Never used a crackberry, but I have used a phone with a similar qwerty extendable keypad, which was fine, but the iPhone works just as well, I can tap in long screeds everybit as easily, the spellcheck works well, and there are neat shortcuts for extra characters just by tapping and holding a key, like getting correct quote marks, “ " and foreign characters, like ¡ç??ôöœõ. Also, while you say you don't use the camera, having a camera in your pocket that is incredibly easy to use, with apps that allow you to do basic retouching and then upload direct to Flickr and Facebook, then post a pic onto STW shortly after, without needing to bother the computer is brilliant. I never used to bother much 'til I got my phone, and mine's just the 2Mp 3G version. I'm so looking forward to the 64Gb version with a 5Mp camera next year. The ability to get weather forcasts, listen to BBC 6Music, read ebooks from my favourite authors, get travel updates from the Directgov traffic app, plus easily browse the web, turning the phone to go into widescreen, to make the keypad bigger is just brilliant. It's honestly the most-used electronic gubbins I have ever owned, and I wouldn't be without it.