Yes, JK's comments like "The REDFLY from Celio is a product like no other, and can be a good fit for road warriors" were quite painful to read.

Still, there's no doubt he didn't like BlackBerry version, even though he disagrees with Engadget about the Windows Mobile version, which JK likes a lot.

While we're on the topic, I notice Engadget didn't link to Matt Miller from CNET's positive review of the Blackberry driver, nor to mine. They picked this one review, the negative one.

As for JK's review, I think he made a mistake by ignored the advantages of the large keyboard, one of the major strengths of the Redfly. I know people have grown accustomed to tapping out messages on their BlackBerry's tiny keyboard, but this accessory brings a a nearly full-size one to the mix. It lets me type much faster.

And I disagree with James' comments on the screen. It's true, when the image from the BlackBerry is expanded to fill the Redfly's screen, pixels are enlarged, giving them a blocky look, but I'd hardly call it "unusable". In addition, there's a work-around for this: you can turn off the function that stretches the image to fill the screen. You still end up with an image that about twice the size of what's on your Blackberry, and it's as crisp as the smartphone's own display. I prefer the expanded version, but the other option is there.

I also disagree with JK's describing the cursor control as "unusable". There's a learning curve, but once you get familiar with it, it's much easier. If you don't want to work through the curve, the arrow keys are always there, which I think is a better option than JK does. True, it's not ideal, but it's not that inconvenient, either.

Chris Ziegler said:
>it's hard to argue that the 8900 isn't the better looking handset,

Chris, I would make that argument in a heartbeat. The BlackBerry Bold is a much better looking device. The 8900's all one color of grey plastic look was ugly when it was in style at least 5 years ago.


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Ed Hardy
Site Editor
http://www.brighthand.com

Interesting. When I talked to a Sony Ericsson VP at last year's CES, she was the one saying that her company wasn't ready to try to create a smartphone that could live up the PlayStation name. What a difference a year makes.

I suspect the success of the iPhone as a mobile gaming console has convinced Sony Ericsson that now is the time to come out with a competitor. I wonder if Sony disagrees, of if it just wasn't impressed with Sony Ericsson's proposed design.

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Ed Hardy
http://www.brighthand.com

I talk to a Microsoft spokesperson about this, and was told that part of developing Internet Explorer Mobile 6 (IEM6) involved making changes to various parts of the OS (APIs). It's still Windows Mobile 6.1, but a slightly modified version of it. So installing IEM6 requires replacing portions of the OS.

The Microsoft spokesperson didn't say anything about this, but I'm speculating that the real reason we won't see this released as a update is that none of the carriers wanted to do the trouble and expense of integrating this new version of WM into their current devices and then testing it, when the only benefit is a better web browser.

If this was the reason, it's a serios mistake. The Web browser has become the most significant single application on consumer-oriented smartphones, and the current version of IE Mobile is years behind the competition.

Ed Hardy
Editor
http://www.brighthand.com

The $500 price is a thing of the past. The two new models are debuting at $230 for the 7-inch version and $300 for the 8-inch version.

Someone put the price into perspective for me. A decent Bluetooth travel keyboard costs $110. A good external battery rechargeable runs about $50. There aren't any accessories aside from the Redfly that will add USB ports to a Windows Mobile smartphone, but let's say that's worth $20. Add another $50 for an external screen and you have the price for a Redfly.

Ed Hardy
Editor
http://www.brighthand.com

> Celio's new REDFLY C7 and C8N answer questions no one is asking

The question businesses are asking is "How can I give employees laptops without paying thousands a year in support costs?"

The answer is, "Give them Redflys."

The support cost for a laptop used in the enterprise dwarfs the selling price of the device itself. There's applications, virus protection, and software updates, all of which aren't installed by the users, but have to be handled by IT.

If you have a group of mobile employees who have already been outfitted with Windows Mobile smartphones, then the cost of adding Redflys to the mix is negligible. And a group of employees with smartphones can share the same Redfly, as all files, contacts, etc. are stored on the smartphone, not the Redfly.

If you're a consumer who has a laptop and enjoy the time you spend tinkering with it, then of course you don't need a Redfly. But if you're an IT manager looking for a cost-effective way of making your smartphone investment go farther, then the Redfly is something you should look into.

Ed Hardy
Editor
http://www.brighthand.com

> the X1 is 2.5 times more expensive ($1000 nay I say I wont pay).

You're comparing the carrier subsidized price of the T-Mobile G1 to the cost of the Xperia X1 when purchased through grey marketeers, which is hardly fair. If the Sony Ericsson model is released by a carrier in the U.S., (all signs point to AT&T) then it will be much more competitively priced.

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Ed Hardy
http://brighthand.com/

That's what happens when I post comments late at night: I make mistakes.

I include a link to my site to show that I really know what I'm talking about, and I'm neither someone just spouting off without any information nor am I the well-known tattoo artist and clothing designer of the same name.

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Editor-in-Chief
http://www.brighthand.com

I would be very surprised in AT&T introduces the Samsung Omnia. It is similar in design to the iPhone and aimed at the same market, and AT&T has shown little interest in offering strong iPhone rivals. For example, it never picked up the original HTC Touch, and so far has shown no interest in the HTC Touch Diamond.

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Editor-in-Chief
http://www,brighthnd.com

I'm hoping Motorola gets model on deck soon. The G1 from HTC isn't up the job of bing the flagship Android device. It's OK, just sort of dull. For Android to get the audience it needs to be successful it's going to take something thin, sleek, and cool. Here's hoping the company behind the RAZR can come up with that device.

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Editor-in-Chief
http://www,brighthnd.com