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I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
chefgon said:
I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
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Not to mention times when you want to type but you aren't in the OS environment (like recovery terminal).
I definitely miss it. But, I got this free Google Ion phone, so it's obviously fun. But the battery is YARDS better than the old battery. This one is 1340mAH, so obviously it'll last a lot longer.
oxeneers said:
I definitely miss it. But, I got this free Google Ion phone, so it's obviously fun. But the battery is YARDS better than the old battery. This one is 1340mAH, so obviously it'll last a lot longer.
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Click to collapse
You bastard.
You're one of the lucky IO attendants? I envy you.
if someone asked me to trade my G1 for a Magic I would have to say no...because I adore my physical keyboard...
The reason for me to buy the G1 and not to wait for the Magic was... I think you already know it: the physical keyboard.
A friend of mine owns an IPhone and I tried and tried and cant get used to the virtual keyboard.
I'm able to type nearly blind on the physical one... show me how you do that on the virtual one.
I remember on my first touch screen phone (mda compact) actually having to explain to somebody that you touched the screen the dial. ;-) Often wonder how I survived on that phone, fortunately it had a good dial pad input with T9.
Yep, lets face it, if Apple did a iphone with a proper keyboard a lot of people would buy it in an instant, (heresy I know!)
I'm always surprised that nobody has attempted to copy/license the keyboard of the Psion 5mx.
Proper keyboards are for people who actually use their phones for communication longer than a txt message. But there is also a significant proportion of the market that just txt, thus hopefully there will always be two categories of phone.
I agree. I love having the newest, coolest, most awesome device on the market, but if it doesn't have a physical keyboard, it gets immediately dumped from possibility.
chefgon said:
I was tossing around the idea of getting an HTC Magic when it comes out on T-Mobile just because it looks really slick, but now that I've finally got Android 1.5 installed on my G1 and I've had some good time to get used to the Virtual Keyboard I'm totally relieved that I don't have to rely on it.
I don't know how the iPhone people do it, I just can't imagine ever getting half as fast on a Virtual Keyboard as I am with the G1's physical keyboard. It's just cumbersome and difficult, and requires a level of concentration to type that I just don't have to use on real keys. It gets the job done, and the auto-complete suggestions are pretty intelligent, but it's just damn hard to use compared to the real keyboard. If it was all I had I would get fed up with it and just wait until I can use my laptop to compose a longer email.
I hope we continue to see a lot more phones with keyboards, because right now they seem to be the exception, and I'm afraid my upgrade options will be limited because so many of the big Android phones coming out are touchscreen-only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I hate the g1 keyboard but I need it and the on screen one as well.
totally. a physical keyboard is what makes this smartphone basically a laptop in my hands. i just hope that we get a hardware refresh with new chipsets and hopefully an internal ati gpu backend for media. "HTC DREAM 2 - the clunky old bastard is back with a fresh new look"
haha no physical keyboard. hey how do you like playing the nes, snes, sega emulators? OH WAIT, YOU DONT! hahahaha.
That is the SOLE reason I will never own a Magic. I was so excited when I first about the g2, but I was hoping against hope that it would have a physical keyboard. They should totally manufacture it both ways!
My G1 is the first phone ive had with a physical qwerty keyboard. I now know that i will not ever buy another phone without one.
Im happy with my phone for now but i am getting a bit of jealousy looking at that new Samsung jobbie - please Samsung, make one with a qwerty!
my pros and cons of the virtual and physical keyboard
Virtual Win:
Nice to have a quick keyboard to type like a 4 letter txt or something
Virtual Lose:
no matter how hard i try i cannot get this to type at my speed. tried 1.5 stock keyboard, chompsms', and betterkeyboard
BRING BACK CHOMP'S VIRTUAL KEYBOARD PRE CUPCAKE, that was the best
Physical Win: keeps up to my speed, need i say more?
Physical Lose: i have a paranoia that if i slide it out enough, itll eventually break
I'd like an upgraded g1 with more ram and a faster processor, as long as the hardware keeps up to date i would own a g1 for life, obviously i'm in agreement with the physical keyboard.
I'm looking at the samsung with android but no physical keyboard only downfall...sooo...i'll have to wait for an upgraded g1....and i'm thinking about doing some sodering myself to see what i can accomplish....
