We're just going to get this out of the way upfront: this thing's got
back. The version of the HTC Touch Pro
gracing Sprint next month isn't going to win any awards for miniaturization -- but with the VGA display, extremely usable QWERTY board, and the time-tested, buttoned-up business efficiency of Windows Mobile, it's hard to argue that they really could've done any more to make it a ridiculously usable smartphone. Interestingly, the phone isn't actually any larger than its GSM cousin; the curves applied around the edges here definitely add a few optical pounds and it's still pretty pocketable (just don't expect to ever forget that it's in there). The keyboard is fantastic (as all HTC keyboards tend to be) and we were surprised at how tasteful -- nice, even -- the chrome rings around the around the edges of the two halves actually are when you see them. The backside is done up in a soft-touch grey that would probably look just a little better in black (or even the Touch Diamond's red), but at least the neutral shade keeps it just about as biz-friendly as they come.
Now here's the important part: after spending considerable time with both this and its QWERTY-free counterpart, we can definitely say that this one shouldn't simply be considered a "better Touch Diamond." The Diamond murders the Pro for total pocketability, sex appeal, and feel in the hand -- so you've really got to ask yourself just how badly you need that keyboard before you pull the trigger one way or another.
posted Sep 10th 2008 10:31PM
Dude when will At&T get this i love this phone
AT&T is the devil!
Love at first sight? Sex appeal yes, but not from a function over form standpoint. Heck on the Pro, Gps is not free and must be purchased at an add'l cost. I have been with Treo since the 180 (pre 9/11) and I still have not found a smart phone that has wowed me enough to get rid of it. Sure, these new phones sure are purretty, but the Treo is a Man phone, no chic appeal whatsoever. I thinks its time I use that $150 rebate from Sprint, hawk my 700p on Craigslist and close the deal on a 800w (Gps Included)!!
That doesn't help my decision making process :(
haha me either.. after they said "The Diamond murders the Pro for total pocketability, sex appeal, and feel in the hand" im rethinking my decision to wait for the pro. but i probably will anyway seeing as i text alot and i have a thick flip phone now with no size problems.
OMG! OMG!...I think I just pee'd my pants. (gimmie)
C'mon VZW don't fuck this up like you fuck up just about every phone you get.
I agree! As i said in another thread: This may be a make or break for me and my Verizon contract. It runs out in October so Verizon better step it up by then or im heading to T-mobile or Sprint. If Verizon releases this phone with little hardware restrictions I will stick with them.
That's asking an awful lot out of them, don't you think? Oh well, I guess we'll find out in 8-12 months.
If it comes to Verizon, which it will probably, after Sprint gets it exclusively for 6 months, it will have less hardware and crippled - which Verizon always does vs. Sprint. Search around, it's pretty much confirmed that Verizon's version will have less RAM and won't come close to the same performance Sprint's will.
Some 'leaked' Sprint powerpoint slides from a month or so ago show the VZW version as having a slower processor (400mhz vs 520) and less RAM (128 vs 256 IIRC).
I really, really, hope that is not the case, as I am carrier-locked to Verizon because I live in the middle of nowhere. But it wouldn't suprise me coming from them.
@Kamokazi
Just get a femtocell device for your home. Carrier lock broken.
I'd need one for the entire town...heck most of the county. We're not exactly a low population density area either, it kinda baffles me a little. It's in Ohio...if we were in Montana or something I'd understand.
Sprint is probably the 2nd best choice to VZW, their coverage is pretty decent, but you would still run into some no service spots on a daily basis.
AT&T Works okay....on the west side of town. north and east sides, as well as north and east for about 20 miles...nadda. No GSM signals there at all.
T-Mobile.....their nearest coverage area is a 60 minute drive away.
So 90% of the people around here have VZW. Some famers living west of town use AT&T, because Verizon reception is pretty bad out that way, but there are 2 AT&T towers out there that cover it pretty good. They just deal with no service if they have to go to Wal-Mart.
On the plus side, you don't have to worry much about anytime minutes, as pretty much everybody is part of the unlimited mobile to mobile. And Verizon just upgraded our tower to EV-DO, because when 90%+ of a 14k population is using your service, I guess it looks good on paper to them.
I was going to get this or the Diamond, but now I want the Touch HD
Couldn't agree more - typing on a big screen like the touch HD has eliminates the need to carry this fat brick around. I wish the CDMA providers would carry the HTC Touch HD in December like the GSM version! I've been waiting about a year now for the Diamond to come out - now that it is almost avaialable with US carriers I have no interest in it after seeing the HTC Touch HD - that blows these old obsolete HTC units out of the water!
Touch HD FU I say. I think the real keyboard on this Touch Pro is still the winner! I do agree the screen should be bigger- but, as a current Touch owner, GIVE ME A REAL KEYBOARD FOR NUTT SAKE
@cruiserandmax
As a current Sprint Touch owner I whole heartedly agree with you on the qwerty keyboard. I love my phone, hate the on screen keyboard. Why have the bigger screen of the HD when you have to end up covering half of it anytime you need to start typing. I only traded from the Mogul to the Touch for two reasons, one was double the ram and the other was the size. If at that time they made the old Touch in the same width and height but deeper with a slideout qwerty I would have bought that. The only thing I do prefer about typing on the Touch's screen versus the full qwerty phones and the iPhone is that you can type one handed, but most of the time I'd use two hands unless it was quick short text messages.
Personally, I can't stand keyboardless phones. Still, both phones look amazing. I don't really care how thick this is, I'm just glad that they decided to take an awesome phone (the Diamond) and stick a real keyboard on it.
