I got the plastic case opening tool from here:
http://cnn.cn/shop/cell-phone-case-o...ool-p-257.html
It is nothing special, just better than using a screwdriver to pry it open since it is less likely to scratch it.
The torx I found at home depot for ~$5:
Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Reader Find: Husky’s 8-in-1 Precision Torx Screwdriver

So, 8800 doesn't have crick or any dust under screen? If so I am changing this for 8800.. It should also be cheaper!

Mine does not "crick", yet my dust is just as bad as the picture posted earlier in this thread. And yes, I also have yet to see a friend's curve without dust.

Mine doesn't "crick"...and I still have no dust after several months use. There must be a factor to this that we haven't uncovered yet - perhaps something about the way the lens / clear part of the screen cover attaches to the rest of the Curve body.

The dust gets in between the lens and the faceplate. The faceplate has a foam gasket stuck between the edge of the LCD screen and the actual faceplate to prevent dust. The issue us that the lens is just stuck on the faceplate with adhesive and it very easily separates from the faceplate with some flexing/pressure, allowing the dust to get through. Here is a photo of my faceplate that I pulled off where you can see whats left of the foam seal. The pen cap is where the dust gets through:

3 months. heavy deposit- upper right.

4 DAYS with the 8320 and have quite a few already right in the middle and right side of the screen when I tried to shake it or blow it out it seems to make more show up lol, I called customer care and they said send it back they'll send me a new one I don't know if this will be worth a try the next one I get could be better or worse....now I wonder if dust free curve really exist.

I have a proposition, let's file a petition and complain to AT&T and RIM to have our curves refurbished and resealed at no cost, or replacement.

I have TWO LAYERS of dust on my screen. One is between first layer of glass and screen, then another layer between glass and LCD. This is crazy.

I am not opening up my BB just get the dust out, but it is just bothering me., especially on direct sunlight. I love the screen, it doesn't get washed out on the sun, but the dust particles are just driving me nuts.

How about that petition?

I started a thread here
Dust Under your screen and complain to RIM - PinStack.com - Blackberry Forums

We need to get this up to RIM

I just got off the phone with AT&T and am getting my thrid Curve because of Dust. They got a rep from Blackberry on the phone and he said that he had never heard of this issue.

HA! He must be lying.

I think someone above me basically noted the same thing, but doesn't seem that a petition is in order: AT&T will ship you a new device with little resistance -- if you talk to the right person.

I got the curve early, like day 2 it was available back in June, and had dust building up immediately. It really annoyed me, and I finally decided to do something about it today when I found myself right near an AT&T store. The woman in the store wasn't willing to do anything about it, and indeed said that it was the glass on the screen getting slowly broken by pressure (haven't heard that one before!). I told her no, it isn't little glass cracks, it is dust, which she finally believed yet still insisted it was getting in due to cracks in the screen from uneven pressure!?!

Long story short, she said I'd get nowhere, but gave me the 800 number for AT&T warranty support, which I called. They shipped me out a new curve with no complaints whatsoever. It was actually surprisingly easy.

Knock on wood, hopefully this new one won't have dust (or worse) issues, but I finally decided to just return it under warranty and see 'cause the dust kept getting worse. If the new one is bad, I'll just return that as well, but it's good to know you don't need to get rid of the device within the first 30 days due to this issue -- warranty support will work with us on this one...

I have ahd two 8800s and now using the 8820 and never had dust under the screen. All 4 of my 8300s has dust and each of my 3 friends who owned 8300s all had dust!

Hey kitten, i mean Greg. Thanks for the input on this, it is too late for me to switch to 8800 now, I am gonna have to live with this for a while until it gets really annoying, then call ATT and ask for replacement.

Thanks again!

well the dust doesnt come in from between the rubber side or the right side of the lens, as it seems to be getting in still as my bb has been taped there since out of the box.
new theory top of the right side of the lens or the bottom right of the lens.

I just upgraded from 8300 to 8820. While I have plenty of other reasons why I wanted the 8820 (Wifi, GPS, etc..), I will not missed the dust that accumulated in my curve (went thru 3 devices) after just a few months. So far, the build quality of the 8820 feels light years ahead of the Curve.

No Dust on my 8830, have had it 3 months now.

haha, okay so im NOT the only one with this problem.

i was reading a few replys and some said they had called the 800 number, i did too but was told this dust problem cant be covered because it's a cosmetic problem/consumer's fault or something. maybe a little white lie wont hurt??

Oh really? I don't notice any dust under screen. I am luck! so I actually happy with my awe-admire 8320!

