- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 89 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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33 out of 35 people found this review helpful
5.0 stars
"cnet can't review phones"
Pros: WM 6.1
High res screen
Premier browsing experience
Lower fees on better faster network (sprint)Cons: virtual kb
Summary: I'm having a hard time understanding CNET's review ratings. Under features, they gave it a 7.0. The phone that cnet uses to compare is the iphone 3g..it received an 8 in features. How is this possible? The Diamond has all the basic features missing in the iphone. It boasts much MUCH more in features than the iphone. What is the deal here?
non expandable storage
Performance: Again, the iphone received an 8 while the diamond a 7. Have you lived under a rock? The iphone is plagued with performance issues as CNET defines performance: When assessing performance, we judge sound quality, clarity, and loudness. Other pluses include minimal call drops and a consistently strong signal. <shakes head wondering how cnet gave the iphone an 8 here>
Design: I won't argue with the iphone's design. It's deserving of a 9. However once again, the diamond gets smacked with a 7. Are you kidding me?
I have to wonder about cnet's credibility. This is the same Cnet that gave the Samsung Instinct an 8.0 given all its limitations.
The Diamond is a full featured WM 6.1 phone with a great looking touch interface. EVDO rev a or wifi puts it among the fastest smartphones out there. Guess what? It has MMS, copy/paste, lots more apps, tethering, office apps, slingbox, BT stereo, etc, etc that the iphone will never have. And it has a better screen, a better browser, better email, and runs on a much cheaper better quality network.
A 7.0??? CNET, that's a disgrace. Learn how to do reviews consistently. I've no doubt you'll give the same bizarre treatment to the Touch Pro when it debuts.
Updated on Sep 13, 2008Just wanted to update by saying i will be getting the Touch Pro. The virtual kb is simply too much of a con for me. Although i could probably manage 4gb, just knowing there's a card slot in the pro makes a huge difference as well. My use of the diamond comes from using it in the store for a 2-3 hours.
However, I still feel the Diamond deserves an 8.5 at least. The Touch Pro, if works as promised, probably higher in the 8.8- 9.0 range. Seriously.. HTC has done a great job targeting both ends of the market together in this device (consumer/entertainment and professional).
- 16 replies to this review
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I, for one, really like Bonnie's review style. She conveys everything I need to know about the phones in a generally short time. If you don't like her reviews, stop complaining and leave. We don't need to hear that here.
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I agree that Bonnie has a weird review style, especailly in the videos. Some phones she gives alot of time to, giving alot of technical information and others it is a 1 minute clip about how the phone is cute or not and how it compares the the I-Phone. I find her I-Phone obcession odd as in a recent video she admitted that she personally uses a Blackberry Curve. If I-Phone isn't good enough for you to use yourself, why compare every phone you review to iphone with such negativity? While I give Apple some credit on making the I-Phone an impressive device, it is not the be all and end all of phones. It doesn't even support MMS in 2009?!?! Sorry, not impressed... This phone really impressed me when I tried it in the store and has moved to the top of my list in my search for a new phone.
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I'm with the majority here on the reviewing process of Bonnie at least. I want to hear, like I read, what the 'cons' are as well as her perceived 'pros'. Geeze, the whole point of a review is to get the good and the bad, unbiased. I think I'm going to wait for the Pro as well. I have to get to the store to physically see these as the Iphone is that much bigger than the Touch. I'm wondering how much I will notice this.
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The reason why CNET gave the iphone a higher score is because iphone was reviewed a few months sooner than the HTC Touch Diamond.
Iphone still has to maintain it's score, otherwise changing scores would mean that in a hundred years, the iphone 3g's score would be 1.5 out of 10, just because the new phone that came out a hundred years later is way better?
Put it in a context that makes sense, and you will see that cnet is atleast mildly reasonable.
Also, you can't just expect these two phones to compare, you have to compare to all phones of that category. A touch screen phone, and these phones aren't the only ones that exist right now. -
That's why we call it a review. We have to view it again and again and by comparing it with other reviews and reviews of other products with similar subject until you are comfortable with the result. It's a non scientific research. It's just opinion of others.
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Although in some cases CNET does tend to be bias toward hype, but a lot of times it is fairly accurate based on other aspects. True the Diamond has a plethora of features included integrally in addition to the customizable interface of WM6, but the comparisons are also being made to business devices such as blackberry, but also attempting to appeal to the non-smartphone aquainted consumer. The iPhone user interface and app store is so simple and intuitive that probably adds the high feature rating. The diamond however isn't the most remedial device and does take a little more technical prowess to take control of the full functionality. Design can go both ways on personal preference, though I probably would've gave it a seven too because of the lack of any other jack besides a mini usb. Since it is a little more media heavy to appeal to the normal consumer a standard 3.5 mm jack would almost have been expected if it wasn't for HTC's pattern of phones. Just a thought :)
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i cant agree with you more i tried out the diamond at the sprint store and i thought wow this device is amazing the only possible cons are no real keyboard no expandable memory and no flash... but thats on the touch pro! im n a business user but i am pumped for the pro
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I totally agree..
CNet's reviews are terrible and misleading... -
way too many of cnet's reviews are way too "powder puff" as someone else here put it... "Oh look, it has a pink button on it" The same goes for a lot of the videos... you really wonder where they find those people...
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I totally agree man. Bonnie probably uses iPhone. Hey Bonnie! Are you in love with iPhone?
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I agree - I have watched these Bonnie reviews for some years - they're bizzare - ARE YOU KIDDING????? This is a technical reviewer???!!!!! I feel like I am watching a review of a purse on the Fashion Channel - "Well, it has this and this and this".....Hmmm, I would have never figured that out by myself - yes, it has keys, and hmm, a camera on the back.Tthe keyboard slides out - wow, what an insight. These reviews are so powder-puff and useless. I go right to the user reviews to find out real details about features and performance, rather than an description of what the device "looks like" coming out the box. Gee Bonnie, how about "I've used this device for 3 days/3 weeks and compared to the other two/four phones that my readers are considering buying - here's what I see - speed of interface, ease of use, productivity features, the quality of the microphone/speaker/ear piece, the size and feel of the keys, the speed - quality - depth of the screen, etc., etc.
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I agree with you. I've wondered the review methods for smart phones and pda's for awhile. I think it's a lack of unbiased reviewing, as well as unstructured rating policy, etc.
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That's why there are user reviews, which I trust more. There will always be biased reviews by one single person like in this cnet review. Just be glad people like cardfan1212 and others like them take the time to write good reviews for us :)
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I totally concur with all you've said in your speak time here. CNET is being BIAS toward the iPhone, I have no mess with APPLE just saying c'mon CNET get to the point with the review, BOnnie Cha is geared towards the Apple phone more on this, HTC made a smaller, more effective phone than the iPhone will be for awhile.
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Bonnie Cha is CNET. The CNET rating is based on the review of one of their editors. Bonnie Cha may only be "One Darn Opinion", but it is the only one CNET will give you on this phone. And I would have to agree, they seem a bit low from what the phone seems to offer.
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This isn't 'CNET's review', this is Bonnie Cha's review. 1 darn opinion.
HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint):
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