The New York Times has reviewed the new Danger cell phone, under the name of T-Mobile, the cellular operator that will offer it this fall. (The illustration comes from the Times' story.)

The new device carries the name Sidekick II, and the Times likes it.

I don't. Here's why.

1. The marketing is all wrong. They're going after young gadget freaks. If this isn't a serious business tool, what is it?
2. Everything remains proprietary. What happened to the idea of building something open so people other than you can improve it and make it really useful? What is this, a Cromemco?
3. I am glad they gave the @ sign its own key, but don't pretend you have a keyboard when the thing is too small for a mouse to touch-type on.
4. How do I move data between this and, say, my PC or PDA? Oh, a program that works on PCs only, and due months from now?
5. Oh, goody, you can do multiple IM sessions at once. On WHAT KEYBOARD?
6. No touchscreen. Input is limited to a Blackberry-like thumb dial and a few buttons.
7. The camera is standard cell phone fare. Snapshots only, please.

I really shouldn't dump on the device like this. I know that the chips available next year will blow this device away. And I know that Danger, the designer, could use those chips to create dramatic improvements.

But a device that's closed, that doesn't know what it is, that costs $300 and will be obsolete in a year...sorry I can't recommend it.

But nice try. Now, what does Bozo have for almost winners? I know, how about a Cromemco? (There it is, above, from TrailingEdge. And thanks for playing our game.)