I'm a dedicated user of BB but I'm not as sopisticated as some of the other posters to this site.

Being a former palm addict, I long for some of the Palm attributes, namely a touch screen. Combine it with WiFi, GPS, higher quality telephone ability, the current email and software and I think you have it. The 8700 with each of these qualities will evolve into the 8900 (I hope).

I also wish that RIM would do a better job explaining all of the features of their products. Its definitely a trial and error experience.

I prefer having good battery life instead of a touch screen. and I feel the exact opposite about Palm. BlackBerry, for me, is intuitive. Palm is clunky navigation. But that just comes down to personal preference and experience.

Trackball over a stylus any day!!

Bacon & cheese--no pickles, onions or mayo, please!

Seriously, though, I hope they never come out with a touch screen/stylus. I couldn't be happier with the trackball.

I haven't quite figured out the wi-fi feature. It's a great idea, don't get me wrong, however, what's in it for the carriers? Why would they want wi-fi available to us so we can download for free when they make money off of the data plans?

Also, RIM puts out a 250 page (give or take a few pages) manual for the BB's. It's just that nobody reads it. When I got my first BB (7100t) I played with it for a week or two then realized the manual was in there. That's when I realized it would do all kinds of stuff. The manual made sense after using it for a while. I recommend that even for people who think they "know" their BB.

Re the touchscreen, dont get me wrong, I like the track wheel or ball concept. I couldnt do without it.

Its justy that sometimes I can get alot more done on a screen only. Check out the Apple telephone release today. They can do it but BB cant? I doubt that. I look for BB to outdo them next.

YUCK!

I believe that it has never been a question whether RIM can implement a given feature, so much as if they would implement it. In the case of touch screens, RIM has thus far chosen not to pursue that path, and honestly I don't see them changing their minds anytime soon.

I would like to see a good, integrated today screen so we would not have to go get PocketDay or bbToday or whatever to bring everything into one view. Makes things so much easier. Windows has it over RIM in that respect, IMHO.

Wifi would be nice, but not a necessity. Battery life would take precedence.

Keep the trackwheel. No track ball or touchscreen or stylus for me.

Don't know about the trackball, never used it, but I suppose that it would be easier for the lefties out there, voice dial would simply be awesome without a third party program that needs downloading

I don't mind the loss of a touchscreen so much anymore, but I do miss the functionality of the Palm Desktop software. I was able to view and edit my data either on my PC or on the Palm - whichever I was using at the time.
Since I don't sync with my corporate email, and I use Mozilla Thunderbird at home, I am totally feeling like the ugly stepchild... Outlook and Lotus Notes are not the only emails around, RIM!

I also think a touch screen will be nice in some cases. Not that it should replace the trackball. For example, in using it with GPS, it is more work (and more dangerous) to go to trackball (or clickwheel in some cases) to perform certain command. So, adding touchscreen feature is nice, but not necessarily replace trackball or clickwheel, I think.

No touchscreen please! But to take a cue from the Treo750, I wouldn't mind if they'd make a Berry with a rubberized finish. Easier to hold, possibly more durable. I also miss the days of the 7290 when the design was more industrial and the Berry could take a pounding.

I also wouldn't mind having both a trackball and wheel on the same device ;)

There is a very comprehensive Help Icon on the home screen. It explains 99% of everything you would want to do with the device. A great place to start.

Also there is a lot of very good info on this site, once you explore around here.

Cheers...

I just ordered a 8820 from T-Mobile. A vast improvement over my 7230.

I read somwhere that Rim is going to start selling their software. A testament to the quality. I guess the BB 99__ will have everything.