Plus, it isn't red!!!
who wants to take bets that its crap?
:)
I bet that this phone will pwn any phone out there
If I bet you $100 dollars for every month that this thing is on the market and sells well, I would have enough money to pay the AT&T termination fee, phone cost, and monthly fees (900 minute unlimited plan, $74.69 after work discount). It will sell as good as any other phone for at least two years after release. Cause this thing is that hot.
This is coming to AT&T by the way so canceling isn't the only option
Yea, but I'm truly fed up with AT&T.
Since I've dealt with AT&T wireless, Cingular, and The "New" AT&T for 6 years, a change in scenery would be nice.
Yea buy to Sprint? I mean in my area I'll be the firs to admit the service is on the bad side, but its hella worse on Sprint
@Tyler
Take a step outside of your special world and realize that for other people, they might have a different experience. Take me for example, I have excellent Sprint service in my area while AT&T sucks balls and if it wasn't for the fact that I get my Sprint service for free, I would not be carrying my iPhone through AT&T (most likely the 2G version unlocked on T-Mobile).
touch: hi, im a touch pro
iphone: and im an iphone
iphone: hey whats up touch, why do your insides look like mine?
touch: my maker copied you to make me better, im cool now right?
OMG! "Lowest Ranked" returns! And not a moment too soon...
the funked up thing is that HTC has all that IPHONE touch flo stuff on the Euro versions of the phone. ATT only removed it so it would not compete with Iphone so they could get the contract! DUH! I have had touch flo on my Tilt for ages and i work with so many Iphone FanTards and my phone is still better than theirs. Soooo if anyone was copied, it was HTC as all of the lame little tricks and features it has, is nothing new to HTC, but only to the US market. So get your facts in order then start talking about how great your big azz phone is. Can you record video? MMS? Nice camera resolution, should i go on. Naaaah, ill go on out and walk the dogma. Dont get me wrong im not a hater, i have a Macbook Pro but as a mobile unit that Iphone is nothing to great. Especially NOW, with that being the catalyst for US markets, that phone will be old news come this time next year, I promise.
When a phone comes to America, do they have to make it FUGLY?! I loved the original Touch Diamond and Sprint ruined it with the red or black flat black. Now they have ruined the Touch Pro. I loved the sharp edges and black diamond, back, and matte on the Touch Pro but now the front is all curved and the back is all ugly and shiny.
Somebody, please tell HTC that they're making a mistake in changing the look of these once good-looking phones.
I think the boys over at Sprint have way too much time on their hands. They should stop putting crappy red covers on nice HTC phones. Maybe they think it will look better when they pull it out of their purse.
*Cricket* *Cricket* *Cricket* *Cricket*
Nope, I guess you're on your own. HTC's U.S. phone number is in the link below. Good luck.
http://www.htc.com/us/CA_Hotline.aspx?region=NorthAmerica
Totally agree - that shiny silver and gray back looks terrible IMO
I agree. I thought the original phone style was much better looking than the CDMA rounded versions. Were they afraid to be sued because us Americans might cut ourselves on sharp corners? And doesn't this just make it more difficult for HTC, having to track multiple hardware configurations instead of just one? Its fairly stupid in my humble opinion.
If you don't like the color, get a seidio innocase- I consider it a must-have. You may even be able to order the original battery cover. Consider it a tax for having an american carrier nervous of copying the european version.
yea but the sprint diamond version increased the battery life along with making a bit thicker. so i guess its a wash.
OMG I SEE A DEDICATE MMS BUTTON ON THE KEYPAD!!!! DOES THAT MEAN SPRINT FINALLY HAS MMS ON A WM PDA!!!!?!?!?!
Yes it has full MMS
ummmm where have you been? It's been known for awhile that the Diamond and Pro would have picture mail capabilities.
I was actually really excited about this phone until the Treo Pro was introduced. All I was waiting for was wifi, a real QWERTY and a touchscreen. This thing is just too thick.
the side by side pictures they have there.. are they pro vs diamond.. or US vs euro touch pros?
cause if its the former, the thickness doesn't look as bad as they say
seriously? do you really think this phone would be as thin as the 900mAh packing diamond? comeon!
anyone (including myself) buying this phone is doing it because it has a big keyboard that they feel makes up for its thickness with usability... and to someone else who posted, this version looks more appealing than the euro pro (IMO), the shiny chrome looks sexy! not to mention its gray, its everything my mogul dreamed it would to be when it growed up
it's a touch pro vs a touch diamond
nah its two pros euro and us i think i know its not a diamond tho
It's the Diamond vs the pro. The Diamond being released by Sprint is thicker than it's brethren because Sprint put the 1350 mAh battery in it.
two pics is the diamond vs pro and the other two are two pros
Talk about lipstick on a Pig! Pearls to Swine! With their diminishing customer-base and hemorrhaging cash, poor little Sprint can't handle such exotic fare!
Rofl. Wrap an old fish in a piece of paper and guess what its still an old fish. This phone will have to completely save Sprint otherwise it will stay that old rotting fish.
How thick is it compared to the T-Mobile Wing? I love the size and heft of that phone. I never need to guess or worry if my phone is in my pocket. I know if/when it is and when it isn't due to the size. It's become a comfort to me.
ya but this is cooler
http://www.nokiausa.com/A4954123 (NokiaN810 Wimax)
Yeah...no. This is a phone, and will actually be available outside the US because it's already released in Europe as well as the Diamond.