I made the switch over the weekend. The new 7130c does everything that my 8700c did- with a smaller form factor.

The Suretype keyboard- It's getting better every day, I'm willing to make the trade off for no more "calculator to the head" form factor.

The screen orientation is more vertical than horizontal- Great for lists and PocketDay. A little less great for web pages.

The same processor and EDGE web is just as fast, even faster with Opera Mini.

The headset volume is about the same as an 8700 with Bharti.

Pretty much the same OS, except now I get the "Today" and "Zen" themes without changing to a foreign OS.

The weight and size are much better!!!

I have a 7130c sitting right in front of me.

I'm on hold with Cingular because the web client is telling me the PIN and IMEI are not recognized so I can't swap devices.

Hmmmm, One has to wonder if cingulars new OS for the 8700 is going to come out soon? Is the 7130 PTT capable?

I hope I'm one of the lucky ones tommorow at the Houston Launch Event

This looks like a really cool blackberry. One that I would be open to moving to if it worked pretty much the same as the 8700. The clunkiness was not a big deal to me when I was using my 8700 for data only. But since I put on a phone line, I don't like holding it to my ear.

Will keep my eyes out for some information on this device.

Liv, you struck me as the type that likes to email. So you think that SureType would be worth the smaller size?

Suretype almost killed me. I didn't find the 8700 too wide compared to my 7100g.

I'm on eternal hold with Cingular......................

They're killing me.

I came from the 7130e to the 8700c. Very good device. The two biggest positives for me regarding the 7130 was phone form factor and overall smaller size. Not to mention my voice quality was better on the 7130 but that is a different subject since I feel that is more related to VZW vs Cing in my area. The positives of the 8700c have been keyboard and bigger screen.

My advice to anyone thinking about switching TO a 7130 is this: I got very good with sure type, but with that said I feel the keyboard is easier and faster on the 8700. It is a personal thing but if you are a high volume typer my suggestion is to stick with the 8700.

Okay I got it all sorted out.

For future reference the web client won't recognize devices until they are registered on the network. I guess I knew that but wasn't thinking. I thought they have the PIN/IMEI's already programmed in their system. I hadn't put in my SIM and turned wireless on yet, it was still in my 8700.

But now I'm up, Enterprise activated and loading third party apps.

I have to run for a while, I've got a really busy afternoon so I won't get to play with the 7130c until tonight.

I'll post my thoughts, maybe I'll do review too later.

Initially though, I dig it. I prefer the small size. I'm a little worried about the keyboard but since I do about 70% reading of e-mail and 30% responding I should be okay.

lgreenberg,
Do I sense a review of the 7130 in the future?
EDIT: Oh, I see that you were suggesting just that.

Yeah, if there's demand I'll do one sure.

I'll want to use it for a few days first though.

I agree with you on waiting. Coming from someone who has done the switch I can say the first two weeks or so you are in love with the size. Give it some time (honeymoon) and I think you will be able to really have a better appreciation.

But as i write this suggestion i realize i am not the one that has the formal review experience Igreenberg is, and this type of thought process is a given for him, sorry for the babble just my 2 cents

We just got our store demo's of the 7130c in! Loading up now i am excited to check it out!

So this comes preloaded with the Today Screens?
Hmm I'm considering this phone, but was hesitant cause I just installed the today screens on my 8700c...

The sure type is ferocious, i had a VZW 7130 and almost had a nervous, , breakdown. maybe it's me but seems like the masses can't get used to it, or am I nuts???

The 7130c is NOT push to talk capable ... yet.
I need a couple more battery cycles, but so far it "may" be slightly longer battery life too than the 8700.

I realize that there will always be "another new device" - (3G and multimedia may be coming later this year)- but for now this made sense as I want smaller - lighter. The screen is not "that" much smaller- it's just oriented portrait instead of landscape. Pixel difference 240x260 vs 320x240 for the 8700. More of "lists" shows on the screen than the 8700.

They were sold out all over metro Atlanta. I lucked out by calling the corporate stores until I found one. They all said that they would get more shipments in this week.

Looking forward to Greenberg's review!

Is it? RIM was all big into promoting that the 8700 series was all new w/ the Intel XScale processor. I'm assuming they'd do the same if they had it on any other device, but I've heard nothing about it mentioned in any of the 7130 propaganda.

It is the XScale processor, it is on the RIM page for 7130C. See afformentioned propaganda here:

http://www.blackberry.com/products/b...rry7130c.shtml

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700g: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

It does look like a sweet device but... NO THANKS on the Suretype..

Oh yes, and it also uses the same exact battery - So, Now I have 2 spares!

Car charger, AC charger sync cable all the same (as usual). There is some advantage to sticking with Blackberry!!