RIM going back to the 9000 form factor in the 9900 is a tribute to this phone

[2dfx]

Here is a phone in RIM's lifecycle that was a cut above any BlackBerry at the time:

-Large, vibrant screen
-A keyboard you could type a novel on
-Decent fit and finish (a leatherette battery door? unheard of!)
-Reasonably fast
-Excellent speakerphone/audio quality

YES I know that it still has the crappy pre-webkit browser, and yes nowadays it's antiquated, but I still see MANY of these phones still around. I bought one when it was originally released and plan on upgrading to the 9900 when it gets released.

I've owned both this and the 9700, and I still think the 9000's screen looks better, and has way better audio quality. The dinky rubber pad on the battery door on the 9700 doesn't feel at the same standard as the 9000's.

I can only hope RIM hits another home-run with the 9900 upon its release!

[Unlockology]

I don't think RIM will hit a home run with the 9900. The market is clearly leaning towards full screen phones like the HTC's and the iPhone.

RIM needs to differentiate itself and maybe the way to do this is to improve on the 9800 Torch and the fact that it can give the consumer the best of both worlds. Both the big screen and the slide out key board.

RIM need to get back in gear and lead by being innovative and bold.

[rambo47]

That's where the Monaco/Monza comes in. Full touch screen, but running the BlackBerry OS we've come to rely on.

For the traditionalists like myself, the 99xx looks like a winner. I had the Bold 9000 and loved it. I particularly loved the fact that I won it here at BlackBerryForums in a contest. Ya can't beat that with a stick!

[DZD]

I'm a long time blackberry user - currently running a Torch 9800 - two weeks ago, I decided that I would move away from blackberry and look at an android or the upcoming iPhone 5.

A few reasons were the "lagginess" in the response - sometimes I'd have to click two or three times for something to happen (yes, I know to do a battery pull regularly). Most recently, with the announcement of iCloud and the videos of the iOS5 I thought that I should go over to the dark (white?) side and try it.

Then I saw this video! YouTube - xxxx202a;RIM Blackberry Bold Touch 9900 / 9930 Hands-onxxxx202c;‏ (http://youtu.be/q-F9maDSJTo) The fluid graphics and what appear to be big improvements in performance may keep me in the blacberry fold.

I agree that some folks (maybe even me) just want a full screen phone - I'm typing less and surfing more on my Torch.

Can't wait to see the new devices from RIM come out. I hope and pray that there is some awesome innovation in their upcoming products.

Enjoy the video.

[Thiego-uk]

dont forget the red numbers on the keypad, I sure miss them xD