[sfo]

I tried. First I tried the 8800. Everyone said I'd get used to the keyboard in a few days. I didn't, so I brought it back and went with the 8703e I was happy with.
So Thursday morning I'm at AT&T (or Cingular or whatever they are this week) to get the Curve. The 8300's keyboard was better than the 8800, but STILL made my right hand hurt. I stopped making excuses for it even quicker this time.
So tomorrow it goes back. And I'm back to the 8703e and this section of BlackBerry Forums.

[Srwilliams]

Yea, I know what you mean. I swear I wanted the 8300 so bad. Spent months researching and reading everything on the phone. Could not wait to get rid of my 8700. Well, went into the local ATT ststore and spent 30 minutes typing on the 8300 and now I am back to the 8700. Everyone is trying to make like the 8300 keyboard is the best. It seemed like the keys were small and cramped in comparison to the 8700. So, like you said, the 8700 series wins again

C

[Halford]

but I wish it has the same size as 7290 does. I was fine with it until it broke down. bought 8700... the keys are so close together and i tend to press both at same time.. yea i got big fingers and even my pinkie was big! I am wearing out the backspace button nowadays.

[takeshi]

Keyboards are a subjective preference. You always have to choose based on what works for you.

[jetspeedz]

i tried one of the first 8800 when they were first delieverd to TX before anywhere else and i just couldn't get used to the keyboard + i didnt like the lag kind of reminded me of the old 7290 i had. It seems like its an OS issue but anyway went back with 8700c and im quite happy just waiting on the next 9xxx model hopefully no Camera since i cant have it at my work and hopefully with 3G, can care less about wifi

[flash24]

I love the 8700 keyboard, but I think the curve has the best blackberry keyboard out there.

[jgb@etree]

I hear you. It took me a while to get used to the keyboard (as well as some other features) on the 8703e when I replaced my 7250. After a month or so, I forgot all about the 7250.

So I got an 8830 the day it launched. My first impression is that the build quality is getting yet worse (the 72xx's were indestructible, but the 8703e still seems better than the 8830). But I told myself that I don't care - the memory card slot will make up for it. Then I realized that I hate the keyboard.... and the scroll-ball....


I only made it about 3 weeks. I'm back on a 8703e. Now I'll have to wait another 6-8 months until VZW releases something else :(

[XBGM3R]

Wohooo, Yeah 8700 is WIN! as always. Because 8700 is best factor out of all blackberries.

[FSUFAN1200]

Well, I guess I will put my 2-cents worth in since I have own all three (3) of the above-mentioned devices.

First off, my 8703e which I have reverted back too, for me works the best. I love the form factor, keyboard, track-wheel, and battery life. I could not agree more, that’s its great that RIM is making so many different devices so the consumer can make a choice of which device they want themselves. But the biggest deciding factor is the network service, which for me, Verizon is superior here in south florida. Furthermore, the new AT&T / Cingular do not provide insurance for any of their PDA devices, and Verizon does.

I could not get use to the keyboard on the Verizon 8830. The silver keys, with the crappy blue back lighting suxs. I have no problem with the track wheel, actually it worked very well. The form factor didn’t do it for me! It just doesn’t feel that comfortable to me, and that’s just my personal preference.

I did purchase an AT&T / Cingular 8300 and used it for 4-days. It’s a really nice device, and super light weight. Great key pad, but other than that, nothing really flipped-me-out about it! I could give a crap about the camera, so it was not a deciding difference for me. The main deal breaker here was the network. The voice and sound quality is no where near as good as the CDMA network, sorry GSM fans, but once again this is my personal opinion. I honestly can’t believe that AT&T / Cingular will not insure their PDA devices, major deal breaker for me. I personally wouldn’t risk owning a PDA without insurance, because I work outdoors a good part of the time, and I am rough with anything I own, regardless of what it is. A few 500 dollar PDA’s would get awful expensive for me after damaging and breaking a couple of them over a few months.

So, the bottom line is I’m back to my Verizon 8703e, and feel much more content.

Matt