The ultimate question of all.. the button vs the stylus.
My dad had his eyes on my phone, but he is a bit reluctant to spend too much on the phone without really knowing if he is going to fully utilize the organiser/pda-like features. He spotted some other phone like the Motorola MPx220 , which is within his budget range. However, once I've mentioned that it is not a touchscreen type phone, he seems to be very disappointed.
So, I'm wondering, in the world of Windows enabled phone, how much difference is a button based and a touchscreen based.
I personally would prefer a touchscreen as oppose a button based one, as I think you can do all button based with the ultimate stylus. However, after using the touchscreen based, I do sometimes missed the buttons one, where I can really type SMS in lighting speed, and do almost everything at a relatively faster speed than stylus (note: I'm comparing my Charmer with a Nokia 3310, which may not be a good comparison as the Nokia has a blackwhite screen which has very good respond time for everything you do).
So, whats your thought? Would love to hear from those with experience with both type of phones. Not to bias opinion, but I guess most will be going from button to stylus, I wonder if any of you goes from stylus to button?
Why not enjoy both worlds:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,49475
Would be nice if there were more devices like this.
Seriously though, it isn't just about buttons vs. stylus.
The interface it self is a bit different and you just won't find the same software for Smartphones as you would for PPC based devices.
The security is a lot tighter as well.
But, coming back to buttons, here's what I really hated when I got to try the MPx200 and the imate SP5:
The insesive button mushing you need to get from point a to point b. On a regular cellphone it's just SMS and calls, but here you got tons of functionality and navigating all the menus and different dialog controls without a stylus is way too uncomfortable (at least for me).
Example: you can't scroll through the start menu icon by icon, if you want an option that is not on screen you have to click next for the second screen and so on.
Well that's all my opinion.
Try www.spv-developers.com, I am sure they will have plenty of reasons to switch from PPC based to SP based device.
The reviews on the Fuze are pretty good. And despite the fact that I loathe the side sliders, this one might make a believer out of me. Are any of you experienced 750 users who have had any length of time with the Fuze? If so can you give us some pros and cons in comparison with the 750? Thanks
Treo 750 Users
Yea, I've been using a Treo 750 for over two years and loved it but as you know, it is under powered by now day standards. The Fuze was a big step and really was going to buy the Epix for the keyboard but took the jump to the fuze. Not happy with it till I flashed the ROM and updated to NET 3.5. Now getting really good with the small keyboard I must say it rocks. I used SPB Shell with SPB Diary for keeping up with life so waiting on that void to be filled yet and it will as this phone is getting the attention. Nice phone
Dan
I just upgraded to the Fuze. Also flashed a few ROMs almost right away and the ATT ROM is slow and has problems (no HSDPA active only 3G) so the flash is pretty much a mandatory step. I am still adjusting to the Fuze. I like the TouchFlo interface, sometimes, but then at other times, I've found it difficult to quickly get to where I want. I've noticed that it's harder to make calls from the car due to not having the keyboard on the front and not being able to go to search for a name to call directly from TouchFlo. Similar problem with the e-mail Inbox. Although TouchFlo gives me a preview of e-mails, to get to my inbox is an extra step and I'm still adjusting. There is a new ROM that does not include TouchFlo by default so I might try that. Also, some ROMs have been cooked with software called "SecondToday" which allows to flip from TouchFlo to a 3rd Party Today screen. I've also found the short length of the stylus to be a little bit annoying - the length of the one on the Treo was just right for me . . .
The phone has a lot more RAM and the display is nice. I wish the display was larger and despite the faster CPU, it doesn't feel as fast as I'd expected. I will keep using it for at least a couple more weeks before deciding if its worth the upgrade. I've also considered the EPIX and I guess that would be my fallback since it has more RAM, better CPU and better display than the 750 in a comparable format.
I haven't tried streaming video yet although I imagine it would be much better on the Fuze. Also, some nice software available on the Fuze that helps.