I've switched to Magic from G1 because the build of the slide out keyboard is just too scary for me - the chance of the ribbon pulling out, the wobbliness of the keyboard, the tiny hinge it all rests on...
It's always going to be apples and oranges with hard and soft keyboards. Some are happier with hard keys and others with Soft.
For me personally, the extra memory, and much better battery life, and whizzy fast ROM (I have a google ion Dev Phone) combined with a really solid feeling, slick fone that feels fabulous to hold are the reason why I ADORE my Magic, and no, I'm personally not missing the physical keyboard at all - I have the HTC keyboard installed as an extra keyboard and can swap between the standard and HTC ones. I can type as fast as I need to for using my phone, and I love the predictive text and user dictionaries.
For me, it's a Fone first and foremost, and as such the lighter and slicker magic is the one I prefer to the chunkier clunkier G1. I have a netbook, laptop and PC to do all the other stuff (LOL because I'm a Gadget Addict..)
Erm LOL but having said that, the G1 is a brilliant handset and if anyone wants a very well looked after rooted G1 then check out my sig...
Dayz xx
I strongly favor a hardware keyboard. The ability for me to do administration at any time is very important to me and this is simply not practical with the virtual KB (VKB). Connectbot does not seem to let the VKB be used for terminal (though you can type in your password with it). I have never tried using remote with the VKB but I can not see that working well either.
I also leave my gtalk on my phone all the time so type a lot. For short messages the VKB is fine but the hardware KB is better, especially when you are typing more than a few words.
If donut includes the HID profile for bluetooth though the landscape changes. At that stage the Samsung i7500 is tempting with a stowaway BT keyboard. The downside to that is the Samsung is not an HTC device thus no custom ROMS on XDA. XDA-dev is half the reason I have stuck with HTC devices for the last few years.
I need alternatives! Or I will very soon be launching this POS out of a top story window or stamping on it.
The keyboard is completely blinking useless.
The keys are too close together.
The auto spell is absolutely awful and doesn't learn.
it doesn't put a capital at the beginning of new sentences.
You also can't type at any speed since if you don't lift your finger directly upwards after selecting a letter, the drag motion across will select the letter to it's side. It so frustrating I don't want to use the phone for anything involving text input. Period.
I had an 3G before, which with a smaller & lower res screen manages to excel at text input. How have HTC managed to completely screwed this most basic and important feature up?!
Are there any other keyboards one can install over this [email protected]? Oh, and before someone mentions anything about installing the reduced sensitivity .cab - I have. I have been using it for a week and it's still an unusable POS!
I love the phone but I cannot live with this any longer. If no proper solutions are available then it's going back, just hopefully before it's in tiny bits!
I hear you man lol lol lol.
I cringe when I hear an incoming text message alert.....because it means I have to deal with typing a reply.....and then having to correct every single word I type. It's sooo tedious and I came from another touch-screen phone, so it isn't like I don't know what I'm doing.
Its odd, the same keyboard is fine on the HD, but not on the HD2. I use the phone pad option with xT9 on, it works really well for me
The problem with the HD2 keyboard is that it takes the last key you touched not the first on. So if you you press on A and moved to L without removing your finger, it will take L. This is really weird...because most of the time after pressing on the key you want while removing your finger you accidentally touch another one due to the limited space available between keys...
Try Touchpal, works with great accuracy and learns as you type new words. They have also emailed me to say that they will be updating software for phones with bigger screens such as the HD2.
You can try before you buy, just do a search on google. If you do buy the software, make a request as the more requests they get, the sooner they will probably make an updated release.
Also as a side note, I don't think the original keyboard is as bad as you have described as I seem to be able to use it fairly accurately though I do agree they could have done a better job.
personally I use touchpal, but you might like resco keyboard, it has much more spacing.
I have to totally agree with you. I have went this year from an Iphone 3G, to a hero, now to an HD2, and the text input is way way worse on the HD2. I find the blooming delete key is the worst offender, seems to type m or n, or for that matter any other letter, really annoying. I have also aligned the screen, many many times, and installed the .cab mentioned earlier, not better. .I Love the hardware, but hate the software, so debating putting it on flebay and buying a 3GS, or even a Milestone (Droid), but am reluctant to do so in case it gets fixed. I emphasise also with the previous post, it has got to the point now, that if I need to reply to an email, and it will be more that a few words, if I am at home I will boot up my laptop to reply to the email, just so I dont end up throwing the HD2 out the window in frustration.
