So...

I got mine today about 10:30. Decided to erase my BES profile and start over clean.

Right now, I have no complaints with functionality at all. Device is quick. Thank God there is no browser click nonsense (that was making me nuts on the 9630). Playing around with WiFi. Signal seems good. Call clarity, etc. on Bluetooth is excellent.

I guess the observation made elsewhere here "The 9650 is what the 9630 should have been" is absolutely right.

I have ONE complaint so far. The trackpad is slightly crooked. Works find. Tracks fine. Clicks fine. Trying to decide if I will call VZW and whine and get a new one sent that is straight? Am I too picky??

I don't think you will get one that is perfectly straight everyone has posted about that issue, if the device is working properly why have it replaced, in my opinion such frugality is what eventually drives the cost of the product to where it is at. Do you think any company is going to sit there and absorb the cost involved in exchanging anything and everything for everyone without charging you for it?

I got mine yesterday, "upgraded" from a Tour.

Two issues:
1. Lost control of how SMS messages show up. I need them each individually, not threaded. Tour had an option for this, Bold doesn't. This might be a deal breaker.

2. No more option for Google search in the browser, forced to use Bing. FU Microsoft.

I think the BING issue is a deal between Verizon and Microsoft.

Ref #1, per your string on the topic, SMS Threads - How to Disable, this is simply the way messages are in 5.0 OS. No option to change this. If it doesn't work for you, then you will have to go back to the Tour. But be aware that, unless RIM decides to change it back or add an option (which there are no rumors of), you will have to stay at the old OS on Tour and will not be able to get ANY newer BB.

Ref #2. I believe the default to Bing is a new Verizon thing. There were several strings on it a couple of months ago. But you CAN get Google on it.....I have two Verizon BBs (Both 9630s running 5.0 OS) and both use Google as the search default. Can't remember exactly how I got it but remember that part of the deal was to be sure NOT to click on the Bing icon which is pushed by Verizon. I just hid that icon -- don't delete it because it just gets pushed back so hiding if more effective.

Yeah. I just use google search as my home page

I picked mine up yesterday, biggest reason being the desire to dump AT&T as my carrier, and join the rest of my family phones on VZ. The network quality is not even comparable. I had a Bold, and loved it, just the ATT network was pitiful anywhere I traveled. The port and transfer of info, which I did when I got home, was flawless...I'll be waiting to see if I get a call from AT&T retention.

Overall, I'm happy with the 9650. Slight change in size and feel, but thats something you just get used to over time.

I do have to buy a couple car chargers, as the power connector has changed, but thats just a quick trip to ebay.

I'm a little curious about battery life..seemed like this one needed a charge pretty quickly, even after having one earlier in the day. Need to go back thru setup options and make sure I have all the power wasting crap disabled.

If I hadn't read the comment about the trackpad being "crooked" I probably wouldn't have noticed it, and honestly, can't really tell on mine if it is or isn't. Maybe my failing eyesight here is a good thing..

The SMS screen..yea, not crazy about it, would be nice to have the ability to choose old style versus new style. I'll have a definite opinion of that after this first work week using it.

Overall, I'm happy with it...way too long a wait for it to come out, but we've all seen that before.

As for the trackpad, I agree that it isn't a big deal. I am sure if it works they won't bother. Kind of like buying an LCD screen that has dead pixels. Most manufacturers won't replace unless there are a certain number dead. I may call and see anyway. Why not? haa haa

SMS - Took me a while to get used to this with 5.0 on my Tour and on my Curve before that with leaked software. Once I did, I liked it. I wouldn't want it back the other way not. Sometimes I want to delete everything via date, and when I want to I just use Alt-S. This puts SMS back the old way, but it doesn't "stick".

BING - I have been using Bing on my PC for a while now. I usually like the results better than Google. I find it doesn't give you quite so much irrelevant crap. However, sometimes you need to wade through that to find something, and when I need that, I use Google. Verizon DID cut a deal with MSFT. Newer phones from VZW are all using Bing as their search engine. When I saw that you CAN'T switch to Google like you used to, that did annoy me. They shouldn't lock you out like that. I am sure someone will figure out a way to fix it.

