My real question is whether it's an entirely honest portrayal of the reaction to the phone or even necessarily the complete truth.

Verizon is no doubt less than eager to even hint that it forced RIM to push the Storm out the door; don't be surprised if the Storm no longer has that prize by the end of the return window, when people have had enough time to decide whether they really want what they bought.

I'm satisfied and happy with my Storm. It took me a few days to get used to it and the software update certainly took care of my main issues, but my friend bought an iphone in the summer and he's the first one to admit that it's not perfect either and he still struggles with bugs. I think the biggest challenge for the Storm is that people love the previous Blackberries so much that there is a big reaction and resistance to change. I know lots of people who say they will keep buying Bolds or Curves because they want the keyboard, which is fair, but I think Storm is probably the best choice available if you want the bigger screen and especially if you like Verizon.

Hello

I don't know about others but i am loving the storm and will continue the same.

I had the blackberry pearl and couldn't wait until the Storm came out. I ordered (by phone) the storm the first day it came out. I can't tell you how much I hate the phone. I accept change easily, but only if its for the better. I am definitely going to return the phone. I've did the many software updates and still, the phone would freeze or lag. I took my phone back to a Verizon store (not knowing it was authorize) to return the phone; they couldn't return it but told me I had a lemon. Lemon or no lemon, this phone has turned me completely off to the Storm.

The device is horrible. I had it three days, it shipped with the 75 update. Enough was enough and it went back.

I purchased my first blackberry when the Pearl came to Verizon in 2007. Before the Pearl I had a Treo 700W. I went to a Richmond Va. Verizon Wireless at 5:30 am on the day that the storm was released. (my wife went to work that morning at 5 am, so I decided to drive her to work). I found out that that store would only have 20 Storms. I was the 4th person to arrive and i was able to sit in my car and listen to music and get some work done on my laptop. People slowly trickled in so we early riser didn't have to get out of our cars that cold morning until 7:25 to start forming a line. Luckily, the manager arrived at 7:45 and took our names and he told us we could come back at 9:00 and we would be called in order to buy our Storm. I purchased 2 Storms that morning and I have not regretted it one bit. I have not had one [roblem with my Storm. I love everything about it. My son did have some bugs with his Storm, but the update cleared those up. It took me 2 days to get use to the touch screen and the new operating system but I expected that. i gave my nephew my old Pearl. He told me that the Storm is not a true Blackberry because it does not have a trackwheel or trackball. What a dumb comment. i told him that change is good, you just have to learn to addapt to change and learn how to use the Storm instead of giving up because you may not be able to use it without some instructions. Anyway, I have read many comments from people who say they love it as I do, and I've read comments from people who don't like it. Those few who say they don't like it need to have taken the time to learn how to use it. My typing was slow at first but I practiced everyday until I got my speed back up to my suretype speed on my old Pearl. I read one comment from a person who say they were taking it back because they couldn't select something while on the internet because it was too small to touch. If they had read the manual they would have known all they had to do was tap the screen and the text would have zoom in (became larger). Someone said they didn't like it because they had to us suretype in portrait mode. If they had read the manual they would have known they could have chosen to change it to multi-tap by selecting that option in the menu. (dah). It seems to me those people would have fallen in love with the Storm if they had taken the time to learn how to use it. It's new technology people. Some says it's not a IPhone Killer, whatever, The Storm is 10 times better than the IPhone. A better camera, MMS, awesome screen, replacable battery, You can have as many cards as you want to store music, pictures files or what ever you want. With the IPhone you would have to delete files, music or pictures from you phone when the 16Gb is used up. Plus with the Storm you get all the goodies that Blackberry offer. Some say IPhone have more apps. (dah) The Storm is new people, the IPhone has been out since 2007, what do you expect. I'm finding new apps everyday for the Storm. Let's talk about Wi-Fi. With Verizon you have a data plan with the Blackberries. Why would I need Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi may be a bit faster at times but I don't have to drive to a hotspot to get a connection. I always have a connections with my data plan. The Storm has so many plusses above the IPhone the Wi-Fi issue was the only thing they could try to use against it. Some of the Storms had bugs before the software upgrade, but so did the IPhone when it came out. Bottom line is when Rim built this phone and added it to their line up, they made an awesome phone. I guess it's too beyond some people.

This rumor was just another attempt from the IPHONE or (no phone) what i call it...junkies...

