Having used one of these devices for the past 2 days for testing/setup and for deployment, I have made several discoveries:

• Hardware
  • The keys on this device are horrible.  The two buttons under the screen (used for Done/Cancel, etc. as part of the menu/navigation) are horribly shaped, with uneven activation points.  I frequently had issues pressing these buttons, and had to relocate my thumb/finger back where the "dot" is on the button.  Why doesn't the WHOLE button surface work?
  • The spacebar is also flaky and makes a cheap clicking noise when gently tapped.  Having used it, I also discovered a similar problem: the button's activation area is biased to the right, and there is a rather large percentage of the space button which does not function.
  • The screen is surprisingly bright and readable.  Given the resolution of similar (and previously deployed) devices, I must say this one allowed me to read emails rather nicely.  It was readable under most conditions I've subjected it to, even in bright sunlight.
  • The scroll button on the right is very poor.  It skips over items frequently, and didn't allow as fine/granular control as I have come to expect from these devices.
  • The overall casing (and the battery cover, in particular) is inferior to Samsung's X820's glass fibre casing.  This MotoQ made me wince; the casing feels cheap and well... like plastic that's going to break.
  • While we're on the topic of recent hardware: the Samsung's X820's body is far surperior.  Ignoring the fact that these two devices are not in the same class, that device's buttons are far more solid, and that suggests that this MotoQ is not properly constructed.  It's possible to make quality plastic casing, and it's possible to have a body that feels solid.  And the X820 is about 1/3 the thickness of this MotoQ.  Enough said.
  • The device charges when plugged into USB.  And it can start routing over USB/computer's internet.
• Software
  • Cool.  I can walk around with my email and contacts now.  And my phone uses the SAME contact list.  No duplication of information.
  • The UI needs more work.  The "back" arrow is inconsistently used; it can usually be used to "go back" but this is NOT always the case.  You have to resort back to the "cancel" button under the screen sometimes to get out of certain screens.
  • Exchange ActiveSync was a breeze to setup - just needed the Telus root cert. update, and then to install my root cert issued from LiteSSL.  Took about 30 mins to discover this due to the poor documentation, but now takes ~30s to deploy a unit.
  • Dialing a number does a direct lookup on your synchronized contact list, as you're typing the number.  This is nice.
  • The device seems slow.  Slow to start up, slow to do look ups on your contact list (what's with the LAG as I'm typing a phone number in?!) and slow to shut down.  Put the Telus startup screens away, please... or give us the option to turn it off!
  • For up-to-the-minute synchronization, this phone relies on SMS messaging; the heartbeat as part of Exchange 2003 SP2 is obviously not implemented on this device.  Ugh.

In general, not bad.  I've been avoiding these devices for a number of reasons, one of which was that I didn't feel the technology was mature enough.  While I'd need more time to make a more thorough analysis, I can say:

• These devices are addictive and not good for human health.  You don't need to check email while you're eating dinner.
• If you must, Smartphones at least saves you pain, compared to the Blackberry devices; emails that you send on this thing are synched to your Exchange mailbox.  Inbox is synched.
• Smartphones are better than a Blackberry in my book, but I'm not sure the MotoQ is the way to go due to the substandard hardware.  What (a) junky keyboard/buttons!
• The latest SmartPhones (or Palm Treo/Active-Sync COMPATIBLE devices) are good for the mobile professional who needs to check his email while on the go.
• The phone is nice; the dream of not having to re-enter/synchronize contacts on your phone/computer/PDA is now a reality, given that you have the infrastructure (Exchange, and tech support) to keep you going.
• This MotoQ is not worth the money; it's far too flimsy/cheap/clicky feeling, and I think the hardware needs a bit more work.
• Telus Mobility offers close to no support on these units when deployed against an Exchange server.  Wake up people.  That's what people use them for.  Time to get some Microsoft PSS involvement?
• Microsoft ActiveSync 4.2 kicks ass on the desktop.  The RIM Desktop Redirector is a piece of junk.
• Did I mention the keys feel really gross?