Since getting my new BlackBerry Bold 9700 earlier this week I have been living on cloud nine. It's uber fast. The optical trackpad is silky smooth. The 3.2 megapixel camera is noticeably better than the original Bold's and the additional flash memory boosts operating performance considerably. And I've been blown away by the battery life so far -- over 48 hours before needing to charge!!!
With positives oozing out of the device, the only thing that I have had to really come to terms with is how much smaller the new Bold 9700 actually is compared to its big older brother the 9000 (I tried to get the images above close to actual size and scale). And reading through the Bold 9700 forums and talking to other original Bold owners making or looking to make the upgrade to the 9700, it appears I'm not the only one.
When the Bold 9000 came out, I was a Curve user. At the time, I actually griped over the Bold's big size and deemed the size a negative. But over the year and a half following its introduction, I have really grown to LOVE the big-boned Bold. They keyboard is heaven to type on, and that extra 1/4" of width in the screen makes a difference. Plus, the device just looks impressive - the full leather back, the chrome band, the shiny black area above the display.... the Bold 9000 is the luxury SUV of the BlackBerry Smartphone line and when you see it in public it stands out in the crowd. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is stellar, but it's more of one of these new, smaller, cross-over SUVs. The 9000 was my daily driver for the past few months, and making the switch to the Bold 9700 it now feels like I've gone away from using a Bold to using a Curve again.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Bold 9700. I just hope / wish RIM would also release a same-sized upgrade in the Bold 9000 form factor for all the people out there who appreciate a bigger device with a little extra bling (the 9700 has a more conservative look). Honestly, when I went to the Rogers store Wednesday to buy a 9700 they also had the new Bold 9000 in white on display. If only that white Bold 9000 had 256MB of flash memory, trackpad and a 3.2 megapixel camera, I would have purchased it over the smaller Bold 9700. The Bold 9700 needs to exist as device (it's awesome!), but it's almost like RIM should have branded it the Curve 3G or something (maybe slapped on a Curve-esque keyboard), then released a bigger device as an update to the Bold more true to the original Bold's heritage. On the other hand, to each his/her own. My girlfriend traded in her Curve 8320 for the Bold 9700 and is head over heels for it. I love the Bold 9700 too... I just can't help but miss the 9000's big keyboard everytime I pick it up.
CrackBerry Poll: Whaddya think? Like your Bold big or small? Cast your vote above!Â
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90 comments
I've always used the smaller devices so i can't speak to the size of the original bold. I am eagerly anticipating the new 9700 though and i think it's size will be just fine.
YEP. It's all about past device history. If you're used to the Curve and love it, you'll LOVE the Bold 9700.
It's really just those who have grown to love the size of the Bold 9000 that'll feel a bit cramped on the 9700.
If RIM would just update the 9000's innards now too, they'd make EVERYONE happy.
Still not sure if I want to upgrade or wait on the Dakota- depending on "how long" of a wait for the device.
Absolutely agree with you on this. I have used the Bold for over a year now and would not like the jump down in size. My g/f on the other hand has used the 8900 for almost a year and would love using the new 9700.
I'm still on the fence about this device and am not sure about changing from my Bold to it quite yet.
All GOOD !!
I love my 9000, and I think I will miss the big keyboard. It IS an impressive device, and I love being a Bold owner.
However, I still drool every time I see the 9700, and can't wait to have one. Since I'm a girl, and have shorter fingers, I am hoping to adjust to the smaller keyboard with no problem. My first BB was an 8320, then I got the Bold, and it was like heaven to type on compared to the Curve. I also used an 8900 for a couple months recently, and have to say I missed the smoothness of the Bold's keyboard, and was happy to switch back.
I hope RIM decides not to shy away from the bigger sized device. There is still a market for it!!
Well for some..... Give the people a choice, why have so many phones that look exactly alike, I personally think the new bold is no different than my 8900 only with a trackpad.
If you like small then there are plenty to choose from.
Okay not like my jeans, but definitely like the jeans from Milan.
