OK I was holding my breath since we all first heard the rumors about the 8800several months ago. I delayed buying the Pearl because I was hoping the 8800 would come out soon. Eventually I gave in and dumped my trusted 8700 for the Pearl. I promptly fell in love with the Pearl. I got the 8800 on Feb 21st and I have to say, its been a case of meet your superhero. The form factor is just so blaah. Is it my eyes or is the 8800 even wider than the 8700? It could be that its wide and thin thats causing the rather uncomfortable erogomics.

I swapped my SIM back to my Pearl this morning. Micro SD based GPS maps and a camera might make me come back, but for now, no 8800 for me.

It's not wider than the 8700--In fact it is taller and narrower than the 8700--but hey, it's a personal preference. The 8800 is not for everyone

When I first got my 8800 I too was a little dissappointed. It did feel "wide" to me and reminded me of the Nokia E62...flat as a pancake and too wide. But after using the device for a couple weeks now, I really like the form factor. I love how thin it is and the width doesn't bother me at all. Maybe you should give it a few more days? Or, you could just go back to the 8100.

We'll still love you what every you do. As long you have a blackberry ha ha

Yeah, if you jump ship from BlackBerry for another device all together we'll never talk to you again....at least one BlackBerry should be in everyone's arsenal.

Dude I have had nearly every smart phone launched since late 2004. I mean every. I can safely say there isnt a phone I would carry that doesnt have blackberry stamped on it. With camera and gps being addressed, thats not about to change anytime soon.

What is really nice is there are more choices in Blackberry so you can choose and use what you want. Not too long ago when the 75XX series ruled, you either liked it or not!

Glad nothing would tempt you from RIM, me either, after many years BB is for me!

the 8700 hands down is one of the best devices created. I had a pearl and a 8800. Got rid of em both went back to my cherised 8700!

I do believe the reason why the 8800 feels a bit wider than the 8700 is that towards the bottom, its not tappered in and rounded like the 8700, so thus making it feel wider than it really is. I do wish it wasn't so angular at the bottom. the 8700 did feel more comfortable to hold in my hand, but I'm sure like anything else, just need time to get used to. One thing I noticed is that they def. could've added more space to the keyboard vertically. It seems that there's a lot of wasted space at the bottom just for the carrier logo. Anyone agree?

Its amazing how people opinions are so different. I had an 8700 for a year and I think the 8800 hands down is far better.

Ditto that. And the screen seemed a bit on the short side. Going from the pearl at least.

I'm not sure I get some folks fascination with a camera in a cell phone...for me, the 8800 is simply the best business oriented phone that exists....if you want brilliant pics, get a sidekick

in the past 2 years Ive used 3 treos, 3 various HTC phones, the Q, and the 8800 is by far the best feeling of all of them

The size, feel & weight is just amazing for a full qwerty smartphone

Yes but PJH, you said it in your post: "best business oriented phone..." this might have been coming from the other percentage, the consumer market. I know for myself I am part of the "other Percentage" and am sadly dissapointed that Rim is not and did not plan on putting in a camera on the 8800 series. To me, a camera would have made this device perfection. Oh well, guess I'll keep on wishing.

Really? I've used lots of Treos (have the 750 currently) and I've been using the Q for the past two weeks. I tried the 8800 in a store and even though it's dimensions are very similar to the Q it felt much much bigger. I really don't understand why, the dimensions are very close. I was very interested in the 8800 until I held it. Now I'm not so sure.

You'll notice that Treo's are oriented the way you suggest. However, positioning the bottom row of the keyboard that close to the bottom of the phone makes it a challenge to hold it and type comfortably. The Q also has a fair bit of room below its keyboard. Additionally, positioning the keyboard where it is on QWERTY Blackberrys allow the user to hold the device near-center and keep the unit equally balanced.

There actually is a design method to the madness.

Have to agree with ya on that one backbeat. Whenever I used to type on the Treo, it would feel top heavy cause the keys were towards the bottom of the device.

I agree in that I like the extra length past the bottom of the keys. Gives me a place to put my thumbs and stabilizes the device.

I feel the same way. For me a camera is pretty worthless. I've had a lot of phones with a camera and I can count on one hand the number of times that I've actually used it.

Now the lack of Wi-Fi... that was a disappointment for me. I almost didn't buy one for that fact alone.

Different strokes. I was going through my photobucket the other day and I counted 87 pictures taken on the Pearl in one month. I like taking candids.

A phone camera will never replace a good regular camera, but it has its uses.

I guess YMMV. I have no problems with the form factor nor is the "blahness" of the form factor important to me...

Why, when the Crimson will have a camera?? RIM at least recognizes that some of its users do want a camera and they're giving people choices. Whether you get other people's wants/needs for a camera doesn't invalidate that want/need...

your not the only one who was dissapointed.. for me there were a few things i didnt like and one of them being the keypad which didnt work for me and it also felt like it weight more then the 8700....

Is the Crimson version the 8800 that Verizon will release? Do you expect that Cingular will release a camera version in the next 6 months?