Andrew
Mine's going back to the store.
I don't like the keyboard, its just too small for a slideout keyboard. The buttons are poorly located and just not intuitive.
The screen is nice but feels small due to the resolution.
The lack of programmable buttons is a big minus.
And the TouchFlo is next to useless.
I couldn't find the right place to put this thread, so I put it here in there general forum.
Any, I received my AT&T fuze today. I was using a BB Bold for a while, but I started missing WinMo.
Anyway, this fuze is nothing short of pathetic. My main gripe is the buttons just below the screen. The up/down/left/right buttons surronding the center button are absolutely awful. Right and especially left are almost impossible to push. Each time I try pushing the left button, I end up hitting the "home" button or "send" button. On the right, same thing, I end up pushing the back/ok button, and the end button. Its almost impossible to push the left arrow button.
I must say that BB's hardware eats any WinMo phone for dinner that I have seen. On the other hand, I like Winmo's OS much better than BB's OS.
Does anyone know of a solution for these awful buttons?
Also, I wouldn't mind changing phones. I just want a WinMo phone with TV-Out. The fuze has it. Any others?
I had an issue with the directional buttons, then realized I never had to use them ever again with a touchscreen.
They're completely pulled from the Touch Pro 2 (the Fuze is the original Touch Pro rebranded) as well as that center button, because they're kind of pointless to have on a PPC device.
The thing I hated about the Fuze was the PTT button being incredibly sensitive. I'd hit it a few hundred times a day and get the "PTT CHARGES MAY APPLY, JERKFACE" message.
I currently have an Xperia, and the only button I use is the hangup button to send me back to my home screen. Everything else just clutters the face.
your welcome
http://www.fuzemobility.com/learn-the-att-fuze-htc-touch-pro-d-pad-sweet-spot/
Thanks for the link, I will try it.
toiletduk,
Thanks, but I HATE touchscreen, I like buttons.
george9999 said:
...
I must say that BB's hardware eats any WinMo phone for dinner that I have seen. .....
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bit of a bold statement don't you think? Used them all have you? Every Winmo phone? Really? You sure? Wonder how many you have actually seen?
Monty Burns said:
bit of a bold statement don't you think? Used them all have you? Every Winmo phone? Really? You sure? Wonder how many you have actually seen?
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Click to collapse
I am 100% sure. And here is the list of the WinMo phones that I have owned:
IPaq (forgot the model) from waaaay back.
XDA Exec - Way to big
Palm Treo 750 - Was ok, but got old
AT&T Tilt Kaiser - Got old and too big
Palm Treo Pro - QWERTY keyboard was meant for baby sized fingers.
AT&T Fuze - Buttons are absolutely awful.
I think that qualifies me to have a valid opinion.
Like I said, I like the WinMo OS much better, but as for hardware, WinMo phones are awful. Mainly due to the touch screen, and now more recently that they are all trying to make pathetic imitations of the already lousy iphone.
This Fuze is absolutely loaded, and blows away almost any other phone that I have ever had features-wise. But the problem is that the buttons are so rediculously close, that it becomes very hard to use. Everything I do, I feel like I am playing the old kids game "operation". Hitting the sides is like hitting the wrong button on this phone. Whenever I speak on the phone, my face opens and closes a bunch of applications.
Why the hell do we still need styli. A trackball like blackberry would be much better.
Give me a good Winmo phone with the following, and I will buy it now!
3.5G Speed GSM that works in both US and Europe.
GPS
Wifi
Querty keyboard like palm treo (slider ok, but not if it means I have to rotate the phone sideways)
Real buttons, not flush buttons that make the phone look cool, but unusable and unpractical.
TV Out - This is the real hard to find one.
george9999 said:
toiletduk,
Thanks, but I HATE touchscreen, I like buttons.
