1. It's Flash 9.4, full flash. Just not 10.X, which nothing else has yet except one Android phone and those willing to get the Beta desktop version.

2. ZIP/RAR, RSS, BitTorrent client = Yes
Office suite = kind of, there are a few options, all are kind of slow.

3. Yes. For about 40% of the system apps yes, but don't expect it. It's a landscape based device with a landscape physical keyboard. It's primary focus is landscape, and always will be.

4. Yes, Yes, Yes.

5. Kind of, via BT, it takes some work to get it just right though. As for USB, it's close, but not quite there yet.

6. MKVs = Kind of (with MPlayer) XviD/Divx = yes. You can install an additional codec pack, but this is ARM, not Intel. You won't find codec packs just laying about to install like for Windows.


8. No, but you can use the Google site like a normal laptop/browser. There are other options too: Mappero(free) & Sygic (paid).

9. I use it several times a day as a phone, lots of SMS & IM, and have never missed a single call/SMS/IM. It's rock solid when it comes to use as a standard phone, unless you're running something that breaks your phone (beta stuff or high intensity stuff, like NES emulators, etc).

As for if it's the right phone for you? Look at the forums. There are top-sticky threads that go over some of the problems (some real, some imagined, some fixed with PR1.2, and some fixable with free apps from the community). You're dropping a good amount of cash on a device you'll probably use a few years. Take the time, do the homework.