[Gerard]

On a lit display, fingerprints (and face prints) are rarely an issue in terms of viewability. A quick rub on a shirt sleeve clears up anything one might worry about, but really the only time I notice fingerprints on my screen is when the thing is turned off. Not exactly worrisome then... as it's, like, off. As in not being used. Even when I'm in the workshop and my hands are covered in ebony dust (oily, black, gets on everything) I don't see any problem on my touchscreen WM phone. So it's kind of chuckle-worthy whenever I see this sort of ranting about fingerprints being a problem, whether it's in PPC-specific forums (HUH? We've been poking PPC screens for almost a decade!) or on Slashdot or anywhere else.

A non-touchscreen, now that's a problem. Have to make sure 100% of your software is button-operable down to the last function, and as one who has tested a LOT of software I can assure you that this is a problem for developers. Then you have to remember which button does what in all programs, as this is not too obvious sometimes. With a finger or a stylus it's easy to poke an icon, not having to think about which hardware button might launch that same function. While I agree that for some having anything at all contaminating their phone screens is a horrible possibility, the obsessive-compulsive camp is rather a small part of the overall market. And ease of use is more than enough justification for the rest of us (those who want ease of use anyway) to have touchscreens.