Your phone really is in 3G mode all the time but sometimes your phone doesn't need it or there is no coverage. 3G and 1X are used for different things.

In the native message app, long press on the text that you want to forward (hold your finger down until you feel a little vibration) and then press "Forward".

You can't get T9 without any extra apps, though in due process you'll wonder why you ever wanted it again. I doubt there are many apps offering T9 anyways. Just get used to the QWERTY and you'll thank yourself later.

I'm not sure if there is native support for playing video outside of YouTube. Try downloading a video player app? Not sure about this one.

 

I just got my Eris as well so I don't know a whole lot about it either but I'm willing to help.

1. Not sure, my phone wont stay on 3G either. It keeps dropping down to 1X and then reverting back to 3G. It does that throughout the day, a lot.

2. To Forward a message, just press and hold on the message in the messages list and a menu will pop up and one of the options is forward. Just enter an email address in the to: field and off you go.

3. When typing, press the options key on the keyboard, its the second button from the left corner along the bottom row, it looks like a small gear, and click on keyboard types. U have 3 options, QWERTY, Phone Keypad, and Compact QWERTY. Using Keypad, just shows the number pad just like on a regular phone.

4. Haven't got a video message yet so not sure on this one.

 

Is it a video slideshow or just a collection of pictures? If the former, you need a video player, if the latter, just save the pictures and use the Gallery!

 

You should be able to just view the picture ... does it show as an attachment?