It would not matter if the Storm was able to read minds, the people that own iPhones would slam it...even when it is kknown that the iPhone is nothing more than a paperweight. (I had 2 3G iPhones, I can say that)

I bought 2 Storms (me and my wife) the morning it came out. I waited for the anticpated update and it is still a horrible device so we returned both of them. The Bluetooth is scratchy, the typing is slower than any other touch device, camera trigger response is awful. All of these can possibly be fixed one day (yeah when?? 6 months into contract?) by software. But one main characteristic that is permanently flawed is the physical spring loaded screen. It has weak return tension on the corners, causing slow inconsistent response to key presses. This is NOT fixable by a software update and is only likely to get worse over time and use. Another big flaw is the lack of a promised app store. It wont be ready til spring/summer 09. Also the device is the heaviest PDA phone in its class. So I bought 2 Samsung Omnia's with Winmobile. Its not as pretty a screen as the Storm, but everything else on it supercedes what the Storm is.

I refuse to be a beta tester for a production release phone and have to pay for it and lock to a contract concidering its uncertainty to be improved fully.
-Eric

One more note, I find this article to be severly flawed sicne its quoting PR and executive reps from Verizon itself. No way would they ever say "yes the Storm is flawed and many are returning the Storm". This would open the floodgate for all sorts of legal issues and force verizon to waive the $35 restocking fee for all those returned Storms. If you asked Dow Corning "Are silicone implants safe?" they would say yes. If you asked Phillip Morris "Do cigarettes cause cancer?", they would say no. Do you really think Verizon would fess up to the Storm? heck no!

--E

I have a exchange server I sync with and I hate Apple. The company I work for sets up cellular phones with exchange. The most difficult by far is blackberry storm, (you need blackberry server and plenty of time for your first one). Blackberry Professional Software is one hundred dollars per phone, emails arrive in text which is (useless), contacts, calendar, notes are ok. Iphone 10 minutes your synced, emails are in html, calendar, contacts notes are easier to use. PCMobile very easy to setup but emails are in text (useless). Iphone is on at&t and service is terrible compared to Verizon. The FCC has mandated that all carriers except any phone by 2010, that means iphone on Verizon that is the package.

I'm 1st time buyer of a smart phone and I love my Storm. The learning curve was relatively easy.

I have had my Storm for about a month and is is quirky. Verizon had me download a new software patch which I think has helped but it doesn't have all the quirks out of it. I do like the screen and the clarity. I may still go postal and act like the lady in the discount tire ad and tosses her tire through the window. :)

Note to Eric: The legal problems would occur it they lied about the number of returns. I currently have the World Edition and will be getting the Storm at the end of January. However, everyone I know that own the Storm absolutely love it.

I had Blackberry and turned it in for Windows Mobile. After a couple of those, I went to the Storm. After a couple of days worth of learning curve, I have found it to be terrific. It has just about everything I could want.

I use www.handango.com for applications (did for Windows Mobile as well). While Blackberry apps work, it will take a little time for developers to develope specifically for the Storm.

Storm is great!

Rayw

So far the only problem I have is learning the new keyboard technique. But to be honest, I had trouble using just my thumbs on the Curve keyboard also. Other than that, everything works fine, no bugs or problems. If I can train myself to work the keyboard better I'll keep the phone.

I bought the Storm the day it came out. I had a Windows Mobile before with a touch screen that I used with a stylus, so I was a little dubious about using fingers instead. No worries... I love it. The level of technology in this phone is amazing and that coming from a self-proclaimed geek. I don't compare it to the iPhone, but I have read all the articles about the problems they had with the first release... talk about beta testing on contract!!!
I'm sticking with my Storm and Verizon and looking forward to all the new apps to come! Ditto Storm is great!

Yes, I did return my Storm. I read all of the posts and reviews that it was buggy and had issues, but I needed to try it for myself. I kept it as up to date as possible with software updates.

PROS:
*Nice looking phone.
*Great Screen.
*Weight made it feel quality.
*OK battery life for such a big screen.

CONS:
*SLOWWWWW. Every operation seemed to take way to long. When switching screen aspect with the accelerometer, I thought the phone may have died. Oh wait, I guess it does respond.....eventually.
*Froze up often.
*Buggy software issues would require reboot to re-establish functionality.
*Sound quality through the phone mediocre.
*My otherwise great Plantronics 510 sounded terrible on it. I thought bluetooth was bluetooth. Apparently not with RIM.
*POP email account took four attempts to setup. Verizon help desk (great by the way) saw that I was doing everything right and could not figure out why it wouldn't work. It finally set itself.
*Certain Excel spreadsheets would not run properly.
*RIM's form of technical help is their sponsored forum. This is a poor excuse for tech help. If I have a question, I don't have the time to wade through 92 threads of postings with the hope that I'll actually find what I'm looking for.

I've used Windows based PDA's and phones for years and discovered I need to stay with them. I do not have the time to learn the funky Blackberry OS, which is something I would be willing to do if the phone had better potential. If Blackberry wanted to make a serious impact with this phone, they should have work out the bugs before rushing it to the market.

