Hands-On With the BlackBerry Storm (Video)

by Tom Samiljan on November 20, 2008 at 12:01 AM

It's been an exciting year for anyone who wants to upgrade to a smart phone, what with the iPhone, the G1 "Google" phone, and, on Friday, the BlackBerry Storm for Verizon Wireless. At last, BlackBerry lovers and loyal Verizon Wireless subscribers who have been resisting the switch to an iPhone can boast their very own touchscreen-enabled handheld that's as much about fun (high-quality camera, stunning screen, media player, fun apps) as it is about business (excellent e-mail, document editing, Web access). The Storm will cost $199 with a two-year contract (you'll need to send in a $50 rebate, too).

But is the BlackBerry Storm fun enough to take on the iPhone, and will its incorporation of a touchscreen (albeit a moveable click-based one that you actually have to depress to in fact 'strike' a key) turn off those serious business (and heavy e-mailing) users? Well, we can't entirely answer that question, since we only had a day and a half with the thing, but we were able to get our first impressions down in the above video. We'll be back with more impressions in the coming days and weeks, since these newfangled smart phones have a tendency to either grow on you, or make you increasingly want to throw them out the window.

Once you're done watching our video, head on over to Engadget's in-depth review, where you can get more details on the first touchscreen BlackBerry ever.

BlackBerry Storm

Tags: blackberry storm, BlackberryStorm, breaking news, BreakingNews, hands-on, hggnews, switchedvideo, verizon, verizonwireless

Comments

VinnieJan 4th 2009 9:08AM

Neutral

iPhone is way over top of this phone. Verizon needs to think better about making something that can't compare to what Apple has made. Plus, my friend's dad works for Verizon and said this will be one of the worst phones made.

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MayganJan 8th 2009 4:08PM

Neutral

It pretty simple yes verizion is the best as far as covrage in areas u would never get a signal with any one else but there phones jst arnt as fun as every one elses.I am a verizion custmer i have the voyger verizions first attempt to take down the i phone.I love my phone but some how i am still lusting after the i phone i want one so bad.LOL,But i would never trade the Qulity of service i have .For EX i went to africa on bisness i had service the entire time tell me waht other phone company can do that and give me a phone as great as the i phone and i switch in a heart beat!

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TreeJan 12th 2009 3:04AM

Neutral

Da phone was koo after i finally learned how to work it..it holds tons of music..1nce i learn how 2 download movies on there ill b good...cainboogie@yahoo.com if someone wanna briefly tell me

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KevinJan 20th 2009 8:29PM

Neutral

Well I'm the biggest blackberry fan ever and I been using blackberry's since 2004 (age 20)(and not for business but for bragging rights) and I had several till the palm treo 650 came out then I started using those just cause it had a touchscreen and but I hated it.. It really never compared to the blackberry the only thing it had on the BB was a touchscreen then I went on to several different touch screen phones and I always said BB needs a touchscreen and I'd go back.. Then I saw the commercial and almost had a heart attack, my dream came true.. But the problem is it's only with Verizion, but I'm willing to switch if it tops the Iphone so that's what I'm in a deadlock between the Iphone or the new BB?? Can't decide.... Plus reading all these comments now it really makes me more unsure..

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JeffJan 22nd 2009 3:08AM

Neutral

The storm is worthless to anyone who can type quickly. The screen sinks in, and your keys become out of place. If you're rapidly typing on reflex, the keys won't be where you expect them to be and you'll end up typing something silly.

It's also very slow loading. It took forever to get from page to page just to explore the functions of the phone. Do not buy.

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SteFeb 4th 2009 4:13PM

Neutral

What a bunch of pansies. I noticed the only people that do not like the storm are the ones who have an IPhone and a friend who decided to buy the storm instead of the IPhone.

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KellyFeb 6th 2009 10:18AM

Neutral

I have the blackberry storm, and I have had the Apple Iphone. Personally I loved my iphone and miss it. The storm can't compare to the iphone in many ways. Blackberry's screen is to movement sensitive, and or it takes to long it depends on it's mood lol. If you want to look at it vertically sometimes the screen is still in Horizontal mode or vice versa. You have to dig deeper into files to find anything, the icons dont move around like the iphones. If we did not live in such a rural area we would have stayed with att. Verizon is good, but att is not far from them. We're thinking of going back to att after this contract runs out. I'm not all that crazy about the storm really.
I mean it's nice not as user friendly though.

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