[Mystery007]

!!!!!HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!!

Hi, I'm new to this forum and basically i registered here because of this main doubt. Im thinking about buying a blackberry.
I don't want a touchscreen... Im sick of touchscreen and i want to try QWERTY keyboards.
I have been trying to find a cheap phone but with everything i want in one and that's why i chose
blackberry. I have mp3 player, internet, applications, good mensaging etc

So after investigating i found 2 interesting choices: Blackberry Bold 9650 and 9700. (152$ and 206$)
Now i ve searched the whole internet and i haven't fou any thing solid to decide from
From what i've read, the 9650 has more ram (512) than the 9700 (256)
But the 9700 has more battery...

I don know if there is anything that is much better on one that the other can't beat

I'm countin on you guys. I'll probably get the 9650 since it is cheaper unless someone here shows me some pretty bad
disadvantage....

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long thread

[berryraptor]

The 9650 device was originally for Verizon and Sprint so if you buy this one to use with an unlocked sim, you will be stuck on 2G is you go with T-Mobile. (SimPle Mobile) The 9700 was originally a Tmobile and ATT blackberry so it will be compatible with an unlocked Sim. The 9650 is upgradable to Os 6 whereas i believe the 9700 is stuck on OS 5 (?)
Also, Since i assume you are no locked into a contract because these two phones are outdated now, I will recomend you look at Boost Mobile
They have the newest OS 7 BB Curve for $75. It is contract free and they have unlimited voice,text,and web for something like 55 bucks. This would be a much better option than either of those phones, unless GSM (sim cards) is a necessity for you.
So if you dont want the boost one, go with the 9700, you will get better 3G service on tmobile and it will roam in more countries on 3G, the tradeoff is no OS 6, which is old now anyways.
Hope that helps

[dangerousfen]

I think the 9700 was one of the best devices of its era. I've owned the 9900 for some time now but still use my old 9700 as an MP3 player and backup phone. It served me well for 3 years without one single problem and still looks as good as new. The keyboard is terrific and very solid to type on. Since I started using the 9900 I downgraded the 9700 from OS6 668 to OS5 862. I did prefer OS6 but OS5 is a more stable operating system with very little memory leak. You will also find the battery life amazing, I'm still using the original battery.

Never owned the 9650 so can't really comment on it. Perhaps someone else will chime in on that.

Alan.

[Mystery007]

OMG thanks for the replies!!! but hey, i want to use the phone in portugal (my country ^_^) with Vodafone. Do you know Vodafone??

[ajst222]

What carrier are you on? The 9650 is CDMA (either Verizon or Sprint) and the 9700 is GSM (either AT&T or T-Mobile). You also might need to unlock a phone as well. I am on Verizon and I know that the 9650 is great. My cousin had it. I had its predecessor the Tour 9630 which was also an excellent phone. Feel free to PM me if you need any help or advice here.

But here is a link of a comparison of the BB5 and BB6 Bold series (the 9650 and 9700 happen to be right next to each other. These specs are accurate):
BlackBerry Bold - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[berryraptor]

OMG thanks for the replies!!! but hey, i want to use the phone in portugal (my country ^_^) with Vodafone. Do you know Vodafone??

yeah then you are going to want to go with the 9700, it was a GSM (vodafone) phone from the start, instead of the 9650

[ajst222]

yeah then you are going to want to go with the 9700, it was a GSM (vodafone) phone from the start, instead of the 9650

Ahh yea I do believe that Vodafone is GSM so your only option really is the 9700 of those 2 phones

[Mystery007]

I ve never understood that very well... what is GSM and CDMA? i ve always heard that bb 6950 was flexyble on that....

[ajst222]

I ve never understood that very well... what is GSM and CDMA? i ve always heard that bb 6950 was flexyble on that....

GSM and CDMA are the different types of networks a certain carrier can be. There are more too. I honestly couldn't explain it too well so I wouldn't be your guy there.

[dangerousfen]

I have been with Vodafone UK for some years now. The 9700 I mentioned earlier was also with that carrier (GSM). Dependent on the 9700 you purchase, if its not branded to your carrier then you will need to unlock it. You can search the forums here to obtain unlock codes.

[raino]

The 9650, even though it's a CDMA phone, can be used on a GSM network. You will for sure get 2G on an unlocked 9650, and probably 3G too (as the 9650 has the 2100 MHz 3G band...which Vodafone PT probably uses.)

That being said...in my experience, a GSM phone on a GSM network will probably work out the best, connectivity-wise.

[jhanks64]

I think the 9900 is still a better bet, even with the Touch Screen. It's a faster device and has more memory I think. The keyboard is so much better for typing than the old OS5 and OS6 phones, plus you get things like WiFi Hotspot and better link with a Playbook if you bought one.

[ajst222]

I think the 9900 is still a better bet, even with the Touch Screen. It's a faster device and has more memory I think. The keyboard is so much better for typing than the old OS5 and OS6 phones, plus you get things like WiFi Hotspot and better link with a Playbook if you bought one.

Of course it is a better device. But we don't know if that is in the OP's budget or if that's what he really wants.

[Mystery007]

You are right. I dont wanna take too long on you guys but I forgot to mention one thing: I DONT WANT TO USE VODAFONE'S INTERNET. THE ONLY
INTERNET I WILL USE WILL BE WIFI.

Basically from this thread i've learned:
9650- Faster processor, more ram, but not good for my carrier also cheaper
9700- Not as good as 9650 but the ram diference is not detected, MORE BATTERIE (this is important), and costs more.

So knowing that i won't use vodafone net what do you recommend again? My budget can only afford these 2 other wise i would get the new
bold's with touchscreen... I only think that the 9650 is better because ive seen people saying that has better keyboard and is cheaper. Though, more battery
would be great. Im so confused. There are advantages and disadvanteges in each...

[Mystery007]

OHHHH AND I FORGOT ONE THING!!!!
the 9700 takes ages to reboot!!!! I HATE THAT!

[dangerousfen]

OHHHH AND I FORGOT ONE THING!!!!
the 9700 takes ages to reboot!!!! I HATE THAT!

If you run it with OS5 and not OS6, you will hardly ever need to reboot it. Unless you load up more apps!

As I said earlier, I only use my old 9700 now as an mp3 player. I last rebooted in November last year if I remember correctly.

[Mystery007]

Im going to buy unlocked anyway because vodafone pt is s*** and doesnt have blackberry's... otherwise i would buy a better one with discount points. But what do you think? Im not gonna use vodafone 3g a lot, only Wi fi so i don't know if thats a big diference. Other than that I would certainly buy 9650

[llamax]

9650 is not a faster CPU than 9700 or 9780, it's 5xx MHz vs 6xx MHz, look it up on gsmarena. 9650 has slightly bigger kb and screen but lower resolution. After owning all three, you will want the 9780. 9900 kills all three badly.