8700 is still decent phone, specs are the same as 88XX and 83XX as far as procesor and RAM. The 8703 already had EVDO for CDMA crowd.........and some people prefer the old track wheel. 7100 though still sucks, hated mine! Love my curve though and can't wait for the Javelin!
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Oh yeah, and like BMC said, most companies are not going to upgrade your phone if its not broke. At my company most of the 71XX's have finally been replaced with 8700's. A few lucky people have gotten 8820's so they can usa UMA when traveling. I got my Curve on my own plan because of this (they wouldn't get a phone with a camera). Where I am onsite (automotive OEM) the guys have to wait for their 75XX's to die before they can get an 8700!
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I still pimp my 7290 because I'm a manager for a granite shop. So I use it during the day because its a very tough phone and cheap enough to replace when it gets destroyed. I just change sim cards when I get home. My wife has an 8700, she doesnt need anything more right now.
Even though I have a curve, and I love my curve to death, I just bought a 71xx to have as a backup. The 71xx's and the 8700's are very durable blackberrys. Awesome battery life also. Just my 2 cents.
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my 7520 is a workhorse. i have it on the job and the keypad is till holding up after oil has spilled on it. and dropped it from lifts. i couldn't think of having anything else now.
I just activated my 7250 last night and its great, will upgrade to a newer model soon but will rock with it sux that i have to use the more xpensive data plan
I use a Blackberry 7290 a lot and though I have a 8820 and now an unlocked 8220 but I keep coming back to the old brick.
Here are the reasons for it.
1. it is durable
2. It has a good battery life
3. It has a color screen that is set up better then the current ones because it can be used with out the back light being on in good visibility (unlike the current models)
4. It has the track wheel instead of the track ball. I believe that the track ball is a great idea but it is poorly implemented.
5. solid construction. (unlike the Curve which felt light, cheap, creaked when held, got dust under the screen (even with the optional silicon cover and leather holster)
Things I don't like about the 7290
1. no way to add memory with SD, MIcro SD etc
2. no protective cover for the LCD.
A few months ago I got my first BlackBerry, a Curve 8310. I absolutely love it, but I've become somewhat like an overprotective mother with it. I cherish it and don't want anything bad to happen to it. I'm very protective of it. My friends to not get to "check out my new phone" for fear of them dropping it, scratching it, or spilling something on it.
After only a short time I decided that the always on, always connected BB lifestyle was something I just couldn't live without (well, I could, but I refuse). However there are certain places that I don't want to take my Precious...like camping. So I bought a 7290 off of eBay for $20 to use when I don't want to put my Curve in harm's way. :P
Little fella is in near mint condition! And holy cow is that thing sturdy. I think I like that 7290 as much as my Curve. And at $20, even though I do love it, if it gets destroyed in some freak camping accident (hey, it could happen!) I won't be nearly as heart broken (or broke from replacing it) as I would be if something happened to my Curve