8520 vs 9780

[puds38]

So here's my dilemma; I have an 8900 purchased from tmo the day it was released. I love the phone and until this weekend had no problems with it.This weekend the trackball got stuck. I previously had a Pearl so I did all the trackball cleaning voodoo. It actually made things worse, and now the trackball won't move at all. Since it's been a while I figure I'll go ahead and get a new phone. Preference was the Torch, but I'm unemployed and can't afford to purchase and unlocked phone/ On the tmo website it looks like my options are either the 8520 or the 9780.

I've checked out a few threads on the forums and I'm leaning towards the 9780. I use my phone pretty heavy. I do not have a landline, tweet often, take pictures, make grocery lists, as well as talk & text.

My apologies if this seems redundant, but I my current unemployment status make me a bit more money conscious and I just want some feedback before I take the plunge.

Thanks

[NorrisCell]

Personally, the Torch offers nothing over the 9780 except diminished battery life. The 9780 is a big difference over the 8520. Camera is much better on the 9780, plus OS6 is a large improvement. For someone like yourself who uses a wide variety of functions of the phone, I think the 9780 would be a better choice

[puds38]

Originally Posted by NorrisCell

Personally, the Torch offers nothing over the 9780 except diminished battery life. The 9780 is a big difference over the 8520. Camera is much better on the 9780, plus OS6 is a large improvement. For someone like yourself who uses a wide variety of functions of the phone, I think the 9780 would be a better choice

Thanks for the reply. I went with the 9780 and got it for $98 after rebate.

[DawgMan]

You made a very good decision with the 9780. I have used two and they are very solid devices. Enjoy it.

[SK122387]

You'll love the 9780. I think it's 129.99 right now on a 2year contract, the same price as the 9700 was. The stores I've been to actually still carry both. I bought the 8900 on the same day you did, I think it was in February 2009?, and I know that had I not done countless warranty exchanges for one reason or another, that atomic trackball gets just as nasty as the white ones did. The trackpad alone is a good enough reason to switch, though the 9300 has a trackpad too... you will be seriously disappointed in the 9300 coming from the 8900 (I'm sure you could get a 9300 as an upgrade, I'm not sure why they're trying to unload a 8520 into your hands).

I played with my friends 9330 or whatever Sprint's variant is, and I couldn't get over what a downgrade the screen and camera and overall feel it had compared to the 8900. I personally like the harder plastic as opposed to the rubberized backings of the 9300 and even the Torch, so I wasn't a fan of anything of the 9300's really. The 8520 is even "worse" than the 9300, as it lacks 3G and feels like a kid's toy phone filled with pieces of bubble gum or something.

I hope that helps! I know I'm totally satisfied with my 9780 and I just got my mom one the other day.