Today we thought we’d do something a bit different and offer our views on a new gadget, rather than the world of finance and loans. It occurred to us that we have some of the finest minds in technology working for Wonga, so when one of the team started a passionate oratory on the new Blackberry Storm, we thought, heh, why not let him proffer his expert views to a wider audience! So please welcome our first guest blogger - take it away Trev!

After much anticipation, I finally got my hands on a shiny new BB Storm…

1. On first glance it was sleek and sexy
2. Setup is easy
3. The device is slow and the interface is not as slick as I was expecting
4. The tactile screen does offer a nice feel and improves on the Apple iPhone’s touch screen, but the speed and response moving between menu items is slow and sometimes cumbersome
5. The screen quality is, in my opinion, better than the iPhone and the demo movie trailer shows the bright high definition colours well
6. Sound is also very good
7. There is NO wi-fi on the Storm!!! Which is a real shame as it means browsing the web in 3G mode when available. It’s painfully slow. In fact there’s no point in using the web at these speeds
8. The built-in browser doesn’t support most websites that have any complicated java scripts, flash etc… So it’s not really good for much surfing
9. The Storm is very heavy, not something you want to carry around in your pocket. But then most crackberry users will have it in their hands all day long, so it may not matter
10. I think you will also see many broken screens, as the device is not easily used with one hand and many may find the floor by accident
11. The battery life seems OK if you just use it for email. I didn’t play with it for more than a few hours though, so I can’t say how long it will last for
12. Why oh why did BB change the charger interface? Old Blackberry chargers don’t work on the Storm, so this means borrowing power from colleagues in the office with older models will not work!

Given a choice between the Storm and the iPhone, I would have to go with the iPhone. Even though the Storm’s keyboard interface is faster and more intuitive. The iPhone has a better browser interface and many more applications. It’s also lighter, sleeker and more sexy to behold. The iPhone is fast and responsive whereas the Storm feels sluggish.

Having used the Blackberry Curve for over a year now I think they should stick to what they know best and that’s email on a simple device that can be navigated with one hand. Upgrading to the Bold would be a better choice for business users. Given my current situation and the ability to upgrade for free to the new Storm or iPhone, I have decided against any upgrades and will be more than happy to keep using my existing BB Curve.