BlackBerry 9700 reviewed extra early

What is it with BlackBerries and seemingly premature reviews? After the Onyx got manhandled ahead of schedule, it's the turn of its close relative, the trackpad-equipped 9700, which has been annointed as successor to the Bold. Boy Genius Report spared few superlatives in their examination of the hardware, which praises the 9700 as "the most gorgeous BlackBerry on the planet" and involves a size and feel comparison against the Tour. Their conclusion was that the new handset draws all the positives from RIM's recent portfolio of phones and ties them together into a very compelling little package. We couldn't spot any downsides, so either this is the best phone ever or somebody got a little carried away -- read up and decide for yourself.

[ai4281 Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:15PM]

Maybe it's just BGR guys breaking NDA and publishing this early! like they did with the Palm Pre.

[anthonypined Posted Dec 17th 2009 2:31PM]

@ai4281 t should be coming soon. I am in the Netherlands and stopped by Vodafone today. They said they are receiving the 9700 sometime in the next 5 days. BlackBerry Review: http://bit.ly/blackberry-9700-comparisson

[Chaosdivine Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:15PM]

FINALLY RIM seems to have listened to its customers and got one right...this is the one I am going to buy.

[Hung Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:01PM]

I honestly don't think RIM listens to customers, because if someone were complaining about the hardware, then they should buy a BB.

Do you know what I still can't do on my 8900? View PDFs outside those attached to emails. How is a business user expected to spend $200 on a "business" device and not be able to read PDFs saved to the phone memory or card?

And why isn't my phone supporting AppWorld, customer service didn't have an answer for that one. How do I "save file as..." in the browser? Why do I need to allow Documents-To-Go to receive data when I'm out of the country without data?

Don't even get me started on the browser. The smooth cursor movements may be the only nonnegative. I used to alternate between OM4.2 and BB4.6, but when OM5b hit, I hid the default browser within the app folder and have OM5 set default.

I honestly don't think RIM has the technical know-how to better their OS. Maybe throwing a 600-800 mHz proc at it will get unknowing customers to buy a device they already owned, but with a slower processor.

I, for one, will not be returning to RIM when my contract ends. Perhaps WM7 won't be jaded by customers demanding "organic" UI (ahem, iWhores), and will have a simple interface based on menus and hierarchy. Fuck this swiping with two fingers shit, fuck having all your apps as your default screen and Spotlight to the left. Make it fast, make it work. Think about aesthetics after steps 1 and 2 only, please.

[Hung Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:13PM]

Typing this on my 8900, so a couple mistakes. You can actually view PDFs,
but you need to purchase 3rd party software (even though you can read
PDFs you get in emails). And *then they should buy a newer BB* because
they're all the same phone, just with a different plastic casing on the
outside.

[oceanian Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:01AM]

actually you can use repligo(one of the best pdf viewer on any mobile device) 4 free
just sync your bb time to 2015
install it from dm
run it
switch out and sync your bb time back to 2009
now you can enjoy the trial version until 2015.

[Chaosdivine Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:12AM]

Well, Hung... (tee hee - actually I feel kinda dirty saying that now blech! ;) thanks for the play by play...hmmmm I guess I almost turned into a BBWhore myself and fell for the esthetics. It sure is a swanky looking phone though - got distracted by the looks and forgot about the OS and actually using the damn thing. Too bad...nice keyboard, nice looks, nice size, nice battery life...ya, knew that trend wouldn't last.

Cheers!

[Hung Posted Sep 23rd 2009 2:52PM]

Oceanian,

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Thanks for the pro tip.

[table Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:15PM]

Brb. Need new pants.

[Zodiac Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:31PM]

New shirts as well. :)

[Gregorian Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:36PM]

And a nice pair of shoes while your at it.

[elektroblade Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:48PM]

And get a haircut please

[Gad Get Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:17PM]

Yeah, we get it: if you're going to be using a high-end business phone, you better look the part!

[newreformation Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:17PM]

A nice suit coat wouldn't hurt.

[Agent 25i Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:58PM]

Dont forget your towel.

[Gad Get Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:39AM]

+1 for Ford.

[Zodiac Posted Sep 23rd 2009 4:22AM]

@Agent .25i

A towel? WTF? For what?