It's a fact. I miss my 3Gs keyboard. Although it was smaller, it was more precise and fast... and the "xT9" of it, worked way better as well. It seemed like I reads our mind
HastaSSSS
I've just downloaded the Resco keyboard and it seems much better....still not perfect but I think that's down to the sensitivity of the HD2 screen.
Does anyone know how to turn off the annoying Resco click every time I use to keyboard?
I'm not alone then!
Seriously, if nothing's done soon i'll end up being arrested for muttering profanities and expletives in public like a loony tune! I'll file another remark with HTC along with the dodgy camera (pink spot) complaint I made last week. Which, considering their insistence that it is a software problem, they are taking a long time to resolve!
Thanks for the heads up on the alternatives on the keyboards...I will give one of them a pop and if that doesn't work then i'll have to just get the quill and blotching paper out...i'd rather that than going back to an iPhone and there's nothing else out there that's even interesting, phone wise. (Droid's naff)
Cheers!
You might want to try Shapewriter, takes a little getting used to but it's been easier for me to use than any of the keyboards I've tried...
http://www.shapewriter.com/software.html
I agree the 3G/3Gs keyboard are more clever but that's only a software thing. It can be corrected on the HD2 but the question is will they?!
It was quite ironic that I was having the same problems as you all have but when I loaded CoPilot and used its own keyboard the accuracy was near the iphone standard! Makes me realise HTC are too blame for the in-accuracy and hope they correct it soon....
Sometimes trying to be different isn't always the best idea especially when Apple have at least got the keyboard right. Create something like CoPilot or the iPhone keyboard and we're all happy again.
s1rl4ncel0t said:
It's a fact. I miss my 3Gs keyboard. Although it was smaller, it was more precise and fast... and the "xT9" of it, worked way better as well. It seemed like I reads our mind
HastaSSSS
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Nothing wrong with it. I came from an iPhone and as such it took me some time to get used to the HD2's but I got there in the end. I still can't compose an email or text message as fast as I could on the iPhone but some people go on about the HD2's as if it's totally unusable which is frankly a pile of s**te. The key is not to rush.
I also dreaded the TXT alert.. I updated to a 148 rom using the sticky guide.. The HD2 has just earnt a stay of execution. Many times better than before, still not up to the iPhone standard, but then i doubt we will ever see this happen.
Blartiartfast said:
I also dreaded the TXT alert.. I updated to a 148 rom using the sticky guide.. The HD2 has just earnt a stay of execution. Many times better than before, still not up to the iPhone standard, but then i doubt we will ever see this happen.
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I don't see why you think that, there is no reason the HD2 can't have a keyboard identical in use to the iPhone.
Pagnell said:
Nothing wrong with it. I came from an iPhone and as such it took me some time to get used to the HD2's but I got there in the end. I still can't compose an email or text message as fast as I could on the iPhone but some people go on about the HD2's as if it's totally unusable which is frankly a pile of s**te. The key is not to rush.
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No, the keyboard is a pile of sh!te and you are definitely in the minority- the point is too build a keyboard on which that you can type quickly, accurately, precisely and without stress. Not one that you have to concentrate on every single keystroke on, and woe betide you if you have to use the dreaded delete key...mmmnlllllllnmmmmmmllll.
But hey, at least HTC have given us a big space bar and HUGE forward, up, down & backwards keys....phew, what would we do without them?!
Got my phone this morning and at first did struggle with the keyboard, but after a few hours I have absolutely no problems with it, typing's absolutely fine. I get the odd press wrong while navigating but I'm on target most of the time.
I agree, there is no reason why HTC can't improve the keyboard software and make it more accurate. If Apple can do it, HTC certainly can.....
Pagnell said:
I don't see why you think that, there is no reason the HD2 can't have a keyboard identical in use to the iPhone.
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chronicle said:
No, the keyboard is a pile of sh!te and you are definitely in the minority- the point is too build a keyboard on which that you can type quickly, accurately, precisely and without stress. Not one that you have to concentrate on every single keystroke on, and woe betide you if you have to use the dreaded delete key...mmmnlllllllnmmmmmmllll.
But hey, at least HTC have given us a big space bar and HUGE forward, up, down & backwards keys....phew, what would we do without them?!
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At the beginning of the thread, you asked for alternatives. Have you tried any of the suggestions people have made?
