Sprint PPC-6700 and why blind people should not do hardware review

PC Magazine reviewed a Sprint PPC-6700 (HTC) device this weekend and gave it glowing remarks. Sascha Segan gave it 4 out of 5 stars with the following remarks:

“This is the best Windows Mobile PDA/phone we’ve seen, with a nearly ideal balance of size and power, though we have a few quibbles.”

One must wonder if they actually had the device in hand when they did this review or if they just skimmed the box at the Sprint store. This device is horrificly misproportional, giving even the brick diminutive a run for its money. The screen on it is small to the point that it looks more like an overweight smartphone than a PocketPC. The antenna and the stylus protrude outside of this “small-factor” device and make it an uncomfortable pocket gadget, if the 6.1 ounce weight was not enough to drag your pants down to your knees to begin with. The screen is so tiny that it cannot be used without a stylus for most activities, making one-hand operation impossible. The keyboard design, although ingenious, is quite cheap in keeping with HTC “Made in Taiwan” tradition of quality.

I got a chance to play with this device over the weekend for a few hours and I must say I was not impressed. The point to a Pocket PC is a large screen, a decent keyboard, solid constuction. This device lacked them all and is a very solid loser in my book. Look for a different device or save your money, pass this one.