How come the Bold...
 

...only gets a 2.0MP camera whereas the Javelin gets the 3.2MP? Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the Bold meant to be top of the line? Don't get me wrong, that's not gonna stop me from buying it, I was merely curious.

Each manufactor has to make choices and the cost difference between a 2mp chip and 3.2 would only be a couple of bucks but RIM decided that the 2.0 would be best. Likely because the carriers did not want it any bigger as they are going to have to move these images over the air on their network.

My best guess is to provide the product line with a road map for future upgrade opportunities. Since the Javelin doesn't have 3G, RIM likely decided to give it a 3.2 MP camera to provide consumers a choice between it and the Bold depending on what's more important to them.

Yeah... What's more important? 3g or more megapixel camera? hmmm... decisions ...

Well since the curve is seen as a more of a consumer device and the Javelin will replace it i guess they figured a more consumer device would benefit from a better camera and no 3G as some people wouldn't need it and save on battery life.

the only question now is....should i wait for it

Yes... but what will the battery life be for the Javelin. It's relative:

Bold = 3G (main feature that differentiates it from other BB models, right?). It eats up a lot more battery than the Javelin in normal EDGE / GPRS mode. That's why they slammed a 1500mAH battery into it! I was reading some other blogs and such, they can get a few days (3 if you're a normal user) in 3G mode. That's REALLY Good.

Javelin = Better Camera. Can we say that 1 more megapixel will require a 1500mAH Battery? I doubt it. It will probably get a 1.100 or 1.200mAH Battery. I bet the two devices will be VERY similar. They're both blackberries with SIMILAR hardware (somewhat). The power hungry device will get a larger battery. The less power hungry device will get less battery power.

Don't forget that even with phone cameras, megapixels are not the only factor to produce a good camera.

Of course not... Let's not forget the Ultrapixels, photons and electrons, and last but never the least, The ZPM (Zero Point Module, for all those SG Freaks :) like me haha).

That's my take. The consumer-oriented Javelin will get the better camera to help differentiate it from the business/enterprise-oriented Bold. I think they're trying to give the Jav some advantages and make it more attractive.

Curve (2 MP camera) > Javelin (3.2 MP camera)
8800 (no camera) > Bold (2 MP camera)

If you spend all your time in metropolitan areas then the 3G might be beneficial. If not, the Javelin will be a better deal.

If Bold had 3+ megapixel you would have one less reason to upgrade to next blackberry... :)

A 3.2 megapixle? dang thats really good for a phone

they have 8 megapixel phones

Might be a page taken from Nokia's marketing playbook. They sell the more consumer oriented N series and the business oriented E series. The N series have much better camera specs than the E series devices. Even the 1000+ E90 didnt have that great of a camera and it was/is the flagship of the E series lineup. (some might argue the E71 is).

As mentioned before, megapixels alone are not the only factor that determine picture quality: image sensor, lens quality, and implementation/integration also matter.

I'm going to wait to buy either one and see how long the battery lasts on the bold with 3g on and 3g off. I'm a heavy data user, with JT on all day, and I'm always sending emails, and emails with pictures. Arg... To Bold or not to Bold!

re: Nokia E71 camera -

I've got one and the camera sucks. Hard. It's not the mega pixels, it's the optics. Threads abound over at HoFo about the disappointing camera on the E71.

personally i couldnt care less about 3g. Id pick a better camera anyday. And now that this has both GPS and Wifi, im very much looking forward to this one!

The more I think about it, and all of the other things considered (len sensor, image quality etc...), neither 3.2mp or 2.0 is really worth mentioning. The more I think about it, outside of apple and rim, most camera standards are pretty high on phones...so I guess it's moot point.