I would like to send/receive email on my phone. I was thinking of a qwerty hardware keyboard.

But how accurate/responsive are the on-screen ones?

I don't really need a blackberry because I don't know anyone that uses BBM.

I don't want to get an Iphone 4 and I was thinking of the HTC Desire HD instead.

These are the things I would want from a new phone:

Decent Camera
Email.
Internet.
Apps.
Music.

Any advice//suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Blackberry all the way.

BB is best for email - you say you don't NEED one because you don't know anyone that uses BBM? tbh I'm not sure anyone gets a BB BECAUSE of BBM.

I have a BB Bold 9700 - wouldn't be without it. I don't use BBM as I get enough free texts to last.

If you have a gmail account that the Google Nexus all the way. It syncs with your email account so you automatically receive emails on your phone and it has a qwerty keyboard for easy sending.

all android based phones have push gmail.

in theory all nokia phones have their free equivalent of the blackberry service but it is a little screwed on the N8 until they fix it.