyboard. I like it! it will take time for me to adapt but no complaints other than tactile feel the keys are very slick and sometimes fingers feel they are going to slide right off, as I received my 8700 used ill assume its keys to were slick at first and after some use the slick polished feel with fade.

I have yet to really play with one set up and ready to go.

I know there are plenty people out there whom will right much better reviews I just wanted to share my own perspective. as far as physical feel of device.

I will switch as soon as TMO gets it and pass the ole 8700 to the lady

No, the poster meant in the Media App of the handheld, when you have BT enabled and are paired with a desktop (or other phone) you have to initiate the receive before you try to transmit from the sender. If you are in the pictures folder and hit the menu key, you should see both a "transmit using Bluetooth" and "receiove using Bluetooth" options., At least they are there on the Pearl.

Not ever using the Blackjack and coming from the 8700c, the 8800 vibrate funtion rocks compared to the 8700c. The whole device seems to vibrate with a more solid feel. No problems here. I do still wish that RIM would give us a ring first and then vibrate option instead of vibrate and then ring.

Does the 8800 come with a plastic holster standard? I really liked the 8700c holster, except for the fact that the retaining clips wear out after awhile. If the 8800 comes with a holster, how does it compare to the one that came with 8700c?

Thanks.

I find the 8800 holster nice but when I sit it digs into my stomach.

Thanks for such a good review and the followups so far, I'm going to de-cloak for a random question.

I'm considering a second BB device w/ qwerty, mainly to be used as my remote SSH terminal (with IdokorroSSH) that would complement my Pearl.

So if you were to walk into a store and had - at the same price point - an 8700 and an 8800 to purchase, which one would you walk out the door with?

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Regarding the comment about the sides being scratch resistant - my Pearl sides are very scratched up, much more so than any of my non-BB devices I treat identically. I do take care of my hardware, I'm not throwing it around -- the material just doesn't hold up to constant in-an-out of pocket experiences.

Gotta learn the one had twist.

For your purpose? ... The 89xx/9xxx with HSDPA.

8800 because I like to have the newest thing, which is a rather shallow point, but that's my honest answer. I think 8700c is faster both in performance and typing, and probably less delicate and thus more durable. 8800 has a better battery life, voice dialing, multimedia capability, and is prettier. (I don't care the trackball or the GPS.)

In regard to the metal sides, maybe it will scratch, but it can't scratch more than the plastic parts, right?