November 28, 2008, 10:58 AM — 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?"
