[rpfeffer]

going from an 8700 back to the 7290 would be like going from HDTV back to black and white TV.

[PaulOckenden]

Looking at the replies so far I guess I'm going to be in a minority of one here, but despite all of the advances with the 8700, what I really miss is the "always on" screen of the 7290.

With the 8700, I have to press a button to see what's on the screen, whereas with the 7290 it's just there. No backlighting required.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I really *love* the way the screen works on the 7290. Oh, sure the colours can be dull and muted, but hey, this is an email device not a multimedia terminal! The fact that it's so usable without a backlight is brilliant.

So, I'd like an 8700, with 8700 resolution, but combined with the transreflective stuff from the 7290.

Is it just me?

P.

[rpfeffer]

Originally Posted by PaulOckenden

Looking at the replies so far I guess I'm going to be in a minority of one here, but despite all of the advances with the 8700, what I really miss is the "always on" screen of the 7290.

With the 8700, I have to press a button to see what's on the screen, whereas with the 7290 it's just there. No backlighting required.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I really *love* the way the screen works on the 7290. Oh, sure the colours can be dull and muted, but hey, this is an email device not a multimedia terminal! The fact that it's so usable without a backlight is brilliant.

So, I'd like an 8700, with 8700 resolution, but combined with the transreflective stuff from the 7290.

Is it just me?

P.

I respectfullly disagree. The 7290 screen is near impossible to see in high light environments. The 8700 looks amazing, no matter how much light is present around you, even direct sunlight. IMO the 7290 is not even in the same league as the 8700. If the Blackberrys were College football conferences, the 8700 would be the Big Ten conference, while the 7290 would be Conferense USA or MAC.

[PaulOckenden]

Originally Posted by rpfeffer

I respectfullly disagree. The 7290 screen is near impossible to see in high light environments.

I wonder whether we've both had the same 7290s. Now my 7100t was impossible to see in bright sunlight (not that we get much here in the UK), but I've found the 7290 to be readable in just about any lighting conditions. The only time I have to use the backlight is when the room is dark.

Originally Posted by rpfeffer

The 8700 looks amazing, no matter how much light is present around you, even direct sunlight.

I don't disagree. But my point is that you need to poke it to see what's going on. Here's a real world example. I have a 7290 and a 8700g on the desk in front of me, and I've just received an email. Both have just beeped and the red LED is flashing. If I look at the 7290 (without even touching it) I can see who the email is from, and the subject line. If I look at the 8700g I just see a blank screen.

Originally Posted by rpfeffer

IMO the 7290 is not even in the same league as the 8700. If the Blackberrys were College football conferences, the 8700 would be the Big Ten conference, while the 7290 would be Conferense USA or MAC.

Your US sporting analogies are lost on me, I'm afraid. We have proper football over here ...

[Jase88]

I've never had difficulty viewing the 7250/7290 in "high light" environments. In fact, I would say this model of display is perhaps the most flexible I've encountered...viewable in a wide range of lighting conditions.

The 8700 is an exceptional model. However, I'm not happy with the keyboard. They should have kept it the same as the 7200-series....

[jontalotta]

Originally Posted by PaulOckenden

Here's a real world example. I have a 7290 and a 8700g on the desk in front of me, and I've just received an email. Both have just beeped and the red LED is flashing. If I look at the 7290 (without even touching it) I can see who the email is from, and the subject line. If I look at the 8700g I just see a blank screen.

Very simple free solution for this. Download BBLight OTA. Select: Active; Activate on Startup; On User Activity, and On External Power. Backlight will turn on when new emails arrive, reminders pop up, etc. And, when plugged into a power source (at desk or in car) screen will stay lit all the time.

[PaulOckenden]

Originally Posted by jontalotta

Very simple free solution for this.

Yup. Good partial solution. But what I neglected to mention in the previous email was that neither BlackBerry was plugged in.

Likewise, if I'm sitting at home watching TV, with the device on the couch beside me, it wouldn't be connected up, so BBLight wouldn't help.

I guess it's just me who's so in love with the transreflective screen on the 7290.... I do like the 8700 screen - I like it a lot - I just wish it was visible without the backlight.

P.

[wirelessandy]

You're not alone. In practice, I prefer the screen characteristics of the 7290. Nothing beats being able to just glace over at your device to see what's going (battery level, RF signal bars, # of messages waiting) without user intervention. Or maybe I'm just really, really lazy.