If none of those suit, you may be better off going back to the iPhone (where, you're right, the keyboard is great).
But I'm not sure I've ever seen an adult get so upset about something that's really not that bad, and certainly not worth getting that stressed over.
greatcapp said:
At the beginning of the thread, you asked for alternatives. Have you tried any of the suggestions people have made?
If none of those suit, you may be better off going back to the iPhone (where, you're right, the keyboard is great).
But I'm not sure I've ever seen an adult get so upset about something that's really not that bad, and certainly not worth getting that stressed over.
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Click to collapse
Yes well greatcapp, irony, SOH's, sarcasm, exagerations and frustrations don't translate well over forums! I'm pretty chilled now, since I haven't had to use the phone to a while
I have to disagree with you strongly - it IS that bad, and i'm pro WM and anti iPhone. I'm not bashing it to have a laugh, i'm bashing it because I want something done about it by HTC. If everyone just rolled over every time technology went backwards saying 'it's not that bad' and 'you get used to it' then we'd all end up back with a coke can and a bit of string!
HTC have had a VERY long time to get this right, Apple showed the industry the light and even HTC have managed much better keyboards with previous versions of their phones. This one needs some fuss kicked up about it to spur them into action.
It won't take much, just a million small tweaks here and there and this phone will be perfect
ps. I will have a go at one of the keyboard versions later, hope there's trails- I really don't want to waste any more money on software.
Just wondering if any of you nexus one owners happen to text frequently and if you have a hard time with the virtual keyboard. I can type at light speed on my G1 and frankly, the only thing that worries me about the nexus I ordered is not having this physical keyboard. So let's hear it. Is it awful, usable, good, or downright amazing?
That has been my largest worry as well. I'm a G1 user who is very fond of the hardware keyboard. However, I am forcing myself with the Nexus One to learn to love the Onscreen. It seemed like all the best and newer phones were not coming with keyboards, or when they did the keyboard was not very pleasant to use. At least once I(we) get over the hump of getting used to the onscreen with the N1 we can then go to ANY other android phone and be satisfied.
My Nexus One SHOULD be waiting for me on the counter when I get home... will pop my SIM in and away I go.
I'm in the same boat although I've noticed on my G1 I'm better with the HTC_IME keyboard than the stock. I'm hoping we can push the HTC_IME keyboard to the N1.
It's actually not as bad as i thought it would be. I wish it had the HTC IME, so I wouldn't have to click a button for numbers or exclamation points. FYI: I installed HTC IME, but it doesn't look that great on the screen.
I don't have a nexus one and part of the reason why I love my G1 is because of the physical keyboard and I also like the HTC IME over the android one by leaps and bounds. I am currently using "shapewriter" from the market and it took about a few days to get used to and see the benefits but since i got used to it, my texting is now almost twice as fast as the keyboard. I haven't used the keyboard for texting for a couple weeks now whereas before i would only use the keyboard during texts. Shapewriter is making me really consider getting a nexus.
The keyboard in landscape mode is great. Plus I've been using the voice input to send texts and its pretty accurate for the most part, awesome new feature. I'm not missing my G1 keyboard at all.
I'm sure the VK will be good. My G1 physical spacebar broke (go figure..) and I have been using the HTC_IME on it for months now :\. Can't wait for the N1 though. It should be here tomorrow
Glad to hear all that! I've switched to using on vk on my G1 to get ready lol. But unfortunately I'm using HTC_IME and it's awesome. I think cyanogen said he plans on porting the HTC_IME for nexus shortly. Let's keep our fingers crossed
Well I have never used the HTC IME and always had a hardware keyboard (except the Artemis where I used a stowaway bluetooth when heavy typing).
I can not type at the speed I could on the G1 keyboard but it is not bad. I do not like that I can not see my IMs/SMS when typing in landscape but the keyboard is good for the most part. In portrait mode I rely a lot more on autocorrect but mistakes are not terrible there either. Of course I have only been using an on screen keyboard for about 2 hours so hopefully with experience it will get easier. Even now though for texting where typos are not a huge concern it gets the job done.
It is a trade off, no hardware keyboard but it is very thin. I would have gone the other direction but I can understand the choice.
I went from a g1 to an iphone and really missed the keyboard. Once I got used to the iphone I was able to type quickly and accurately. I send/receive about 2200 texts a month so I would say I'm an avid texter (not a fan of talking except to certain people).
