[NTLK] Newton vs. Treo text input showdown!

From: Daedalus (daedalus_at_digitalinkwell.net)
Date: Tue Dec 30 2003 - 21:33:53 PST


NEWTON CURSIVE HANDWRITING RECOGNITION EDGES OUT TREO 600 THUMB-BOARD IN
SPEED CHALLENGE!

29 Dec. 2003, Madison, WI -- Today in an impromptu throw-down, two
recognized leaders in PDA text entry went head-to-head with hopes of
claiming the crown of Fastest Text Input. In one corner was Apple's
Newton-based MessagePad 2100 ... the long-standing champ of handwriting
recognition ... configured for cursive recognition and fine-tuned for
user Flyleaf. In the other corner, Nicholas and his modern marvel of
the QWERTY thumb-board, the Handspring Treo 600 ... bragging dome-shaped
keys for improved two-thumb data entry.

An independent judge selected a printed paragraph from an Adobe
Illustrator manual, which each contestant then had to transcribe in full
into their PDA. Within the span of six tense and thrilling minutes, the
race was complete.

The results:
NEWTON: 17 WPM
TREO 600: 16 WPM

(DISCLAIMER: Results may have been rounded to nearest whole number, to
make the win look more decisive. Also, five input errors may have been
overlooked.)

Sadly, both contestants were soundly defeated by the house pace-setter,
hunt-and-peck expert Bill, who averaged a handy 24 WPM.

Flyleaf then attempted to complete the race on his own with the Treo, and
clocked a meager 10 WPM.

As the sun set on this momentous challenge, both contestants were
reported to be complaining of hand and/or wrist discomfort.

So in case you were ever curious, now you know.

--------------------

The event was real, although names have been altered to protect the
guilty. Many thanks to Flyleaf for authoring and forwarding it to me and
allowing me to post it to NewtonTalk!

Daedalus
http://www.digitalinkwell.net/

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