Originally Posted By: drakino
Looking at the keyboard and knowing if I'm in symbol or orange mode doesn't help to find the ~ \ [ } < or |.

Okay, I might be able to give you that, but the iPhone doesn't show every single symbol either, just a few additional ones. And other keyboards like the G1 have those symbols (heck, mine even has symbols for Pounds and Euros).

Besides, that was only half of Tony's statement. He also said that smartphones (other than the iPhone, of course!) don't give any indication as to what mode you're in. Clearly, we've had a Treo/Pre owner chime in and say that this isn't the case on the Pre. My Curve shows which mode you're in on the top right (it indicates symbol mode, shift, caps lock, and symbol lock). My G1 is more subtle, and just changes the cursor, using a carrot on the bottom or top depending on the mode (I can't remember which is which at the moment).
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Matt