Caught up in the 9800, 9780, 9700 dilemma
Couldn't really figure out where to put this since it deals with three different phones, so I figured this was an appropriate home.
But anyways, I just became eligible for a full upgrade this week, coincidentally on the same day as the Torch release. I am currently using a Curve 8330 (on ATT) and I'm afraid it is on its last leg. A new phone is a must in my (relatively) immediate future.
I LOATHE touch screen texting, and I text at all hours of the day, so the Torch seemed like a decent answer to my unwillingness to join the rest of my family in the world of the iPhone. I was somewhat skeptical going into my Torch test run with all the pre-release complaints about it. However, I was somewhat impressed with it. The slider felt very solid, the resolution didn't bother me for my purposes, and it wasn't too laggy. I also really enjoyed the organization of OS6. However, a few things also bugged me. I don't know if it was just because the charger was plugged in and it had an annoying security mechanism on the back, but I didn't love the physical keyboard. Felt a little more difficult to use than other models. Also, the whole portrait/landscape switch confused itself a lot. Switched to landscape without me tilting it, lagged in returning to portrait. Felt a little clumsy. Lastly, the phone is just a little bulky.
I still could've seen myself walking out with the Torch that day, but then I made the big mistake that leaves me posting this thread to get opinions. I picked up the Bold 9700. It felt perfect in my hands. Solid. It was lightning quick navigating around with the track pad. I can't explain it in technical terms, but it just felt "sure" in what it was doing. I think it may have even been quicker than the Torch to upload some web pages. I liked the keyboard better too.
For some reason after A/B-ing the two phones, I have this subtle feeling that I might regret getting the Torch at some point. The slider feels solid today, but will it hold up for me? People are experiencing the metallic speaker sound and some other issues (relatively isolated), but nonetheless, should I take a leap of faith on the first incarnation of a phone? And I really need great battery performance. I'm afraid the wow factor of touch screen might not be worth the potential for poorer battery performance.
So it sounds easy. Get the Bold and be on my way. But the lurking 9780 poses a problem too. I'm a college student with college student funds, so I'd like to make one purchase and stick with it. I can't buy the Torch, play with it till the 9780 comes out, get the 9780, then hope to get good money for the Torch. So the problem is WHEN can I expect the 9780?
And would I be cheating myself by picking up a 9700 potentially weeks or a month before the 9780 release? I'm just that guy who worries about his purchase becoming immediately out of date (like when I purchased the 8330 without looking into the near future for other releases). Call it a personal problem, but I just have a concern picking up a phone (the 9700) that has already been out for so long, knowing that the refresh is coming soon.
So it sounds easy. Just wait. Well my Curve is dying, and has been for a while. If it were a human, it would have a respirator and be asking for its last rites. It's on its second casing, screen has a growing crack, battery life is falling fast, dropping calls left and right for some reason, and if my trackball gets stuck one more time I'm throwing it out the window and communicating via smoke signal till the 9780 comes out.
Sorry for writing a book about it, and I know there are a lot of opinion threads like this, but I figured some experts can honestly help me make my decision. If only RIM could just tell me WHEN on the 9780, I could rest easier with my decision.
Cliff notes version: I want to have my cake and eat it too. Now how do I do it?