BlackBerry Torch
 

After spending a lot of time with the new BlackBerry Torch, I have decided I really like it.

I'm not surprised - I've been waiting for the rumored BlackBerry with slideout keyboard for a while.

What surprised me was that, despite the fact that the Torch is only 2 mm wider than the Bold, the keyboard seemed far less cramped. I also liked the touchscreen, and RIM has done a good job implementing multitouch.

The biggest problem I ran into was that the virtual (phone) keyboard didn't like it when I tried to dial + (holding 0 down).

The unit itself is nicely made and, despite a little additional weight (161 g v. 122 g), it felt comfortable in my hand.

Call quality was excellent and the built-in speakerphone works quite well.

The new user interface and the BlackBerry 6 OS bring a lot of useability improvements into the BlackBerry world - unified search is a particular favorite of mine but the multiple home screens are very useful as well.

A more detailed review (of mine) is online here - and I'm happy to answer any of your questions here of course.

http://www.executiveroadwarrior.com/...ut-188x300.jpg

There was a guy sitting behind me on the train yesterday who was convincing a friend sitting next to him what a totally wonderful phone it was. He said he has been a blackberry customer since like day one and has used virtually all of their phones, and totally loved this one.

He also said he has not even begun to use the full feature set so it could only get better.

It was interesting to listen to him, you hardly ever hear anybody who really likes their mobile device enough to go a half hour presentation to friends (well not counting the people wearing "we love apple shirts" after they camp out for two days for something at the apple stores)

Got a chance to play with it for a while, and what I can say, is give the keyboard time. The first 30 seconds, my initial reaction was "well, it's a physical keyboard, but it's got that same annoying ridge around the edge that the Palm Pre did (which was a deal-killer for me)." After about a minute, though, I started to get used to it, and I think that, with a normal adjustment period, I'd be as fluent on it as I am on my current Blackberry.

That being said, as a touchscreen device, the UI is still clunkier, and the screen notably less impressive, than the iPhone/Evo/Incredible/Droid X/etc.

Bottom line, if you want a physical keyboard, this is a great device, beats the pants off any other Blackberry or QWERTY slider phone (like the Droid/Droid 2). If you're fine with a virtual keyboard, I think there are better choices. My personal device is staying an iPhone. For my next work Blackberry, the Torch will be it.

Your comments are in line with what I've heard. The processor is only 624 MHz and the screen resolution is only 360 x 480. The Torch is laggy and Internet experience notably limited. If you're "stuck" on a Blackberry for work reasons and want a touch screen device, than the Torch is a fine option. But if you're truly shopping around for a smartphone, the Torch is a day late and a dollar short in the smartphone market and simply isn't anywhere near competitive with the iPhone and Droid devices, and even Windows Phone 7 devices (Engadget did a video review of the Torch and a prototype Windows Phone 7 device side by side and the WP7 phone knocked the Torch's socks off).

I have not found the Torch to have any lag at all except with regard to the browser - and that is something that should be easily addressable by software.

I love the iPhone browsing experience but the lack of a physical keyboard is a deal breaker for many people.

I've recently got a 9700 after much debate because RIM didn't have a very good touch screen phone (Don't get me started on the Storms) on offer. Actually I wanted a 9100 but RIM decided not to sell that in Europe :mad: and as such and I was then more than tempted by the top of the range 9700. Slightly annoyed then that just after I had ordered the 9700 that they make the Torch announcement (although on recent form no guarantees that it would make it to Europe anytime soon).

I'm assuming that the Surepress™ technology is absent from this phone and that the build quality is good. My old 8110 is going to a good home and that was well built but I have read that some of the newer models were suffering a bit. I'm also assuming that you can't turn the phone to landscape mode and get a wider keyboard on the screen (al la later iPhones). As I don't use my berry as a phone, just for emails/internet (I have a phone for use as a phone, both on PAYG) the Torch would have been nice but it would have had to be available sim free/no contract for me to consider it.

I will be interested to see what RIM come up with next.

I guess I'll be the naysayer here. It's an improvement, but they're still well behind Android and iOS. It'll probably sell pretty well thanks to their massive client base, but I can't see it winning many new customers (that is, customers that wouldn't had otherwise purchased a Blackberry).

Since your comment is specifically operating system-related, that makes it a different question than the devices themselves.

Having used all three (but having only started using BlackBerry 6 a week or so ago), I'd have to reserve judgement.

Is your comment based on having used all three operating systems?

So far I've only used the Torch developer simulator, but it appears your assumption is wrong. On-screen keyboards can be displayed in either portrait or landscape.

Why are you making that assumption? It's not correct by the way.

mistake - delete....

I'm assuming that this comment is directed to Jimmie (although you didn't quote a specific post) as I have used all of the operating systems discussed herein.

9780 Bold is allegedly available in CA now I hear.

OS6 with 5MB RAM and 5 mp camera.

I too just switched to a 9700 two days ago and like it a lot personally. Of course if the 9780 becomes available within the next 2-3 weeks on US TMO I'll make the switch .

Haven't read anything about a Euro release yet tho.:(

I mixed up two posts and deleted my comment six minutes before you posted this.

No worries