BlackBerry Torch 9800 Phone, Red (AT&T)

I had to replace my Palm Centro when it zapped out on me last Friday. I looked into the HTC INspire but decided I'd like the physical slider QWERTY keyboard in addtion to the touch screen on red Blackberry Torch. I didn't realize my old Centro was considered a smartphone, but this Torch is a screamer. There is a little learning curve for using the touch screen, for instance, you can accidentally hit apps or hang up on a person if the phone touches the cheek while talking. The keyboard has slightly mushier feel, and the letters on the Palm were magnifyied through a clear plastic resin over the keys that made a firmer touch on the one piece full QWERTy Palm.Touch screens lets you push and slide your images, and easy touch opens them up just like the iPhone. The only thing Blackberry lacks is the 'two-way' camera, good for skyping, capturing images of yourself like looking into a mirror to take photos. Still, it wss easy enough to get started taking photos, setting up contacts, using FB, get my Emails, texting without signing up for special classes or tutorials. I like taking pitcutres of my art with the phone and easily posting on FB or assigning to my contacts. Calendar and scheduling functions were slightly better on Palm because I could color code my different committments. I've got medical appointments for myself, family and invalid mother to keep track,school functions, artists meetings, painting sessions, exercise therapys, plus all those contacts associated with them.Call quality is good, but most of my use is texting or FB, which is fast. Trus, its only 3G and I wouldn't know what more 4G or 5G would bring to this great device.

I bought it at amazon wireless for $.01 and I tought it was going to be bad. 3 months later, I love my phone. I think it's even better than an Iphone because it has a keyboard. I hold pictures, movies you name it. I do 4 way calling. the best thing for me is that it takes little time to recharge and I don't have to charge it doing the day. and I speak on the phone for an average of 4 to 5 hrs a day.

I've had this phone since December, just a week over 30 days. Today I noticed a chip of paint coming off the slider part of the phone. This is a part of the phone that doesn't touch anything else, not sure why it's chipping. I haven't dropped my phone, don't have a cover on it that would cause it to wear off and don't put it in my pocket or any other rough carrier. I've done a search online and found this seems to be a common problem, but it's not been addressed by Blackberry. I can only imagine what my phone is going to look like after having it for a year or more, very disappointed in the cosmetic aspect of the phone.I have also noticed that the lock button on top of the phone is very very sensitive. It will unlock itself when you pick it up, lay it down...etc. There is an extra locking/security feature where you can add a password, but it won't lock until it's been inactive for a full minute. This also seems to be a widely reported issue with the Torch, but again not addressed by Blackberry.The phone works well, I'm still learning some of the software. The apps are lacking, nothing as fancy as an iPhone, but then if you want fancy apps you probably are looking at the iPhone or Droid anyway. The operating system seems to be average, it doesn't lag and I've surfed the internet, downloaded items and had multiple tabs open. The camera is nice as well, takes good close up photos and does well in low light and outside. However, I'm not impressed with how you have to retrieve photos or other files.Phone calls are clear, and the person on the other end can hear you clearly too with no echo. The phone is awkward when you have to let it go for a minute and try to hold it with your shoulder so I definitely suggest some type of bluetooth if you like to talk hands free. The touch screen responds well, but around the edges it shows poor manufacturing again and doesn't look like it's glued down very well. It's also difficult to open the slider part one-handed without touching the screen constantly with a decent amount of pressure, which I'm sure will wear the screen down even faster.All in all the phone is a decent upgrade, but I'm very glad I didn't pay full price for it. It still bugs me that the paint is chipping as I've treated this thing like a baby, you shouldn't have to put up with that at any price. It hasn't really wow'ed me like I thought it would, and while it's my first Blackberry device, I expected more and will probably look at other Smartphones when I buy again.