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Click to collapse
Then a PocketPC is not for you. I would suggest something like the Samsung Jack or Epix, as they're WM Standard devices.
toiletduk said:
Then a PocketPC is not for you. I would suggest something like the Samsung Jack or Epix, as they're WM Standard devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought of that, but from what I understood (I may be wrong), the non pocket-pc versions of winmo are watered down versions, and a lot of the software doesn't work. I really liked the jack when I saw it. Any chance it has tv out?
That's really the problem.
You're not going to find TV Out on any WM Standard devices that I know of, and WM Pro is designed around use of the touchscreen. Standard is designed to compete with the Blackberry, which no models have TV Out that I know of as well. Pro is more geared to be the jack of all trades device for the end user and the corporate user.
And to correct my prior post, the Epix is a Pro device.
I was pretty anti-touchscreen for a while, but I got annoyed with scrolling around on my BlackJack II with the d-pad/wheel.
I ended up getting a Fuze for a while before I switched to an Xperia X1, and I can't really go back to a non-touchscreen device. Navigation is a lot faster with that interface, even if you're going one handed, and things become a lot less of a chore to do.
I could live with the fuse if the buttons we easier to click. Even playing Ms. Pac Man which comes with it from AT&T is almost impossible since my fingers keept hitting the 4 corner buttons by accident.
Maybe I'll try the experia. Does it have TV out?
Also, since I am still with the fuze, how do i lock the touchscreen when talking on the phone? The Palm pro had this option, so I am assuming that it is possible.
Thanks for the tips.
Interesting device imo:
http://samsung.letstalk.com/product/product.htm?prId=35487
Running WinMo 6.1
It is not a phone , so in my opinion we have far better alternatives here on the board..
Please note, this device is not a phone and does not come with voice capability.
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Phen0m said:
Interesting device imo:
http://samsung.letstalk.com/product/product.htm?prId=35487
Running WinMo 6.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if that was voice capable i would be all over it.
it has a microphone built in, so it could has the potential to be used as a phone as well. All that it needs is an app that would allow you to use voip
I've been lurking these boards for a long while (HP iPAQ hx4700 power user usually looking for cooked WM6.1 ROMs), but now I'm compelled to chime in for once.
We need more devices like this. NOT a traditional phone (we have way too many of those now), WiMAX if you want to subscribe to use it, large WVGA screen, only 450 US$ unsubsidized where most unlocked phones of this caliber are 600 US$ or more and with smaller screens...I could go on. (And having Windows Mobile 6.1 instead of 6.5 doesn't worry me at all because of these here forums.)
My hx4700 is getting long in the tooth; 64 MB of RAM does not cut it anymore, and it just can't run WM6.1 all that well, let alone WM6.5. This is the replacement device I've been looking for, so long as I can make sure that I can use it in portrait orientation. (All of the images I've seen of it are in landscape.)
I do not have a smartphone; I'm not even allowed to have one, or at least have one and use the phone bits. Why should I be forced to pay the premium for a phone modem I'll never use, and also suffer from the other disadvantages of the smartphone trend, like devices that have midget-sized screens to accomodate what would be considered an acceptable phone size? It wasn't until a few years ago that Windows Mobile smartphones in general could even stand on par with the HP iPAQ hx4700, or the Dell Axim X50v/X51v, or other such devices, and they were still way more expensive! (The HTC Universal was more the exception than the rule in terms of specs, but HTC has consistently failed to bring back that design...)
Show me a Windows Mobile smartphone with this basic size, form factor, and large WVGA screen, similar internal specs, and only a 450 US$ or less price tag WITHOUT SUBSIDY/CONTRACT, and maybe then I'll change my mind.
^^ Fragger, i have the Mondi & i absolutely love it! I'll go into detail or answer questions if you have any.. but this device would be a great to any winmo users lineup..Large screen/res, great keyboard, dedicated D-Pad, HDMI-out, GPS etc etc..
