Red-headed stepchild?

[pjcloninger]

Anyone else feel like the Torch 98xx is Blackberry's red-headed stepchild? Just judging from the forums, commercials, retailers, etc., this phone has very little support behind it.

I was actually in my local corporate Sprint store exchanging my phone due to peeling buttons and a long time employee actually told me he had only sold three 9850's (one was to me on launch day).

What's everyone's thoughts on the success of this phone so far?

[kam2958]

kinda feel the same way as you, haven't had a full week yet, but actually for me it is good.

forces me get use to the virtual keyboard but it still has the bb button and back button

both worlds???

[DoctorNeutron]

Shoot, see any threads on this site about VZN support of the 9850's "official" release ? RIM could not sell firewater to American Indians, this for an amazing device. I WILL give them kudos on the name "TORCH", as in carrying the torch. Sometimes I wonder for what.

Getting a 64 gb playbook to keep from getting bored.

Would like to see TB support for OS7.

As a practicing nuclear physicist I am used to being in the dark and doing things that are like 9 standard deviations away from most folks.

What would doom RIM: loss of system security.

Doc Neutron

[pjcloninger]

I would like to know the actual sale numbers of this device across all carriers. I'm thinking this may end up being the lowest selling Blackberry, IMO.

On a side note, I'm actually enjoying the phone for the most part.

[cgull]

I have the 9850 and am loving it. After the S1 and S2 I think there is hesitation for carriers to make a big deal. Too bad though bc RIM finally nailed it with this device. They do need to get the 7.1 build out there on VzW as it has been flawless for me.

[up488]

I love my 9860!

[SpaceLump]

I bought two and these 9850's work great. But I'm still dreaming of a bb10 phone.

[kevinnugent]

It's the Storm heritage.

[Ronzdaname]

I agree. I have a 9860 and simply love it. RIM doesn't promote this device properly, if at all. It's a real shame.

[Ebscer]

From a development standpoint the 9850/9860 is an outlier. The ratio of the screen size is off from every other device, and for the most part (in my apps at least) this leads to wasted space.

That said, this phone will be well supported, and is closer to the PlayBook then anything else is. And it is far more popular then the 9100/9105 or the 9670 ever were...

[the_sleuth]

I agree RIM is not marketing it, most of my friends did not realize RIM has an all-new touch screen phone and ask me what Android maker is it?

Also when I purchased it the sales rep said BB devices are used for the physical keyboard. If you want all touch get an Android argument.

Hopefully it's better marketed in the new year. I enjoy my 9860.

[pjcloninger]

I agree with most of you. This really is a good phone and in my opinion, might be the best Blackberry to date (again, my opinion). Aside from the few build quality issues, which I think are not widespread, it appears to be a solid phone.

I guess the reason I posted the thread was because I was/am shocked at the disinterest.

[El Platanero]

I currently own the 9930 and I feel like I can chime in on this convo. I've been shopping phones for my wife and had the 9850 in my hands and I have to say that if it wasn't for the addicting keyboard on the Bold I'd probably go for this sexy phone. the screen was beautiful and the touch response was better on it than the bold. But lack of advertising is definitely its biggest competitor.

[RaspberryJ]

Love my 9860. Great for games, sexy for images, and fantastic for browsing.

Only real problem I have is that sometimes the buttons don't respond. Sometimes the call button doesn't open the phone or pick up the call. Sometimes the back button doesn't go back and the BlackBerry button doesn't open the menu. There are tricks to get the last two to work, like pressing the call and BlackBerry buttons at the same time, but it gets really tiresome.

But perhaps what I hate most is how blantly obvious it is that this phone is RIM's secomd favourite child. The bold got a metal bezel, the 9860 got a plastic one. The bold got a nice glass screen, and the 9860 got a plastic one. Its like RIM went "hmmm... BlackBerry users won't buy many touchscreen devices so there's no point in putting a lot of effort behind it."

Just my $0.02

[timdex91]

Originally Posted by El Platanero

I currently own the 9930 and I feel like I can chime in on this convo. I've been shopping phones for my wife and had the 9850 in my hands and I have to say that if it wasn't for the addicting keyboard on the Bold I'd probably go for this sexy phone. the screen was beautiful and the touch response was better on it than the bold. But lack of advertising is definitely its biggest competitor.

I got a 9930 and 9850 from Radio Shack on VZW. The Bold for myself and I upgraded my Mrs from a Storm 1. Trying to transfer over her Storm data BRICKED the first Torch. RS shipped a new one and we are not transfering the old info. We love both!!!