Poor designs. Why can't they get it right?

[Guest Laser_iCE]

I quickly skimmed over the topic so excuse me if anything I say has been beaten to death...

I think it all comes down to personal preference, definitely. I noticed that you mentioned the fact that if someone likes one of the designs for the current HTC devices, then we can't see through the "silicon". That's a pretty big statement to make considering that your preferences clearly differ from a lot of other people out there. I actually happen to really like the vast majority of HTC devices that have been released mainly under the O2/i-mate variants due to their colour choices, and although the build quality of some devices (the style in the Wizard comes to mind) may be subpar, you also need to realise that these phones are supposed to be business phones, rather than every day phones (such as the razr's and the Sony Ericssons), and because of this, aren't supposed to go through the every day wear-and-tear that most of us put them through.

That being said, there are phones out there as it is that are so ugly it's not funny. To be honest, I can not STAND to see a phone/PDA device that has the keyboard visible at all times. I think that it creates redundant space, and you end up carrying around a square that is difficult to hold in one hand, rather than a rectangle that is easy to hold in one hand, must like conventional mobile phones. Another thing with the keyboard being present at all times is that because of how many keys are required and the amount of space already taken up, they need to make the keys as small as possible, which makes it not only looking tacky, but feeling unreliable in your hands while you use them.

I would love to own a WM power flip phone (StrTrk comes to mind, IIRC?), but when it comes down to it, there is no way I could part with my touch screen or QWERTY keyboard on the Wizard (Mind you, T9 isn't all that bad once you get used to it).

When HTC start coming out with devices like Alcatels and those buttugly Treo's with the chunky arial, then I'll buy you a beer, but as for now, I think they're doing just fine.