Also, its nearly the same size as an iphone, with a larger screen and physical keyboard:
4.8 x 3.03 x 0.63 5.8oz
4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 4.8oz
Only downside so far is not having a community, as i would love to get WinMo 6.5 on this thing.
You have one now? Great! Now brace yourself for the questions...
-How's battery life? One of the things I like about my current hx4700 is that it's very long-lived, even on the stock battery.
-It does go into portrait mode like every other WM device, right? If so, can you set it up to be more like the HTC slider phones in the sense that closed keyboard = portrait, open keyboard = landscape?
-Built-in GPS, huh? Guess I may not need my Bluetooth GPS receiver (MTK-based, 5 Hz refresh rate, solar-charged), then. How's the initial acquisition time, accuracy, reception, and general latency? (I remember hearing a lot of complaints about lag on the integrated GPS on HTC Touch Pros. Different device, but I'd still hope that I wouldn't have that issue.)
-The format support sounds pretty robust out of the box, which is especially great since it has HDMI-out. Are you content with just Samsung's media player, or have you felt the need to break out TCPMP for certain files?
-Going along the lines of HDMI-out, I take it that it can output at least 720p over it with an H.264/AVC-encoded file and not have any dropped frames?
-The "great keyboard" bit sounds like it has good tactile feedback and a good layout, which is reassuring. Is there anything I may not catch about it at first glance? (For instance, while I doubt it has this feature, I really would like it if I could capitalize letters just by holding the key down instead of hitting Shift first. Never seen that trick implemented outside of the Palm Tungsten|C, and it really cuts down on the redundant keystrokes.)
-Does the build quality feel good throughout the device? Solid feel, no loose parts? Tight slider mechanism? That sort of thing?
-How does the digitizer feel? It's obviously resistive, but some resistive digitizers feel harder or softer than others.
-How could Samsung give out a specs list and NOT mention how much RAM (program memory) it has? Since you have it, you could probably give me an accurate figure. (I'm expecting at least 128 MB by now, but the more, the merrier-especially if it matches or exceeds the 288 MB on the HTC Touch Pro!)
-Can I get the normal Today screen in case I want to use PocketBreeze and/or iLauncher like I do on my hx4700? (The latter, I may be able to do without if Samsung customized it right, but I have to have PocketBreeze for easy PIM access.)
As for the lack of community, give it some time. The device just released, and even in spite of the general disinterest due to it NOT being a phone (actually one of the more compelling reasons for a few of us), I'm sure that someone with the skills has one and is working on how to flash a custom ROM onto it so we can enjoy some WM6.5. (I mean, the hx4700 and the Dell Axim X50v/X51v are still getting lots of attention in the Upgrades, Modifying, and Unlocking forum despite not being phones! Who's to say that the Mondi can't get that kind of love once someone opens the door?)
Some this stuff i will have to answer when i get off, but:
-How's battery life?
Thus far seems very good thus far & charges fast via usb or wall. I haven't done a full drain yet, but seems to be roughly 5 hours or so(this is watching video via orb)
-It does go into portrait mode like every other WM device, right? If so, can you set it up to be more like the HTC slider phones in the sense that closed keyboard = portrait, open keyboard = landscape?
Theres an option to auto-rotate in opera(accelerometer built-in), but i cant find an actual button that locks it in to portrait/landscape. The screen also doesnt auto rotate when u move it.
-The format support sounds pretty robust out of the box, which is especially great since it has HDMI-out. Are you content with just Samsung's media player, or have you felt the need to break out TCPMP for certain files?
I havent used samsungs media player only Kinoma thus far, but the video and audio output is very good imo(im not an audiophile however), the other device i own along these lines is the Nokia N810, and the sound on here is far superior.
-The "great keyboard" bit sounds like it has good tactile feedback and a good layout, which is reassuring. Is there anything I may not catch about it at first glance? (For instance, while I doubt it has this feature, I really would like it if I could capitalize letters just by holding the key down instead of hitting Shift first. Never seen that trick implemented outside of the Palm Tungsten|C, and it really cuts down on the redundant keystrokes.)
