Yes. The 9700 has the newer style keyboard which my bold 9650 has and the 8900 has the chicklet style keys that the 8330 had. I've had both and used a buddys 8900.
I saw your prev post about the dilemma your in between the two phones so I know where your going. The differences to me are the 9700 is a lot quieter when texting and I find myself faster at it to but the 8900 for a beginner blackberry user will be just fine.
I loved my 8330 keyboard and said I'd never get rid of it, I got the bold and hated the keyboard until a few days later then I got acustomed to it.
I would say get the 8900 for now and give it a year and about 4 new devices should be dropping and they're high end ones too.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
The 8900 and 9000 had the last of the nice keyboards from RIM. Everything since has felt cheap, cramped, or awkward save for the 9100/9105 which stayed with its original keyboard.