I've always been addicted to skinny phones. I currently have the slimmest Sony Ericsson ever produced and I'm still on the search for the discontinued 5.7mm Samsung of which I can't remember the name atm.
When you're wearing a well-fitted suit, a block jutting out from your shirt or your pants is horrifying. You don't want the wrong bulge to show, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I just wish that my next BB will be under 10mm thick. With a liquid lens camera.
I'd like to see a new model with same feature set as the 9700, but with the 9000's larger form factor. I like the bigger keyboard, and it would allow for a slightly larger screen, too!
BlackBerry Bold 9800, perhaps? :P
I'm currently using the Bold 9000, and was really looking forward to the new 9700. I am sure it is a great device; I'm positive it is, but it seems more like a new curve to me, than a "Bold".
Since I'm pretty happy with with I have now, and will also be getting OS 5.0 in the near future, I see no reason to part with my beloved 9000. I just love the size and feel of it. Sure, I'd love the new camera (I love the camera in the 8900) and definitely would love the extra memory, but I'm not hurting for memory at the moment, and I have pro Canon EOS gear, as well as a quality Canon 10mp pocket camera, that I can use. (how? I put the microSD into a SD adapter, and then pop it into the Canon pocket cam: after shooting, pop it into the blackberry; sweeeeeeet).
Kevin said it best: "If RIM would just update the 9000's innards now too, they'd make EVERYONE happy." I want an upgrade to the 9000, not just some new Curve that been named Bold. Come on, RIM!
ALL I have to say is AMEN brother!
I just got it, and it was a hunt, the new form factor kicks !@#
no regrets!
reason y I don't think I'll will be getting the 9700.....I just love the form factor of the 9000 and I don't think the 9700 is enough of an upgrade to switch
That's definitely NOT what she said.
the size is exactly the reason why i think the hybrid touchscreen-physical keyboarded BB will be the real Bold heir
i love the looks of the 9700 since the first pic leaked, but i cant help but complain about the smaller screen, smaller keyboard, and basically being the 3G/HSDPA version of the 8900..
5.0 and trackpad is awesome, but the 9000 vs 9700 hardware wise is like comparing a hyundai to a mercedez. RIM should come out with a 9000 running new OS, 3.2 camera, and the trackpad. The name BOLD stands out, just like the BOLD series should stand out from the rest of the blackberries that are small like the curve (besides the storm, which is wack anyway)
I'm in full agreement here. I definitely had a hard time getting used to the BOLD 9000 when it came out but I did in time. I feel the same will happen when I pick up the 9700 but it should definitely be branded as a new curve and not a BOLD. The BOLD name and phone stood out for a reason!
I was following you until you mention the " The Storm is wack. " What you smoking. I'm using the Storm2, and I love it.
The new Bold 9700 it's great and the size too but the Bold 9000 it's my favorite!
I remember first getting a Tour and holding it next to my Bold laughing at how tiny it was and how much I loved my Bold, now I don't know what I'll do moving onto a 9700 :(
So I got the Bold 9000 last December, and it was my first ever BlackBerry which I instantly fell in love with. It's true that once you use a 'Berry, you can't go back to just any other phone. I loved the feel of the phone, and I have big hands so the bigger keyboard was a plus.
Then my world came to a crashing halt a couple of weeks ago when I accidentally left it with my pants as I threw it in the wash! I was so sad. I felt so disconnected from everything without it. About a week or so later, I ended up buying a cheap used Curve 8310 off someone from Craigslist just to hold me over since the 9700 was coming out so soon.
So since I'm getting used to the smaller size of the 8310, I think I'll have an easier time adjusting to the new 9700 once it comes out for AT&T. =)
I won't be upgrading. Sure I'll check it out in store, but to me the BOLD 9000 redefined luxury and functionality in a smartphone. I came from the 8820, which I feel is the same keyboard layout and feel as the 9700 "BOLD." As crucial_extreme said in a post in the Bold 9000 forum, next year there will be a better BOLD that has the same form factor as the 9000. That, I will be sure to upgrade as I will not use my upgrade with AT&T now.
