[newbuy814]

hello all i just joined here and i have some questions i want to buy one of these they both look very nice but when i search for reviews they dont really get the best..of these two which do you suggest and any major problems or for those that have these 2 phones can you tell me something about them?

[JSanders]

If you could get an 8700 or 8100, I would recommend such.

The 7100 does not have a good outdoor LCD, and that was my biggest drawback, aside from little memory and a slower processor than the two mentioned above. You will have a better experience with one of the two models I mentioned.

If you are buying used, please read this link (even if not from Ebay):
Buying a BlackBerry off eBay - BlackBerryFAQ

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

newbuy814, re the 7100 vs the 7105, I don't recall the exact differences now except that they didn't strike me as all that significant at the time the 7105 came out.

And I can confirm the display is useless in sunlight. In fact you'll have trouble using the display outdoors under most daytime conditions. You would be wise to follow JS's advice if you can.

[JSanders]

was the 7105 the hearing aid enabled device?

[aiharkness]

I remember the 7105t being an upgrade of the 7100t. Don't remember addition of hearing aid enabled as one of the features, but could be wrong. For what it's worth, according to zdnet, "The 7105t keeps many of the same features of its older sibling, such as integrated Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and quad-band world roaming, but it adds a higher-resolution color screen, larger Talk and End buttons, and contoured keys for easier typing."

ZDNet RIM BlackBerry 7105t (T-Mobile) Review & Comparison


Edit: Here's link to spec's on zdnet site.

ZDNet's RIM BlackBerry 7105t (T-Mobile) Specifications & Features

I remember getting the impression at the time that the 7105t would be better in sunlight than the 7100t. But then a buddy got one, and it didn't appear any better to me.

[JSanders]

I had one, the screen was horrible in the outdoors, sunny or not. ONLY in the shade could you see the screen, and it was/is 32 mb memory, and the slower process. i don't think was EDGE capable either.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I had the 7100t. It was my first blackberry, and my first mobile phone. (I had purposely avoided cell phones as well as beepers in my career. Long story. But I got the blackberry for persoanl use.). With all its drawbacks, it was still a blackberry and I was hooked.

To the OP, the 7100/05 isn't your best choice if you can get a newer model, but it served me well all things considered. It was a solid, relieable device for me.

[John Clark]

I used the 7100t for almost 2 years. They are a tough device and we still have many of them going today. The 7105t was an upgrade to the 7100t and featured a brighter screen for the outdoors issue. However, I've had more troubles with the 7105t's microphone, usb port and other miscellaneous issues. Personally, if I had to choose one or the other I would choose the 7100t. It was a better device than the 7105, just without the brighter screen for outdoor use.

I do agree with the others, though. There are much better devices out there. Pearls can be picked up for $100-$150 pretty easily. I'd recommend that over the 7100/7105.

Good luck.

[stonent]

The 7105 had a better screen, that's all I remember being different, but then I never had both side-by-side.