[pdqgp]

I am also surprised that so many are not happy with the 8800. The squeaks are pretty easy to fix. I mean, sure, I'd like for it to have been solid from the get-go, but one can either simply return a great product and move on, live with a minor problem or just fix it and enjoy it.

Mine developed a slight squeak when squeezed, but the dental floss and a bit of silicon and viola, it's perfect and has been solid since.

To each their own.

[mas90guru]

Originally Posted by rt300z

I'm surprise to hear so many disappointed with the 8800. We were actually looking to upgrade a few of our 8700's to the 8800. Some of the exec. here at our office have some shown interest in the 8800 so we were going to get a couple of them to try. I does look pretty slick. I might just get one to try out and pass it around to my other co workers and see what they have to say. Can anyone comment on the GPS feature?

cheers...

~rt

I am in Anchorage on business this week. I've used the 8800's GPS plus Blackberry Maps to orient myself. The BB Maps program will track your movement when you turn the GPS on. I've never had trouble getting a signal and maintaining it. The accuracy is not as great as what you get in a standalone nav system -- but in a pinch it works -- and beats the heck out of hauling my Magellan system around taking up suitcase space.

[pctower]

Originally Posted by Yzerguy

So what I'm getting from this thread is that it may be better to wait for the 8300 instead of buying the 8800??

You may get that from this thread, but you won't necessarily get it from me. I went from the 7290 (which had the big old keyboard, track wheel and built like a tank) and I wouldn't dream of going back.

After just a little time with the 8800 I now prefer its keyboard and the Pearl ball is wonderful.

I'm not saying that waiting for the 8300 to compare is a necessarily a bad idea - just that I think the 8800 is getting a bum rap in this thread.

I wasn't interested in waiting because the 8300 looks ugly to me and reminds me too much of my old (uggg!) Treo 600. The 8800 has everything I want (except 3G - but the 8300 won't have that either).

RIM isn't stupid or careless. I'm sure they did a lot of testing in developing the 8800's keyboard. I don't think people are using it long enough to appreciate what I think is a real improvement in the keyboard design. The sliding the fingers approach discussed elsewhere in this thread helps a lot.

Bottom line for me is I love the 8800 and I believe I'll get good use out of it until the new 9000s come out with G3.

[test54]

Originally Posted by pctower

You may get that from this thread, but you won't necessarily get it from me. I went from the 7290 (which had the big old keyboard, track wheel and built like a tank) and I wouldn't dream of going back.

After just a little time with the 8800 I now prefer its keyboard and the Pearl ball is wonderful.

I'm not saying that waiting for the 8300 to compare is a necessarily a bad idea - just that I think the 8800 is getting a bum rap in this thread.

I wasn't interested in waiting because the 8300 looks ugly to me and reminds me too much of my old (uggg!) Treo 600. The 8800 has everything I want (except 3G - but the 8300 won't have that either).

RIM isn't stupid or careless. I'm sure they did a lot of testing in developing the 8800's keyboard. I don't think people are using it long enough to appreciate what I think is a real improvement in the keyboard design. The sliding the fingers approach discussed elsewhere in this thread helps a lot.

Bottom line for me is I love the 8800 and I believe I'll get good use out of it until the new 9000s come out with G3.

I agree 100%, I'm happy with the keyboard and I have big hands so I thought that would be a problm but the slide the fingers approach works very well. I will not be looking for another model anytime soon.

[dropscience]

i dont get it. you went back to a CDMA device (8703e) from the GSM device (8800)?? you keep two active accounts??

[sfo]

Originally Posted by Pizzle

So, you switched back to your old carrier, too, then?

I still had Sprint...now use the Cingular SIM on another phone.
Sprint works better in the Bay Area; Cingular better in Miami.

[sfo]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

I am on BIS and use TeleNav service and so far so good. I have not used it extensively but the few times I have so far I liked it. You can use 3-D view, top down view, and a top down with some data fields I believe. Talks to ya' too.

That said, you can get TeleNav on the 8700 series as an application and it works just as well.

[sfo]

Originally Posted by dropscience

i dont get it. you went back to a CDMA device (8703e) from the GSM device (8800)?? you keep two active accounts??

Yes...I use one for work and one for personal use.

[Dawgfan]

Originally Posted by sfo

That said, you can get TeleNav on the 8700 series as an application and it works just as well.

How do you do this as my gf's boss wants this bad for his 8700?

[Dawgfan]

Originally Posted by sfo

I still had Sprint...now use the Cingular SIM on another phone.
Sprint works better in the Bay Area; Cingular better in Miami.

uh oh...ballin'...

[sfo]

Originally Posted by Dawgfan

How do you do this as my gf's boss wants this bad for his 8700?

I got it directly from Sprint, but I just checked and there's a 30 day trial:
TeleNav - Always find your way!

I also believe Garmin will have an 8703e compatable app very soon.