If I would get the 9700, I might as well get the Verizon TOUR since it's just as small AND better coverage than AT&T. I hate AT&T's crappy 3G service. That alone does not warrant an upgrade. If AT&T can't get their act together in terms of network stability, they might as well lost another customer.
Bold had the best size out of any of them... Only thing I didn't like was the bezel and battery cover designs, which were problematic.
I'm using an 8900 for 3 months now and still make typing mistakes that I never made on the 9000. But, I can't give up the 256 RAM and 3.2 camera for facebook mobile posts. I do miss the 9000 speakers also. Any opinion if the 9700 keyboard is better than the 8900 for "man thumbs"?
It's obvious that the 9700 is smaller than the 9000, but that doesn't say anything about the keyboard. I haven't used either device, but from the images I've seen, it doesn't look like they keyboard is much smaller. It looks like there's a bit of bezel around the keyboard on the 9000, but the keyboard goes almost to the edges of the device on the 9700.
Anyone care to bust out the calipers and actually measure the key size and key pitch?
I'm not calling it either way, since I haven't used either device. I'm also not saying that a small change in keyboard size doesn't make a huge difference in usability. Just curious as to what the facts are.
For finally addressing something that has been bothering me since the announcement of the "ONYX" 9700. I am a proud and happy owner of the 9000 and it pained me to see the smaller form factor of the Bold 2. I too transitioned from a curve to the Bold and thought that I would never go back to a smaller keyboard once I fell in love with the elegant, spacious and "BOLD" keyboard on the 9000.
Don't get me wrong, the 9700 looks beautiful and sleek and I'll more than likely try one out for size, I just feel like I'll be cheating on my girlfriend by putting the 9000 to the side and twiddling with a smaller yet more powerful replacement.
Man, if they updated the innards of the original Bold, along with a better camera, optical trackpad and better memory, I wouldn't think twice about getting another bold 9000. Here is what I think RIM may be having up their sleeve.
We all know that a new touchscreen/physical qwerty Berry is around the corner. I believe that the form factor will have to be equal if not be slightly bigger than the 9000, I just can't see having a touchscreeen any smaller than the original Bold's screen along with a physical keyboard. It may be named Bold 3? It may take on an entirely different moniker but I think we'll see something along the size of the original sometime soon.
In the meantime, I'll be playing around with my petite new girlfriend while reminiscing about my previous one.
I am new to the blackberry world. I have the Curve 8320 which I bought from a co-worker. I instantly fell in love with my phone. My husband claims I sleep with it! I don't know what to expect with the new Bold however; I am looking forward to finding out. I thought I wanted the Storm 2 but after playing with another co-workers phone, I found that I do not care for it. It is too heavy!! I like a spacious keyboard however; I have gotten used to the Curve's keyboard and I'm dealing with it. All I can say is "come on Nov. 16th!" Does anyone know if T-mobile will be selling the new Bold for a lesser price closer to Christmas?
And that's why I stay with my Tour. If it was bigger, I would be getting one from Telus right now.
I want a bigger 2x screen and a big ass battery. Stop making these feminine little phones.
100000%
I hate this phones mad for Bonnie Cha and her stupid fat little fingers...I want a phone that a man can use and be comfortable on.
Wow! What a wuss you really are, pu$$y cat.
I want a phone with a big screen and a big keyboard. RIM keeps releasing smaller and smaller phones, when I just want a new Bold to be released with a 7250's keyboard.
Stop! Ninja Time!
I've had an iPhone for 2+years and the Bold 9700 has me in it's spell.
Regarding size, it looks to be perfect - I did have a temporary old Bold, and thought it was a tad too big, so the 9700 is perfect, from what I can see online.
It's like waiting for Christmas when I was a kid - can't wait for the release.
yes definetly yes....old bold screen was the best ever. i wouldnt have such a problem with the new screens its just that stupid black outline surrounding the screen its just lost realestate.
