This is a tough one.

iPhone vs. Blackberry is (for Australian's), like Holden vs. Ford (for American's, that’s like Pontiac v Ford).

For me, Holden v Ford has always been hard, in the end; it comes down to looks, some key features, and your brand loyalty. Absolutely no doubt.

The same applies right here when we compare the iPhone to the Blackberry.

I've been a Blackberry user now for many many years.  I use it for my calendar, my contacts and for email. AND of course, to make phone calls.

I rarely use it for the web, BUT, when the Blackberry BOLD comes out later this month, 3G speeds will be possible, so perhaps I will more?

So, my comparison today is based on MY experience as a Blackberry user.

Don't think this is a somewhat biased review - I went to an Optus Store at Lunch time last week, and signed a 24 month plan to secure my iPhone.  I did that, having spoken at length to the Optus call centre to ensure I could perhaps, IF I didn't like it, go BACK onto a Blackberry plan, and 'brick' the iPhone.

I waited an hour in the store, lots of people did likewise - in fact they doors of the George St store had to be locked at one point to stop more people coming in.

Signed up, a new SIM card in hand (my old one was TOO old to allow for the 3G speeds), I returned to work and placed the iPhone on charge.

Later that day, I powered down the Blackberry, and turned on the iPhone.

Look, it is an AMAZING device.  Design is first class, the User Interface is so smooth and so 'computer like'.  They really have re-invented the phone. And that is a good thing.

But, I think it's a good thing for people NEW to the 'Smartphone' environment.

Those first hours were tough - first no data plan access, but a quick call to Optus rectified that.  Then I realised I had no contacts, no music, no photos. 

So the iPhone was a bit of a fancy phone really.

At night, I spent what I think was a good 3 hours getting things ready for my real experience.

I downloaded my Blackberry Contacts to Outlook.  I synched those contacts with iTunes, I chose my library of music to sync with the iPhone and I plugged it in!

Oh the drama... So many times it was re-discovered by Windows, and then I had to re-start.  I really don't know what went on, but I pushed on, and got it all going.  Anyone else might have thrown it through the window!  I put this problem down to my hasty attempts to get everything done at one time - Patience Trevor.

From there, the use began.

Immediately I noticed how SLOW it felt, I'm serious here, I open my contacts, and it takes 3-4 seconds to load the list.  Then more time for me to scroll up, and click Search to find a contact.  I find this process QUITE ANNOYING.  By Comparison, on a Blackberry, I click contacts, and I can immediately type any letters to find results.  YES I have over 5,000 contacts, BUT shouldn't it be able to handle that?

Photo viewing is wonderful, the multi-touch interface is faultless.  Same for Videos, it really is a great multi-media device.

But is that what I want?

I have a 2GB card in my Blackberry with lots of music on it, which works well.  And rumours are that the new Bold will sync with iTunes. That will be outstanding.

Maps - Great, but again, not so much better than the Blackberry - just a bigger screen?

The Camera - quite poor, quality not so good, and no flash!

The You Tube video application is great, but - beware - IT CHEWS UP YOUR DATA ALLOWANCE.  If you are on the 5MB Telstra plan, you'll lose that in 1 or 2 videos!

Email is good, rich html viewing, easy setup - but I'm a very simple person, and I think I PREFER the plain text list view you get on a Blackberry.

The synchronisation of Gmail and the iPhone is great, all actions are mirrored, much easier than it is with the Blackberry.

The Safari Browser works amazingly well, viewing pages in all their glory.  A truly unique feature of this phone, and one worth tipping you over the edge IF that is what you are using it for.  Remember again, Looking at webpages is DATA INTENSIVE!  Check your usage - regularly (Settings, General, Usage)

iTunes is great when connected to a WiFi network - you can buy songs LIKE THAT, click, done, downloaded!

App Store is well hyped.  Plenty of people bag the fact it is centralised and it's the only place you can get stuff.

Well, I think that's great.  All in one place, all reasonably well supported or approved by Apple.  A good way to go.

I recommend:

• Remote (control your iTunes library on your PC THROUGH the iPhone!)
• Rotary Dialler (Cool application which turns the touch screen into an old fashioned rotary dial phone!)
• iMaze - fun time waster
• JirboMatch - again, fun time waster
• Facebook - if you use it, you will love it
• iPint - I don't drink, but it is amazing to see a 'virtual beer'
• NY Times - quick access to News via this huge paper

All free!

It is with regret that I summarise by saying, I am going back to the Blackberry.

iPhone will go back in its box as a spare iPod I think, that's about its use - plus a cool Wife device for home I guess.

I can't get into the 'fragile' nature of the device, I'm forever worried about scratches and chinks - I don't have that problem with a Blackberry, it's fine to get the odd scratch!

I need easy access to email, and contacts, the iPhone doesn't allow me that. 

And - finally - TYPING.  I cannot get used to the lack of 'touch' I get through the iPhone.  I need the physical keys.

Blackberry are launching a full touch device themselves in the near future, I'll be a long shot for that.  My preference would be a combination.  Physical keyboard, with touch screen to activate applications like Phone and Contacts etc.

The bottom line here is this is a personal opinion - you need to decide what you want and why.  BUT, the problem is, if you don't like it, you COULD be stuck with it - so buyer beware.

I have the luxury of still having my Blackberry device, and having an Optus plan to go on to.  Check your options before you buy.