Smartphones: Touchscreen or no touchscreen?

Bravo · *Last edited by Bravo; 07-12-2009 at 18:25.*

A simple question just I got out of a chat with Mr.Bigtime. Do you guys/girls like smartphones with touchscreens or without?

I personally love touchscreens (getting my first touchscreen phone, the touch diamond on tuesday...I know there are newer ones but they are SO expensive!)

Tat3 · **Memory**: 3*2Gb 8-8-8-20 @ 1680MHz

I would like to have something with keyboard.

If you looking one with touchscreen and qwerty keyboard take a look at N0kia N97.

Bravo · 07-12-2009, 19:10 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tat3

I would like to have something with keyboard.

If you looking one with touchscreen and qwerty keyboard take a look at N0kia N97.

I looked at that one but I noticed that it's actually quite slow. The keyboard is nice though. I decided to get the Touch Diamond because it's small, and very thin but it can do alot! Not a big fan of hardware keyboards on phones, I don't really know why to be honest.

ScoobyDooby · 07-12-2009, 19:46 | posts: 5,260 | Location: BC, Canada

I voted for them.. I think they are a welcome step forward in the GSM realm. Of course, they take some getting used to. I still have a sony w810 and its outdated a bit, but I can text quite easily with it having had it for so long. I remember trying to type out a txt on my cousin's iphone and it was tough to say the least.
I'm sure you would get used to it, but at first it was a bit messy hehe

thecake90 · 07-12-2009, 19:54 | posts: 4,065 | Location: Earth

After you use a proper touchscreen phone you will never go back trust me!!

I use a N0kia 5800 very happy with it ^^ 16:9 (640 x 360)so it is very good for movies!
I really like the hand writing too.

Renegade8100 · 07-12-2009, 19:56 | posts: 4,842 | Location: jersey shore US (unfortunately)

It depends on what you need. Everyone I know with a touch screen phone HATES it except for the palm pre. I work in a tech environment and I need corporate e-mails to my cell and everything synced. I went blackberry as their solution fit me best and their phones are literally made to take a beating. Did you ever open one up? Every single chip is covered with a metal plate so that in case of a water drop, the chips will be spared. You can huck the thing at a brick wall and use it (I've seen someone do it in rage). After plenty of research (especially in the cool factor), my pearl 8130 does it's job with flash.

Bravo · 07-12-2009, 23:02 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade8100

It depends on what you need. Everyone I know with a touch screen phone HATES it except for the palm pre. I work in a tech environment and I need corporate e-mails to my cell and everything synced. I went blackberry as their solution fit me best and their phones are literally made to take a beating. Did you ever open one up? Every single chip is covered with a metal plate so that in case of a water drop, the chips will be spared. You can huck the thing at a brick wall and use it (I've seen someone do it in rage). After plenty of research (especially in the cool factor), my pearl 8130 does it's job with flash.

I've heard mixed things about the palm pre, some love it others say its bad. Who knows. Yeah Blackberry's are aweseome for work I've heard.

I will only be using my phone to put my shifts into the Calender (actually put alot of things into the calender because I am REALLY forgetful), and use it for email clients and the GPS of course (I don't know my way around any city...so its useful to have a GPS when I'm in the ambulance

), and of course for multimedia.

@thecake90 Thats what I think too, touchscreens are so fun to use! I guess business oriented people choose devices with qwerty keyboards because they have to type alot more emails and such.

dcx_badass · 07-12-2009, 23:08 | posts: 9,543 | Location: Leeds [UK]

Depends on the phone, the iphone is the only phone that properly utilises a touch screen IMO. My friend has an LG Viewty and that's the biggest piece of crap ever. As is the LG Prada.

Bravo · 07-12-2009, 23:14 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcx_badass

Depends on the phone, the iphone is the only phone that properly utilises a touch screen IMO. My friend has an LG Viewty and that's the biggest piece of crap ever. As is the LG Prada.

LG mobile phones are all pretty bad (touchscreens at least) from what I've heard and read.

I've been researching Touchscreen phones for a couple of weeks now to find out the best one I could buy (of course price paid a big part) and the best way to some up the Iphone vs. Windows Mobile debate is: The Iphone is a fun toy, but windows mobile is very powerful.

The customization and programs you can get for windows mobile are incredible, thats one of the main reasons I decided to go for a HTC phone. Also because the Touch Diamond looks way nicer than the Iphone in my opinion.

bp9801 · 07-12-2009, 23:28 | posts: 1,599 | Location: New Mexico

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo

LG mobile phones are all pretty bad (touchscreens at least) from what I've heard and read.

I've been researching Touchscreen phones for a couple of weeks now to find out the best one I could buy (of course price paid a big part) and the best way to some up the Iphone vs. Windows Mobile debate is: The Iphone is a fun toy, but windows mobile is very powerful.

The customization and programs you can get for windows mobile are incredible, thats one of the main reasons I decided to go for a HTC phone. Also because the Touch Diamond looks way nicer than the Iphone in my opinion.

Certain LG phones are bad, at least the first version of them with the touchscreen. When the LG Dare first came out, the screen had some lag on it but a firmware update fixed that. I have the LG Voyager and I haven't had any lag with its touchscreen. My friend just got the EnV Touch and he loves it, they've packed a ton of features into it, almost comparable to the iPhone he says. LG still makes some really great phones, they've advanced a long ways in their touchscreen in just a short amount of time.