I expect the n1 to be similar to the iphone in terms of texting.
matt_stang said:
Just wondering if any of you nexus one owners happen to text frequently and if you have a hard time with the virtual keyboard. I can type at light speed on my G1 and frankly, the only thing that worries me about the nexus I ordered is not having this physical keyboard. So let's hear it. Is it awful, usable, good, or downright amazing?
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Click to collapse
I send about 2K-3K texts a month in addition to my email, Web browsing and other keyboard use. The physical keyboard was a must for me for years. Two months ago I traded one of my G1s for a myTouch. I decided to play with the myTouch and then ended up using it. While I sometimes miss the keyboard I got very used to the onscreen keyboard. Now that I have the N1 I can say that I don't miss the keyboard at all. Besides, with ShapeWriter (simply amazing) and Swype (haven't tried it yet but will now that I have an N1), onscreen keyboards are very good.
So far, I have found that using speaking to send the texts are remarkably easy and accurate. I have a feeling I will be doing a lot of speaking to "type" my texts.
The VK isn't that bad though... seems really accurate and there is no lag so its easy to deal with.
Speech to text has removed my need for keyboard use of anykind at home/work/walking.
On screen is accurate enough not to annoy me when speaking out loud would look weird.
I would try better keyboard if default is no good. User dictionary is a must.
I was really worried about this, too -- I got really used to the physical keyboard on my G1 and was really fast at it, although I sometimes used the HTC IME (the Android one sucks).
Now that I have my N1, I'm finding that both Swype and ShapeWriter are AMAZING and with them I can type nearly as fast as I could on a physical keyboard. Definitely give them a try.
i typed a couple hundred text messages yesterday without really any issues, and i come from the ultimate text whore from the Bold 9700 but i had the mt3g b4 then so im not a total noob haha
mlevin said:
I was really worried about this, too -- I got really used to the physical keyboard on my G1 and was really fast at it, although I sometimes used the HTC IME (the Android one sucks).
Now that I have my N1, I'm finding that both Swype and ShapeWriter are AMAZING and with them I can type nearly as fast as I could on a physical keyboard. Definitely give them a try.
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Click to collapse
I have to agree with you about Swype. I've not owned a phone without a physical keyboard since before 2005 and I was worried about the N1 not having a physical keyboard as I'm a big texter/GTalker. The standard keyboard is 'OK' but Swype is pretty damn good. It takes a little getting used to but when you've learned the basics, you get pretty quick at typing out long texts/messages.
Can I ask if it's the beta that was released for the Droid that you're using? I get a silly message box every time I switch to landscape or open the camera app.
Every phone I've owned has had a physical keyboard until my MyTouch, although I still used my G1 as my main line, but I can say that while I would prefer a physical keyboard, I don't really miss it. The screens big enough that it's really easy to type, I use Better Keyboard which doesn't have the voice key, but I'm not that interested in the voice typing. I'm not having any problems or regrets though.
When using this phone in landscape mode, I type as fast and accurately as I did with my Tmo wing. It's very responsive and the keyboard is plenty big.
The HTC keyboard does work on the nexus one, the person on this video has it running
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB8Xv3qpEDs
Almost all my phones have had physical keyboards and i text a lot... I've been using the nexus one for only about a day now and the keyboard is OK but... sometimes it doesn't register keys. I don't know if it has to due with the lack of multi touch but it doesn't catch some of my button presses especially space bar.
i owned an iphone for about 4 months and while I'm not a huge fan of the iphone I have to admit that their virtual keyboard works a LOT better...
I could be persuaded to use this instead?
Whats the on-screen keyboard like? I know the screen is HUGE so i'm guessing the on-screen is fairly big? I need to be able to type fairly fast for taking notes in meetings etc and this is why I normaly buy phones with keyboards.
Thanks!!!
(please be honest, i'm about to spend £400 on this and I don't want that to be a waste of money)
The onscreen keyboard is good, but don't expect magic - if you feel you need a hardware keyboard then you will most likely be disappointed with what the HD2 offers.
In all fairness I never owned a WM phone with a full hardware keyboard, but I still make mistakes on the HD2's virtual keyboard same as I did with the virtual keyboard on my previous phone - so my conclusion is that it's not perfect.
