Last year, I found out about a new gadget called Peek.  It piqued (sorry, couldn’t help it) my interest, and I wondered why anyone would choose it over an iPhone or other smartphone.  It seemed (and still does) that there are so many more benefits to having a smartphone, one of them being that you have access to many apps that can help you stay organized and manage your life.

So, I contacted the company in December to request an interview and to hear why they think it’s a better choice.  So far, no one has gotten back to me but they did send me one of their products to test.

Here’s a run down of my experience with TwitterPeek…

Pros

1. Shipping. TwitterPeek arrived quickly!  I was impressed by how fast it was delivered, though the plastic packaging was already open.  I assumed this was because it was a test model and wasn’t too concerned.

2. Familiar Look. The Peek has the look of a BlackBerry with a keyboard and scroll wheel.

3. Function & Ease of Use. I really liked some key things about this device.

a. Power Button. The power button was easy find and the battery cover didn’t require a crowbar to get it open.

b. Back button. Love this!  It’s the little things, yes? =)  It was great having a button dedicated to going back to the previous screen…efficient and easy to use.

c. Scroll Wheel. I liked that the scroll wheel did what it was supposed to do – let you move down the screen – and, if you pushed it in, you would advance to the next screen or see a list commands to choose from.

4.  Portability. It is super lightweight and can easily be stored in a purse or pocket.  It’s slim profile makes it easy to carry.

5. Customer Service. When I took their offer to test out the product, I received a quick and enthusiastic e-mail with instructions on what to do once I got the device.  The folks at Peek were also responsive (mostly) when I ran into a few problems, but more on that later.

Cons

1. Overall Function. I got half way through the registration process and it stalled. It wouldn’t accept the most crucial piece of information:  my Twitter user name and password.  I tried for several days to get it to work (and again last night), but no luck.

2. Customer Service. As I mentioned before, I contacted Peek on Twitter and each time got a response.  They checked with the carrier who said that it may be due to a “coverage issue.”  They also said it could be that the “SIM was disconnected.” The problem here is that they stopped following up with me.  I realized that each time they contacted me, it was as a result of me following up and asking for more help.  When I stopped sending them inquiries, they dropped the ball.  The last response I got was on December 14th…and that e-mail request for an interview on December 3rd – still waiting to hear back.

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Final Word

While I love it’s cool buttons and it looks, the fact that it didn’t work trumped all it’s positives.  There was no way for me to really see why this device would be the picked over a smartphone.  Yes, it’s cute, but entrepreneurs need more than cute.  Perhaps it’s a less expensive option, but I’d rather spend more for function and figure out how cut costs elsewhere.  If you’re using one – and love it – please tell me why because I just don’t get it.

Sorry, TwitterPeak. You #Fail.