Hey everyone! I'm looking into a new BB and have never owned one before. I like the reviews for the 8700 but question if it is too big. I have a pocket pc that I'm looking to ditch, but I will use the phone feature the most. I have to go with cingular as it is the only company with coverage. Any suggestions?

Not sure of Cingular's range of products..

But I'm a recent 7130g changer.. I used to have a 7290 which is the same form factor as the 8700. Now I have the 7130g.. It's so much better as a phone and to carry it around. Take a look at the 71xx series..

-lieb39

Yeah Cingular has a 7130 version. Do you find the typing easy? All the same navigations too right?

Any other suggestions on what Blackberry to buy? I make the plunge tommorrow.Thanks.

I have a BB 8700c, I don't think its too big, I used to have a pocketpc too. It feels so much nicer to carry around, mostly because of its very light weight. I carry it in my pocket personally and can't live without the QWERTY keyboard. I will say, however, that if you don't need the QWERTY, the 7130 series is lookin pretty sexy

Thanks that is helpful. WOW I'm glad I found this forum. Loads of great info. Thanks.

And yeah, i've also owned the 71XX series, I HATE the 7100g(the one i owned), because it was slow and had an ugly screen, don't touch those. The 7130g on the other hand is basically the 8700 but in a smaller form factor with no QWERTY keyboard. But yeah, the typing is really not that great on the 71xx series, better then normal cell phones, but nothing replaces the speed of typing with a full keyboard..

Yeah cingular has the 7130C or the 8700C. I'm going to look at both and hold them before I decide. Thanks again

I have both an 8700r and a 7130e, and I keep going back and forth between them. I especially like the form factor of the 7130e, and the SureType is easy once you get the hang of it. On the other hand, I do really like the screen on the 8700r along with the QWERTY keyboard. I eventually will settle on one of them, but I must admit it's hard to decide.

Nick

While I'll admit that nothing can match at full fledged keyboard like on the 8700, but the form size of the 7130g is so much better! I'm loving it. Typing isn't that bad - I'm getting fast again. And it has a very nice screen and is very fast.

Cheers

-lieb39

I found the 8700 to be easier for me to use since it has the QWERTY keyboard.

Well today is the day. We'll see how they both feel in my hand. The qwerty keyboard is a huge bonus but the 8700's unphonelike body strays me slightly. I guess we'll see how they both feel. If the 8700 doesn't seem to awkward, I may just go with it.

First time BB user and love my 8700c. Not large at all compared to a pocket pc. You'll love it!

Cingular should be paying me for this......

8700g

I use a bluetooth earpiece with my 8700. No "unphonelike" feeling with that!

Smart move! Check them both out at a store and see how they feel. Also see if they have a demo model or a demo line they can pop into the handheld so you can check out the suretype on the 7130. All in all 8700 or 7130 you're getting a great device! Welcome to the wonderful world of BlackBerry.

Ok so I found the 8700 and a 7105 I couldn't find the 7130. I have to say I liked the smallness and feel of the 8700. Now the 7105 was a real phone and the 8700 was just a demo. I played with the 7105 and it felt good. I wasn't thrilled with the buttons on the 8700. They are really small. Thoughts on the 7105?

I guess it depends on how much email and text messages you are planning on sending. There are many people here who do not like the suretype feature of the 7100 series. Personally, I feel more comfortable with a QWERTY keyboard, having only to hit the key once to get the letter I am trying to type.

I have searched these forums and I can't get any hard evidence against the 7105 just people don't like it. I Plan to use it more as a phone. Check my email make short responses and do a google search now and again and use the claendar lots. That's about it. I don't have any real intricate email server issues. I realize the 8700 has a bigger screen and single keys. The keys are really small and hard to push I found today. It is hard to browse one handed, it can be done but not real comfortably, and it is twice the money if I want to keep my number. Now that is with T mobile. Cingular has the 7130 which I did not play with but I live in Maine and cell towers are limited and was advised against cingular. I just don't know. I don't want to make a wrong decision and regret it for not going with the 8700. But I also need total convenience. Is the 8700 easier to browse through menus on the machine?

Where in Maine? I was in Augusta today and had cell coverage (voice and data) with Cingular the entire trip from Boston to Augusta on I-95 and back. Also had Verizon coverage. There are some areas around Ogunquit, Wells Beach and Kennebunk that only Sprint has coverage however. I would think T-Mo would be the one to avoid in Maine as their coverage isn't as good as Verizon or Cingular.

Talk to friends and see what service they have. Also look at where you work and travel. That should play a role in your decision as well.