I am new to the Curve (previously had the Pearl) and I can't figure out how to lock the keyboard??? Can't find it online or in any of the manuals, or phone help menus....

There should be a Lock icon on your screen which you can use, or you can simply hit 'K' if you have the 'Dial from Home Screen' option turned off.

What does that option do? (Dial from home screen)

it means you have to hit "Send" before you dial a phone number, but it allows home screen shortcuts to work. With if off, if you tap a button it does the shortcut, if you hold the button, its speed dial.

With Dial from Home Screen ON:

If you're on your home screen, you can dial a phone number without going into the phone module first.

Just start dialing and it will switch to the phone automatically.

That seems prefered, why would someone want that off? Besides being able to hit K and lock the phone.

For me, it's annoying as hell to just start dialing whenever a key is pressed. I rarely use my device as a phone, so I don't want the phone to be the default action.

I would much rather use the keyboard shortcuts.

Where can you find an extensive list of the shortcuts?

Hmmmm, already liking this better!!!