I also prefer how the 7290's screen is designed into the body of the phone: No air gap between the LCD surface and the transparent top surface (like the 8700) for dust to creep under.

[AlbertoM]

Cóme on, guys...all you have to do is touch one button, any button, to bring it to life...how many calories is that!?!?

[bomangani]

Originally Posted by rpfeffer

If the Blackberrys were College football conferences, the 8700 would be the Big Ten conference, while the 7290 would be Conferense USA or MAC.

Actually, the 8700 would be better suited as the BIG 12!

Hook Em

Brettman

[wirelessandy]

Originally Posted by AlbertoM

Cóme on, guys...all you have to do is touch one button, any button, to bring it to life...how many calories is that!?!?

/reaches for button

*pant.. pant.. pant...* can't... reach!

At least the 8700 has the green blinky, which is something I really wish came with ALL mobile phones. Solves the problem of knowing if you've still got a signal or have a message waiting.

Still, I prefer always being able to see the screen, if possible. Especially handy for those quick hands-free glances while driving!

[Bennett5000]

My 8700c has worked fine without dust, cracks, scratches, leakage, etc........I just need a case as good as the leather one I had from Blackberry for my 7290...

[peznut]

Originally Posted by stevew

Uhhhhh...2 things...the topic says poll...where's the vote/poll feature? 2nd thing...tried my 7290 the other day...typing is much easier and feels better to me...less x-over on the keys...can type much faster and fewer typo's...but overall, would not go back to the 7290.

I agree with stevew; I feel my typing isn't as quick on the 8700 as on my 7290, especially because of the cap-delay seeming longer (which I posted about elsewhere), but overall, the 8700 is a significant improvement over the 7290 and there's no way I'd go back!

[DLH]

Originally Posted by peznut

I agree with stevew; I feel my typing isn't as quick on the 8700 as on my 7290, especially because of the cap-delay seeming longer (which I posted about elsewhere), but overall, the 8700 is a significant improvement over the 7290 and there's no way I'd go back!

Okay since I started this thread I thought I would finish it----I've finally become used to and love the 8700C. However, just today I dropped the 8700c in the driveway and noticed considerable cosmetic damage--mostly scratches that revealed the black under-casing-----Soooooooo...compared to the many times I dropped the 7290 the cosmetic damage is less noticeable on the 7290. The 7290 is a tank when dropped--perhaps because it is not a painted or partially finished product like the 8700c.. If you do not want a broken heart hold onto the 8700 much better than the 7290.

[B]So again please give me all the nice features of the 8700 in the 7290 form factor--or at least something that does not show scratches and dents when dropped---Perhaps Rogers--hence the 8700r saw this coming. Also the screen protectors that this forum advises protected the screen. Thanks goodness for those because screen scratches would drive me nuts!!

Just my .02

[9balla4life]

I would never go back to the 7100G or 7290. In my opinion, the screen on the device is second to none. It's alike a plasma TV no matter what condition your in the phone automatically. Not to mention that I can pull up HTML's websites and the edge network. IMHO it is just plain stupid to go back. Bc of the "Intel" paltform the device is much faster and it take no more than 3mins at most to boot up after shutting the device down.

[stricklandpb]

How did you go about getting it replaced, I have a lot of dust in mine.

[Seattle18]

RIM was replacing them directly (see thread in here titled "Oh No...Dust!"), but they are out of them and now you have to go through Cingular device replacement people.

[DLH]

Originally Posted by 9balla4life

I would never go back to the 7100G or 7290. In my opinion, the screen on the device is second to none. It's alike a plasma TV no matter what condition your in the phone automatically. Not to mention that I can pull up HTML's websites and the edge network. IMHO it is just plain stupid to go back. Bc of the "Intel" paltform the device is much faster and it take no more than 3mins at most to boot up after shutting the device down.

Agreed but drop the 8700c and then drop the 7290...and you will get my point. the 7290 is a tank...the 8700c is a cosmetic nighmare

[BigJay.Inc]

will never go back to my 7290.....i think the 8700 is here to stay...

[rcbjr]

Originally Posted by DLH

Agreed but drop the 8700c and then drop the 7290...and you will get my point. the 7290 is a tank...the 8700c is a cosmetic nighmare

---

I disagree, I have carried both, dropped both in about the same way and the results were approximately the same, very, very minor cosmetic damage from the impacts and no loss of functionality. I've read about drops that have killed both and about both surviving outrageous drops. I don't know why people think they can tell if there is a difference in durability by look and feel.

Hope this helps.
Rcbjr