Here’s my 9700 review after using it for about a month. Note, this Blackberry is also known as the “Bold 2.” I upgraded to this from the Javelin.
Pros:
- Faster! The web browsing is faster but nothing to “wow” about compared to my old Javelin on a 2G network. Apps like Ubertwitter and receiving files on BBM are a lot faster though.
- Trackpad!! I was playing around with Boyfriend’s Blackberry the other day and the trackball felt so weird… can’t imagine ever using it again.
- My fat fingers are no longer an issue! Better keyboard than the Javelin (but I still like the 8320 Curve’s better).
- Text messages are linked … BBM style!
- SPEAKERS ARE AMAZING! Well compared to older Blackberry models and even my 3rd generation iPod touch.
- Battery life is a HUGE improvement.
- It’s compatible with the Javelin’s micro-USB ports so I don’t have to replace any accessories since I have a gazillion chargers lying around everywhere (home, work, Boyfriend’s, car, etc.). My biggest fear is a dying Blackberry.
- Awesome resolution and bright screen.
- It’s the perfect size, which is the same as the Javelin but smaller than the chunky [original] Bold.
Cons:
- Leather backing looks tacky.
- Can’t seem to set my right convenience key to show ALL “messages” like I usually do with older Blackberry models. Right now, I can only set it to SMS/MMS OR Messages (BBM/email/etc) and not both. Am I missing something?
- I love how text messages are linked in a chat like BBM but I always forget that I’m texting someone and send them a billion in a row which they probably want to punch me in the face for.
- My calendar alerts can’t seem to be silenced even though it’s set in my profiles.
Rating: 9/10
I only wish there was a bigger screen. I have to admit the numbers are biased because I’ll always give Blackberries a high score. 
I know iPhones can do a lot but here 10 Things iPhones Can’t Do, But Blackberries CAN!
Also read: Blackberry Javelin 8900 Review, Blackberry Curve 8320 Review.
thank you for the review!! i’ve been wanting a blackberry for a while but i’m still undecided on the model..like i’m kind of swayed towards the storm 2 or the HTC phone too..
‘…punch me in the face’ girl you crack me up!!
BTW, i figured that you’re from vancouver BC not WA..duhrs.
Hope you had a great vday/asian new years! i’m so sad i cannot read that post!!
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I just placed my order on my 9700, so excited! can’t wait to get rid of this piece of crap 9630 TOUR!
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VIVA LA BB!!!! I’m a Storm user. I don’t miss the physical keyboard at all. I’ve tried typing on a friends iPhone and it was soo no bueno..
XoXO
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I love blackberry. I have tried a lot of phones, even owning a first gen iPhone and I can honestly say nothing else compares to a BB (in my opinion) and it will take a pretty awesome phone to get me to leave BB behind!
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i’m so glad i found your blog…its amazing and you are so pretty..
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I have an iPhone and never had a blackberry but am seriously considering a blackberry once my iPhone gives in. It’s just that my bf is SO MAC pro that I got talked into the iPhone LOL.
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Katy
February 23rd, 2010 |
I love Apple products too except the iPhone’s touchscreen just doesn’t cut it for me.
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I did a HUP a week ago for the new onyx, just getting used to the keyboard but liking it so far
I get what you mean about consolidating all your messages, I was able to do it through messaging Options -> Main Message List Settings -> Other Message Types, SMS & MMS
Hope that helps!
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Katy
February 23rd, 2010 |
Omigosh thank you soooo much for! Problem solved.
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i just got myself this onyx a week ago !
its the fabest bb i’ve ever tried !
very fast response . and AMAZZZIINNNGGG battery life !
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i havent gone over to the crackberry side! i actually got an iphone in the end
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thank you for the review!! i’ve been wanting a blackberry for a while but i’m still undecided on the model..like i’m kind of swayed towards the storm 2 or the HTC phone too..
‘…punch me in the face’ girl you crack me up!!
BTW, i figured that you’re from vancouver BC not WA..duhrs.
Hope you had a great vday/asian new years! i’m so sad i cannot read that post!!
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I have the Bold 9700 – pretty much the same phone with a different name?
I love the SMS chat feature, but what kills it is that people don’t see it as I do. My friends always tell me to chunk up my SMS because I tend to write short sentences in a span of 10 SMS texts. It’s sucky, but I’m just so used to it.
How can we assuage this? Everyone needs to have a 9700. End of story.
I feel like the world would implode if so.
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Katy
February 23rd, 2010 |
Yep same phone and it’s the best Blackberry ever! I’m soo glad I upgraded.
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I want this phone!! I have the Bold (original) and the messages are the same as your problem there. The SMS shows up separately than the list of all messages. Kind of frustrating. I thought it was a BlackBerry thing, but I guess it’s a Bold thing. =/
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Gosh! I wish I had a Blackberry!
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AHhHHh!! Whenever I read about your blackberry posts, it makes me want a blackberry over an iphone. I still can’t decide between the two. My contract was up for 4 months now and I haven’t been able to decide which phone or service provider I want.
Why do you chose the blackberry over the iphone again?
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Katy
February 17th, 2010 |
Mostly the QWERTY keyboard.
I really hate the touchscreen and how it lags and freezes from time to time.
Do you listen to music or watch a lot of videos? If you’re a “media” person, definitely go for the iPhone but if you want something more for functionality, go for the Blackberry. My Blackberry has a good music player and good speakers though but the screen is a little too small for videos to my liking. I have an iPod touch though so I watch videos on there if I want to.
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so glad we have some blackberry lovers in the midst of iphones and droids! i hate people who are like OMG IPHONE IS THE BEST SHIT EVER OMG OMG. i’m like get over your band wagon followers! haha. so bad/mean/bitchy. oh well.
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Katy
February 17th, 2010 |
Most of my friends and friends’ friends are all Blackberry users. I only know a couple iPhone users (I almost typed “losers” hahahaha). I have nothing against the iPhone though except that it has no QWERTY keyboard; I think it’s a great device with a beautiful interface.
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I love having the texts all linked like a chat because I always forget what I last text the person, but with it all linked, it’s so easy to read like a discussion. However, my friends don’t have linked text and so when I reply back a day late, they tend to forget what it was about…
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i wantttt it
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Im a Crackberry lover as well.
oo this phone is SEXY. I was unsure of the trackpad at first, but reading that its better than the trackball Ill def consider for my next phone.
(also not a big fan of the leather backing.. but, I can look past that)
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Did you mean you played with the trackBALL & it felt weird..?
I played around with my friend’s 9700 the other night and I like that chat/text thing too! It’s way more organized that way, but I find it harder to type on this keyboard since there’s not much space between the keys hahaha.
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Katy
February 17th, 2010 |
The new trackpad is soo much better and more responsive than the original trackball on the older Blackberries.
I actually like this keyboard better than the Javelin’s; the keys are closer together but for some reason, it’s a lot easier to use with less typos, maybe because of the ridges on each key. The old Curve 8320 had the best keyboard though because the keys are really far apart, but that had to be sacrificed for the newer Blackberries to be smaller.
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