Cell Phones : BlackBerry 8700c

I had a TREO 650 and it was terrible!!! Had many problems. Then i switched to BB and I love it!!! Definitly not for the PDA Illiterate. Does everything you need from reminders, Email, Web and phone. Great for people on the move with a busy schedule. Web browsing is excellent, fast and great resolution. Get this phone if you are techy. Could be a problem for ppl who just wanna call and go. Hide Full Review

For those who can afford this gadget (and the following bills) I would definitely recommend the Blackberry 8700c.
Pros: Full QWERTY keyboard, web browsing, email, single button navigation, Bluetooth compliant, speakerphone, and large screen.
Cons: This phone is bit bulky and the holster tends to push the buttons on the edges; also using the scroll wheel to unlock the keyboard could make it easy to select the ‘Emergency Call’ button. (I’m unsure what this will do.)

This phone is meant more for functionality than it is for anything else, and it comes at a price. There is no camera, nor MP3 player as the 8700c seems to be marketed mainly towards business users. People who are constantly ‘on the go’ will get more out of this phone than anyone else Hide Full Review

I gave the BB 8700c a chance... I really wanted it to work for me because my friends were raving about the PDA, but it came short of satisfying all my needs. I have read so many reviews that compare the Treo 650 with the BB 8700c and the bottom line is that every user needs to find what fits their mobile style and use better - both are great phones if you know how you want to use them. The BB had a great web browser, but I do not really browse the web on my phone much. I like the 'push email' technology on the BB, but found it did not work as well I thought it would - if I had gotten the BB Enterprise server it would be another story. However, the same result would apply if I got GoodLink for my Treo... I like the design of the phone - it's also a little lighter than the Treo. The 2 features that killed my decision though was that the BB was not compatible with the bluetooth system in my car and it also does not have a camera. Even though the Treo camera is not the greatest I use it in my line of work a lot for reference. I also prefer the touchscreen option of the Treo screen. Bottom line, if you are already a "Crackberry" user, then switching to the 8700c will be a great move. If you are looking to move into the world of PDAs then look at all of the options and see what fits your particular scenario - for me, the Treo still makes the most sense. Hide Full Review

I have had the 8700c for about two months and compared it in practical usage against the Motorola Q, and various Palm Treos. I am new to Blackberry, but it has the most intuitive operating system and best software ergonomics of all the competitors. Phone, e-mail, SMS, Web browsing and contact lists are all perfectly integrated. Everything works off the thumb wheel and there are shortcuts for everything. The auto dimming screen is beautiful and always bright enough, regardless of environment.



I have also been amazed at the value of the handset itself. It is much cheaper than any new Treo. The real cost for all data-driven wireless PDAs is in the data plan with you mobile provider. They generally range from $29-$49 per month.



The Blackberry can be driven by redirecting messages and other PIM data from your desktop, or synced directly with your company's Blackberry Enterprise Server. My office has the server hooked directly to the Outlook Exchange server and it is flawless and fast. Hide Full Review

The BlackBerry 8700 is a full-featured business-oriented PDA that has excellent call clarity and is full of useful features. The e-mail setup is simple and works flawlessly. Contact info synchs easily and is easy to sort and view. I tried about every smartphone out there, including the newer, more consumer-oriented BlackBerry 8800, and this was by far the best keyboard for me. It's a fairly small device, shorter than many, but the keys are well-spaced and have a crisp feel and click when pressed. Typing feel is clearly a personal preference thing, so try out as many devices as possible before committing. For me, this was the hands-down winner. It's also $10 less a month than non-BlackBerry phones with my provider. Hide Full Review