Touchscreen BlackBerry With Slide-Out Keyboard

Omar
#2. May 30th, 2008, at 8:28 AM.

I know that this is just a scetch but if RIM is coming out with BlackBerry with a slider keyboard that it looks a lot better than this.

I Goncang
#3. May 30th, 2008, at 9:21 AM.

I hate sliders! They’re too small and all greasy, and don’t cost 25 cents anymore. Oops … wrong slider — we’re not talking White Castles. I still hate sliders, though. After awhile, the keyboard doesn’t sit firmly anymore and the whole thing feels wobbly. Unless it’s been bad luck on my part to get defective HTC units.

bluehorseshoe
#4. May 30th, 2008, at 10:05 AM.

This is one design I personally thought would be great. Looking forward to seeing this one when and if it comes out.

REV
#5. May 30th, 2008, at 10:37 AM.

Aw, man. When I saw this article’s headline in my RSS, I thought there was some official announcement by RIM of a slider/touch combo.

Emilie
#7. June 1st, 2008, at 11:48 AM.

Well I’m not gunna lie… I was excited about a touch screen. I can’t stand the iPhone but I was really hoping that RIM could do it better. I agree with the previous comment about how the phone can become wobbly or not sit right after a while. That would suck. Non the less, out of the Bold, Kickstart and the Thunder…I would for sure get the Thunder.

Brian
#8. June 1st, 2008, at 12:14 PM.

I like the whole touch screen ideal. But just like the rest I’m not a fan of the slider ideal. The just don’t last. And let get down to the facts, phone are far from being cheap enough to replace all the time.

Ku
#9. June 1st, 2008, at 4:09 PM.

I test-drove a T-Mobile Wing, before I settled on a Curve.

The Wing is very similar to the drawing above. The touch screen and the idea of the slide-out keyboard were quite appealing. MS also includes a copy of the original Palm Graffiti, which I liked a lot.

I found the Wing’s KB small enough that thumb typing was unavoidable.
The size and bulk made carrying the Wing more like toting a brick. In short, the Wing was a better PDA than phone, for me.

RIM will have to do a lot of work to keep the unit light and durable, and I gather that isn’t easy.

Drew
#10. June 3rd, 2008, at 4:31 PM.

Blackberry is master of the keyboard, iPhone is the master of the large screen. A slider or a Voyager style clamshell are the logical solutions to have one’s cake and eat it too. However, the execution to date by others has been lacking. I believe a slider is a great idea if it can be reasonably sized and well executed, no inch thick, 6-7 ounce monster.

REV
#11. June 4th, 2008, at 5:42 PM.

I wonder if there’s any truth to the rumors that this touch/slider combo is the “Blackberry Storm,” a sister to the touch-only “Thunder”.

Assuming this is accurate, I agree that thickness would be a big concern for me. I’d rather adapt to a soft keyboard than lug around another brick.