The tactile feedback is very good as well.. there is a slider that lets you control the strength.. however you cant just turn it on for the keyboard, its either on or off. The key's(hardware kb) cannot be capped by holding it down as theyre double mapped to symbols as well. There is a dedicated caps key though(on the hardware keyboard)
-Does the build quality feel good throughout the device? Solid feel, no loose parts? Tight slider mechanism? That sort of thing?
Build quality is superb, feels like a high quality smartphone.. good weight, smooth, no squeaks etc.
-How does the digitizer feel? It's obviously resistive, but some resistive digitizers feel harder or softer than others.
The screen feels similar to an HTC device.. soft, but not TOO soft, its also pretty accurate.
-How could Samsung give out a specs list and NOT mention how much RAM (program memory) it has? Since you have it, you could probably give me an accurate figure. (I'm expecting at least 128 MB by now, but the more, the merrier-especially if it matches or exceeds the 288 MB on the HTC Touch Pro!)
256 mem/4GB storage + MicroSD slot
-Can I get the normal Today screen in case I want to use PocketBreeze and/or iLauncher like I do on my hx4700?
Yes, set the Today screen to Windows default or Windows 6.1. There is also a dedicated "Home" key on the screen bezel that shoots you right to your desktop.
Anything i haven't answered above, i will when i get home later! There is also a blog on the front page of Pocketables.com that may answer so of these questions and more.
And yeah i'm hoping we can get a community of some capacity going on this device.. WM 6.5 on this hardware will be outstanding.
Oh, speaking of buttons, which ones can you rebind? And of those that can be rebound, how many let you press-and-hold for a different function? (For example, all of my hx4700's face buttons have a press function and a held function. Rotation is one of the held functions.)
As for no capping with a press-and-hold on the thumbboard because of symbols, that's no excuse because the Tungsten|C's thumbboard also has symbol mapping on all the letter keys, which had to be used with a shift/Fn button-that is, unless Samsung set it so that held keypresses trigger the symbols rather than capitalize letters. (Most thumbboards I've seen on pocket devices just repeat a letter when you hold the key down. I don't see much point in that.)
256 MB of RAM? That's enough for WM6.5 and then some! I could easily have a Web browser with a few tabs, media player, SoftMaker Office, and who knows what else going on at the same time with that much...
Normally, I'd complain about the microSDHC slot pretty hard, but the 4 GB of internal storage helps offset that and my largest full-size SD card is only 2 GB. (I only have one microSD card, and it's just 1 GB. Wouldn't really add anything significant.) In short, I could easily cram most of my music and videos on the internal flash alone. (What I don't like, though, is that they only have 90 MB or so set aside for apps. I'd like to see that doubled, perhaps even tripled so that I can have more apps installed there simultaneously, even if it does infringe on the rest of the storage mapped like a memory card. (Also, you can pass off the bulk of internal storage as a USB drive out of the box, right? No ActiveSync/WMDC needed?)
All in all, though, I'm beyond sold at this point. I just need 450 US$. (It'll probably be at least a month before I can afford it, though, and that's if I succeed in selling the hx4700 and all of its accessories for around 200 US$ or more.)
Oh, speaking of buttons, which ones can you rebind? And of those that can be rebound, how many let you press-and-hold for a different function?
Camera(short/long press)
IE explorer button(short/long)
Message(short/long)
Thats by default. I use an app called AEbutton plus that lets me remap everykey to my liking
And so far its a been a good purposeful purchase.. Office looks great on the screen, and kinetic scrolling is enabled throughout the entire o/s somehow(i dont remember 6.1 having kinetic scrolling in explorer etc. on my phones.)
