Happily, the Storm has a 3.5mm jack for headphones -- many smart phones use the smaller, non-standard 2.5mm size, meaning you can't use your favorite stereo headphones. Video playback was sharp and clear without a hint of stutter and, of course, video benefits greatly from the Storm's ability to switch to landscape mode.
Storage, a key issue for media fans, is better than on most smart phones but not as good as on the iPhone. While Apple's device is available in 8GB and 16GB models, the BlackBerry Storm comes with 1GB of built-in storage plus an included 8GB microSD card.
Overall, then, the Storm's media capabilities are excellent compared to most smart phones, but still don't match the iPhone.
RIM is going to offer a store for new applications for the Storm, but that won't launch until next March, so until then there's no easy way to add new applications like the iTunes App Store.
Conclusions
The bottom line: The BlackBerry Storm might well be the most attractive smart phone currently available -- after the iPhone.
The BlackBerry Storm isn't as breathtakingly cool and fun as the iPhone, but it's reasonably close -- and may be a better choice for enterprise users, especially world travelers and those who need to read and edit Office documents. Which is why, given its other advantages, this smart phone should meet with success.