Android : How Do I Switch Applications?

OK, here is my dislike about this phone. I switched to the Evo cause my DH was obsessed with getting one. I had a Blackberry for the last 2 years and one of the things I liked about the phone was ie: If I was on a call and needed to get a phone number for someone, I could put the phone on speaker, switch applications and access my address book, find the number and then go back to the phone screen. It also worked with any other application I wanted to view while on the phone. It seems that the Evo is not capable of this function.

Not sure if this was the right thread to post on but figured I'd try it. The other down side to the Evo is not having the cut and paste function. Or, is it that I just don't know how to do this yet.