8700 upgrade to 8800, help me decide!
 

Guys I need your help, I cant decide if upgrading to an 8800 is going to be worth it for me. Here are my main issues:

1. The 8800 will be free of cost, so money is no concern here. However, if I take it, I wont get another upgrade for at least a year or more.

2. I dont care about wifi.

3. I only partially care about GPS, its cool but not essential.

4. I really enjoy/like the jog dial. Is this the end of this technology? Are the newer models being released in coming months all with the trackball thing? If so, then I guess I should get used to it now.

5. I am happy with the 8700, really happy. Would I be gaining anything by moving up?

Need your help!

(and yes, ive read the threads, I just need input!)

1- Wait for the 8300

2- No wifi on 8800

3- personal decision

4- I am betting that RIM won't abandon the trackwheel completely. One of the RIM insiders will have better insight into that. i like the trackwheel too.

5- I am not upgrading yet, because I can't see anything yet on a 8800 that just floors me. I'm not going to be watching any stinking videos on a BB, I don't need the music or the extra media card.

So... you are sorta like me. I would like the GPS probably would LOVE to have that. But I have in my car... so. I am keeping my 8700g, trusty and reliable for now. In six months... ?

i just made the change myself and in the evaluation process. the quantum leap for me is giving up the trackwheel and back button on the side. seems to have slightly better graphics and its easier to read. other than that its just a new gadget so far. with google maps who needs GPS? still dont have functionality there. battery life seems adequate. it is not as industrial strength as any of the earlier models. good news is i dont think it will have the dust problem behind the screen.

I absolutely LOVE my 8700g!!!! 8800 is nice but I'm liking the 8300 more and more particularly that it seems to have the look and feel of the 8700. But I am waiting to see what TMO gets.


If you are happy with the 8700 wait and see what happens next it won't be long before something new is out. I can feel it in my bones!!!:razz:

Based on your criteria, you gotta go try it. Of note, I love the GPS and VAD, but the OS is laggy, and I have no keyboard issues - medium sized hands. I think the Pearl makes the device easier to use in many ways - especially if I have two hands free. For example, a near simulateneous push of menu and enter to send an email is quicker than two trackball pushes.

Go try it
 

I agree, go put your hands on it and make sure you give it 10-15 minutes or more. My requirements are similar to yours, and I don't believe there's loads new on the software/OS side. But a real step forward might be the physical interface. When I first touched the keyboard, I thought, this is impossible. After a few minutes, I discovered I was just typing away with hardly an error. And although I was skeptical about the trackball, while it also took a few minutes to get used to, it quickly felt to me like smooth gliding. It also felt like it freed up other fingers to do other things simultaneously.
You owe it to yourself to at least give it a go.

I have to agree and feel the same way, also dont like the fact the 8800 has Lag at times... makes me think im back on my 7290... plus big thumbs for me so the keyboard on the 8800 is not for me... VAD would be nice on my 8700c but i can do without it and GPS if it loads anything like google maps using EDGE then no thanks i can wait for the next gen BB to come out hopefully with 3G...

if anything i would go to the store and test it out since it doesnt cost anything... just not for me.. and 8300 is not going to work either b/c i cant have a camera phone at work

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check out the 8300 and also the 8800 in person.

The OS lag is a pain, especially considering this is supposed to be an upgrade to the 8700. But the bigger deal breaker for me might be the keyboard. For quick texts or inputing contacts it's fine. But for long emails it becomes a leap of faith. There is simply not enough of a "snap" in the keys to let you know you've hit them. The spacebar is notoriously soft and quiet. I find myself looking down at the keyboard much more frequently than I did with the 8700. I can't say I've made more mistakes typing with the 8800, but the experience definitely leaves much to be desired.

If the early reports on the 8300 are correct ... if its keypad is similar to the 8700 ... I may seriously be considering "upgrading" yet again.