By
Ernest Doku
closeAuthor: Ernest Doku
Name: Ernest Doku
Email: ernest.doku@omio.com
Site: http://blog.omio.com
About: I like gadgets, loads! I like talking about them, writing about them, using them, watching other people use them though binoculars... Some would say it was an unhealthy fascination, but then I'd be all like, "Shh...," and go back to doing gadget-related things. Hit me up on Xbox Live or PSN, I'm EJStyleS. I promise to give you a good match as well as talk about things that aren't gadgets. A bit.See Authors Posts (565)
As we at Omio haven’t actually had a Blackberry Storm in to review, we don’t know what to make of the current backlash, so haven’t formally addressed it.
We do know that Stephen Fry’s Twittering about it was amusing and vitriolic in equal measure, with the quote “Shockingly bad. I mean embarrassingly awful…iPhone killer, ha!” going down in history as the first shocking indictment of the handset. I mean, that man is frighteningly intelligent. He knows what he is saying.
The only think funnier were his Twitters that followed…
The New York Times review by David Pogue was one of the single most negative, branding it the ‘BlackBerry Dud’ and ripping every aspect of the Storm to pieces, down to the initial concept of making a BlackBerry without the iconic physical keyboard.
“I haven’t found a soul who tried this machine who wasn’t appalled, baffled or both.”
Ouch. Nevertheless, the BlackBerry Storm continues to be featured in everyone’s Xmas list of must-have gadgets, from TechRadar to the Metro newspaper. So who is right?
Despite the bugs and issues, the lag and keyboard confusion, after posting the review Pogue’s inbox was flooded with vehement Storm fans vehemently defending their new purchase, and questioning his ability to do his job in the first place:
“Your article is a shameful report from someone who obviously is not knowledgeable in any of these newer items. Perhaps you should find something else to write about; although from this article you probably wouldn’t do well in any area. Shame on you and on THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR SUCH INFERIOR REPORTING.”
Wow.
Whether the BlackBerry Storm is an exciting departure or crushing failure is still unclear. What is conclusive is the rabid nature of mobile phone fanboys is on the rise… How long before phone forums like MMC are filled with the kind of blind hatred/devotion usually reserved for video game consoles?
Let us hope that day never comes…
Oh, what do we think? Well, in an office full of the brightest minds and most tech savvy people…no-one has taken the plunge here with the Storm, whilst we have two new HTC Touch HD owners.
Think that speaks volumes.
UPDATE: Well, the Register has also weighed in on the Storm today, and unfortunately (for RIM), their opinion falls in line with the lion’s share of reviews to date, with a rating of 50%.
“[The phone] feels like it was rushed to market…the Storm’s battery life was quite shockingly poor…the ‘Application Center’ mart looks distinctly understocked…
The screen is certainly good, but the click mechanism makes email entry a pain. Couple that with the slow speed, the lack of Wi-Fi and that poor battery life, and we find this a hard phone to recommend.”
A real shame, as the combination of BlackBerry functionality with touchscreen charm could have been a real boon to the market. Unfortunately, the Storm seems not to be it.
