[NCBuckeye]

I know I might get blasted but oh well. Why is it all of you 8800 haters think that this keyboard is going to be better? Most of us that keep using it are fine. The 8300 is smaller than the 8800, correct? So the keyboard should be smaller also. Everyone will complain about the 8300 once they get it and use it again.

[eros18]

thats very possible but I think most are interested in the fact that it is a new device and hence new usually means better. I won't lie, I'm looking forward to the camera. Wish my 8700c had a camera. 8700c Best BB EVER!

[trevolly]

I think alot of the people were dissapointed with the 8800 keyboard because it has the curved, raised. slightly slippery keys. Obviously there's always the initial excitement over a new handset. the thing with the 8300 is that it has a full keyboard with "normal" flat keys but it isnt as wide as the 8800 and only a bit larger than the 8100.

[exilio]

Originally Posted by NCBuckeye

I know I might get blasted but oh well. Why is it all of you 8800 haters think that this keyboard is going to be better? Most of us that keep using it are fine. The 8300 is smaller than the 8800, correct? So the keyboard should be smaller also. Everyone will complain about the 8300 once they get it and use it again.

I don't think you want to turn this into a 8800 vs 8300 thing. Sure, there might be some people that like the 8300 simply because it is new. However, it has been consistent in professional reviews that the keyboard is an improvement over the 8800's design. And it was consistent that the 8800's keyboard was panned by reviewers.

And while the 8300's keyboard may take up less room horizontally, there is space between the keys that may go a long way to improving accuracy. What's more, since it does take less room vertically, RIM may be one step close to making one-handed typing on the go, feasible.

[greggebhardt]

Originally Posted by NCBuckeye

I know I might get blasted but oh well. Why is it all of you 8800 haters think that this keyboard is going to be better? Most of us that keep using it are fine. The 8300 is smaller than the 8800, correct? So the keyboard should be smaller also. Everyone will complain about the 8300 once they get it and use it again.

You are quite likely right! I left my 8100 to go to the 8800 and now am back to my 8700 and it is got to be the best except for my old 7520!

Just cause they CAN make it smaller does not mean it is good! Unless you like a little girley phone!

[ufd108]

My current, and first, Blackberry is a 7130c. I bought it for the smaller size but truly can't stand Suretype. I have been looking forward to a next gen full QWERTY BB and ran to the Cingular store when the 8800 was announced. To my chagrin I had more trouble typing on the 8800 with it's adjacent, black keys than I have on my 7130. I held off once I heard about the 8300. In my opinion it can't be worse than the 8800. As a business user with a Navigation system built into my car I need neither a camera nor GPS. I just want a small, thin BB with a full QWERTY keyboard.

That's my fascination with the 8300.

Don (newbie)

[LunkHead]

I love the 8800 keyboard... Not a single issue here! The 8300 does look tiny... and I would rather have GPS than a camera or wifi....

[Demon]

I am thinking about picking up an 8300, the reason I didnt get the 8800 was the cramped keyboard, I like the seperate keys of the 8700 and 8300.

[kasperapd]

I don't have any problems with my 8800, but I can't wait to get my hands on my 8300 and try it out. Looks like a great device.

[archer6]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7130/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

I find the keyboard on my 7130c to be ideal. Far better than my 8700c. Plus the SureType input method is very fast, accurate & fun to use. Next I got an 8800, & that has a much better keyboard than the 8700c by a wide margin. Three & one half weeks ago I received my new O2 Curve 8300. Now that has the very best qwerty keyboard of all the recent qwerty boards. I have large hands & yet the 8300 is very fast & easy to type on because it has well designed keys very similar to my 7130c. What I've learned is that even though the 8700c also has separate keys, the odd slanted uneven surface makes them very hard to use. Whereas the keys on both the 7130c & 8300 are regular in shape with a nice flat surface on top much like laptop keys. So if you are looking for a fast easy typing experience the 8300 will not disappoint. I highly suggest it.

[Srwilliams]

Archer 6:

Help me with this, as you hit upon something that I am curious about. I wanted the 8300 so bad because I hated dialing phone numbers from the 8700c I could type emails okay, but dialing the numbers troubled me. I even contemplated going over to a gegular dial pad cell phone and leaving blackberrys all together. Does the shape and spacing on the 8300 keys make dialing numbers easier.

Also, I have been hgearing varying reports about the loudness of the earphone and the speakerphone. Some say that the sound is really loud, which I want, others say that the sound is low in the headset and the speakerphone. Can you speak to the loudness of the sound in both the headset and the speakerphone.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by Srwilliams

Archer 6:

1) Help me with this, as you hit upon something that I am curious about. I wanted the 8300 so bad because I hated dialing phone numbers from the 8700c I could type emails okay, but dialing the numbers troubled me. I even contemplated going over to a gegular dial pad cell phone and leaving blackberrys all together. Does the shape and spacing on the 8300 keys make dialing numbers easier.

2) Also, I have been hgearing varying reports about the loudness of the earphone and the speakerphone. Some say that the sound is really loud, which I want, others say that the sound is low in the headset and the speakerphone. Can you speak to the loudness of the sound in both the headset and the speakerphone.

