The back-to-basics BlackBerry Classic smartphone handset is now available to order ahead of an official launch on December 17.

It doesn’t boast a cutting-edge processor or a front-facing camera focused on capturing the perfect selfie.

It doesn’t have an integrated fingerprint sensor, the ability to film videos in 4K resolution or a gargantuan 5-inch plus HD display.

No, the Classic’s biggest selling points are that it’s very comfortable to hold with one or two hands and that it has a full, physical QWERTY keyboard.

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And it’s that ability to type quickly and accurately and without obscuring the screen with fingers which is getting people excited and admitting that, in a world dominated by multi-touch screens, is a feature they now miss.

The response to the new handset is also a perfect illustration of how quickly technology is evolving; BlackBerry has managed to generate so much fond nostalgia among consumers for a device that as recently as 2007 was considered cutting-edge.

However, that trip down high-tech memory lane will come at a premium. The Classic, which has a square touch screen, will run the latest version of BlackBerry’s operating system and be capable of running Android apps, is expected to cost $450 off contract.