After returning the Storm, I left with a SAMSUNG OMNIA that was quietly released just after the Storm. Far superior phone for those who actually need a serious business phone and not a pretty toy.

Walked in pick up storm in about 10 min on the first day. updated to .75 OS. Did a sync and added all my contacts easily. as i have 2900+ it took like 10 min to sync. Changed my device on Blackberry in a few minutes. received push email in 2 two minutes. took two weeks to learn the keyboard. Suretype is working better then i expected. much more comfortable to type on then the BB 8830 or the Treo's i have had. Great reading email spreadsheets and the browser beats the 8830 and all the palms i had. lowered the default value and did treble boost. fixed "scratchy" sound.
22 hours after charge i have 85% on battery.
iphone not an option. my buddy(w/ iphone) wouldn't have a working phone to borrow when he is away from a major city. (in Ohio)
I had 3 windows based devices. horrible..

I never got used to the Storm. I loved my BB Curve and wanted a touch screen. I returned the Storm and signed up with ATT for the iPhone 3G and it's far more usable. Even after the update, the Storm was far too laggy, buggy and the touch screen's click was an impediment for me. Plus, when typing, it's word suggestion feature was lacking compared to the iPhone's.

I bought the Storm thinking that if I didn't like it, at least I still had my Curve. Now I don't even want to look at my Curve. I spent a couple days on a famous forum, learning all the tricks, shortcuts, tweaks, etc. Now I couldn't be happier. I don't think the Storm will be as dust friendly (which is something I'm concerned about in my line of work), but this will get me by until VZW gets the Bold or similar. My advice is learn the device. It definitely has a learning curve to it. Once you learn its qualities..you will love it!

I got my Storm for Christmas this year and although I initially had reservations about it, I've come to love it. My only standing criticism is that sometimes the accelerometer is slow or doesn't automatically reorient the screen when I turn it. In that case I just have to tap the back or menu button. I also initially had problems with the camera where the screen would go black for a long time after taking a picture but this issue has corrected itself. Mostly, however, I love the phone (after getting used to the keyboard, which took only a few minutes) it is fine.

Some people have said that the software itself is slow. I don't really find this to be the case. It's comparable to other blackberries and smartphones I've used.

Am just packing up my Storm for it's trip back home to Verizon. I received my replacement, a BB Curve, and it was love at first type. I do chuckle at those on forums who claim that the people disliking the Storm are somehow inexperienced or too unsophisticated to learn and appreciate it.

My experience with the Storm, after 3 weeks:

Pros: Cool interface idea! Touch screen is great in theory! Um. The icons are easy to read. It looks cool.

Cons: Bluetooths do not work properly with it. Ring tones would change at whim. Unresponsive moving from portrait to landscape (and no, I didn't have any extra media files or applications.) The touch screen caused calls to suddenly go to mute or speaker if you smiled while talking on it. Calls were dropped randomly. It's heavy and felt like a brick when you talked on it. It would freeze up if you tried to use the video camera. The camera is the worst I've ever experienced, what were they thinking? It never responded the same way twice. And we'd try experiments where I'd tell my photo subject to hold up their hand until I said "I'm clicking the camera", then they'd put down their hand. By the time the camera actually took the pic, the hand was already down by their side.

Like I said. cool idea, and maybe fun for a 20 something that only cares about playing music and video and having a touch screen because it's cool. For people who need a reliable Blackberry for productivity, the Storm is not it.

And wow.. my new Curve is outstanding! Ergonomically, it fits, it's 1/3 the weight of the Storm, it's just much more productive.

I just dumped my storm today. Its horrible. I too had the Curve and wanted a "touch" phone and obviously love Blacberry period - so I thought it was a no brainer. I HATED THE PHONE. It is sooooo slow. Takes forever to type text email because the keys stick so oddly. I am sooooo much more productive with my Curve. The lady at the Verizon Counter even said they have a lot of returns on it! It's a neat phone....when it works!?!? I can honestly say I have had NO problems with my Curve, ever. The Storm would go to a blank white screen and reboot itself 2-3 times a day! Sometimes it would just totally work in slow mo. Kudos if your Storm works, I am just one of the apparently MANY whose Storm STINKS!

I just dumped my storm today. Its horrible. I too had the Curve and wanted a "touch" phone and obviously love Blacberry period - so I thought it was a no brainer. I HATED THE PHONE. It is sooooo slow. Takes forever to type text email because the keys stick so oddly. I am sooooo much more productive with my Curve. The lady at the Verizon Counter even said they have a lot of returns on it! It's a neat phone....when it works!?!? I can honestly say I have had NO problems with my Curve, ever. The Storm would go to a blank white screen and reboot itself 2-3 times a day! Sometimes it would just totally work in slow mo. Kudos if your Storm works, I am just one of the apparently MANY whose Storm STINKS!