Hey People, I stopped at an AT&T sales booth while in the mall on Saturday and what I do I find? A few 9800 devices ready to be taken advantage of. Now I’ll be honest and say that these review units were in good shape but, of course, not at their best with no service available and no wifi hotspot nearby. With that said, let’s dig in.
Hardware: the device was solid. It didn’t feel cheap nor was it flimsy in any area. It was crafted to be solid like any BlackBerry, built like a tank.The keyboard felt good and was surprisingly comfortable. It is slightly smaller than the current Bold keyboards but it was in good standard. The capacative screen felt smooth and responsive. The hard keys in the front are as one, instead of separate. The track pad was good as usual. I like the back cover. No feux leather here, just a nice rubber finish. It does feel light, believe it or not. And it’s far from being too heavy when the keyboard is out. The accelerometer was quick as well and smart enough not to change orientation while the keyboard was out. Overall, the device is physically acceptable and definitely a refresher to the BlackBerry solution.
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Software: BB6 is the new. It was fast and it looks good. Now, like all operating systems, it gets to be a bit repetitive but as a base OS, BB6 brings us what we want, and what was missing in comparison to the competition. A simple, clean and sleek UI. This UI can be compared with that of the iPhone and Android devices. The options menu at first is VERY confusing, but it was nothing that I couldn’t grasp after a few minutes of searching. It had some native apps like BBM and the podcast app,which those were expected. I didn’t have the chance to check out App World or the browser but I know there are apps that don’t work and that the webkit browser is what’s keeping the Torch going while no one’s looking.
Honestly, I would love to own a Torch but the truth is, I prefer having a keyboard vs a touch screen. I loved the feel of the 9800, don’t get me wrong, but my Bold 9700 just feels better. So, I think I’ll stick with my 9700 and if it doesn’t do well when BB6 is released for it, I’ll make the leap and get the Torch!
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