So I finally got my hands on a Blackberry Storm, and its not all bad news.  I was beginning to think that it was over before it even began based on the reviews I saw the lat couple days ( CrunchGear, Engadget, Gizmodo, etc.).

The very quick summary is that this phone is not YET silky, sexy, smooth like the iphone, and its not YET screaming fast like the Blackberry Bold, so it could be missing the mark for both of those audiences today. BUT!! It definitely has potential.  

The form factor was great, and the keyboard will ease the switch to a touch screen for the keyboard addicted masses.  Most importantly, its very close (with a few software updates) of feeling like a true Blackberry with a giant screen, and solid multimedia options!

Crackberry , a blog focusing on Blackberry phones, lays out details of some of the potential launch problems that could explain why the software isn’t running so smoothly, and why I’m hoping there will be quick fixes.

In the end, for this phone to compete with the platform that the iphone has become, it will have to do 3 things:

1. The user interface will have to get smoother and smarter to keep the less tech savvy users happy.  To have the reach of the iphone, the Storm will have to get non-power users comfortable doing things like downloading applications, using gps, and surfing the web.  A poor UI could drastically slow those adoption rates.
    
2. The software will have to get much faster to keep the power users happy.  Blackberry gurus that use the Curve or the Bold are accustomed to lightning fast response times.  Their thumbs fly over the keys of a Crackberry because its the only phone that can keep up with their fast paced minds, so don’t slow them down with the Storm (which I felt was as slow as the iphone 3G, when I reviewed it).
    
3. Most importantly, Blackberry AND Verizon (they seem to deserve most of the blame) need to make it an open platform! The iphone falls short in this department, the Storm (and Verizon, because they tend to be control freaks) needs to be more open than the iphone to have a chance.
   -  You can’t lock down GPS, it needs to be open for ALL apps.
   -  You should have included wifi (Verizon shot it down)
   -  You can’t play favorites like apple , the new app center must be transparent/open 

 [Update] just found out Verizon charges extra to use the GPS!  Thats insane!  If you can’t understand why GPS needs to be open on a mobile device and available to as many users as possible, then this device deserves to tank!