I wonder what else could RIM pack into a Bold if they had kept the 9000's size. I am amazed at how much they packed into the 9700's tight form factor, it's a marvel. I'm looking at getting the new 9700, and can't wait for AT&T to release it. I decided to hold off on getting the 9000 once I heard about the 9700.
I tried the 8900 and the 9630, and both are too small for me to type on comfortably. I love the size of the 9000. I would not consider getting the 9700, since it is too small.
RIM, give me a new large BlackBerry, please!
I just dont get how some people can say smaller is better....A mean ask any woman if smaller is always better and you will see. The bigger screen makes so much more sense for browsing, reading news articles, ebooks, movies and the list goes on. Not to mention the keyboard. Am a big boy with big thumbs and i am so comfortable typing on my original bold i hardly use my laptop any more. Any word document, excel files i do it all on my bold, heck i written a whole paper on my bold the other day ....There is no way i could have done that with the curve keyboard which is essentially what the new bold has. Yes it is a "superbly" beautiful phone with great features but my wish and prayer right now is that rim will keep the original bold design and just give it the 9700 inner features like memory, camera, maybe even the trackpad but keep it the same size as we have all grown to know and absolutely love.
lak611 - totally agree!
I much prefer this new one, one cnanot compare - its way faster, camera is better, reception - the whole 9 yards. I mean - why wouldn't you like it over the older one?
Yes if the 9700 was same size as the 9000 that would be perfect!
It's funny; on the BlackBerry web site, on the Bold 9000 page it says "accept no substitutes".
Pesonally, I just got a Tour to replace my 9000 but I'm already missing it. Too lucky I didn't sell it yet.
...positive about the size...I don't have mine yet, but I will pick it up as soon as it hits AT&T next week.
I hear you with the 9700 looking more like a Curve (and what would be wrong with a third Curve (Curve 8300, the "Refresh" 8900, and the 3G 9700...)
So yes, I will likely have preferred it to have been born a Crackberry Curve 3G as well, but barring semantics, we will all love the addition of yet another Berry, the fastest and most responsive one to date. I'm glad to hear about the trackpad being a welcome addition by everyone who has had the privilege of being first witness of the increasingly diverse nature of this combination of technology, style, and sophisticati;oit is, count me in...:D
Def. agree, that was one of the downsides of the 9700 to me. I thought it was going to look like the curve but be the size of the 9000. :(
I have a Tour, and am Thankful the 9700 is basically the same size, I've drooled over the Bold for a long time, but network coverage was an issue, Now with Bell getting the 9700 I was worried I jumped to the Tour to quickly, but seeing its form factor, I am happy with the Tour.
When they bring out a Bold Size, possibly a hiar wider evem Berry on the Bell Network I'll upgrade my tour.
The poll currently shows 52% feels a smaller Bold is fine. I find it hard to believe an "owner" of a Bold would vote for a smaller one: meaning I'm pretty sure most of that 52% are non-Bold users. Maybe the poll should be asking only BlackBerry Bold 9000 owners.
Those who have never actually "used" the Bold 9000 (and I don't count playing with one on display in a store as making someone a Bold user) won't really know what they are missing when moving to the smaller 9700.
Since non-Bold owners are already used to those tiny BB Curves and 83xx, of course they most likely will feel a smaller Bold is just fine.
To give a Curve user an idea of what it feels like, think of moving from a Curve to a Pearl. :p
Hopefully if/when they make a Bold 3 it will be the same size as the original, with more app. mem, 5meg camera, and 4gig internal storage. now that would be nice. why did they get rid or the internal storage anyway?
I hear ya.
Funny thing is, when the bold 9000 was released I was using a Curve 8310 and had no interest in upgrading. I initially thought it was too big... But over time I started to appreciate the size of the Bold, however I still went for the 8900.
Now I'm ready for some Boldness, what does RIM go and do...they go modest, thats what. FAIL.
Honestly? It doesn't really matter. I will just grow accustomed to using the smaller form factor. What really matters is what under the hood and thankfully the new version doesn't disappoint in that regard.
I bought the 9000 for its size. The extra performance of the 9700 is attractive but not for me at the expense of size.