[ibrg]

Interesting...

[underskybb]

I love WSJ articles.

[richard371]

Sounds like the GPS receiver is not so great in the 8800.

[fzfrank]

I don't want to print the entire article (copyright issues), but the Wall Street Journal reviewer did not seem to like the 8800 keyboard. She says:

"But this device's keyboard, a highly important feature, left me frustrated no matter how many emails I typed. [...] its keys are packed in, side-by-side, rather than spaced out. Instead of using essentially flat keys like those on older BlackBerrys, each key on the 8800 has a slight, distinguishing ridge that I found annoyingly restrictive; my thumbs had to be in exactly the right positions to type well. Keys on the older keyboards can be tapped from any direction or angle."

and

"But I just couldn't get used to the keyboard. RIM claims that the 8800 keyboard's keys are slightly wider than those of its predecessor, the 8700, but each key's shape and raised ledge made it hard to use accurately. It takes time to adjust to any mobile keyboard, but this one seemed especially difficult."

I assumed that the raised keys would make finding the keys/typing easier. What do owners think so far?

[greggebhardt]

I think, if given some time you will find the 8800 keyboard to be just fine. It took me a day or so but like it very much after using the 8700 for a long time.

I unhappy at first buy my thumbs are doing fine now. Just ignor the ridges on the keys, they do not bother.

[BBAdmin]

Poor guy from the WSJ probably couldn't get his chubby digits round the keyboard while sipping a latte and eating a dougnut!!!

I think it's wrong to write negatively about a piece of kit on the elements which come down to personal preference. That's like me writing on my website that the Pearl sucks because I hate Suretype.....I do hate Suretype and as a result I don't like the Pearl, but it's a great device!!

I like my 8800, my accuracy has dropped slightly since a move from my 8700, but that's to be expected. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll be back up to speed.

[BBAdmin]

Sounds like the GPS receiver is not so great in the 8800.

It's great, especially with Telmap.

[Steve]

Wirelessly posted (Cingular 8100 Pearl: BlackBerry8100/4.2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Can't wait to see the WSJ's review of Apple's
iPhone keyboard. Where you may actually have to watch where you type, given that it's just a flat screen and no ridges or spaces to feel.

Steve

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by BBAdmin

Poor guy from the WSJ probably couldn't get his chubby digits round the keyboard while sipping a latte and eating a dougnut!!!

Actually, it was a her. Have no idea just how chubby her fingers are, but likely to be less chubby than yours and mine.

I think it's wrong to write negatively about a piece of kit on the elements which come down to personal preference. That's like me writing on my website that the Pearl sucks because I hate Suretype.....I do hate Suretype and as a result I don't like the Pearl, but it's a great device!!

Your point underscores how personally the design fits (or doesn't) the user. However, no one in these forums is judging any device purely on its technical merits, which is where I would agree that the 8100 is a very nice device. All are making judgments of that device's ability to suit their requirements, their preferences, and their wants. In the authors assessment, she didn't condemn the 8800 to hell due to its keyboard, she simply offered her opinion based on her experience. Isn't that fair enough?

I have to laugh my ass off at posts which paint a device, any device, or aspect of a device, in purely black or white terms. Who do they think they're foolin'?

[Pizzle]

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