[hyteckit]

This is how I imagine the iphone to be like. The form factor with a few Apple touches.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/chocolate/

[mitchell_pgh]

I agree... with Apple touches. The thing is, it can't be hard to build... it's all the corporate BS (and idiots that pay for things like ringtones and $2 song downloads to their phone) that's preventing it.

[- - e r i k - -]

I hate slide-out keyboards. Makes it totally impractical to text with.

[EFFENDI]

The screen looks a bit small - but it is quite nice.
Now if Sprint would only offer a slim slider a'la this LG or the Samsung T809.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

I hate slide-out keyboards. Makes it totally impractical to text with.

Then what you are looking for is a blackberry type of devices. If Apple does come out with an ipod like phone, the keys would be hidden to keep the Apple sleek look and maintain an ipod like feel.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by hyteckit

Then what you are looking for is a blackberry type of devices. If Apple does come out with an ipod like phone, the keys would be hidden to keep the Apple sleek look and maintain an ipod like feel.

No thanks. Why would I want a tiny full sized keyboard when you can be just as effective with T9?

[kmkkid]

It looks like a brick

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

No thanks. Why would I want a tiny full sized keyboard when you can be just as effective with T9?

Try a full sized keyboard for a while and you'll never go back to T9. I've got a Blackberry for work and it beats the pants of any mobile phone when it comes to speed of text input.

I m no big fan of LG phones - they tend to look cheap.

[starman]

Verizon + sliding keyboard = ILOVEMYw800i

[macfantn]

the best phone out now...

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?...&pid=10411

who needs the iphone, this phone is just about perfect.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by macfantn

the best phone out now...

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?...&pid=10411

who needs the iphone, this phone is just about perfect.

Didn't Ca$h want a phone with at least a 3MP camera built in? Well there it is...

[macfantn]

amazon had the k790 on their site yesterday i think it was 479, i can't find it now, i found the link in the phonescoop forums. can't seem to remember which forum though, either cingular or rumor mill or general...

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

The phone LOOKS cool but it is getting bad reviews for poor usability and it is slow.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

The phone LOOKS cool but it is getting bad reviews for poor usability and it is slow.

The Sony or the Chocolate?

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

The Sony or the Chocolate?

Choc.

The Sony's always get very positive reviews (i've had 4 different ones, all awesome).

[Gossamer]

I had a Kyocera slider (SE47) for a couple years and absolutely hated it. The buttons were tiny, and my huge thumbs had a lot of trouble pushing them. It was reeeeally slow, just finding a contact took forever to scroll or jump down the list, so I know what a slow phone with bad buttons would be like. I also hate Verizon for crippling their phones and giving them the stupid Verizon UI (which is why I got the Nokia 6256i, the only verizon phone with unlocked Bluetooth and no Verizon UI).

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Try a full sized keyboard for a while and you'll never go back to T9. I've got a Blackberry for work and it beats the pants of any mobile phone when it comes to speed of text input.

Agreed. I have a Treo and typing is a breeze.

[Landos Mustache]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I had a Kyocera slider (SE47) for a couple years and absolutely hated it.

I think Kyocera is pretty much accepted as being the worst there is.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

I think Kyocera is pretty much accepted as being the worst there is.

At this point I wouldn't disagree with that statement.

[hickey]

yeah Ive read several bad reviews of the chocolate so far.

I'll keep my W810i for a few years since its so good.

[Synotic]

For what it's worth, I got a chocolate a few days ago as my dad and I decided it might be a good idea to keep in touch through college. I don't care to do a full review, but I can say that I'm overall really pleased with the phone.

I was originally going to get a Sony Ericsson, since its a forum favorite with its interface and Mac-compatibility. Unfortunately, the GSM providers here had poor reception.

As for the slider, its my favorite part of the phone. I was originally debating between a flip and candy-bar style phone, as I like the ability to just "flip" open the phone after seeing who has called instead of having to hit a button to connect the call. The slider has the best of both worlds. I can use the phone in its closed mode but also slide out the keyboard (whose movement is very smooth, it becomes kind of addictive...) to dial and do other functions. Erik, I hadn't heard of T9 before, but it does have that technology. The keyboard incidentally is nice, large, and well-spaced. It feels more like an analog phone, where you can just hit the numbers quickly, without having to be "careful," so to speak.

The interface is very speedy and smooth (especially with the Jazz theme). I've read that the Jazz theme and Rock and roll are both Flash-based. The touch-screen buttons took me a good day or two to get used to, but now they're really comfortable and it feels more immediate and takes less effort (however little ). Regarding usability/menu-system, it's the same as all the other phones my friends' have (this is my first cell phone). The particular theme is pretty and I can do everything I need quickly, but it's no iPod-interface.

