Feature-wise the new 7100g matches the 7290 plus adds speakerphone. The non-qwerty keyboard is perplexing. Reading reviews people say it's no big deal, just click away and it learns your words.

This is going to be my first bb so want to be safe - but the sleek silver look of the 7100g is cool too! It's going to be for 95% email use though so the keyboard makes me lean to the 7290