New phone- my Bold 9700 is still the best? Really?

[CharredPC]

So, I recently signed my girlfriend up on my account with a new line (and a new Android LG Optimus T). While at the store, I was told that my line qualifies for a free phone as well.

But then I really looked at their offerings. Have I just gotten spoiled or something? First off, touchscreens = unacceptable to me, for a number of reasons (no tactile feedback, smudgy screens, frustration of waiting for 'software response', aiming/calibration/mistype issues, etc). Everyone seems to be going that way, though.

Then comes the issue of battery. I know smartphones will always consume more than a standard 'dumb' phone, but when my last 'dumb' phone lasted 5+ days and had a standby time over two weeks, I expect at least what I get out of my Bold 9700 (2+ days). My girlfriend's Optimus can't even get through a single day with heavy use! What's the point of all the games, flashy wallpaper and features if it isn't even useful as a phone anymore? Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but my cellphone is how people rely on reaching me, whether I decided to play Angry Birds for an hour that day or not To me it's a bit like producing laptops that run twice as fast but only last 45 minutes on battery. Realistically, how useful is that? Isn't it a bit of a step backwards? Shouldn't things get more efficient, not just flashier?

Sure, my 9700 gets a little slow if I'm loading a webpage while texting and running a few background apps. (Don't even talk to me about OS6, IMO the 9700 is a an OS5 machine, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, thank you very much.) But it's bearable, and wonderful to know that 32% battery will get me through work in a pinch. Perhaps it's my lifestyle, but I simply can't stay tethered to a charger. A cell phone is about convenience, not inconvenience, right? When did that change?

If RIM is the only company still caring about battery life, then what? I greatly dislike the 9780 (OS6 only, double-entry keypress issues, worse battery life) and it's an incremental update at best. Am I missing an option somewhere, or are my smartphone needs no longer what the average consumer cares about?

[carullo]

well said......i think sometimes as technology increases common sense gets lost

[Fubaz]

why not complain about this one too?
BlackBerry - Bold Touch 9900 - 9930 Smartphone - Touch BlackBerry Bold Release Date

[CharredPC]

Originally Posted by Fubaz

why not complain about this one too?
BlackBerry - Bold Touch 9900 - 9930 Smartphone - Touch BlackBerry Bold Release Date

Looks beautiful, sounds great. No complaints if the battery life / OS is as good as my 9700. If it's worse, I will critique it. Since it's not out yet, though...

[D_March]

I still love my 9700 to be honest but I agree that it shouldn't be the best or equal to the best 18 months after release. The playbook pairs great with it but I would like to see faster and more significant phone improvements from RIM. I am excited for the 9900. CX said it has as good a battery life as the 9700.

[BlkBear]

Originally Posted by CharredPC

Then comes the issue of battery. I know smartphones will always consume more than a standard 'dumb' phone, but when my last 'dumb' phone lasted 5+ days and had a standby time over two weeks, I expect at least what I get out of my Bold 9700 (2+ days). My girlfriend's Optimus can't even get through a single day with heavy use! What's the point of all the games, flashy wallpaper and features if it isn't even useful as a phone anymore? Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but my cellphone is how people rely on reaching me, whether I decided to play Angry Birds for an hour that day or not To me it's a bit like producing laptops that run twice as fast but only last 45 minutes on battery. Realistically, how useful is that? Isn't it a bit of a step backwards? Shouldn't things get more efficient, not just flashier?

The battery issue is valid, but on to the point that the phone makers are still putting the same batteries in the phones that can't get a full days use, that they were putting in phones that were slower, less screen rez and didn't use as much power. The answer for that of course is buying extended life batteries, or the manufacturers installing batteries that are matched for the phones they are installed in, out of the box.

Yes things should get more efficient, but you have to convince the makers of these phones to make that leap. The problem I see, is the battery makers can only make form factors that they make, until they start making or are able to make their batteries thinner than the phone that are being produced, we will continue to see, super fast, flashy phones, that can't get you from 6am to 1am without a plug or spare battery being used sometime during the day. But while they have power, can get to you to Mars and back in what little play time you will have per charge.