8900 or the 9700?
 

I'm switching to AT&T next month, and I don't know which phone to get!! I've always wanted the 8900 but the 9700 seems better cause its newer. I won't be getting a data plan (leave me alone!! XP) so 3G speeds wouldn't affect me that much. Which do you guys recommend? THe pros and cons of each phone?

I hate to break this to you...But, I read on a forum that you are required to have a Data plan with the purchase/use of a BB. Also, I could have sworn TMO was the last of the "Big 4" to require a data plan with a BB, which occured a few months ago. If that isn't the case, with the 9700 you get a faster processor, 8900 has 512 I believe, The Bold 2 has 624. Track pad on 9700 vs Trackball on 8900. And the 9700 has 5.0, 8900 has 4.6, and who knows when they will be releasin 5.0 for all BB's. Keyboards are different, so you might want to try both out. Oh, the 8900's USB port is located on lower right, making it difficult to text/talk while charging the 9700's USB is located on the top left. That's all that comes to mind at this time. Hope it helped somewhat.G

you would have to buy a non att branded 9700 to not have a data plan. att knows what devices are branded on there network.

from what i have read.

att/vz require all smartphones to carry data plans. the only around this would be get a non att phone (branded) and use your sim card in it.

p.s i would go with the 9700 same form factor as the 8900 but as stated track pad, its a newer device and is capable of 3g :)

most def get the 9700, the 8900 is nice, but it was too small for me

Get to 11 - spam anyone?

9700, my man. I mean...it's a Bold.

Have had them both, used them both extensively. Also had the the 9000. For all the reasons mentioned in this thread plus several others, the 9700 is the easy choice.

As state before...9700 is really an update 8900 NOT a bold 2
 

I have no idea why they called the 9700 the "Bold 2". It's code name is Onyx (and they based it pretty much off the 8900) They should have called it the Onyx or the Curve 9700 'cause I've owned both devices.

The 9700 is just an 8900 with a trackpad, slightly faster procesosr, Os 5.0, 3G, and a mix of the Curve/Bold keyboard. They even use the Curve form factor...NOT much difference. The 3G and trackpad are pretty much it. For those that say the 8900 was too small or whatever? What phone were you using? The 8900 and 9700 are pretty much IDENTICAL in size.

I would get the 9700 but if you can get a deal on the 8900? The 8900 was considered a better device than the 9000 (which is odd). The bold 1 (9000) had a low res screen and ate batteries. T-mobile was giving away 8900's with 2 year contract if you are eligible.

I would try for the 9700 though. It is a nice upgrade.

All four of your major carriers REQUIRE data plans on smartphones. If you "accidently" don't add it, they'll be nice enough to add it for you.

BUT, why would you carry a smartphone without a data plan? Hell, the AT&T ones have on-demand TV services in the data plan. I work with them on a day-to-day basis. 3.5G on a BlackBerry 9700 is HOT.

BOLD's are awesome!
8900 is good, but 9700 is better.

That is weird, my wife owns an 8900 and she doesn't have a data plan. They asked if we wanted it and she said no.

The 9700 is a very very good phone. I had one and gave to my wife because she liked it! I loved it though and did not have any issues with it. The only thing I wish it had was a little more internal memory, but heck who doesnt! Great phone!

I agree, the 9700 is a great phone. And really, memory is cheap, you can add a microSD card.

I have the 9700 right now, my old phone was the 8900 and the 8900 had great features like the trackball ( a lot easier imo) and it was smaller with nice keys too that were a little spread out, but other than that I would go with the 9700 its an all around great phone.