My contention is that the screen quality would actually improve since the landscape mode is more close to the redfly screen dimensions, as well as the cursor handling given the touch feature.

I’m tempted to try it, but I would love to see if anyone else has tried.

My conversations with Celio say they are working with RIM to allow interaction directly with the OS. When that is enabled, the display can be done properly (their word) as it is with WinMo. My take on that is that they should have waited.

If you are getting good use out of the REDFLY as it is currently implemented, I am happy for you. I couldn’t use this longer than 5 or 10 minutes myself.

Celio also told me that Android will allow them to work with the display properly, so perhaps that should have been their second platform to release.

Are you suggesting that Celio should have made special hardware just for BlackBerrys? I prefer the current setup, where a single Redfly can be used with Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and eventually Android. Making a version without a trackpad just for BB would remove that advantage.

The fact is this BlackBerry model, and the shortcoming is clearly in the RIM OS, offers a fraction of the functionality of the WinMo version, at the same price. As for the unusability of the display, I’ll let the photos I took of the screen speak for themselves. That’s what the user sees, and in my view that is not usable for a device like this.

I agree with you that the addition of the larger keyboard can be important to BB owners, and the REDFLY delivers on that front. It’s a tad too small to be a true touch-typable solution, but it’s much better than the little phone keyboard.

As for the trackpad comments, again I appreciate what you are saying. But the fact is, due to the limitations of the BB OS itself, the trackpad will not function like a trackpad. Why have one, in that event? Takes up space, currently not used by the display, and adds cost.

As is always the case with mobile gadgets, everyone is different. I appreciate your lending your POV, but mine is as stated.

If you always travel with a small notebook, the software version is well worth it because it does let you do “phone” things on a bigger screen. (like those people that do a LOT of text messaging, a full keyboard is much nicer)

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 the characterization of 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 decent option. True, it’s not ideal, but it’s not that inconvenient, either.

And finally, I think it was a mistake to ignore 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.

Why? B/c I am already paying $30/month to use data on my phone. To pay an additional $30 to tether to my laptop (and not use any more data than my phone uses) is the insane part. All we want is a bigger screen.
Plus, with no RAM/HD/etc internal to the RedFly, TCO is lower over the long run.

word processing ? internet browsing ? powerpoint presentations ? image slideshows, watching porn…I think the netbook is gonna do all of those better then this “magnifying glass for BB” :)

I don’t get it, why does somebody need to blow up 3″ screen to 8″ and still use the same crap resolution ?