My First Post, Not My First Smartphone (Torch comments)

Well, well...

I have read so much material in the last few months for my next smartphone. I have owned HTC HD (wm6.1), iPhone 3GS, Blackberry Bold 9000 and now the Blackberry Torch 9800... Here's my feel of this new phone after over a week (I'm Canadian) :)

I first have to say that all those reviews out there, ridiculous! This phone is awesome, I am very proud to own it. I own an iMac and Macbook Pro and that doesn't mean I have to love an iPhone. I own a Blackberry and love it because of these main reasons!

1. WOW, I feel badass when I slide that keyboard out when I'm ready to respond to a message. Love it!
2. I cannot believe how beneficial it is to have a keyboard, touchpad & touchscreen. It is so fun to use all of them and I find myself changing all the time.
3. I recall hearing a review that this phone style was completely outdated. This thing looks like a stealth bomber. It's sleek, modern and just plain beautiful. Yeah ok it doesn't have a 1ghz processor, but it has so much cost invested in the parts. The iPhone looks like a plank, boring to me. It's still a good phone in the right person's eyes, just not mine. To each his own.
4. The screen is beautiful and anyone who says they can't even look at it because of how horrible it is, again, ridiculous.
5. I love the pouch case, is saves battery life and causes no problem with the sensitive lock/unlock button as the phone knows when it should be sleeping...Smart. They could have made it a little more difficult to press for those who don't like holsters/pouches.
6. Battery Life, it's amazing, I get 3 days and really surprised how many people complained comparing it to 9700.
7. BB OS6, It's great, I really like the improvements with GPS, messaging, web browser...many more things... I'm looking forward to it maturing to even greater status in the next while.

One negative would be apps I suppose...Wish they had more or that they are easier to find.

I like forums, but forums for smartphones and Mac vs. PC are absolutely ridiculous. It's mostly not normal people or they have issues or something. Nothing is perfect, 9800, 9000, iPhones, Mac, PC... I wish people wouldn't be so strong on the negatives and focus what the phone can do.

Everyone complaining about the specs of this phone... You are not paying for a gaming phone, you are paying for all the engineering and production costs for all the parts designed into the phone. It costs money. If they would have included 1ghz processor, which I'm sure they could, then it would be an $1100 phone (est.). I'm sure there are some people that would pay that and maybe they should include that custom option and that in turn would help more people produce apps....

Who knows...

Point being, I really enjoy having this phone and don't regret my purchase what-so-ever!

Cheers!

On #3, yeah I never really understood why people hated the style... I think it's one of the best looking phones out there.

Glad to hear your enjoying it as much as I am..although we must all be in the minority seeing as how there is no way this phone should be good without a 1Ghz HummingDragon processor and 3D RetANAL screen. Right? :p

I too love the form factor..being able to use the trackpad again after 18 months with the Storm made me realise how useful they are and how much I missed having one. And yea..this phone looks pimp.

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Originally Posted by shawngt2

2. I cannot believe how beneficial it is to have a keyboard, touchpad & touchscreen. It is so fun to use all of them and I find myself changing all the time.

That point is the game winner. No way you can be faster hammering out an appointment on your phone other than using a a combination of these three. ;) RIM knows what they're doing! Haha.

I like your choices in phones. I am really interested in this device. About 75 percent sure that I'm going to get one. I see that you used to have a Bold 9000. What is the typing experience like on the 9800 compared to the 9000. I have played with a Torch in the store, but a keyboard feels differently after you have gotten used to it. Also, does OS 6 still have auto text, auto off/on, and keyboard shortcuts?

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Originally Posted by dwaynewilliams

I like your choices in phones. I am really interested in this device. About 75 percent sure that I'm going to get one. I see that you used to have a Bold 9000. What is the typing experience like on the 9800 compared to the 9000. I have played with a Torch in the store, but a keyboard feels differently after you have gotten used to it. Also, does OS 6 still have auto text, auto off/on, and keyboard shortcuts?

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The Torch physical keyboard is the best keyboard of any RIM device that I have owned, even better than the 9000. Yes to all your questions.

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RIM is making it easier for app developers. RIM also acquired Cellmania for app development.

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I cant emphasize how amazing it is to have both a touch screen and touch pad this makes navigating so much easier

Originally Posted by bosh4life

I cant emphasize how amazing it is to have both a touch screen and touch pad this makes navigating so much easier

Indeed. I can't imagine using a touchscreen device without a trackpad now, never mind having the physical keyboard...

trackpad + touchscreen + keyboard = win!

I almost bought the storm, even closer to buying the storm 2. I even considered some the of Samsung Galaxy S phones, and of course the Iphone 4 after playing with my friends' phones for a while.

Sooooo glad I bought the Torch and not regretting it for one second. All those other phones are toys and toys are great if that's what you're looking for in a phone. BB platform is best for what I use a smartphone for. Heavy communication and quite a bit of websurfing, GPS usage, and some video watching/music listening on the side. Not playing games, not editing photos, not watching full length movies, not DJ-ing with it.

I had a friend who's work upgraded him from an older Curve to an iphone4. He ended up buying another Curve instead and only uses his iphone4 for work to talk and play games on.