High-profile Mac celebrities slam BlackBerry Storm
Two high-profile Mac fans have hit out at the recently released RIM BlackBerry Storm. Comic, author, presenter and actor Stephen Fry calls the BlackBerry Storm "shockingly bad" and "embarrassingly awful". New York Times technology guru David Pogue renames it "the BlackBerry Dud".
On Twitter Fry said of the BlackBerry Storm: "Been playing with the BB Storm. Shockingly bad. I mean embarrassingly awful. Such a disappointment. Rushed out unfinished. What a pity."
Blackadder star and Apple fan Fry, who admits that he "SO wanted to like it," accuses the Storm of "terrible lag: inaccurate t'screen, awful, slow and fiddly text input.
"Plus the GPS maps won't work - issue with BIS connections. I see from forums postings this is widespread in the UK. iPhone killer? Ha!"
Talking to the BBC later Fry responded to its accusation that he has "the power to kill a gadget?".
"It gives me no pleasure to be negative about the BB Storm and I know that many people have been looking forward to receipt of theirs and were very disheartened to hear my loud disappointment. But, honestly: play with the Storm for two days as I have and you will admire my patience at not throwing it out of the window... I do like the Bold though."
In his New York Times article the equally entertaining Pogue, author of 'iPhone: The Missing Manual' and once a Broadway producer, calls RIM's execution of the touchscreen "inconsistent and confusing" and its iPhone-like functionality "a marathon of frustration".
"It's too much work, like using a manual typewriter. Trying to enter Web addresses or unusual last names is utterly hopeless."
Pogue says that the Storm "even muffs simple navigation tasks", which can be "head-bangingly frustrating".
"I haven't found a soul who tried this machine who wasn't appalled, baffled or both," sighs Pogue. "How did this thing ever reach the market? Was everyone involved just too terrified to pull the emergency brake on this train?"
» posted by ITworld staff
PC Advisor
Build your tech library with our book giveaways.
Hacking Exposed, Sixth Edition
By Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, George Kurtz; Published by McGraw-Hill/Osborne
The original Hacking Exposed authors rejoin forces on this tenth anniversary edition to offer completely up-to-date coverage of today's most devastating hacks and how to prevent them. Using their proven methodology, the authors reveal how to locate and patch system vulnerabilities. The book includes new coverage of ISO images, wireless and RFID attacks, Web 2.0 vulnerabilities, anonymous hacking tools, Ubuntu, Windows Server 2008, mobile devices, and more. Enter now!
appleboys
Mr. Fry and Mr. Pogue might take some time off from bashing anything that competes with their toys to write an interesting article or two as to why Photoshop CS4 runs faster in Windows on a Mac than it does in OSX.They and the other appleboys are not doing tech writers much good, since every tech story these days has to first be inspected for Mac bias before reading or believing it.
As some one who routinely uses Linux, OSX, XP and Vista, as well as pdas, phones and the like, each has its strengths and weaknesses, some more problematic than others. The amusing thing about those who've bought into Apple's view of creation of the world is that these writers don't seem to know enough tech to justify their opinions ... on just about any subject.
I think you missed the point
I agree there will always be glitches with new toys. The problem with this toy is that RIM needed to hit it out of the park and all they did was show up to the game.. Fair is fair the Iphone is like night and day to any product out there most don't come close.who cares
Who cares what an entertainer and a so called Tech Journalist think of the device. I think RIM have a product on their hands which is going to compete with the iPhone and some Mac Fans don't like that.People can bag this device but most seem to review with bias. There allot of things this device can do which the iPhone can't but the reviewers always seem to point out its flaws compared to the iPhone and not the other way around.