1. OEM Leather "bag" is a no go - too awkward.
2. A plastic clip might not work even if it came out - phone feels too "delicate" for that

The only way the phone feels normal and intuitive to use is when you slip it in your shirt pocket. Unfortunately, I dont wear shirts with pockets every day and slipping in and out of my suit pocket doesnt feel that intuitive either. grrrrrrrr

It's designed to be used with a holster. I do carry mine in my pocket (jeans) on weekends though.

I carry mine in my back jeans pocket all the time and have even sat down with no issues. At first I was a little nervous but now I don't even give it a second thought.

Now all I need to do is sow a magnet into my jeans...lol

If you are referring to the OEM leather holster, it is most definitely NOT a good design.

Score one for the OEM case...

I didn;t like the OEM holster but after a week, it really doesn't bother me at all. shirt pockets are a no go for me, everytime I bend down out goes the phone! I've never had an 8700, but I did love the sedio holster on the pearl, something like that will fit the bill.

Shirt pockets are dangerous. If you have ever laughed at someone who dropped their phone in the toilet, I guarantee you at least half of them were carrying it in their dress shirt pocket at the time.

If you dislike the included leatherette case there are numerous suppliers out there making blackberry cases with a wide range of prices and 'classyness'.

Sparkomatic: you are a braver man than I to sit on you blackberry. (braver or lighter!)

I just purchased a rubber or whatever it is skin for my 8800 and I'm able to keep it in my shirt pocket without worries.

Regards-Michael G.

There ya go.

Mine goes in the outside pocket of my briefcase during the week. On the center console in the car and in my pocket the rest of the time. No problem.

Carrying your BB in your shirt pocket sound like a disaster waiting to happen. I really think that any pocket will have enough lint that the ball with need some service.

The OEM holster is about as good as it goet for me right now. Give it some time as the 88xx form factor will be here for a while, there will be LOTS of cases for this device.

I almost always carry my devices in my shirt pocket. I guess as Austin Powers says "Danger is my middle name"!

But I've done this for so long, that I tend to put my hand on the pocket if I bend over. I keep the holsters for T-shirt weather.

I have been using the front pants pocket, when I am not wearing a jacket. Otherwise inside jacke pocket. Not irritated me yet. I am not feeling the leather holster either..

come on plastic clip!

That's purely a matter of personal preference... I mean, I don't think SureType's a good keyboard design but plenty of people are happy with it if not downright enthusiastic about it.

For any given carrying solution (or anything in the world for that matter) you'll find fans and detractors. In any case, I wasn't specifically referring to the included holster since the OP discussed both it and a plastic 8800 holster which doesn't exist at the moment.

I'd say that you just need to give it a chance and by that I mean more than just putting it on, trying it a few times and then dismissing it. To use the SureType analogy again, it generally takes one time to get used to the design but there are some who still can't stand it even after giving it a fair shake (several weeks in my case). Some people are very picky and want things done specifically in the way that they expect. I'm that way about my BB's keyboard. If you feel that way about the holster then there will be other holster designs down the road. It always takes time for accessories for a new BB to be developed and released.

I thought that I wanted the OEM 8800 holster to be more like the leather 8700 holster but actually the narrow flap has a major benefit in that I can hit the mute button while holstered to silence alerts. I've never had problems using RIM's plastic holsters but I doubt I'll switch if they release one for the 8800 as I tend to prefer their leather (or fake leather -- whatever) holsters.

As always, YMMV.

I'm waiting on a hard case for it from pocket solutions. They couldn't give a time frame but it should be available soon.

I too would be nervous about using my shirt pocket. For now, the oem carrier works just fine on me belt.

The shirt pocket was the cause of the one and only time I dropped my first Blackberry 7100t. Forget, bend over, and it's pavement skiing in no time. Never again.

+++++++++++++++++++
2 yrs ago I put my new Razr in my shirt pocket. Walked up 2 flights of stairs noticed a loose shoe lace, bent over to tie it & watched my new RAZR tumble down the stairs, pieces flying everywhere.

Have not ruined a phone since.....

++++++++++++++++++++
Very Good Point

I've not had any probelems with dust in any of my phones displays or in the trackballs of my 8100 or 8800 because I always keep them in some type of case (without belt clip) in my pocket. This also ensures protection in the event of a drop.

Cheers...

Really? What case (without belt clip) are you using for the 8800?

Back to topic: This isn't rocket science. Gravity happens.