TOY BOX: The 7100t is a new type of Blackberry

Research in Motion's Blackberry has produced a cult-following much the way Apple's iPod has.

Members of the Blackberry cult will likely be ga-ga over the new Blackberry 7100t being offered through T-Mobile, a combination Blackberry device and phone. The 7100t allows text messaging, web browsing, and even the use of such instant-messenger applications as AOL's IM. I'm more a Palm guy than a Blackberry guy, so it took me a while to get accustomed to something without a stylus that I could use to point at the function I wanted to use. The 7100t has a track wheel on the side of the phone that scrolls through applications and activates them as it is pushed in. I eventually did get the hang of it, as I did for the tiny keyboard. A SureType 20-key keyboard, Blackberry is touting it as a first on a mobile phone. The SureType technology, which RIM developed, can anticipate what you'll type next to get the correct letters in a word. Any suggestions for gadgets we should try? Send them to toybox@prweek.com

John N. Frank writes Toy Box. He is the Chicago-based Midwest bureau chief for PRWeek. Price $199.99 (after rebates) Available at T-Mobile; plans for this device start at $59.99 monthly Specs 4.7 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches; 4.3 ounces, Bluetooth support, USB port, up to four hours talk time per charge