Posted by Phil Payne on 10/06/07 21:24

> > Excuse me for being a bit unknowing since I don't have a cell phone, don't
> > plan to get one, and never have used one for the Net, but despite how the
> > site renders, isn't it just a little hard to operate said phone in said
> > mode with all them little buttons and such?

> They have those pens you drag across the screen, like playing a Nintendo
> DS. Easier than using a mouse.

Neither of my test phones do - the stylus approach is pretty much dead
over here. It's a shame, because I found Palm's "Graffiti" very easy
and quick to use.

Both the Nokia Communicator and the Siemens S65 use a thing a bit like
IBM's TrackPoint. I know the Siemens is very obsolete now - but it's
my "minimal capability" device at only 132 pixel width. The OpenWave
browser is pretty good - I've got a 2GB RS-MMC card in it with several
websites downloaded to it. The Communicator has Opera and a full
QWERTY keyboard, but the Siemens is a pain. Both have superb PC
packages that make effective management of them much easier.

In any group of five young teenagers seen on the street, three will be
texting. In any bus, one-third of the passengers. Most packages
include "free" minutes and "free" text messages - only two or three
offer "free" web access.

The US seems to have gone down the WiFi hotspot and laptop route.
Between here and my local pub (1/4 mile) there are three open WiFi
nets - I just take the Communicator out, open it, and go on the web.
No boot time, 200 hour battery life, fits in a pocket. Also makes
phone calls, sends and receives faxes (theoretically - haven't sent a
fax for years). Receives, edits and returns Word, Excel, Powerpoint,
etc.

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