HTC Touch Dual Reviewed

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobiletechreview.com/phones/HTC-Touch-Dual.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.mobiletechreview.com/pho...-Touch-Dual.htm</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;Say hello to my little friend: the HTC Touch Dual North American version. It's small, it's <strong>soft-touch cuddly</strong>, yet it packs the power of Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, 3G HSDPA for the US and a slide-out 20 key QWERTY keyboard that uses predictive text. At 400MHz it has the power to keep up, and there's ample RAM to keep things moving smoothly. It runs HTC's TouchFLO user interface, let's call it TouchFLO 2.0 because it has new features since TouchFLO first debuted on the GSM HTC Touch, and it's had the kinks worked out.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1213340191.usr2.jpg" /><br /><br />MTR has just given the US version of the HTC Touch Dual a 4 out of 5. So, if you're currently standing in your local Best Buy feeling a little undecided over giving up $549, let the <a href="http://www.mobiletechreview.com/phones/HTC-Touch-Dual.htm" target="_blank">review</a> help you out. Oh, and yeah, I have no idea how it qualifies as &quot;cuddly&quot; either.

[surur]

Soft touch paint.

Surur

[randalllewis]

I tried out an actual working Dual at Best Buy before purchasing the Touch Cruise. I was trying to determine if I really needed to have a physical keyboard. The Dual's physical SureType keyboard has an identical on-screen version, so it was a great way to test which one works best for me. I determined it was a toss-up. While the physical keyboard gives you some nice tactal feedback, the fact that it too is a SureType style made it really no faster or easier to use than the on screen keyboard. Given my test results, my decision on the Dual versus the Cruise came down to Wifi. The Cruise has it, the Dual does not. Otherwise, they are both very good phones, but the biggest frustration comes from one of the greatest assets. The Touch Flo interface is so good, that I become very aware of exactly where it ends and the regular old Windows Mobile UI returns. Touch Flo is like a delicious frosting on a day old pound cake.

[Phillip Dyson]

I was also looking at the Touch Cruise prior to deciding on the Dual from Best Buy. I think it really came down to price. I talked myself down from needing GPS since I own a Freedom Key Receiver. On the rare occasions that I use GPS, that will suffice.

Having used ETENs and Tytns, I was surprised how small the Dual was when I first picked it up. I think it was the first thing that started me reconsidering the Cruise.

I actually had it stuck in my head that the Dual had Wifi when I bought it. Despite the fact that I read the box several times. Perhaps my subconscious mind knew what the right decision was and tricked me into choosing the Dual.
But then even after I realizing my mistake, I'm still happy with the Dual.

At least until the Samsung Omnia or Xperia comes along and gets some mileage.

One thing I discovered is that neither hardware keyboard nor the HTC included on-screen keyboards work with the Google Search Today plugin.

To date I do seem to use the Resco keyboard (demo) more than the hardware keyboard. I suppose I'll see if that changes over time and I get adjusted to the 20 key format.