CTIA Fall 2009
We were able to spend a few moments going over the new PCD Razzle, which will be sold by Verizon Wireless.
The Razzle is an interesting form factor in that the lower half twists around and lets the user have access to either a full QWERTY keyboard or stereo speakers depending on how they want to use that phone.
The Razzle is a standard monoblock when the speakers are facing front. It has a number of control keys in between the speakers and the display, such as the D-pad, send/end keys, soft keys, etc. The They keys came off feeling a little bit on the cheap side. They were slightly loose, and travel and feedback weren't really satisfying.
In between the speakers, there are dedicated music playback keys to launch and interact with the music player. The way the phone is deigned, it really reminds me of an old-school transistor radio.
When you're ready to send some text messages, grab the bottom of the phone and give a twist. The keyboard will swing around, creating a bit of a chin. The Razzle is comfortable to hold and use when in this configuration. The keyboard feels pretty good. The keys have excellent travel and feedback, though I didn't like the way the keys themselves felt under my thumb. The keyboard is de-activated when it is facing the back of the phone, but you can still make and answer calls by using the soft keys and menus.
Speaking of menus, there's nothing to set it apart from other phones on the Verizon network. Its menu is similar in form and function.
Given the unique form factor, the Razzle is definitely a niche product.
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