To be honest I am loving the new phone, it's great to have a snappy BB again.

The Snafu's I have found so far with the phone.

1. The Wi-Fi Connection occasionally drops for a few minutes.. I'm going to assume this will be fixed by a future OS release.

2. I don't know whether it is the track pad, my finger, or the fact I am installing everything on my BB but the track pad occasionally gets a little stiff.

3. The signal on my 9650 is worse then it was on my 8330, which I'm sure will be fixed with an OS update, because I know the signal is there. Using Wi-Fi till then will compensate this for me.

Other then that, not too much to complain about. both issues are not constantly happening so I can live with it for now anyway.

Haven't seen the wi-fi drop issue, but will keep an eye out for it.

Re the trackpad, I did spend quite a bit of time yesterday futzing with the horizontal and vertical sensitivity settings for the trackpad. Mine had them defaulted to 80, and it was much too sensitive. I settled on 60/60, but not after it seemed like I tried every possible H/V combination possible.

One thing I have noticed, very minor, is some tasks run a bit slower...very anecdotal observation here, but for instance, if I do a "delete prior" in my mailbox, it seems to just take longer to complete. Nowhere near a show stopper, but noticeable.

One other thing i noticed on this whole SMS format issue (I'm hoping the person who said "you'll love it when you get used to it.." is right)...if i don't have SMS open, and I get a text message, it alerts me with the sound that I have chosen in whatever profile I am using (loud, vibrate, silent, etc).

If I have SMS open, I get a different alert tone, driven by the specific contacts alert tone for messages, as shown in their contact profile.

I'm hoping I explained that clearly, but don't recall this being the way on my old 4.0 OS Bold. I would always get the standard ring profile alert telling me I have a text..nothing individual.

I'm more curious if everyone else is seeing this same behavior, or if I'm missing something obvious.

I got the 9650 on Sprint as soon as it was available to replace my Tour. Although my trackpad is not completely level, the tilt is so slight that I never would have noticed unless someone mentioned it. I had to hold the 9650 up at eye level and look across it to see the tilt. And it has zero effect on performance or feel.

It's up to each user to determine what he/she can tolerate, but I have not heard of a single truly perfect trackpad.

does the 9650 use the same battery as the 9630? D-X1?

I have noticed a slight delay when i go to enter my password. I am on BES and with my tour, i could just start typing my pw real quick and it would unlock. on the 9650, sometimes it wont recognize the first letter so i get a pw incorrect message. anyone else noticing this?

I wonder if the tipped track pad isn't suppose to be a comfort thing for thumb ease? maybe thats what they will say it is. Good to be a righty I guess or does it tip different ways?

Everything seems okay. The wifi does drop occasionally. I notice the buttons are a bit stiff compared to my Tour. Sort of reminds me of the stiff 8830 devices

Be wary of Verizon Wireless and the Blackberry Bold 9650! Ordered Bold on Wednesday night and recieved it Friday. After one hour with Verizon tech and three hours with RIM tech (Blackberry tech) they decided device was bad. Verizon tech made error in processing replacement. Called Verizon today and replacement order was cancelled. End result may not have replacement Smart Phone till Wednesday.

I received two units last week...one is perfect...the other has a "soft" trackpad. I've been clicking on things unintentionally while scrolling around. Web fulfillment has a replacement reserved for me at the local VZW store.

WiFi has been great since I live in a marginal 3G area.

Well I am through 4 days with the device and I am very pleased.

Some of the things mentioned here I have noticed, but so not annoying I am not worried about it at all. No "boy I can't wait for the first OS update" for me.

I think the most pertinant issue, if it is, is the apparent signal strength. I will say, however, that I don't notice a difference in dropped calls or noise or anything. I also live where this can be an issue in places and I've used the phone in the same places I always do with nothing bad happening. So, it could be how the signal is reported rather than an actual poor radio file.

As far as signal, it is better than initial Tour build. I am going to try to load .732 later today and see what happens

Cool, let us know as I will probably be loading this OS over the next days.