[BoehT]

the article says its smaller and thinner than the 7200 series, but i wonder how much smaller and thinner...

wish i could see a side by side comparison.

[kd78]

It looks very nice. I hope that the reception and noise cancellation issues of the 7100 series doesn't follow it.

[BBUser7100t]

After going to the 7100t, I didn't think I could ever go back to a BlackBerry with a QWERTY keyboard. And while email is critical for me, I also like how the 7100 is a better phone than the 7230 I used to have (I never had the sound/bluetooth issues others complain of). However, if the 8700 is smaller and thinner than the 7200 series, is a better phone than the 7200 series and is as slick as it looks, it will be in my hands as soon as its released. I can't wait!

[mrogers]

Originally Posted by purephase

The post is not in the pinstack forum any more (not sure why) but someone posted that this particular model was "bang-on", so who knows. Personally, I'm rooting for this one.

Yeah, well, the guy that posted that "100% accurate" comment was that jerk AboutBlackberry, the one who pimps his lame web site on every forum he can find and advertises it with the tagline "The Original" even though there's nothing original about it and it was about the 20th Blackberry-related forum site to pop up. I take everything he says with a grain of salt, but I do hope he's right. Also, not sure what problems you are having with their forums, but it seems to still be up.

[mrogers]

As for the buttons on top, I think that one is the phone button and one is the backlight button (like the 7100 series), given that there's no backlight button on the main keyboard. The button on the side is supposedly a programmable soft key, just like the one in between the phone buttons.

[KonTiki]

If the backlight adjust automaticaly why would it need a button for the backlight to begin with?

[mrogers]

Because I would still want to be able manually shut mine off. The backlight button is pretty essential to BBs, I think, and what about if you disable the auto sensor feature? You still then need a way to do it yourself. Just because you have cruise control doesn't mean you don't need an accelerator pedal ;)

[Jack T. Chance]

Yegods, that thing is GORGEOUS! I WANT ONE!!!

Hopefully, that becomes available for the Nextel network in 2006. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping against hope that it'll support WiDen!

Time will tell, it always does.

Thanks for the link to the awesome pics, guys!

Originally Posted by KonTiki

If the backlight adjust automaticaly why would it need a button for the backlight to begin with?

Well, let me put it this way. I used to use a Color Sidekick before dumping it in favor of the BB 7520. The Sidekick's light sensor turned the light on 90% of the time, at least, even turning it on at times when I felt it wasn't necessary. With the BB, I don't have that problem. I can make the decision myself as to whether or not I need the backlight.

That's my 2¢ on the subject, for what it's worth.

[lunchboxfett]

I believe that Cingular is going to be releasing push to talk very soon also.

[Jack T. Chance]

Originally Posted by lunchboxfett

I believe that Cingular is going to be releasing push to talk very soon also.

Due to be launched next month.

Which reminds me... the key on the left side, below the USB port, may very well be a programmable soft key, BUT... look at its design, with the 3 raised dots. It's very clearly been designed to make a good PTT button, and Cingular and/or Verizon may have RIM program it as such. After all, the center softkey on the 7100t, the softkey in-between the Answer and End keys, has been programmed by T-Mobile to be the T-Zones/Web Browser launch key. So, the carrier can define the uses for those keys, and the carriers may well do so.

[T-Roy]

Similar?

[Donna]

I want one!

[mkg]

Wow. Simply, wow.

[Donna]

Does it come in a convertible?

[jetspeedz]

if they fixed the phone issues and volume i might get rid of my 2nd phone and get voice on it.. hopefully its available for cingular or verizon

[allenranger2]

Would anyone like to speculate what the new price of the 8700 would be with/without a new voice contract? I say around $500.

[Donna]

This morning I heard an ad on the radio for a free BlackBerry if you bought 4 new tires, plus a one year contract...

[KonTiki]

Double posted by mistake sorry.

[KonTiki]

Hands out mops to everyone so they can clean up all the salivation that is going on. Give it time guys, wait for the bugs to be removed, you know damn well that every new thing has got to have them, wait till they upgrade at least once. Relax it wont go away, it will be there in 6 months, and think about it you have lived without for all this time, so another 6 months aint going to kill anyone. I agree it is sharp and I had hated the original pictures I had seen but after these new pictures and reading a bit more on it I too am impressed to paraphrase a co-worker that just saw it " . . . It is almost orgasmic." But I just got my 7250 a few months back and I am happy with it and since I pay my own way all around on this, it will have to come down in price enough for me to make the change, perhaps when the 9000 series come out.

[bperkins]

Originally Posted by allenranger2

Would anyone like to speculate what the new price of the 8700 would be with/without a new voice contract? I say around $500.

$399 tops.