I currently have the Pantech Matrix,  It's good for texting but the internet access runs like a snail even for the basic apps.  I've brought the matrix in to compare it to iPhones on display the iPhone is atleast 8 times faster in accessing the web.  I've tried texting and its a pain,  its the only thing thats keeping me from buying an iPhone right now.  I still have a chance to trade in phones but I want to make sure this is the phone for me. 

Well, I have to say, I'm not the biggest texter in the world, yet I do like the texting compared to my moms LG  Voyager. The 3G internet is well worth the data plan, and I highly reccomend it. I'm sure if you text a lot, you will get used to the texting on the iPhone. Hopefully, someday, they will make a firmware that supports horizontal texting.