[stranger]

didn't RIM file for such a patent a while back. I think i am the only one who is looking forward to such a device.
If it has wifi!

[strike2tamu]

Wirelessly posted (8100 Strike 2)

I don't recall that.

[CO_BBTechie]

I do remember seeing a patent application for such a configuration. But many applications are never acted on. I'd love to see a touch screen with a convertible keyboard!

[Thatzmister2u]

Originally Posted by CO_BBTechie

I do remember seeing a patent application for such a configuration. But many applications are never acted on. I'd love to see a touch screen with a convertible keyboard!

So get the Google phone. It has both!

[CO_BBTechie]

Originally Posted by Thatzmister2u

So get the Google phone. It has both!

Pffft! That ain't no Berry

I don't know if I'd use it... I'm just saying I'd like to see it

[omkhar]

Originally Posted by Thatzmister2u

So get the Google phone. It has both!

Google doesn't make a phone. Google is part of a consortium which makes an SDK known as Android.

[stranger]

This patent.
BlackBerry: Touchscreen Blackberry Patent Suggests RIM has SideKick-Envy

[rachamphetamine]

Sidekick envy? Please.

[Donbp]

Maybe HTC Touch Pro envy would be more appropriate.

[daseff]

I would be really interested in seeing that... I like the idea of touch screen phones but after having an LG Dare, I've given up on Verizon's poor attempts at competing with the iPhone, and went with a Curve - best decision yet! A touch screen BB with slide out keyboard would be a step in the right direction, as a full touch screen BB (Storm) just doesn't seem right to me...

[fiffer]

It is still a great idea to have a keyboard on a phone, even with the touchscreen mania spreading everywhere, because you could type faster with it and you would have a difficult time in making SMS or emailing.

[alejandro1]

I've had my Storm for about 5 weeks now, and would like to share my likes, dislikes and suggestions for RIMM when developing my "dream" unit.

Pros:

-fantastic screen size and resolution.

-perfect size and weight for entire unit.

Cons:

-the onscreen keyboard. A great idea that renders the unit more of a novelity than a productive function. It will never be as usable as a hard keyboard. The worst part of not having a hard keyboard is the absense of directional cursor keys, or trackball. Trying to relocate the cursor using the onscreen keyboard is almost useless. In my opinion the onscreen keyboard outweighs all the other great advantages of the Storm. I have all but given up using the Storm to input information and have resorted to carrying a small notebook and pen.

-the unit is slow. When clicking on Unlock, I have to wait about 3 seconds before the keyboard appears allowing me to enter my password. This is in additon to the very noticable lag when using the camera, and other features such as viewing my existing photos. The iPhone is much, much faster when scrolling through photos and other functions.

-------

My dream unit would be the Storm but with a slide out keyboard which includes directional cursor keys. Although I imagine they could develope such a unit by adding ony about 30% more thickness to the unit, I would gladly accept a unit that was up to 50-100% thicker. That is how much I hate the onscreen keyboard and the lack of directional cursor keys. Also, I'd be willing to pay more for a much faster processor.

Hopefully, many others share my thoughts and together we can encourage RIMM to develope such a device.

One more thing: In my opinion, DocumentsToGo is almost worthless and a barbaric step backward when compared to the convenience that Windows Mobile provides, such as automatic syncing without having to hunt and drag files. Also the ability for automatic bi-directional syncing. Either RIMM needs to come to an agreement with Microsoft to allow this feature on RIMM products or DataViz needs to catch up to Microsoft.

Thanks for listening.

[GrandMstrBud]

I think that would be the ultimate blackberry by having a slide out keyboard. Something similar to the HTC Touch Pro maybe. I have the HTC Touch and I can't stand typing on the screen so I would never go with the Storm just for that reason.

[ArgonNJ]

Originally Posted by Thatzmister2u

So get the Google phone. It has both!

Played with the G1 the other day. Its pretty cool. Its sleeker then other slider phones I have seen and it also has a track ball. I think Android needs another year or so before I would consider it. The G1 would also be better if it wasn't on TMO.

[btdown]

I'll be all over this slider when it drops.

[six attack]

Check out the Palm Pre, it has a touch screen and a slide out keyboard. This phone (just unveiled at CES) looks to be the true iPhone killer. However, the critical flaw is that is is exclusive to terrible, terrible Sprint.

[WhizzledBlury]

That is berry hot... I'd drop the $ for it in a heart beat.

[AgTitan06]

Originally Posted by alejandro1

My dream unit would be the Storm but with a slide out keyboard which includes directional cursor keys. Although I imagine they could develope such a unit by adding ony about 30% more thickness to the unit, I would gladly accept a unit that was up to 50-100% thicker. That is how much I hate the onscreen keyboard and the lack of directional cursor keys. Also, I'd be willing to pay more for a much faster processor.

Actually, I would think by the time RIM develops that sort of phone, technology advancements would allow it to be similar thickness to the current Storm. I personally can't wait for this type of phone.

[vinmontRD]

Agree with all these posts -- something like a Storm with a slide-out keyboard would be perfect -- so long as they kept it thin, and hopefully come up with a keyboard that still retains the kind of feel, key travel and tactile response that a Curve keyboard has. I personally find the G1 keyboard a bit too shallow after being used to the Curve.

I suspect a really good touch screen / keyboard combo BB is quite a ways off, so I'll probably be picking up an 8900 for the moment when it comes to T-Mo next month. Maybe the touch/keyboard hybrid will then follow before I have to replace the 8900...

- Jon

[BES admin]

Originally Posted by alejandro1

I've had my Storm for about 5 weeks now, and would like to share my likes, dislikes and suggestions for RIMM when developing my "dream" unit.

Pros:

-fantastic screen size and resolution.

-perfect size and weight for entire unit.

Cons:

-the onscreen keyboard. A great idea that renders the unit more of a novelity than a productive function. It will never be as usable as a hard keyboard. The worst part of not having a hard keyboard is the absense of directional cursor keys, or trackball. Trying to relocate the cursor using the onscreen keyboard is almost useless. In my opinion the onscreen keyboard outweighs all the other great advantages of the Storm. I have all but given up using the Storm to input information and have resorted to carrying a small notebook and pen.

-the unit is slow. When clicking on Unlock, I have to wait about 3 seconds before the keyboard appears allowing me to enter my password. This is in additon to the very noticable lag when using the camera, and other features such as viewing my existing photos. The iPhone is much, much faster when scrolling through photos and other functions.

-------

My dream unit would be the Storm but with a slide out keyboard which includes directional cursor keys. Although I imagine they could develope such a unit by adding ony about 30% more thickness to the unit, I would gladly accept a unit that was up to 50-100% thicker. That is how much I hate the onscreen keyboard and the lack of directional cursor keys. Also, I'd be willing to pay more for a much faster processor.

Hopefully, many others share my thoughts and together we can encourage RIMM to develope such a device.

Thanks for listening.

I couldn't agree more with the above. I tried the Storm for about 1/2 a day. The onscreen KB drove me NUTS!

The "click" sounds cool til you try it. I ended up putting it on the shelf and went back to using my Bold.

The only time the storm comes off the shelf is when one of my users walks in with a storm question.

I have a Dev G1 and I love the form factor and all of the inputs on the darn thing. It's just too bad that the email support stinks for anything other than Gmail. I would have seriously considered dumping the BlackBerry for the G1 had corporate email been supported.

I've also tried the HTC Touch Pro (Fuze) I like it alot too, but M$ OS is so much slower than the BlackBerry OS. It's sad, but I have never found a mobile phone based on a M$ OS actually usable.

Please develop a slider KB RIM!!!