If you recall I used to argue that the perfect device would be something like the Samsung Galaxy S II with side-sliding QWERTY keyboard. I’ve been thinking about that recently and figured out I was wrong. The perfect device should have a vertical sliding keyboard, making for a smartphone that looks pretty much like the Dell Venue Pro (with Android OS – as far as I’m concerned).
If you’ve been using phones with physical keyboards, you probably noticed you type faster if the keys are narrower. It seems awkward but I guess that’s why BlackBerry users love their devices, while folks with side-sliders most often than not end-up typing using the virtual on-screen keyboard.
I haven’t spent that much time with Dell’s Windows Phone, though the short time I had with it made quite an impression on me. And I’m not talking about Windows Phone – that’s completely different story and something I don’t want to discuss in this article. I love the form factor – it gives you the great typing experience while at the same time leaving a ton of space for the actual content you’re typing/editing (no virtual keyboard on the screen).
The problem, however, is the phone’s thickness. If you have sliding keyboard, the phone itself can’t be too thin. Then again, when we know just how thin the Motorola RAZR is, one could easily imagine a version with a vertical keyboard, with the end result making for a decently-sized (not bulky device) that’s still easy to carry around in your pocket.
Now you could argue that sort of the phone is also the BlackBerry Torch or the Palm Pre 3, but that’s not exactly what I have in mind. Both of them come with let’s say “not that big” screens, whereas the Dell Venue Pro rocks both a large screen (measuring 4 inches) and the keyboard.
All said I suggest all of you who haven’t played with Dell’s baby to give it a try and let me know what they think about it. Similarly, if you already tried it out, I’m eager to hear your impressions. Do you like the idea or would rather keep the touchscreen part only?