I would love to have one of these bad boys. As for strangest locales... I live in Florida, you really can't get much stranger then here. Don't you remember the 2000 election? Lol.

From the linked article: "For the first time, iPhone sales exceeded sales of Microsoft Windows Mobile devices worldwide and in North America."

I am totally buying this phone, but man, if it had the Tegra in it. I'd cry from pure happiness.

Although it doesn't have the curves that make the iPhone 3G feel smaller then it is which is a little bit of space for equipment, it is only 12mm thick versus iPhone 3Gs 12.3mm (I think the original one was 11.6 so the original was a little bit smaller but had so many fewer specs). So, that argument doesn't work.

TareX, I think you are right on your prediction that Tegra is going to be a cornerstone with Win Mo 7. I do think Microsoft will stick with the tried and true "Works on various setups" mentality, Tegra is going to be a very powerful setup but I can't imagine Mobile 7 requiring more then the specs of this phone, look at the specs on low-end smartphones now... and the next version will be removing the boundary and making both smartphone and "pro" versions the same.

HTC has been pretty good about updating Windows versions. I am pretty sure they are close enough with Microsoft that this and the Touch Diamond/Pro have had design influences (accelerometers, multitouch support, etc) to be in place for that software update. Windows Mobile 7 could make these devices outstanding.

I was going to jump on the Touch Pro figuring it was going to be another year or two. I've wanted a Windows Mobile device that had similar hardware to iPhone, HTC really hit the ball out of the park with this one from the initial views. Between that screen and the shear power, just... wow. If they throw in an accelerometer or something and say it will fully support WM7 when it comes out next year.... this could be a killer phone. I haven't been this excited in awhile. I love this Apple/HTC competition, so many great products are going to come from this regardless of what you prefer.

@Josh

I would say there's a pretty good chance, especially given the relationship between HTC and Microsoft, that something like that is exactly what was discussed when designing those phones. There are some interesting things with the new phones (i.e. the entire surface being able to be touched though I don't think their initial software supports it, accelerometers, the FM, etc.) that all really aren't being used now and could very well be designed to work well when Windows Mobile 7 comes out and they update them, and serve as a base for the next-gen phone they release as a WM7 flagship. Good for Microsoft, good for HTC, and good for us. At least that's what I'm hoping for. Lol.

I know they recently brought U-verse to South Florida. I hope they are hitting the Orlando area next, Bright House has such a monopoly and provides such poor service that if they came here with that quality of service I know for a fact I and many, many, many others would swap in a heartbeat.

I think you make good points. However, I have good arguments from MS on the reasons they do what they do. I think, like the pc, they are trying to focus on an OS that can target numerous types of devices allowing other companies to be thoughtful and unique in designs. HTC is a perfect example, in my opinion, of a company that has taken advantage of this.

As for the hardware, and someone correct me if I am exaggerating, but I know Microsoft does lots of internal testing for hardware designs. They relay the results to partners for everything from keyboard designs to full fledged devices. There is even a newer division (albeit a small one) that runs in a Google-esque fashion with designers allowed to be much more free in their ideas which are conveyed to partners. I think that is why you see in many cases similarities among hardware, not just that they copy ideas from each other but they actually take an initial offering/idea from Microsoft and transform it internally.

I think Microsoft focused far too long on Enterprise users, but this is an area Apple is definitely still challenged with as MobileMe runs into issues. Apple will definitely get there with MobileMe, just like Microsoft will get their with improving the UI and overall consumer experience with the device. Apple did a wonderful job on the interface end and Microsoft/Blackberry/Palm have had the enterprise end. Now you are seeing all of these companies filling in their gaps, Blackberry with the Bold and Thunder, Microsoft with Mobile 7 and HTCs new devices, and Palm... well... hopefully we will see them as contenders next year. Competition is a good thing.