Kinetic scrolling is also present in the Alkor RC 2.2 WM6.1 ROM for the hx4700. I don't know exactly where it came from, but it seems to be standard fare on new Windows Mobile devices. (I just wish I could disable it only in Resco Explorer 2007 and leave it on everywhere else, because it makes multi-selection difficult.)
Oh, almost forgot about the camera, since I'm not used to having one of those on a pocket computer. How's the quality, both for stills and video recordings? Is the camera button double-detent like on dedicated cameras (push it lightly for autofocus, push it down all the way to actually shoot)? Not common on devices like this, but I'm pretty sure one of the HTC phones (Kaiser/Tilt?) had just that.
I can just see myself with one of these right now. Does just about everything fairly well, can come with me where the TC1100 (Tablet PC) can't, and when Clearwire expands the Atlanta coverage to the point where I'm covered at home, I may end up with a VoIP phone and mobile information terminal down the road whenever I can afford the subscription, not to mention the possibilities with WMWifiRouter.
Finally, you said Kinoma. Free version, or pay version? Never experimented with the WM versions, but I did buy Kinoma Player 4 EX for the aforementioned Tungsten|C so that I could stream video over Wi-Fi with it. (It would be nice if they offered a discount for platform switches like that...)
orb3000 said:
this forum is for HTC devices only.
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the thing looks good, but it's huge.
It's truly smaller than you think.. as i said.. it's not much bigger than an iphone:
http://www.pocketables.net/2009/07/samsung-mondi-size-comparisons.html
Phen0m said:
It's truly smaller than you think.. as i said.. it's not much bigger than an iphone:
http://www.pocketables.net/2009/07/samsung-mondi-size-comparisons.html
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Click to collapse
your right, not as bad as i had assumed. don't think it will fit in my pocket though.
wonder what it looks like next to the Tp2.
-It does go into portrait mode like every other WM device, right? If so, can you set it up to be more like the HTC slider phones in the sense that closed keyboard = portrait, open keyboard = landscape?
Found a simple program that rotates the screen instantly
-Built-in GPS, huh? How's the initial acquisition time, accuracy, reception, and general latency?
It's very average.. in the route 66 program the locks are pretty swift, on googlemaps, livesearch(bing) they're very slow. I'm about to try igo and iguidance.
How's the quality, both for stills and video recordings? Is the camera button double-detent like on dedicated cameras (push it lightly for autofocus, push it down all the way to actually shoot)?
The camera is either exactly like the Touch Pro's or slightly below that.. it's not great by any stretch and has no flash unfortunately. The upside is that there are two of them on board for skypeing, videoconferencing, webcam shows etc.
Finally, you said Kinoma. Free version, or pay version? (It would be nice if they offered a discount for platform switches like that...)
Pay version via trialpay: http://kinoma.com/play/
Whatever trial you signup for, just cancel it before the trial period ends.
The only thing that Samsung Mondi's got going for me is the large screen and that it's capable of fitting in the pant pocket.
so its not a phone, but it has a mic? :/
sightpress said:
so its not a phone, but it has a mic? :/
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No traditional radio onboard, but it can be usable as a VOIP phone.
And I'm thankful that there isn't a traditional phone radio onboard to jack the price up with something that I don't need. (If it did have the phone radio, it would cost 600+ US$ unsubsidized easily, not 450 US$.) VoIP is the future anyway, especially when WiMAX coverage starts spreading out.
Another question: how does it handle apps that aren't made for the extra width (generally 320x240 or 640x480)? They just run letterboxed, right? (Anything based on the standard Windows Mobile UI would just have extra dead space, I know that much.)
I still haven't been fortunate enough to use one, and I'm still well short of affording one, but I'll scrounge up the cash somehow. (I just need to find a willing buyer for my old Tungsten|C and my hx4700. Won't get me there all the way, but it'll help a lot.)
