I’d been working as a word processing operator for many years and have very high-speed typing skills and I don’t think those chicklet keys are that advantageous when it comes to typing since they’re not standard keyboard size. A good touch-screen interface works just as well if you practice using it. Practice is important for anything. But somehow there is a preconceived notion that physical keys automatically equal speed. BS. Plenty of people still make lots of mistakes and type slowly on full-size keyboards.

So, if Microsoft is only willing to put out devices with physical keyboards to satisfy the tech-nerds, that’s really a shame. Most non-typists don’t care whether there’s a physical keyboard or not and keyboards just add extra unnecessary bulk to a pocketable device.

I’m surprised that that there wasn’t more flack from the other personal player manufactures over how the Zune screwed Plays For Sure users.

The one thing that Microsoft always had is that they didn’t compete on the hardware (except keyboards, mice) if they bring out a phone it will be interesting to see how that changes the landscape.