First Look: BlackBerry Storm rumbles in

The BlackBerry Storm is the first BlackBerry with a touch screen. It also breaks new ground on a pesky touch-screen problem: sensitivity. It's easier to make mistakes on other phones with virtual keyboards. For more information, read BlackBerry Storm: First Impressions on the Electronics Blog.

Pluses

You firmly press on the Storm's screen, as you would on a real button. Other impressive Storm features: a 3.1-megapixel camera with flash; a full Web browser that supports streaming; GPS-navigation capability with audible directions; and the ability to edit Office documents. The Storm, a $200 exclusive from Verizon (with rebates and contract), is one of the very few Verizon phones that will work outside the U.S.

Minuses

Typing on the innovative virtual keyboard is still not as efficient as on a real one, and listening quality is only fair, worse than many other phones from Verizon. Also, the phone doesn't work with Verizon's comprehensive VCast service, which provides music, video, and other TV services.

Bottom line

Despite these quibbles, the Storm might be one more reason for smart-phone seekers to choose Verizon's top-notch service over less consistent carriers.