I like the dual sliders and the keyboard… at least typing text is a lot faster (and a lot less annoying) than using the number pad. I like that I can use the Ocean for both text messages (SMS) and instant messaging (AIM/ICQ, MSN, YIM). I don’t like that so far I haven’t found a way to have the phone notify me when somebody comes online. Oh well, I can’t have everything. :-)

I believe this kind of device is just the beginning… I think they’re going to be much more powerful and useful in the near future. Well, that is hardly a risky prediction… but hopefully it will be easy to write custom programs for them, too. :-) (Chicken on the Ocean… bad puns like Chicken of the Sea come to mind… hmm…)

Update 2008-03-25: According to the Ocean user’s manual, the battery life (when used) is “up to 360 minutes”… which is really unacceptably low. Who wants a phone that needs charging every 6 hours?! (Apparently there’s a reason that there are 4 products in the Helio store that deal with “keeping your Helio juiced”.) Hopefully there are better batteries available out there; I’m going to look around.