[bob_az]

help! i had a verizon 8703e for a long time with work and loved it, but changed jobs. so i lost it and had to convert for a short time to a 'normal' cell phone. now i am back in the market for a BB with verizon. i am tempted to go back to the 8703e but it's really expensive, and since it seems as if newer and greater models will be out on verizon in the next few weeks/months (primarily the curve and the 8800), i am also tempted just to go with the 7250 and upgrade later.

obviously screen quality is a major difference between the 7250 and the 8703e...but besides that, what are major differences? i think i like the keyboard on the 7250 bigger (i have huge fingers). and now the 7250 runs ev-do...

so pros/cons? anyone with a 7250 can you give me a rundown on likes/dislikes? and can you run the gmail app and google calendars app on the 7250?

any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[LunkHead]

Love the 7200 series! Built like a tank and rock, rock solid!

[John Clark]

The Verizon 8830 should be available to order now.

[bob_az]

thanks for the response. how is it as a phone? i use the phone function a tremendous amount - had good experiences the phone?

[LunkHead]

Phone function is OK.... Nothing to jump up and down over but it is usable...

I never had any major issues at all with my 7290... I still have it as a backup! Awesome device and even though it's slightly outdated by the 'new' devices of today standard, it is IMHO, the best BB ever made by RIM...

[bob_az]

thanks for the 8830 advice, but i'm not sure. the keyboard is even more cramped, and i don't know how i feel about it.

another question. with verizon, you don't purchase (like you do in t-mobile) BIS or BES...you just have the BB data add-on for unlimited BB usage plus phone usage.

if i don't have BES (therefore are essentially using BIS), i saw that the new BIS version 2.3 is out.

do i have to manually download that onto my BB (if i got a 7250 for example) or will it be automatic?
i'm confused!

[LunkHead]

Automatic..... If that's the BIS server they are using...

[bob_az]

thanks!

i am so tempted to switch to yahoomail because of the sync ability.

i have gmail and love it, but i hate that it doesnt sync through the BB client. and i have had the gmail app and it just seems to run real slow.

[Walt]

I have the 7520 which is Nextel's version of the 7250. I love it. It's the best built BB I have ever seen and the keyboard is great. I also have a BB 7100i which has a beautiful hi res screen but I can't seem to go back to that after using the 7520.

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by bob_az

thanks for the 8830 advice, but i'm not sure. the keyboard is even more cramped, and i don't know how i feel about it.

It's definitely a matter of personal preference. It sounds like you have large fingers so you may have some difficulty getting used to it. I'd normally say give it some time (I'm about at the point where I prefer the 8800 keyboard) but you'd probably be happiest with the 7250 of all three devices due to the keyboard.

Originally Posted by bob_az

if i don't have BES (therefore are essentially using BIS), i saw that the new BIS version 2.3 is out.

do i have to manually download that onto my BB (if i got a 7250 for example) or will it be automatic?

BIS a server -- there's nothing to download except updated service books which are automatically pushed.