Most Windows Phone 7 devices are almost identical when it comes to software, but there certainly isn't a lack of hardware variety. So far we've seen an ultra-light slab phone (Samsung Focus), one with a slide-out speaker (HTC Surround), a big-screen monster with a kickstand (HTC HD7), and a Motorola Droid-style slider (LG Quantum). The Dell Venue Pro ($99 on contract with T-Mobile) adds yet another variation to the mix: a vertical slider design that's easily one of the most beautiful gadgets the company has made. With its ultra-bright AMOLED screen and plump backlit keyboard, the Venue Pro gives Microsoft's slick and highly customizable OS an executive-class sheen. Keep on reading to find out if this hardware-software combo has what it takes to stand out.
Design
After picking up the Dell Venue Pro we could immediately tell that its design is a cut above most smart phones. From the rubberized top and bottom to the chrome accents on the sides to the subtly curved Gorilla Glass display, this device screams luxury. We especially like the attention to detail, such as the textured diamond pattern on the black back cover. This pattern changes to silver on the top half of the phone when slid up.
The top half of the Venue Pro houses a headphone jack on the left and the power button on the right, which is not only recessed but positioned on a downward slope. This makes waking the phone unnecessarily difficult. Two large silver volume buttons and a camera button line the right side, and on the bottom you'll find stereo speakers and the microUSB port.
While the Venue Pro's heft is a telltale sign of its high quality, its presence was felt in our pocket. Measuring 4.8 x 2.5 x 0.6 inches and weighing 6.8 ounces, this smart phone has the same thickness but weighs much more than the LG Quantum (6.2 ounces), which also has a slide-out keyboard. The HTC HD7, which has a larger but inferior 4.3-inch display, weighs 5.7 ounces. The Samsung Focus, which has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen but no keyboard, only weighs 4.1 ounces.
Display
Another major selling point of the Venue Pro is its gorgeous 4.1-inch AMOLED display (800 x 480 pixels). As with the Samsung Focus, colors are quite rich and contrast is sky high, which makes everything from photos and videos to the tiled interface really pop. The curved display limits viewing angles somewhat, but they're still better than the HD7.
Keyboard
The Venue Pro smoothly slides open to reveal the keyboard, which ends with a satisfying click. As far as sliders go, this is one of the better layouts we've laid our thumbs on. While packed tightly together, the evenly backlit keys are plump enough to provide satisfying tactile feedback, beating out the BlackBerry Torch. We appreciate the dedicated .com key, but we'd also prefer a dedicated @ key instead of having to press FN first. This could easily replace the marginally useful emoticon shortcut key.
In our testing we banged out e-mail replies fairly quickly and accurately using the physical QWERTY, but Windows Phone 7 benefits from one of the best touch keyboards around. We typed faster when using just the display, even though we made a few more errors. You'll have to really like physical keys to justify carrying around the Venue Pro's extra weight.
