Planning on joining the Crackberry addicts and get my first Blackberry. As a loyal (for better or worse) Verizon customer, I have a choice of the 8830 World Edition, or wait a month or so and get a new Pearl. I've played with an 8830 that my friend owns. Nice screen and full keyboard, but I find the width awkward. The Pearl has a much nicer (to me) form factor (I refuse to wear a belt clip, so my phones go into my pocket. But, the smaller keyboard and Suretype looks like it might be hard to get used to, but it's also got a camera that the 8830 doesn't.

Obviously, I'm not going to get a ton of seat time in either before I have to choose one.

My useage, from highest priority to lowest:

Cell phone
Mobile e-mail/web
Organizer functions (address book, notes, schedules)
Carrying photos
Taking pictures
*Never for music.

Anything I'm not thinking of? I'm leaning toward Pearl.

Thx,

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Wait and go with Pearl!

It will take about a week to get used to the suretype and for it to learn how you use words! Once that happens you will be flying at typing on a pearl

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8800/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

You can get the feel fopr the newermodel pearl from holding and using the 8100. For your listed priorities, either BlackBerry will serve you well (except the 8830 does have a camera). For the form factor you desire, the new 8130 is what you need.
Either choice, enjoy!