HTC Touch Dual Video Review

Yeah I'm pretty fast with XT9 on my Sprint Touch. I'm probably as fast or faster than I was on my HTC Titan.

Yeah i am learning fast too, this i have to say is a real nice phone, great form factor, small pocketable and a joy to use, and i hit great HSDPA speeds tonight while eating out with the inlaws and that for me makes it lol

Just wanted to throw my 2.18674831 yen in. I can now, after about a month or so, type in t9 just as quickly as I can or could type on my T-Mobile Dash. Maybe there's a reason t9 is so popular everywhere but the US. Plus dialing is soooo much nicer.

Oy! I just installed PocketCM (with iPhone skin) to see if I can live with it on a Cruise. I figure that the Treo screen width is the same width as most other PPC's. I might also try it on my KJAM (if I can find the damn power charger for it).

Needless to say, the experience is nowhere near an iPod touch (maybe the bigger screen). I am not sure I can deal with it.

"Well now you know how we felt with the iPhone release ;)"

I'm willing to give Apple the pass on that one since I know that better tech WILL come. However, the situation with HTC hasn't changed much in sometime. As a matter of fact, it seems to be getting worse.

Agreed JN, HTC's failure to give us the ultimate device is mind-boggling.

That said, I'm on the pre-buy for the HTC Touch Cruise, I'm hoping that's a near-perfect device. I'm not really unhappy with my Touch Enhanced right now, but the addition of 3G on GPS should have me smiled for awhile.

"but I am getting pretty disgusted with them releasing device after device with non optimal US capabilities."
Well now you know how we felt with the iPhone release ;)

Phys,

Thanks for the input (no pun intended)! I wouldn't have to worry about landscape as all of my entry would be in portrait mode.

As for HTC, heck, I'd be happy with a Touch dual with a FULL qwerty just like some of those Samsung PPC's that Verizon had some time ago. I sure it can be done and I don't see why it couldn't be done in the existing dual form factor.

Then there's the issue of HTC feeding the US "drips and drabs" of devices. I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty disgusted with them releasing device after device with non optimal US capabilities.

JN,

It works flawlessly with web, documents (Excel,Word, etc..) and messaging. As the software is, "out of the box", it is extremely easy to use and intuitive. Then, looking under the hood, you can TOTALLY customize this bad boy to whatever keyboard configuration you want. Don't like QWERTY, change it, like your numbers layed out accross top row instead of keypad oriented, change it. Definitely encompases the ease of upfront use with the power of customization that I often speak of. It takes the Apple iPhone keyboard to the next level.

In landscape mode, because of how big the keys are and how easy they are to hit at that size, only one row of entry is viewable at a time in Excel. Of course there is auto-scroll when you hit the end of the line and scroll bars are their to view the rest of document, you will probably be going back and forth a little with enabling and disabling the keyboard to get a better view of content as you are creating it. This is where the HW keyboard can't be beat currently as all of your screen real estate is available when using the HW keyboards.

Anyhow, the Touch Cruise/Dual with a side slide KB would definitely kill it for me. C'mon HTC, you know what we want, you know you can do it, so do it already! lol

Phys,

Since I am seriously considering a Touch Cruise, I would be losing any kb entry altogether and of course I would consider a good alternative SIP like PCM (with large iPhone like skin). I enjoy the kb on my iPod Touch and from what I can see in vids, the PCM is very responsive, even on the slower, original Touch.

How are your experiences with using it with web (login/pwd entry), spreadsheet use, etc? I don't do a ton of email or SMS but I do number entry into my Glucose app every day (multiple times a day). It's basically a spreadsheet like grid.

Well, if I absolutely needed a kb device, I might jump ship over to the Standard Edition and a BJ2. Love that form factor!

I agree on both counts, Jerry. The 20 key touch would definitely be an option for those satisfied with the Pearl and Shadow keyboard configurations. I think the keys on Shadow and Touch are easier to manage than the Pearl though. I am jonsing to see what T-Mo is going to bring to the table for their 3G rollout this Q. So far only a Samsung 3G phone on Jan 15 or 16.

Keyboard wise, and having a Touch, I would definitely recommend using the PCM soft-keyboard. It totally rocks, I use it now for my Wing and hardly have to bust out with the HW keyboard.

It's a shame that only the Sprint Touch and the upcoming Touch Cruise are the only US 3G Touches.

My initial thoughts are the size of the device is amazing, what i have read and seen do not show the true in hand size of this phone, its so small and pocketable. The keyboard i have is the 20 key and its set for t9 which is irritating me at the moment so i am going to change it to nowmal and see if i can get some speed doing it. I might do a full review and video if anyone is interested

I have the Sprint Touch and really like it. The 20 key entry isn't bad at all thanks to XT9. The Dual looks cool and I'm interested in hearing more about it.

Chris love to hear your thoughts!!!

I have just this second unboxed mine but i have gone for the 20 key version with the two letters per key, will let you know what i think, size wise and form factor this is beautiful

Not bad, I would like some sort of qwerty though...

That's incorrect Dave. The touch dual supports multi-tap and XT9 Input via the 16 key version.

http://www.htc.com/support/pdf/htctouchdual/NIKE_HTC_English_Manual_16-KEY.pdf

Page 54 in the manual.

In other news....so close to ordering a HTC Touch Cruise.