Last week saw the introduction of Palm and RIM's latest smartphone models, the Windows Mobile-run Treo Pro for the former and BlackBerry Bold for the latter. Both smartphones are a step forward. How big a step remains to be seen, however. They're certainly more stylish than past BlackBerry and Treo models. But other than that, it appears the Bold may hold the edge over the Treo Pro in terms of innovation and - certainly - price.

Rogers is subsidizing the cost of purchasing the BlackBerry Bold in Canada, as will AT&T when it ships here. Palm chose (or was forced?) to go without a carrier-partner this go around. So, as a result, when the Treo Pro does go on sale next month, you'll have to pay mind-numbing $550 to get one.

That's probably too much to ask, even for the mobile pros Palm is targeting with this smartphone. Especially when you consider you can get an iPhone for close to a third of the price or any number of other suitable candy-bar style, QWERTY-keyboard Windows Mobile smartphone models for half that amount or less—sometimes for as low as $99 or even nothing with a contract.

We'll be reviewing both smartphones soon. Meanwhile, you can get a close look at both the BlackBerry Bold and Treo Pro right now - and see how they stack up to other smartphones – thanks to a number of unboxing videos and galleries that have sprouted up.

 Crackberry.com unboxes the Roger's edition of the BlackBerry Bold, comparing it to various other BlackBerry models and the iPhone in the process (see below).

 While BlackBerry Cool does pretty much the same thing, but reveals its unboxing of the new BlackBerry through still images only here.

There are more Treo Pro unboxing videos and galleries to hold your attention.

 

You can check out Brighthand's Treo Pro unboxing and comparison video here, for example.

 

Or, if you like, see the pictures accompanying the video (see below) posted by ZDNet's Matthew Miller's regarding Palm's latest.

 

Engadget's got its own Treo Pro image gallery for your viewing pleasure as well.

For more information on the BlackBerry Bold and Treo Pro see the links below