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Wed, Oct 22, 2008 0:16 EDT

RIM Touch Screen BlackBerry Storm 9530 Hands-On First Impressions

Topic: Infrastructure

Blog: Mobile WorkHorse

Current Rating: 5 Comments: 4

Though I've been writing about Research In Motion's (RIM) first touch screen BlackBerry Storm for almost a year now—long before it was officially announced by RIM and Verizon Wireless, the exclusive Storm carrier in the United States—until yesterday, I'd never actually used one. Now that I have, I've got a number of first impressions…and concerns.

How did I get my hands on the BlackBerry Storm 9530? RIM and Verizon showed off the flashy new device yesterday evening and throughout most of the day today at the BlackBerry Developer Conference, which is being held this week in Santa Clara, Calif. However, I just tried to return to the show floor to snap some decent images of the Storm, only to find that it's no longer on display. Luckily, I grilled the Verizon rep like a well-done piece of Kobe beef yesterday evening, so I got answers to the majority of my inquiries. Here goes...

RIM's touch screen BlackBerry Storm

First off, the questions we've all been wondering: How well does the virtual keyboard really work? And can the Storm's touch screen user interface compare to the iPhone's UI?

To be fair, I don't really think I can accurately answer the initial question at this point. I recently purchased an iPhone, and it took me three or four days of constant use before I stopped cursing the on-screen keyboard. Typing on a touch screen is just different than using a physical keyboard, and it takes some getting used to. When I first picked up the Storm and started typing a test message, I made typos in almost every word I spelled out, and I was immediately reminded of how I felt when I first started using the iPhone. ("This #$%^&*@ keyboard sucks!")

But before long, as was the case with the iPhone, I realized that there's a method to typing on the Storm. Unfortunately, both methods seem to call for a reduction in typing speed—at least for me.

The Storm's screen is very different than the iPhone, but typing on its keyboard feels fairly similar. The Storm's display is really just a large button—or series of buttons—beneath a shiny clear surface. Whenever you click an icon or keyboard key, the screen depresses the slightest bit and even makes a clicking sound. (I assume you can turn the audible click on and off, but I didn't confirm this.) The intention is to provide users with some level of tactile feedback while typing—something the iPhone lacks.

Another clear difference between the two devices is the how the screen lets users know exactly which key they've hit. The Storm screen shows a transparent blue "cloud," for lack of a better term, around any key you press, while the iPhone actually shows a quick popup of the letter that was depressed. I have to say that I like the iPhone system better right now, because it wasn't always clear to me what specific buttons I was pushing on the Storm—that could have to do with my clumsy "man hands".

That's enough about the virtual keyboard for now. On to the UI...

So can the Storm's overall UI compete with the iPhone experience? In two words: Oh yeah. The BlackBerry handheld OS running on the demo unit I handled was not the official version that will ship with the Verizon Storm—it was BlackBerry OS v.4.7.0.51, to be exact—and it was a bit buggy. For example, the accelerometer within the device that allows users to change screen orientation from vertical to landscape kept lagging

You do not have flash or javascript support.
Average (3 votes)
5
 
 
Wed, Oct 22, 2008 12:33 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: Rick
Rating: 40

I wish that you would have reported on how much larger the numbers and letters are on the new blackberry for us 40 to 5o year olds who's eyes are failing, However they do seem larger and thats a big plus.

 
Wed, Oct 22, 2008 14:57 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: BerryClick
Rating: 10

Interesting impressions. It certainly seems that any touch screen device is going to take some time getting used to. It seems that the idea behind "clicking-through" should ultimately reduce the number of keyboard entry errors in the long run. I get a lot of my blackberry storm news from BerryClick.com - the first Blackberry Storm user community web site.

 
Thu, Oct 23, 2008 2:03 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: John-Silverlake
Rating: 10

What makes the flat screen more desirable than traditional BB keyboard? The full screen is rarely usable, except for viewing photos. The virtual keyboard occupies half the screen, and in video playback mode the video image is just a small rectangele framed by lots of black glass with control icons. Seems like on the traditional Blackberry the usable screen is about the same size. I'd also be concerned that the flexing of the flat screen when the buttons are pressed would eventually cause the clear film to lose its flat surface or even to crack - and at the very least would be coated with finger grime. The traditional BB keyboards have proven to be durable.

Also, the BB Curve and the iPhone are thinner. And what about battery life - doesn't it require more juice to illuminate a screen twice the size of the traditional BB's display?

I'm an existing Verizon customer with a phone long overdue for a trade-in, but I'm a bit skeptical if the STORM is the answer.

 
Thu, Oct 23, 2008 5:57 EDT
Anonymous user
Posted by: Gabe W.
Rating: 90

I just got the LG Voyager back in Febuary and I am already looking at a new phone. Don't misunderstand me, the LG Voyager is a great phone for those who just like to text, play games and watch TV.

But since I now have a business of my own and all, I need a phone that will allow me to check e-mail and allow me to browse the internet on a much larger screen.

I was considering either the Blackberry Curve or even jumping ship and head over to AT&T and purchase an iPhone. But when I heard about Blackberry's new touch screen phone that was going to be an exclusive phone for VZW, I had second thoughts.

Up until today I had made up my mind and was going to purchase this phone. Even though I had already used my upgrade option back in February.

But if the full retail price is $500 or more, than I will have to wait until the price drops down a bit.

Gabe W.
Chillicothe, Ohio

About this Blog

Al Sacco writes about (and drools over) anything and everything mobile or wireless as it applies to the global workforce--with a focus on BlackBerry smartphones.

Got tips? Send 'em Al's way.

Follow this blog on Twitter: @MobileWorkHorse.

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