I keep on looking at the battery cover for the 9000 and wonder what it's going to be like. I think it will be more durable and less likely to have that classic BB rub mark on the back. What are everyone's thoughts?

I have seen and handled other phones with like material and I like the feel of it personally. Any "grip" it gives that can hold it to my angled desk or leather seats is a plus IMO.

Wonder how cases will work with it personally and if RIM is trying to minimize 9000s in bright pink and yellow rubber cases....

I personally am a bit disappointed in the battery cover looking like faux leather. I much prefer the soft rubber look and touch ala Treo 750 and Motol Q9h.

I think it looks pretty hot, I nice change from the shinny fingerprint magnets they've been putting out as of late!

Had I not just recently handled a demo device made of the same material I would think yuk, faux leather. However, my impression of that demo device was that in addition to being beautifully simple, the material (like what they are using for the 9000) looked and felt nice to me.

I liked the soft rubber finish too, but I don't think it would go with the classy flow of the device. I just hope it looks good..

I agree, I view the fake leather the same way I do with fake wood in cars. Its a bit tacky, I too would prefer a rubbery material instead. I can see the leather getting beat up, cut, and gouged over time.

I like the faux leather look on the BB Bold. This must be the high quality materials part RIM was talking about and I have no doubt some non OEM company will offer a replacement battery door of cheap plastic or rubberized for those who like the tacky plastic.

kinda reminded me of the vertu

Don't think of it as "Faux Leather". Think of it as "Elegantly Textured Rubber" ;) Perhaps even as "Corinthian Rubber"?

Personally, I didn't like it at first. Then, the more I have looked at the pics, it has grown on me. I too have the inevitable scratch/rub marks in the middle of my shiny plastic 8800 casing, and I can see how the mottled rubber surface (or even a mottled plastic surface) would help to prevent this.

I agree with everyone else that speculates there will be a wide array of after-market products to "address" this design choice if you really dislike it that much.

I can not wait to upgrade to this device!

I am hoping we see some nice high quality aftermarket backs show up on the market.

That would be pretty nice if a company actually came out with a real leather back cover. In different colors.. Hmm.

I handled the blackberry 9000's they had on display at WES and I really like the back cover. I think its about time they put something dull on the part of the device that is CONSTANTLY in contact with surfaces of some sort (desks, tables, holsters, etc). I also would not compare the material with leather so much. Its not nearly as soft and squishy as it looks, but its still very scratch resistant. To me it looks and feels exactly like the material that my car dashboard is made of.

Ew.. I hope you have a nice car because my dashboard is hard as a rock.. You do make a good point though having something that doesn't always have the ability to rub on something, or not grip and have the ability to fly off a desk. I hated that on all my ol' BBs

Choice is always good.

I have visions of Ricardo Montelban hawking Chrysler Cordobas all those years ago. Any of you kids remember that? Probably not.

Anyway, I like it. After using the rubber skin cases on my Blackberrys I have come to appreciate a non-slip surface. As much as I loved the shiny black plastic of the 8800, I found the rubber skin was just too useful to ignore.

Like this...LMAO

I am giving away my age but I can remember the ads quite well!

Volarie.....wowowowoooooo! I feel old now.

Wow! That's almost as good a one of those college flashbacks that seem to happen now and then.

Any time I hear "Corinthian" or anything like it I get that picture in my head. Even at church services for funerals and weddings. Somebody quotes "Corinthians" and that's that for me. I have to excuse myself for a few minutes and head to the bathroom. A few rounds of Brick Breaker later and I'm right as rain again.