That's just not good news. I had a Pearl that had a lot of dust. Not just little specks, but big pieces. I traded it out for a Curve and was hoping to avoid that issue. My 7130 and 8703 from Verizon never had this issue.

Does anyone with an 8310 have problems with dust under display?
The dust problem is what kept me from getting the 8300. I have seen two of the newest 8300's with dust problems.

I've had my Curve for 5 days and have heavy dust migrating from the right edge leftward. And I also agree that it is coming from the gap between the clear plastic and the housing (on the face). New one coming in the mail as we speak. It is nice that you can get a new item as easy as you can, but there are issues with that; in particular, I like putting on protective skins straight out of the box to reduce dust and oil. But once you put those on, you may get dust infiltration!! Then you lose a perfectly good skin... another $7.00 gone.

I'm having dust problems too. It's not as bad as what I've read, but I'm afraid it might get worse. Has anyone had any screen damage because of it? I'm thinking about taking it apart and cleaning the screen but I'm nervous about breaking it. How many people have been sucessful in taking it apart?

If AT&T is replacing dusty Curves under warranty, why would anyone bother cleaning them if they don't have to?

Hoping to avoid dust, I just cut down an old (unused) screen protector from my WM device days. That eliminates the possibility of dust getting under the screen through the crevices around the screen. Now the only possible entry point is around the trackball.

Nothing I can do about that. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Just made the call to AT&T for a replacement Curve because of the dust under the screen. I received my phone on 10/04 and have dust under the screen on 10/11. I hope this doesn't happen with the replacement curve they send me. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening again??

I check mine and it is made in Canada. Interesting.

To date I have no dust but it is only a week old. :D

I'll post if anything changes.

Just checked my Curve and it was made in Mexico. I don't know if that means anything or not. I'm just praying the replacement Curve that is on the way doesn't get this dust under the screen. Does anyone think this case will help deter the dust from getting under the screen?
SUPER SLIM RUBBERIZED HARD CASE-BLACKBERRY CURVE - CSR2YBB8300-BK

I have gone through literally at least 8 curves for the dust issue no joke...I have finally realized htat all you have to do is pop out the screen using a little force and then buy replacement screens for $4 online and take those and cleen dust and then put the screen back in...it has really made ,life alot simpler now. I RECCOMMEND FOR EVERYONE

This is what I have been doing lately also. Since the screen-to-face seal seems to be the source of the dust I am thinking of sacrificing a faceplate and just crazy gluing the screen completely to the faceplate to try and seal it permanently.

Oh my God. That is really bad. And I thought two small specks of dust on my 8310 was bad.

I have had the 8100 for a year and the 8830 for three months. So far, no dust, or any other quality or performance issues. Does anyone know if the 8300 series is produced in the same facility? Or, is anyone aware of any manufacturing differences between the original 8300 and the 8310/8320? I'd love to try the 8320, but these quality issues are scaring me away.

After using both the 8800 series and the 8300 series, I was simply sitting on the fence trying to decide which way to go as I had (build quality) problems with both. I could attribute the issues to the fact that I got both on the day they were released, thus they are very early production models.

Cut to the chase, I caved in and just yesterday bought another 8300. While I'm terribly concerned about dust, I find the keyboard, overall size and shape of the Curve very compelling. If only the 8800 series had a better keyboard I would not hesitate as a camera is useless to me. However I've tried over and over to become accustomed to the keyboard on my 8800 and I simply handle too much email to not have a comfortable keyboard with which I can maintain my speed and accuracy. The Curve makes it possible, the 8800 well....it's probably just me

As they say, you cannot have everything and as I know from buying lots of phones, there is no perfect solution.

So I sit here with crossed fingers that the new 8300 I hold in my hand, does not accumulate a display full of dust. And yet the odds seem daunting. Oh well, time will tell. I do have a friend that has been using her 8300 for quite some time without dust, so it is possible if not probable.

Archer6: Try hitting the upper portion of the keys when you are typing. I have found that this makes the 8830 keypad much more ergonomic and results in a lot fewer "mis-hits" and typing errors.

Because after a while they will NOT replace it. I had a friend who took her to the ATT Corp store and they di not replace it as it did not affect the funtion of the phone.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm willing to try anything.....

Same problem, lot of dust.
I return to fix it but after 1 month. It comes again.
Hate it!

Whoa... talk about bumping an ancient thread!

I dropped mine and now it is dusty, wonder if AT&T would replace it? It is under 2 weeks old, but I did drop it.

go back to where you bought it, tell them you're having a bunch of problems and it randomly shuts off. you've talked to customer service, you've researched it on the internet, and found nothing.

they should exchange it for a brand new curve (if it's within 30 days of your purchase)