BlackBerry Torch 9850 (Sprint)

Pros: Great style and interface. Easy sync with email. Easy sync with contacts and calendar via Blackberry Desktop Manager. Many user adjustable settings. Phone settings and data can be (and most definitely should be)backed up effortlessly.

Cons: Phone Freezes. Phone self-initiates a complete data wipe. Screen scratches easily. Virtual keyboard almost impossible to use in Portrait mode. Battery will not charge beyond 60% (4 to 5 hours in STANDBY).

Summary: All was fine for a month (have had the Torch for about 75 days). Then phone began to freeze. On two occasions did a complete data wipe without any user prodding--had to restore the operating system, then reload all the data from a backup--burned almost 10 hours in aggregate restoring everything TWICE. Sprint Technical Support was full of apologies but no action. Blackberry Technical Support was no better. Battery will not charge past 50 to 60% (after an initial month of fully charging). Sprint does NOT stand behind the phone. Store repair personnel are lost. New visits to rectify problems will cost me $35 a piece. Had a Blackberry Curve for two years and it worked flawlessly. The Torch, too, seemed perfect for about 30 days, so much so that I wrote a largely favorable review for the Sprint Web site (and they will not let me retract or modify, so I apologize to anyone who buys this phone based in part on my older glowing assessment). DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE. Don't believe the positive reviews--including mine. Sprint offers an inexpensive alternative to other carriers but BEWARE--they will NOT stand behind what they sell--even the original battery! I have 22 months to go on my contract (been with Sprint for 13 years!). I'm contemplating "chucking" the Torch and having Sprint reactivate my Curve. I was an ardent Blackberry supporter--no more (it is shameful that RIM has deteriorated to a company that lets this type of inferior product get into the market--by the way, my family all opted for IPhones and they are all VERY happy). After the contract expires, my family and I (4 users) will go elsewhere. We'll pay more but, hopefully, get a carrier that will stand behind the products they sell (and, the one year warranty is, for the most part, a joke--as I said $35 to have Store Repair personnel look at the phone!). For now, I'm forced to grin and bear it!