> I fail to see what’s the use of this resolution in a screen
> that small. I am sure that the graphics will look better

The graphics are, as you said, nicer, but the real impact for me is being able to see a web site nearly as I would see it on my desktop computer, being able to see the full width of a page (and still read the text) in Adobe Reader, being able to get a decent number of columns displayed in Excel, etc. Yes, it's small, but it doesn't impede my ability to use it and it makes the phone a very nice size in the hand and pocket.

> the keyboard is not as usable as that of the Tilt

I can't speak for the Tilt, as I never used one. However, it's as usable as the one on the 8525, which I've been under the impression is approximately the same as the Tilt's. The keys are a bit smaller, but the feel is improved. I can type as fast and with as few errors on the Fuze as on the 8525.

> if one wants TouchFlo it should be optional

As it is on the Fuze. It's trivial to turn it off (just a "Today" page setting) if you don't want it. I'll give it another couple of weeks before I decide whether to continue using it or not. That wasn't one of the motivations I had for buying the phone. VGA resolution, more memory, faster processor, GPS, a better browser (Opera beta on the 8525 doesn't work very well), and a better camera were.

> The first half of 2009 will bring out better phones.

Which can always be said at any point in time -- the next batch will be better. The Fuze is the first phone that AT&T has sold that I thought exceeded my threshold for upgrading, and I didn't see any need to wait. The Fuze is good enough (and I expect it to continue to be good enough for at least the two-year contract commitment).

> enthusiasts and consumers should not invest in it

That's a matter of opinion. You're certainly entitled to yours, but mine happens to differ.

Miller,

Moving to the Fuze from the 8525 is still a minor upgrade in my mind. Yes, you get a faster processor and a VGA screen but I fail to see what's the use of this resolution in a screen that small. I am sure that the graphics will look better but this would also impact performance (already noted by reviewers). In addition, the keyboard is not as usable as that of the Tilt. The Touch flow interface also slows down the phone.

My feeling is that a Tilt at cut rate prices still represents a better value than the Fuze. It has the same operating system, a better keyboard and lacks the Touch flow interface that sucks too many processor cycles.

I would be enthusiastic about a phone with VGA resolution and a 3.2'' inch screen, a native WinMo 6.x interface (if one wants TouchFlo it should be optional) and a lower, much lower price. The Fuze, similarly equiped with the iphone in terms of software and memory will cost to the north of $400. And this is with a 2-year contract.

This phone is meant for business purchases. It just covers a marketing hole in AT&T offerings. But enthusiasts and consumers should not invest in it. The first half of 2009 will bring out better phones.

> moving from the Tilt to the Fuze is just a waste of money

As I said earlier, that's not an argument I'm going to join, because the value of the improvements is a subjective judgment. I'm in a different boat, though: as an 8525 owner, the Tilt wasn't a big enough difference for me to want to upgrade, primarily because the Tilt is still a QVGA device. On the other hand, for me, the Fuze is definitely worth the upgrade from the 8525, and I'm very happy with it. Would I like having a phone like the HD? Sure, 800 pixels is better than 640. On the other hand, I don't find the Fuze screen by any means unusably small, and the compact size has its own benefits. (I totally disagree with reviews like the one by Cnet that give the Fuze lower marks because it's "too big"!)

I am astounded about the "excitement" for a very expensive phone that brings nothing really new to the table. In any case, I think that moving from the Tilt to the Fuze is just a waste of money because HTC will bring soon a US version of the Touch HD. I know that they are only releasing the Touch HD overseas, but my guess is that they would have a very similar phone for the US with the US 3G bands that would be competitive with the Blackberry Storm.

What these phones need is a larger screen. The Fuze has an even smaller screen than the Tilt. For browsing devices, they are just marginal. A minimum of a 3.2 inch screen is required for a good experience.

I'm a Canadian that's super excited about getting the Fuze. After using my Tytn II (UK version) for about a year and a bit, I'm ready for the upgrade. Since I can't sign a contract, I'll have to pay full retail. Any idea as to what the process is for someone like me to unlock the phone so I can use it in Canada with a local SIM card?

Whatever weanies.... so what if its expensive... Its a good phone! And I need a phone... The Iphone is dumb... I already have a Nano, 80GB and 160GB so a iphone would be redundant... also I could not live w/o a stylus... If you like the Fuze suck up the price if you dont like the Fuze shut up! I'm first in line tues am!!!