Just they don't generally make much in the way of a smartphone.

For my next phone, I've been eyeing the Samsung Omnia or the Blackberry Storm. I'd love to get one of the HTCs, but I can't justify spending that much money on one, no matter how nice it looks. Basically, so long as my next phone is another touchscreen, I won't have many problems with it. I just have to touch and feel it and make sure its up to specs first.

Sash · 07-13-2009, 16:18 | posts: 7,068

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcx_badass

Depends on the phone, the iphone is the only phone that properly utilises a touch screen IMO. My friend has an LG Viewty and that's the biggest piece of crap ever. As is the LG Prada.

no problem with KC910 Renoir here

eclap · 07-12-2009, 23:45 | posts: 18,397 | Location: Hampshire UK

N97!

Bravo · 07-13-2009, 16:00 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

N97!

I checked out a few reviews of that phone, any most said it isn't any good...They said it was underpowered and that the UI had some bugs. How is it for you?

eclap · 07-13-2009, 16:20 | posts: 18,397 | Location: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo

I checked out a few reviews of that phone, any most said it isn't any good...They said it was underpowered and that the UI had some bugs. How is it for you?

UI bugs can be fixed via firmware updates, my N96 was crap when first launched but after a few updates it's fantastic. I don't have the N97, but I've played with it in the local Vodafone store and I was impressed. My ex then bought it a few days ago and she loves it.

WhiteLightning · 07-13-2009, 16:24 | posts: 20,403 | Location: Netherlands

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

UI bugs can be fixed via firmware updates, my N96 was crap when first launched but after a few updates it's fantastic. I don't have the N97, but I've played with it in the local Vodafone store and I was impressed. My ex then bought it a few days ago and she loves it.

hey eclap can you ask your ex if the internet radio isnt restricted anymore ?
id like to listen to shoutcast servers

eclap · 07-13-2009, 18:07 | posts: 18,397 | Location: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteLightning

hey eclap can you ask your ex if the internet radio isnt restricted anymore ?
id like to listen to shoutcast servers

don't really do internet radio... but next time I see her, I'll check it out. which stations do you listen to?

Bravo · 07-13-2009, 16:33 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclap

UI bugs can be fixed via firmware updates, my N96 was crap when first launched but after a few updates it's fantastic. I don't have the N97, but I've played with it in the local Vodafone store and I was impressed. My ex then bought it a few days ago and she loves it.

Oh ok cool. I'll take a look at it when I get the chance! But it definetly isn't as sexy as the Touch Diamond!

Sash · 07-13-2009, 16:17 | posts: 7,068

buttons are sooo 2000, touchscreen is the future!

Bravo · 07-13-2009, 22:26 | posts: 866 | Location: Germany

Just watched a review of the N97 and they say that it really is underpowered and buggy...but they also say that with firmware updates it could be really good. But I wonder, the underpowered part can't be fixed I guess, only made less noticeable.

eclap · 07-13-2009, 23:50 | posts: 18,397 | Location: Hampshire UK

what do they mean by underpowered?

Bravo · *Last edited by Bravo; 07-14-2009 at 00:09.*

I presume they mean the ram and processor. It has 128mb of ram and a 434mhz processor. The touch diamond (which is pretty much a year older) has 192mb of ram and a 528mhz processor. ***** should have packed more power into it I think.

Thats probably a part of the reason why the firmware is unstabled/slow when multitasking.

EDIT: the ***** is supposed to be nok i a....no idea why its censored.

Finny · 07-14-2009, 03:39 | posts: 1,269 | Location: North Dakota, USA

I love touchscreens but my mogul BLOWS. Its so slow I hate it. Want new Diamond Pro now.

Maybe if I didn't blow everything on i7 (stupid self)

Satan · 07-14-2009, 19:41 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Lancaster, PA, USA

Using a G1 here with the touchscreen and hardware keyboard, it's fun stuff.

Threewheels · 07-15-2009, 19:18 | posts: 376 | Location: Los Angeles

I've also got a sprint mogul with the slide out keyboard+touch screen. it works pretty well, actually, but it WAS a bit slow before I loaded a modded ROM on it last year. The modded ROM strips away all the crap from sprint you don't need, and does some OS tweaks that allow the phone to run a bit smoother and faster.

My main gripe about the mogul with the factory rom was that it wasn't finger friendly, and required you to pull out the stylus to use a lot of the features. After the modded rom and some plug-ins, I can do pretty much everything thru the touch screen now, which makes it a lot easier to use.

The keyboard is handy for texts and stuff, but my O key, function key, and space bar sometimes require a couple of presses before registering. Makes me wonder how long its going to last. My contract is up for january, and I've been looking at upgrading to the Pre, which I've read a lot of good things about so far.

putty · 07-17-2009, 15:59 | posts: 1,615 | Location: The Netherlands

touchscreen/no touchscreen after all it only depends on the software the phone is running what you want.

I had a HTC touch, and i hated it all the way, ****ing windows mobile....

I had to give myself an Iphone, and its the perfect phone for me...

so yes touchscreen for me when the software is capable of making it work!