1) As much as I like BlackBerry devices, I've found out the hard way that one must pay very close attention to the qwerty keyboards, in order to get one that works well. Prior to purchasing a BB, I had used Treos, a Moto-Q and Blackjack, so all my experience was with qwerty.

The first BlackBerry I purchased was a 7130c which has the SureType input method. I chose this model because it was an ideal size and shape. More like a cell phone and less like holding a piece of toast up to your ear..... Plus I find the SureType software and keyboard a brilliant system. Very fast and accurate as it learns the words you use and then offers them up as you type.

Being as that was my first BB and I enjoyed it so much I looked around for a forum to learn more, and I found this excellent forum. After reading all the glowing reports on the 8700c which was a current model at that time, I decided that I would try one of those as well, just to be sure that I had the best one for me. I was using my 7130c for email, and so much more than the prior devices I owned since the BB push mail is so handy. The mistake I made, was based on how impressed and satisfied I was with the 7130c, along with the great reports that I read. Therefore I ordered my 8700c from the Cingular web site. Upon receiving it I noticed that the keys were not a conventional shape. My experience with the 8700c was horrible. The exact opposite of my 7130, and the interesting part is that the keys on the 7130 are flat on top like a normal keyboard, horizontal in orientation and larger than on the 8700. The oddly shaped keys appear to be part of the styling on the 8700.

Being the mobile phone enthusiast I am, I decided to try an 8800 when they were released. This time I went into the store first and found that the keys were closer to "normal" smart phone keys. Although they are not spaced apart like the 7130 they are indeed quite nice to use. As you probably know if you've looked at them, they do have a curved ridge across the center of each key. Again, I can only imagine that this is another style element like the 8700 keys. They are also setup to require less push effort when typing. This is why I believe some people complain, is this difference. On the other hand I tend to embrace change and will give any design a fair trial. While different, I do not find it a problem, to the contrary I really enjoy typing on that model and overall it's a very nice model.

Moving on to the 8300, this model has a slightly smaller keyboard than the 8800, in fact let me list the exact sizes of the devices here for comparison.

114 x 66 x 14.0mm - 8800
106 x 60 x 15.5mm - 8300

I find the keyboard on the 8300 to be truly superb, even though the keys are smaller, they are clearly designed for typing. Not style. The spacing is ample and due to the ideal shape they are very easy to use and my typing speed is back up to where I'm used to being. This is especially critical for me, as I do a lot of work on my BlackBerry and handle 20 to 30 emails in the course of a normal work day. If I'm out of my office traveling, which I do frequently, then I tend to deal with about 30 to 40 of my daily email messages on the BB.

2) Regarding your question about the phone on the 8300, I enjoy it. The volume is quite strong and the range adjustment insures that you will have a good experience. I find the tone is warm and clear, so much that it makes this the best phone I've had in a BB. With a BT headset it's also very good and it pairs easily. Finally the speakerphone is something that I use as much as I do the phone by itself or with my BT headset in the car. Performance of the speakerphone is also exemplary. I now have two favorites, the 7130c and the 8300, both of which I highly endorse.

Cheers...

[Spiffyis5150]

Archer, thanks for your detailed comments. Your thinking and mine are very similar and as such I have a good grasp of your thoughts and feelings on the 8300 which makes me even happier.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by Spiffyis5150

Your thinking and mine are very similar and as such I have a good grasp of your thoughts and feelings on the 8300 which makes me even happier.

Thanks for your courtesy......

[OzzieDog]

Archer6, you may have covered this before, and I may have missed it. How is the 8300 for dialing with one hand?
Good info in your reviews, keep them coming we may have them in DFW area Friday.

[davistld01]

Originally Posted by OzzieDog

Archer6, you may have covered this before, and I may have missed it. How is the 8300 for dialing with one hand?
Good info in your reviews, keep them coming we may have them in DFW area Friday.

Damn...I miss the DFW area...

[rugmankc]

I've had an 8700c for 2 years and think it is the best built phone I've ever owned. The comments on the 8300 keyboard bothered me. I looked closer at the 8700c keypad and it moves along with the keys like some previous posts on the 8300. If this is the same for the 8300, no problem. I never noticed this until I looked for it. The keypad always felt rock solid.

[pnd4pnd]

i saw the dummy model today at my store and the keyboard was fine...

[bsdmixmasters]

Anyone have a connection in the LA area, I just keep getting the, "I have no idea," or, "we'll know when they arrive." I need my new Crackberry

[juice901]

Originally Posted by rugmankc

I've had an 8700c for 2 years and think it is the best built phone I've ever owned. The comments on the 8300 keyboard bothered me. I looked closer at the 8700c keypad and it moves along with the keys like some previous posts on the 8300. If this is the same for the 8300, no problem. I never noticed this until I looked for it. The keypad always felt rock solid.

Here is a pic from BoyGenius's site showing the 8300 opened up. You can see that the keyboard is all one piece of flexible plastic, thus why all the keys will move a tiny bit together. The 8700 keyboard is made the same way.