RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8900 gets hands-on treatment, looks mighty good

Oh RIM, why must you torture us? Just when we'd moved beyond our nightly dreams of the Javelin and had our sights set on a Bold, here you go reminding us of just how luscious the next-generation Curve looks to be. Sure, the omission of 3G makes us none too happy, but it's hard to kvetch about the design. The Boy Genius managed to get his paws around one of the forthcoming BlackBerry Curve 8900s, and his initial impressions are almost universally positive. He's totally digging the size, the screen, the keyboard and even the bezel. That's right, the bezel. Check the read link to see what the fuss is all about.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 1:17AM]

give me back my thumb wheel and ill buy it hear that rim?????????

millions will follow........

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 6:12PM]

Scroll wheel is outdated. would be a waste of money to invest in a device that solely had a scroll wheel

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 3:17AM]

thumb wheel is bunk...
caused alot of dropped b berries.
new trackball FTW!

[Valicore Posted Nov 1st 2008 5:55AM]

Eww, the fricken' thumbwheel was a slow uncomfortable mess. trackball FTW I say I say

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 12:26PM]

Guess you won't be buying it then. The thumbwheel is as dead as the monochrome display.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 2:05PM]

that thing starts to hurts your hand after awhile

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 2nd 2008 10:16AM]

im with you wes

i love the scroll wheel. i still have an 7250 that im looking for new housings and holsters and batteries for to make it brand new again

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 1:15PM]

God, this thing is beautiful...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 2:26PM]

...ya'll need to get a room.

It's not Bold pretty, but it's much better looking than the current Curve.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 11:00PM]

When this arrives on VZW as the Niagara it will be 3G so why would anyone want the GSM version??

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Nov 2nd 2008 9:21AM]

Its Beautiful a Device but WHY in the World would they NOT add 3G to the Mix??? I think its Because they want most of the Attention on the BOld BUT the Fact is that if this had 3G it'd Totally Blow away the Bold. THis Design is WAY Better than the Bold imo. Bigger Screen, Looks More Ergonomic, and Way Bigger Screen with the Same Resolution, Better Keyboard.

This is the way to Go!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 3rd 2008 2:36AM]

I've always seen the Curve line as the more "consumer friendly" version of their business phone. Sure, the Pearl line is fine for most consumers -- if they can deal with that letter-sharing keyboard thing -- but there are plenty of people who want a full on Qwerty keyboard for texting and IM'ing sans data plan. For that subset of the market (*most* consumers don't have an unlimited data plan), RIM has created the Curve. It delivers all the wonderful usability of the business phone in a softer, more rounded (read: easier to put in a pocket) package that also includes a camera for good measure.

If the Bold is the business version, the Curve is designed to provide the same amenities of the BlackBerry OS to the "average" consumer who will not purchase a data plan, and therefore will get no use out of the additional-cost 3G chip. It's all about offering choice... (to consumers, restrictive carriers, etc.)

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 4th 2008 8:19PM]

are there any u.s. release date rumors yet? i've been yearning for a new phone..hate to give in & buy the bold.