[elguapo9]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7290/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I have a 7290 that I have been using for about 3 months. I love the data features, but as a phone it is terrible. The volume is too low (with or w/out headset), and the microphone gain is way too high. I use it in airports a lot and the people I talk to can hear everything in the background. They are always complaining about how loud it is. So, my question is, are any of these issues addressed in the new BB's? I am interested in the 8700 and the Pearl, but am open to all suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[bbman911]

I can only comment on the 8700...I think it suffers from the same as what you describe. In addition, I can attest that the signal drops when I'm in a parking garage or in an elevator. Never had that problem with the RAZR so in my opinion the phone on the 8700 is not great... I was warned when I bought the device that the phone was weak, they were right..

[brucejr]

I would recomment going to the Blackberry website and doing a side by side comparison of the different phonesBlackBerry - Devices. Of course the choice is going to hinge on what provider you are with, or the one you want to go with. I have the 8703e with VZW and love the phone and features. Before I had the 7105t w/ TMO.

[Naked Wife]

Wirelessly posted (NakedBerry: BlackBerry7250/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

The side by side comparison won't help him. He is interested in the audio quality during phone calls. I know my 7250 suffers from the same problems as your 7290. I've read that the Pearl has a better phone than the 8700. I don't know from personal experience.

[secrecyguy]

You may have to same problem with the 8700 and the Pearl 8100.

Since you are at a noisy place, the 8100 may not be loud enough (for ringing) for you including the vibrating part.

[SilverSiR]

8700 is really good as a phone, my 7510 was pretty bad. Low volume and bad reception but the bad reception could have been due to the carrier.

[somebody7]

My pearl is pretty good. I have not had any issues hearing the ringers and the sound quality on it is as good as any other phones Ive had. I think the thing I love most about it is that the java app on it runs beautifully....so gmail looks great. Its a little difficult to get used to suretype at first, but after you get the hang of it, you'll be wizzing by without have to look at the keys.

[archer6]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7130/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

After owning an 8700c, 7130c, & 8100 from.Cingular my experience reveals that all three have phones that are quite good. That said I would say the best is a tie between the 7130 & 8100. Each of these are clear and hold a signal well. I've traveled extensively with the 7130 & enjoyed great call clarity & no dropped calls. It easily matches my RAZR in terms of excellent phone performance.

[JackyC]

I can only comment on the Pearl. It's loud enough for me, even in noisy places. My RAZR was horrible, waayy too low. Except, I don't hear my phone ringing too often... maybe it's because my ringtone is "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas."

[mymitsu3kgt]

The OS you're running can affect your call quality. Some people have said their voice quality improved after upgrading their OS. My voice quality with my 8700g is very good.

[ripster]

7130c rocks! Was a diehard Nokia user!

[BB4Life]

I've had an 8700c and migrated over to 8100, and have to say that I prefer the pearl as a phone over 8700. My pearl has much better phone clarity.

[tsac]

The OS may be an answer to some problems. I had two different 6000 models and a 7290 and now a 8700c . the 7290 was good and so is the 8700c. Maybe the different OS's from different carriers do degrade the quality.

[chris716]

I have had three blackberries the 7105t the 8700g and the pearl all from tmobile. The 7105t in my opinon sucked. The 8700g was great and the pearl was alright sometimes I would have a hard time hearing on the pearl and I'm not a fan of suretype so I stick with my 8700g

[tsac]

If after reading the above adds you get the idea that it's hard to choose, your right.

We all like what we have ....at least for now.

[CrackRJack]

I think the 8700 is the Best Option if you do a lot of email and need the full screen keyboard, that's what I use.

If I didn't do so much email I would definately go with the Pearl, got to be the Coolest phone out this fall.

I can't wait to get my hands on the upcoming 8800. It seems to combine the best of both. Looks like it won't have a camera phone but hopefully MP3 players like Berry Tunes will work on it.

CRJ

[richard371]

After owning all the 8100 is the best. The 8700 pics up to much background noise and people can't understand me outdoors.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by richard371

After owning all the 8100 is the best. The 8700 pics up to much background noise and people can't understand me outdoors.

This may have been unique to your particular 8700c.

My experience has been different. Due to my obssesive desire to find just the right BlackBerry for me, and the fact that my wife was on a similar quest. I have actually purchased Six new BB's in the last couple of months. I'm the one that travels extensively for work, and therefore I know where both the strong signal & weak signal areas are over a large portion of the state.

First I bought two 7130c's put them in my car, along with my two RAZR V3's (one Silver, one Black) and went out for a week. Each one's phone quality and reception was outstanding. Then I tried two 8700c's under the same conditions. Finally a few weeks later, same test for the 8100's.

This experience taught me several things about the BB as a phone. Once of which was that they consistency from one to the next was excellent. Second, every one of these models have a very good phone. Third, the only difference between them seems to be the 8700c which is just slightly less clear from the earpiece, and only under certain conditions. Hardly enough to even make a difference.

Then when it came to the 7130 and 8100 models they are about identical and very hard to differentiate any difference. My first response in an earlier positing here, before these specific back to back tests in the same ares, was that the 8100 had the best phone by a slight margin. However I was too premature in that reporting as it was more of a first impression after just a day or so. Once I did the more length relevant tests, I have a more accurate result.

All on bluetooth were identical. A bluetook headset is all it takes on the 8700 to bring it up to the others and even without, it's just a tick below them and again only under certain circumstances which one would only encounter once in awhile.

Each of the RAZR's have truly excellent call quality and clarity, however when compared side by side with the BlackBerry's the results were quite impressive. There is simply so little differenct that its' not enough to factor in.

Based on my personal preferences, I kept the 7130c as my main BlackBerry and the 8700c as my backup. Each has it's advantages. I did however sell the 8100 is it's simply too small for me, as I process so much email. Yet I am really excited about the Pearl because not only is it a great BlackBerry but it's bringing in a lot of mainstream buyers which will further pump up sales and everyone benefits from that. My wife really wanted to like the Pearl, as she has much smaller hands and loved the camera. But again, because of business needs she chose the 7130c for it's excellent keyboard. That it's just a few millimeters larger than the Pearl in each dimension, was not a problem.

So when someone asks me which phone is the best, I suggest they focus on the three models 8700/7130/8100, and choose the one that fits there needs the best. From a standpoint of functionality they are all terrific and after spending countless hours testing, I can say that I have never been more impressed with any phone, than I am with the BlackBerry lineup.

Cheers......

[elguapo9]

Anyone have any impressions with the 8300 concerning call quality. I ended up ditching my 7290 because the phone sucked so bad (way too much pickup on the mic, people could here everything in the background, it was drowning me out). I've been using an old Treo 650 for the last few months, but want to get back to a BB because it's the superior device. I'm looking at the Curve and the Pearl.

Anyone??

[joswego62]

I'm a fairly new BB user, but have been disappointed (and surprised) at the poor phone design/performance. What could be so hard about designing/building a good cell phone?

The norm in my experience has been that with a Nokia cell phone and my BB, both with Cingular service, the BB always registers a weaker signal, much poorer reception/audio quality, and more dropped calls than the Nokia. The audio quality is much better on the BB with the corded earpiece, but that's not always convenient.