[logicbombde Posted Sep 23rd 2009 2:28PM]

A towel is an absolute necessity for any hitchhiker thumbing it across the galaxy.

[Bash23 Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:16PM]

:drool:

[Gavin M Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:17PM]

Is this coming to AT&T?

[Corpsed Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:05PM]

Yes, you overweight American.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:19PM]

nice

[rpahk Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:07PM]

BGR's comment that compared to the 9700, the Bold looks like a bloated 8 month pregnant single mom was uncalled for. The review was over the top IMO but the 9700 still looks compelling.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:31PM]

BGR is a crap site that just covers blackberries, verizon and At&t. They have very little objectivity in their reporting or reviews.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:40PM]

Now if this would come to a nice carrier I like so I have a good excuse to drop AT&T *bats eyes at T-Mobile*

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:41PM]

I don't understand why we need so many blackberries. I mean, why can't they just make one awesome device? It's amazing that people still buy blackberries even when we have the choice between the iphone, pre, and a bunch of android phones.
/rant

[jarek Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:27PM]

Because, if they made just one awesome device, it wouldn't have a half-QWERTY suretype keyboard and I wouldn't have bought my BlackBerry.

Different choices for different people, you know?

[jawxx Posted Sep 22nd 2009 9:59PM]

If they made a phone like the Blackberry Storm but with a slide out keyboard, Blackberry would certainly be in my possibilities list. But they're still doing that damn cramped keyboard that takes up half ofa would-be big screen. No thanks.

[Hung Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:10PM]

Typing this on my 8900, so a couple mistakes. You can actually view PDFs, but you need to purchase 3rd party software (even though you can read PDFs you get in emails). and *they should buy a newer BB* because they're all the same phone, just with a different plastic casing on the outside.

[N900 Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:16PM]

The trackpad is your friend = ).

[RaPhiKi Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:24PM]

I have a BB8900 coming from a hacked Dash. I can now understand how utilitarian the OS is. I think I'd like a little bit more media/customizability (esp themes!) which WinMo was kinda good without going over the top (for me) like the iPhone. I hate the damn track ball the most! I wanna skip over the trackpad because it's like a bandaid that's not worth $200 to me. I'll see what RIM offers with Magnum because I'm impressed with the 8900 keyboard, compared to the Dash. At least they are slowly evolving their devices.

Now make 5.0 work RIM! not all things work on my 8900 OS 5.0.0.190

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:36PM]

The Onyx IS the 9700, not a close relative.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 10:48PM]

Wow, great looking phone! I think I would prefer this over my G1 android. Is there any videos of this bad boy in action!?

[Darwin Posted Sep 22nd 2009 11:49PM]

BG always goes overboard praising Berry's. Even the Tour which had had major quality control issues.

[tpedigo Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:16AM]

i thought that a phone was supposed to be used make make and receive calls and maybe send and receive a couple texts every now and then or maybe check facebook or something but complaining because your phone can't open a pdf file come on what a fucking douche owwww my blackberry that i spent 700 dollars on doesn't open pdf files seriously you need to get a life if that is a major concern of yours

[DustinM Posted Sep 23rd 2009 8:57AM]

Seeing how Blackberries are used extensively in the business world by people who don't care about OS versions, customization, media integration or fart apps - but who do care about getting work done - omitting PDF viewing outside of e-mail does seem like a gross oversight.

[devaspark Posted Sep 23rd 2009 1:56AM]

Uhh...what the hell? it looks just like nokia's E71....

REFRESH MEMORY GO!

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/engadget-mobiles-nokia-e71-review/

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 3:12AM]

not even close...E71 is lot superior device. and E72 is a super super super cool device which i'm definitely getting when it comes out. Fuck Blackberry!

[xbryan Posted Sep 23rd 2009 2:05AM]

Another month, another "new" BlackBerry. Yawn.

[Beamo Posted Sep 23rd 2009 4:45AM]

looks like the new Nokia e series...

[Yank in OZ Posted Sep 24th 2009 10:52AM]

Nokia !!! are you bastards blind...give me a good internet and email experience on a Nokia and then i will give it a look.... hmmm maybe they should buy Palm.