[BBDummy]

A few thoughts on the 8830 relative to the Cingular 8800.

1) The OS on the 8830 includes some of the features that I first read about on the Curve--e.g., spell checking and folder-creation. Very nice.

2) The trackball doesn't seem to be as responsive as on the Cingular 8800. Probably just normal variation.

3) Browsing the Internet appears faster than the Cingular 8800. Full bar EVDO vs. full bar EDGE loaded Google about 3 seconds faster on the 8830.

4) The speaker on the 8830 is definitely softer. Not too soft, though--on the 8800, ringtones, etc. were comfortable at low and intolerably intrusive at high; on the 8830, they're comfortable at medium and tolerable at high.

5) I prefer the Cingular default theme/layout to any of the layouts on the 8830. That said, with the ability to manipulate folders and move icons around, I can pretty much do whatever I'd like on the 8830. I'm using a "personalized" version of Dimension Icon.

6) Screen, build quality, etc. all seem the same.

Now open to questions, which I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

[John Clark]

Can you adjust the sensitivity/responsiveness of the trackball under screen/keyboard?

[BBDummy]

Originally Posted by John Clark

Can you adjust the sensitivity/responsiveness of the trackball under screen/keyboard?

Yes, but for identical settings to the 8800, the 8800 seems to react "faster."

[junior1790]

yes you can..

[LarryH]

I'm wondering how close the 8830 and 8800 are in size. I'd like to buy the Vaja case but it's form-fitting. I'm wondering if you noticed any significant difference in size?

[LarryH]

I just stopped by my local Cingular store and held the 8800 up next to my 8830. If there's a size difference, I couldn't see it. It's miniscule, at best.

[jenz]

i have both an 8800 and 8830; contrary to public reports that the 8830 is a half inch taller, there's no noticable difference in size beyond the 8830 being a hair thicker so cases will fit fine

[chitwwe]

Any reivew of keyboard differences?

[BBDummy]

Originally Posted by chitwwe

Any reivew of keyboard differences?

The 8800 and 8830 have identical keyboards, save for the color and backlighting.

[BBDummy]

Originally Posted by jenz

i have both an 8800 and 8830; contrary to public reports that the 8830 is a half inch taller, there's no noticable difference in size beyond the 8830 being a hair thicker so cases will fit fine

It's not any taller, as near as I can tell. It fit the 8800 screen protector just fine...perfectly, in fact. I thought the 8830 may be thicker, but I couldn't tell for sure.

[BB8830]

Originally Posted by BBDummy

I thought the 8830 may be thicker, but I couldn't tell for sure.

The Blackberry website, where you can compare devices side-by-side, says both are identical in all measurements.

I too am thinking about the Vaja case. I had one on my Treo and it was the perfect case for me. Except when I scuffed the leather

I wonder how long it will take Vaja to add the 8830 to their site.