Mondi
I got the Mondi after looking for something like it for two years. I needed the largest possible pocketable screen plus hardware keyboard for a couple applications I run and resistive stylus for Chinese handwriting input. Mondi fit most of my needs perfectly and I've found I even do most of my voice calling using Mondi+voip. The only thing I hesitated on before buying and still don't have an answer for is how much of the XDA stuff I'll be able to take advantage of given this is a WM Classic device and Samsung Touchwiz-2 instead of HTC. Does anyone know whether I'll be able to use any of the WM 6.5 stuff from XDA or does having "Classic" put me out of luck?
BTW, I paid $359 for mine which is around what an iPaq 211 goes for.
I'm a two year Kaiser user and have been happy with it generally. But the small screen and resolution, plus sluggish CPU is making me want to upgrade.
However HTC (and seemingly other manufacturers) seem to be shifting all UI interaction to the screen only (practically). I know I'm not the only one saddened by this, as d-pads and jog dials have their place and offer guaranteed responsiveness and precision which no screen tech can easily match. Unless you have fingers that look like stylii and a permanently steady hand.
Anyway, I'm just interested to hear if there are other people out there wishing for a Touch Pro 3 / Leo / Kaiser hybrid? Nice big screen, Snapdragon but a little d-pad squirrelled away at the bottom and jogger on the side. I wouldn't mind the phone being a bit longer to make it all fit.
Oh and I'm a business user and can appreciate that on a device like the Leo aimed more at the mass-market, the missing buttons aren't so important. But I think the Touch Pro line could do with them.
More than agree!
hardware keyboard is a must for me also, 2 lines of production I can see:
One for more multimedia non professional use like Leo and the second with more business capabilities like the keyboard
I´m sure TP3 will come out with larger screen, snapdragon and more surprises, but we have to wait at least 6 months for that.
just my opinion
Here some possible options:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=556749
i agree completely !
one of the things that i hate about mobile phone design is that everyone thinks that to make a better phone than the iphone you have to copy it rather than take the best ideas and improve on them.
i'm eagerly awaiting news of the touch pro 3 (rather than the touch hd2 / leo) because a hardware keyboard is important to me - i'm hoping that they'll include a scroll wheel and d-pad like my old kaiser in a form factor of my current xperia with a decent processor and the latest version of tf3d. they're all htc devices so it shouldn't be too hard ...
I agree, too. I still use my iPaq 210 daily not only because of the 4in screen, but for the dpad. It just doesn't feel like a pda without one. I would actually prefer phones to come wit jog dials on the side, but that's just a personal preference. How are we supposed to get anything done without them? I recently got a TD2, and while i like it, i don't think I will ever have it replace both my phone and PDA for lack of buttons. The main reason my BA was used so long was for all of its buttons.
I'm surprised to see people sticking up for jog dials -- I'd argue that the dial on my Kaiser is terrible, and WM doesn't handle 'em well anyways.
Dpads are nice, though. I'm particularly fond of the "stealth" pad on the Touch Pro.
At the same time, they're getting less and less useful. As more and more apps are designed to be finger-friendly, the usefulness of the dpad will decrease. I already find myself using it much less than I did, say, two years ago.
I agree that they are being used less in programs, but honestly how could you like the touch pro dpad? It is probably the worst i've ever used
typo said:
As more and more apps are designed to be finger-friendly, the usefulness of the dpad will decrease. I already find myself using it much less than I did, say, two years ago.
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Finger friendliness is one thing, but buttons just can't be beaten in some cases. E.g. I use Profimail for email and when replying, I often need to position the text cursor (?) at the very top. If I do this with a finger it's very tricky to get it in the right place. Or positioning the cursor between the words for adding / removing characters etc. is easier with a D-pad. Or when walking and wanting to do things on the phone without giving the full concentration you'd need by focussing on and positioning your finger on the display.
I agree though the usefulness is decreasing but I just don't think it will ever decrease to the point the D-Pad should be removed, but HTC obviously do.
But people are concentrating on the benefits of faster cpus and forgetting the drawbacks of slower input.