Form Vs Function
 

Help me out here. I'm looking around trying to find a replacement for my bold 9000.

I love the keyboard on it, but the device is getting dated, and I'm slowly starting to resent the BB OS and the apps. I'm staring at Android and iPhone apps wondering why my apps are forced to be smaller than a megabyte in size. I know size isn't everything, and most of the apps I want or need are very efficient, but the amount of apps I can install AND run at the same time are dependent on my ram.

All I really want is a phone that will not sacrifice form for function and vice versa. What I need is a phone with a touch screen, a sliding qwerty keypad, and a solid operating system.

I see BB OS6 on the horizon, and while it looks promising, I don't want to dive into it to find it's only a refresh of OS5. iPhone doesn't meet my needs. Microsoft has their new Windows Phone 7 coming out, but that is still a great unknown. As for Android, I have yet to find a phone that is a powerhouse, has a touchscreen and keyboard AND doesn't look like a palm device from 1995.

So, what is out there? The keyboard is a must as is the touchscreen. I need a phone that will not disappoint me or leave me longing.

nokia n97
htc touch pro 2
sony ericsson vivaz pro

moto milestone - runs android 2.1

I wouldn't bother with an outdated Windows Mobile phone when Windows Phone 7 is just around the corner.

I'm using this now. Great phone. 2.2 is on the way.

That's the problem, I love the way the HTC HD2 looks, but it will be outdated soon. As for the Motorola Droid/Milestone, I'm certain it's a great phone, but the looks just don't do it for me. I've been spoiled with the luxury keyboard of a blackberry bold.

And I guess the other requirement I have is that the phone MUST be symbian free.

wait for the moto droid 2 then. much better keyboard.

I think droid/milestone are the only (up to date) android phones with a keyboard.


Really though, I was like you and wanted a hard keyboard. I tried the X10's on screen keyboard (modded htc_ime) and it is VERY good. There's almost no slowdown compared to when I had my E71.

Oh and if you want a touchscreen with a good OS, I'd say stick to android. Android > symbian/iphone OS.

kind of on topic: Anyone know of any new phones with touchscreen, physical qwerty keypad, handwriting recognition, wifi, document editor, pdf viewer?

all new android phones have touchscreen, wifi, doc reader and pdf reader built in.

milestone and some other shitty ones have physical keyboard

unsure of the handwriting though..

You're outta luck if u want something like a BB keyboard. Plus with the candybar form factor the screen is so small with a physical keyboard

I myself am waiting for the droid X. Snapdragon; Prepare to be pwn3d