The Pearl and I too came to the table quite by accident. No Treo's left in stock so they offered me any comparable phone as a replacement. Didn't like the keyboard on the 8830 so snagged me a Pearl.
My current phone is my first BB device, the 8320 Curve. I love it. I always wanted one, first took notice of the old blue ones, but I never had the cash for it.
My 1st was Curve 8300 when it debuted...the commercial kept callin me to it, so I bought it....loved it....the rest is history....I now use a Bold 9000
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