> This device is still way too expensive.

On an absolute scale I agree with you. In some other countries you can get it (the Touch Pro, that is; the "Fuze" is just AT&T's name for it) for much less with a two-year contract than AT&T is charging. My only point was correcting the erroneous statement that it was "almost twice as expensive as the iPhone." It's not. (I think they're both too expensive. But if I were buying the Fuze from a third party without AT&T's subsidy, I'd have to pay twice as much. Now _that's_ "way too expensive!")

I also won't get into an argument over whether it's worth upgrading from the Tilt; there isn't much you can do with a Fuze that you can't do with the Tilt, so the difference lies in how much you value the extra memory, processor speed, screen real estate, etc., and how much you mind losing the screen tilting ability. Those are all subjective calls, not something that can be argued about.

Miller,

This device is still way too expensive. Yes, the iphone 3G 16GB cost a bit less, but the Fuze does not include 16GB memory. This is still an add on. With the purchase of so much memory, the costs of this device escalate. Sorry, but the addition of the VGA screen is not enough to justify this pricing. I would say that those who own the Tilt should continue to use it until the Fuze price drops or until there are better devices with WinMo 6.5 or 7.0. The keyboard of the Fuze is also not as usable as the keyboard of the Tilt. It seems to me that the keys are way too small. What was the need for an additional number key row?

Heck Yeah... and this phone is soooo worth it. I just ruched my tilt a few weeks ago and am going crazy... I will have to pay retail but still SOOOOOOOO worth it!!!

A few notes on the preceding comments:

1. What is different between the Fuze and the original Touch Pro is: no front-facing camera, but there is a push-to-talk button. The tv-out and FM radio functions work, but you need to install the required software. They've added the software for the usual AT&T-specific features (various flavors of email, etc.). Otherwise, it's identical to the original Touch Pro.

2. The GPS capability can be used by any GPS software, not just AT&T Navigator. The marketing collateral makes a selling point out of this fact.

3. You don't have to get a data plan (e.g., if you intend to use the Internet only via wifi). In order to get the $50 rebate, you need a voice plan of at least $39.99 plus either the PDA unlimited data plan ($30/month) or unlimited messaging ($20/month). (The $30/month is the same rate as the iPhone 3G rate, BTW.)

4. It's not "almost twice as expensive as the iPhone." You have to sign up for a 2-year contract with the iPhone and get a data plan. If you do that with the Fuze, it costs $299.99 -- the same price as the 16-gigabyte iPhone 3G. And you get a physical keyboard, stereo Bluetooth, extensible storage (microSD cards), higher-resolution display, etc., etc. with the Fuze. I think the pricing is pretty much in line with the iPhone.

JBloch

The unlimited data plan for the Tilt is $39 a month, which is more expensive than the iPhone. I would bet that the Fuze rate is not going to be that much different. When the Tilt came out, it was actually cheaper than the iPhone although the data plan was more expensive. The Fuze is more expensive in all departments. It is a corporate phone, period. Obviously, AT&T is not interest in selling this phone to the consumers. Who is likely to buy this phone when the iphone would be $150 cheaper?

This is just crazy. Why is the Fuze almost twice as expensive as the iPhone? Its data plan is already more expensive, the price of the phone is now outrageous for something that is only marginally better (depatable) than the Tilt. It is not worth the money, or at least that much money. I think that AT&T is targeting corporate sales with this phone, they have no interest in the consumer.

I know AT&T & Microsoft have to do better this time around. They did a horrible job with the Tilt. AT&T spent more time and money focusing on the iphone than anything. Microsoft gave us a bogus upgrade to Windows 6.1 that cause the downfall of the Tilt. Their is still a lot of glitches in the software that cause the phone to freeze sometimes. It was better off with Windows Mobile 6 software. I am afraid it is going to be hard to restore my faith in HTC,Microsoft, and AT&T.

Yeah, but what's the monthly rate going to be? They always screw you over with the data plan, and if I'm going to get this phone, then I want to take advantage of AT&T's 3G network. You just watch, they'll charge like $60 a month.

I wonder how AT&T has altered the HTC Touch Pro to get the Fuze? What did they add/remove? What did they disable? Can you use the GPS without the AT&T service?

Just curious since no site seems to ever describe how the companies (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) alter the devices.