[Stinsonddog]

Ok folks with the 8100 and 8800 out, its time for this group to put their heads together and come up with creative upgrade strategies. I must say that in retrospect my 7100g was a step backward from my 7280, but the 8100 and 8800 are hot little devices. Wanna "get turned on by a gagdet" as that off-topic thread discusses. Post your upgrade strategies in this thread and we will soon see you all in the other sub-forums. For example, get invited to a launch event, or get one of those crazy Amazon deals, or sweet talk a deal in a store etc.

[Raven]

But not all of us can get 81xx or 88xx yet.
ie: vzw
Out of my 40 blackberry users only 5 can get an upgrade, the rest are going to have to wait another year.

[cameron.personal]

I am thinking of upgrading my 7100t for the 8100 Pearl...

I suppose I will have to pony up the $150 and sign on for 2 more years...

When I got my 7100t T-Mobile only had 1 year contracts, the extra year is bothering me more than the $150.

Cameron

[Michbb]

I will be upgrading my 7100t here hopefully in the next 2 months. I was going to upgrade to the 8100 but then I heard the 8800 was coming out and it was going to have WiFi. I almost was going to go to the Tmobile Dash because of the Wifi but once I heard about the 8800 that changed my mind quickly. I have an upgrade on my phone avail so that's what I am holding out for.

[chantlouder]

i just took the plunge~

renewed my tmobile contract that i had with my sidekick for two years and shelled out $200 ($150 after rebate) for the pearl...

could've switched to cingular and gotten the device for free... but their monthly service costs are quite high...

my first blackberry! woohoo!

[archer6]

As a staunch BlackBerry advocate, I have been 100% satisfied until I learned that what I percieved as the "midsize" model was being discontinued.

I simply cannot see how the 8100 compares in terms of relative size and be considered as the uprade path from the 7130 series. The 7130 has a very useable keyboard which is quite comfortable for heavy usage. It also comes in a size that is very comfortable & useful. I know many people using the 7130 precisely because of it's size & inclusion of SureType. Another feature that it has, is no camera or media player, as the users such as myself are using this model for business.

The 8100 is much smaller & in no way compares to the typing experience. In addition, it's my understanding the 8100 is aimed at the consumer market.

From my perspective RIM has reduced the number of choices from three sizes to just two.

For every happy 7130 user, when it comes time to replace their BB they are forced to abandon the size & form factor they enjoy. In many cases this model was the reason which attracted them to the BB platform in the first place. I know because I'm one of those.

On the other hand the "upgrade from 8700 to 8800 is quite logical. The 8800 offers a similar size keyboard & device.

Only RIM knows why the decision was made to discontinue the 7130 series. However to many of us on the outside it makes no sense to suggest the 8100 is it's replacement.

[Skiwhack]

Go for It! I had the 7100T and got the White Pearl while my wife still has her old 7100t, envious to say the least. I'm actually here on the forum to find out how to swap device information from her old 7100 to my old 7100 which is tweaked a bit more than hers. I need to wipe out the address and note book databases on my old unit.

[palbright]

I'm with archer6 on this one. The form factor and keyboard on the 7130 is just what I need. I recently helped colleagues upgrade from the 8700 to the 8800, and that is an upgrade I get---about the same keyboard, and the trackball, once you get used to it, is nice. BUT...for those of us who like the candybar form factor, and were willing to trade the keyboard off for the occasional "infelicities" associated with Suretype, it looks like RIM has abandoned us. Indeed, the new keyboards on the 8800 and 8700 probably create as many typos as the Suretype did!

My take is to hold out and see what RIM does (maybe a better form factor?) and at a minimum, if forced to upgrade, wait for the HSPDA/UTMS berry to come out.

[Kriz]

I gave up an 8700c to go to the 7130c...it just feels better and fits my hand better...I think it was one of the better ones produced.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by Kriz

I gave up an 8700c to go to the 7130c...it just feels better and fits my hand better...I think it was one of the better ones produced.

Yes!.... ....like certain models of cars, where years later they end up being the most sought after.

I'm just very happy to have my 7130c since they have been discontinued. I will continue to enjoy it as long as it lasts.

Cheers....

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by archer6

Only RIM knows why the decision was made to discontinue the 7130 series.

Ask those who reviewed the 71xx-series 2 1/2+ years ago in order to help clear up your confusion.

[smithdi09]

i have a 7100i blackberry with nextel can yall tell me how to use it as a modem

[archer6]

Originally Posted by Kriz

I think it was one of the better ones produced.

I agree, and I believe the test of time will prove that the 7130 was one of the very best SureType models of all time.

And that it was abandoned all too soon.

Cheers...

[jasonfont426]

Personally, I prefer the look of the 7130g over the 7130c. Any way you go, the 7130 series is one of the best made.

Peace

Jason

[BallHawk3]

I've done this in the past. I have t-mobile.

Wanted to upgrade, called in to inquire about it, then I complained to them that the phone was too expensive. They said ok, let me transfer you to a different department.

Then transfered me to some department and those gave me a much better deal on the phone.

For your reference, the phone I was looking to get was a motorola V330. Just came out, and was going for something like $150 (plus tax), with a $50 mail in rebate (net cost $100). The department they transfered me to gave me the phone for $75 (plus tax of course).

I asked them if I could do the same thing for my dads phone, and they said sure, call us when your ready. This was a few years ago. I wonder if it would still work.

Over the phone is always the best department to help you. Stores will normally not discount price of phone unless it's a new activation.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by jasonfont426

Personally, I prefer the look of the 7130g over the 7130c. Any way you go, the 7130 series is one of the best made.

Peace

Jason

That's what I like about Blackberry is that we have choices of sizes and styles.

Cheers.........
via 7130c

[Stinsonddog]

Keep going folks we need space for new models. Hehe!!!

[Raven]

Well us vzw users are still waiting for the 8830, 81xx and some better...

[wv wildflower]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7100/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I have the 7100t and would probably want an upgrade model. However the newer models look like plastic. I am afraid of breaking it. Besides, I like the larger size model I have.

[archer6]

Originally Posted by wv wildflower

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7100/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I have the 7100t and would probably want an upgrade model. However the newer models look like plastic. I am afraid of breaking it. Besides, I like the larger size model I have.

Greetings wv wildflower, and Welcome to the Forum!

I have a few BlackBerrys and prefer my 7130c. It's far and away my favorite. I like everything about it and hope that at some point RIM will build a newer version of the same size.

However it's not looking very likely, as I Keep hearing the Pearl is the replacement for it. I also have a Pearl as the smaller size is nice but only on the weekends when I want a small phone to tuck into my pocket.

Frankly I cannot understand why the Pearl would be considered a replacement as the only thing they have in common is SureType. However when we talk about size, it's like small (Pearl) medium (7130) large (8800). There is simply too much of a size difference between the Pearl and the 7130 for me to consider the Pearl it's replacement.

Cheers