Aesthetics
In terms of both weight and size, the Tour is most similar to the BlackBerry Storm, which is a good place to be. It’s a little heavier than either the Bold or the Curve 8900, and occupies the few modest millimeters of difference between them. In terms of straight-up style, it’s fairly nondescript and standard for BlackBerry – your average passerby wouldn’t be able to point it out beside a Bold, or even a Curve 8900. That being said, they aren’t ugly phones by a long shot. Simple, classy, and straightforward design are BlackBerry hallmarks these days. The most notable change, again, is the battery door – the feel is much more smooth compared to the matte texture for which the last couple of RIM devices have opted.
Keyboard
The keyboard, in short, is a scrunched up Bold keyboard. If you haven’t tried it, the Bold keyboard is fantastic. Frets between each row give you some distinction when navigating, and the ridged arcs capping each key really help your thumbs catch each one. There was certainly a hefty transition moving from one device to the other, however – even now, it feels like the Tour’s keypad is just a little too small, almost like the old BlackBerry 8800’s keys. Going back to the Bold feels like my thumbs are galloping in wide open fields, frolicking freely across the obsidian QWERTY plains.