Complaints? I hate that Verizon cripples their phones, but I chose the carrier first due to its coverage in the areas where I'd need it. BitPim works well over Bluetooth and I was able to get custom pictures for all my contacts and send over some MP3 ringtones. It is however, -really- slow, something like 1 or 2 KB a second. Another problem is that the vibrate isn't powerful enough. Sometimes it surprises me, but other times, if I'm walking, I won't notice it. A loud ringtone helps. The camera isn't amazing, but it is easy to pull up.

I always said that I didn't want to pay extra for a camera or MP3 player. I just wanted a phone, aesthetically-pleasing if possible . If someone's looking for a phone that performs just as well as a camera and MP3 player as a phone, this isn't it. I won't deny that it's a fashion phone with some pro-features, but I like it a lot. If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

And a picture,

[Landos Mustache]

Steve talks up the iPhone.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1959

Enjoy your chocolate.

[angelmb]

Weird enough I think the previous ( ? ) KG800 model was even cooler.

[davesimondotcom]

I saw the ads for this and since my wife's E815 has undergone some unplanned physical alterations <ahem>she dropped it<ahem>, I might be in the market for a new phone for her.

I'll look into this one. But I've had bad experiences with Kyocera before, and I love my E815 (she loves hers too.)

As far as QWERTY, i haven't ever used a phone with it, but I love Mot's iTap method, similar to T9.

[davesimondotcom]

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Steve talks up the iPhone.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1959

Enjoy your chocolate.

In the article it speculates that Apple might not be able to get it's own network together until mid-2007.

Funny, that's when my contract with Verizon runs out.

[Landos Mustache]

"Why The Chocolate Phone Stinks On Ice"

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/choco...ice-193589.php

[rickey939]

Let me know when the Vanilla™ version comes out?

[Synotic]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Let me know when the Vanilla™ version comes out?

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by Synotic

I want Vanilla Swirl™ now, sorry.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by rickey939

I want Vanilla Swirl™ now, sorry.

Get the white one and add some pretty stickers like teenage girls do.

[Mediaman_12]

This is a 100% girls phone. it's even got a 'shoe size' calculator on it (in the Uk at any rate), the UI is also (supposedly) really poor.

[hadocon]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

No thanks. Why would I want a tiny full sized keyboard when you can be just as effective with T9?

Whatever... with T9 you are limited to what's in the phones dictionary. Almost every tie I use T9 I have to use words I normally would not just so I fall within the limited dictionary. T9 is also useless with proper names and slang. T9 blows. That said - multitap blows as well, bt at least I can choose the words. Overall I prefer a keyboard like on a Sidekick.

Again try googleing for somthing using T9 - rather difficult as most websites do not use names/words that are in a phones dictionary...

But that's my opinion. I certainly do not agree that T9 is just as capable as a keyboard.

[iREZ]

my cousin just purchased this phone as a HoldMeOver and after fiddling around with it...it wasnt too shabby. its alot faster than my razr when accessing menus n such, and looks nice. the touch sensitive buttons need a good 10 min to get used to, but i liked messing around with it.

[hyteckit]

Hmm... chocolate II is out in korea:

http://www.cyon.co.kr/

[voodoo]

If Apple ever releases a phone it will be a 3G phone. At the very least a GSM.

V

[turtle777]

Nah, that chocolate thing is not that spectacular...

-t

[amsalpemkcus]

Not impressed.

[brassplayersrock²]

i finally got around to trying one of these today and i honestly don't see why these are such a big deal, its an expensive phone and if you like holding your ipod up to your ear than i GUESS this phone is for you.
The buttons sucked compared to my phone, the slide out button pad was super cheesy, and i didn't really like not being able to feel the buttons click when using the scroll thing on top.

Alex

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by hadocon

Whatever... with T9 you are limited to what's in the phones dictionary. Almost every tie I use T9 I have to use words I normally would not just so I fall within the limited dictionary. T9 is also useless with proper names and slang. T9 blows. That said - multitap blows as well, bt at least I can choose the words. Overall I prefer a keyboard like on a Sidekick.

Again try googleing for somthing using T9 - rather difficult as most websites do not use names/words that are in a phones dictionary...

But that's my opinion. I certainly do not agree that T9 is just as capable as a keyboard.

Come on. Once you have taught it to swear, it's pretty much perfect.

[starman]

I could never get into T9. It never worked well for me. Over the years I just fly through texting the normal way.

[freudling]

I hate slide-out keyboards too. They are so first decade 2000. Seems like every manufacturer is making them now. They suck. Look what it does to the thickness of the phone. That LG is way too thick, and all for the compromise of having a slide-out keyboard. It would be MUCH, much better half as thick with no slide-out and a larger screen. They could make something like that too. Just put a small keyboard at the bottom, a huge screen, and a VIRTUAL control scroll wheel. Palm gave us a virtual stylus pad to increase screen space, why can't phone makers?