[thatboiwes]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700c: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Coreyg, can you atleast say if Cingular will be getting both the Indigo AND the Crimson? Because that's the one that I really want. I would rather just have the Cingular version than getting a T-Mobile Crimson and having to unlock it to use for Cingular.

[DanUC6]

We need some sexy new leads....8800 will be a pocket knife too?!?!?!?

[Lurs]

Originally Posted by LeeG23

Am I the only one who likes suretype?

No, but you're in the minority.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by Lurs

No, but you're in the minority.

Is this a scientific result or just a guess? Based on?

I have both the 8700c with qwerty and a 7130c with SureType.

I prefer SureType over the 8700 qwerty because of key shape. I can compose emails much faster and with less typo's on SureType. The 7130c has regular keys. They are designed for fast typing as opposed to being part of the phone's style. It's a brilliant technology for reducing the size of the phone while still having a fully functional keyboard.

The vertically oriented sylized keys (tapered) on the 8700 suck. If they would have designed the keys for usage instead of style, all would be fine. Yes, one can adjust, but why? Even after adjusting to the keyboard it's still a poor experience, which slows one down. If the 8700c had regular keys then I would prefer it, as overall it's a good BB.

The 7290 was the last of the "great" qwerty keyboards. However, after looking at the pics of the new 8800, it looks like RIM woke up and decided to go back to regular keys for a good, fast typing experience.

I'm placing my bet on the 8800.

[BBJunkie]

Its coming..........
http://www.spiritflex.com/bbpearl.jpg

[pspiegel]

Originally Posted by BBJunkie

Its coming..........
http://www.spiritflex.com/bbpearl.jpg

thats just the pearl, not an 8800

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by archer6

The vertically oriented sylized keys (tapered) on the 8700 suck. If they would have designed the keys for usage instead of style, all would be fine. Yes, one can adjust, but why? Even after adjusting to the keyboard it's still a poor experience, which slows one down. If the 8700c had regular keys then I would prefer it, as overall it's a good BB.

The 7290 was the last of the "great" qwerty keyboards. However, after looking at the pics of the new 8800, it looks like RIM woke up and decided to go back to regular keys for a good, fast typing experience.

I'm placing my bet on the 8800.

It's not reasonable to expect that the narrower formfactor of the 8800 (compared to the 8700) will have 7250-like formed keys. The design of those keys dictate a wide(r) platform in order to be functionally useful. What the 8800 will have will be very approximate to the compacted Treo-like key formfactor (key-spacing/height/contact surface radius) which requires the use of an edge of your thumbnail to make contact. To this, I say 'good luck', as they are not intended for use by adult male hands. The 7250/7290 was a pancake for a reason.

[DanUC6]

Backbeat...
I totally disagree. I am looking at the 8800 and currently have a Treo. I have large hands and the buttons do not pose a problem at all. Everything has a learning curve...Now where are the new rumors!!!!

[dwella]

I for one am hoping for a better button setup on the 8800 as I have to let nails grow to use the 8700. Very tough for big hands. I am going to look at the treo 750 and see how the buttons are on it. I love my BB's but the errors I make now are bad......

d

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by DanUC6

Backbeat...
I totally disagree. I am looking at the 8800 and currently have a Treo. I have large hands and the buttons do not pose a problem at all. Everything has a learning curve...Now where are the new rumors!!!!

I came to Blackberry via PPC-phones with a QWERTY keyboard, including a Treo 700W. While the navigation of the 700W's OS is optimized for simple use, I found the keyboard to be more difficult to use than any I had owned prior. I have moderately large hands (9.0 surgical glove), and constantly had to use an extreme corner of my thumb to make contact without expecting errors. It proved impossible on that formfactor. Wider is, indeed, better.

[coreyg510]

Originally Posted by thatboiwes

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700c: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Coreyg, can you atleast say if Cingular will be getting both the Indigo AND the Crimson? Because that's the one that I really want. I would rather just have the Cingular version than getting a T-Mobile Crimson and having to unlock it to use for Cingular.

Not at this time.

[archer6]

Now that I have all three, Pearl, 7130c, 8700c I have found out just how important the shape of the keys are.

While wider is better as in the 8700, the extra width is useless without properly shaped keys.

My test comparison of the three when evaluating ease of use & how effective the keyboards are for speed & accuracy, I find the following results.

1st Place: 7130
2nd Place: 8100
3rd Place: 8700

The Winner 7130:
Has the perfect key shape & spacing designed for fast accurate typing.

The Pearl also has a very useful key shape, however it is hindered by the rubber membrane the keys are glued to. However the target market for this is the consumer market where email usage is not as intense as the mobile business person who handles much more email.

Finally there is the 8700 which is hindered only by the odd key shape. Keys designed as a styling element first with usability second. If one looks at these carefully you will notice that they are tapered from top to bottom as well as tapered on the inside edge facing the center of the keyboard. This makes the contact surface you use for pushing the keys very small & irregular.

While the keys on a Treo for example are small & also vertically oriented, they are properly shaped & much easier to use than the odd 8700 keys. My Treo experience validates this.

Finally when I study the available pictures of the Indigo 8800 the key shape is most ideal. Therefore even though it's not as wide as the 8700, the typing experience is likely to be far superior.

The Crimson version being even more narrow still offers properly designed keys so it should also offer a superior typing experience.

One does not need the wide bodied size & large flat keys of the 72XX BB series to have a keyboard that is conducive to fast & accurate typing. Just a well designed layout with properly shaped keys.

Cheers
Composed on my 7130c

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by archer6

My test comparison of the three when evaluating ease of use & how effective the keyboards are for speed & accuracy, I find the following results.

1st Place: 7130
2nd Place: 8100
3rd Place: 8700

A comparison of Apples (SureType) VS Oranges (QWERTY), with the comparative basis being key formfactor, is not an objective test. Why not throw in T9 while you're at it?

[takeshi]

There are definitely more factors than just key shape that will affect the usability and typing speed on a keyboard...

[archer6]

Originally Posted by takeshi

There are definitely more factors than just key shape that will affect the usability and typing speed on a keyboard...

Yes, I certainly agree with you.

With respect to everyone else, as we all have different needs, likes and dislikes, it's a matter of sharing experiences in a forum like this that makes it so valuable.

I have read many posts here and in other forums have been quite beneficial, as they have called to my attention certain characteristics of a product that I might not have focused on or missed.

However by participating in the forum my level of awareness was elevated and it was very beneficial. Even if I did not agree with the poster, it was still quite educational.

Forums like these are a great place to share opinions and experiences and that's all I'm doing here. For me it's not about who's right or wrong, or who thinks which device is best. It's about the value of having many opinions expressed. It's about the diversity and valuable content.

My goal is to simply share my experience with the BlackBerry devices. To share my personal preferences for those out there that may have similar preferences.

To give back to this community that has been a great place for me to learn.

Cheers.......