Personally, I find FingerKeyboard better than HTC's anyway, I use that most of the time. Swype is good as well for accuracy but I find typing stuff is a bit slow because you're having to swipe your finger across a huge screen without lifting off to enter words.
I normally prefer hardware keyboards, however I have found that the HD2's screen is fairly large enough to work with. Also, use XT9 and go at it like you don't care if you misspell words, generally it will auto-correct you fairly well.
I personally prefer touchscreen keyboards rather than hardware keybaords, I find hardware keyboards a bit fidly to use.
The HD2 keyboard is pretty good, I think it's as good as the one on iphone, which I have just come from. The keyboard automatically corrects the majority of your mistakes, but you will still make the odd one. However, I also make the odd mistake using any keyboard, such as my laptop. In fact I probably make more errors typing on a PC/laptop keyboard as there is no auto correct function.
there's a thread about this on here somewhere with a lot of people complaining about the keyboard. it seems you either love it or really hate it. I would suggest going in a shop and ask to try it before you buy it. me personally I think its fine but don't take mine or anyone else's word for it, like I said a lot of people hate it, WITH A PASSION!
I owned a touch pro 2, which has the best hardware keyboard out there, and sure i was afraid i'll lose that sweat keyboard, but in the end i can say that i'm happy with the hd2's keyboard. Sure, i'm not as fast as i used to be on my tp2 but still...
I think you will be fine.
I've always had a HW keyboard since 2005, but after a few weeks practice with Swype, I'm very fast and more than happy given it means my phone is much thinner.
thanks for all input guys, very much appreciated!
Some touchscreen keyboards are ok, some are usable and some are good. Don't think that because a touchscreen keyboard on X device is good, therefore the HD2's will be good too. It isn't. It's a pig of a keyboard. Typing on it is one of the most frustrating tasks known to man. Sure it's a great device but you're asking specifically about typing on it.....and typing on it is horrendous. YMMV.
I can Swype faster than a HW keyboard
eskasi said:
I can Swype faster than a HW keyboard
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Click to collapse
A lot of people prefer to type rather than sliding their fingers around in a whole new style. It shouldn't be necessary that we have to install new keyboards and get used to whole new styles of inputting text, just because the supplied keyboard isn't up to scratch. Personally I don't want to learn how to 'swype'.
Swype is the best solution for 1 handed typing. I dont see how its better than the regular keyboard unless you prefer to use 1 hand to type all the time.
sunking101 said:
A lot of people prefer to type rather than sliding their fingers around in a whole new style. It shouldn't be necessary that we have to install new keyboards and get used to whole new styles of inputting text, just because the supplied keyboard isn't up to scratch. Personally I don't want to learn how to 'swype'.
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Click to collapse
Jeez, lighten up - there's nothing to learn, you just swipe your finger on the letters and that's it. If I wanted to type 'jerk' I would put my finger on J, drag to E, then drag to R and finally drag to K and that's it.
Hardly involves a learning curve... plus, that's just one option. If you don't like HTC's keyboard try another normal QWERTY keyboard, nobody's forcing you to try one of these newfangled keyboards. FingerKeyboard is a standard one and works better than HTC's IMO.
I use the standard HTC keyboard. I grip the device with my palms and type using my thumbs. My hands are freaking huge.
I can get approx 30wpm.
The auto-correct feature is simply amazing
I just came from a TYTNII with Hardware keyboard and we VERY worried about getting the HD2 without a keyboard as i type e-mail and SMS from my phone regularly for work purposes. So my choices were the HD2 or Touch Pro 2... The HD2 just had WAY too many PROS compared to the Touch Pro 2, so i took the plunge and got the HD2 and resolved myself to if i can't type well enough, then i'll just put up with the frustration or wait till i get back to the office to reply. Well, i was pleasantly surprised and can type fairly fast, probably SLIGHTLY slower than the hardware keyboard. I also have FAT fingers. I think the capacitive screen and multi-touch work in its favor to make typing a bit better on this phone than a normal (old type) touch screen. So, all in all, VERY happy with the HD2 without hardware keyboard. Oh, and i type in PORTRAIT mode, not Landscape!!! If i could marry my HD2, i would!
stickydonkey said:
If i could marry my HD2, i would!
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Hmm, I think that's in legal in Kentucky actually.
Well, in my country, our president just married his 5th wife with another on the way. He now has 18 children (of his own)! There should be no problems marrying my HD2...
stickydonkey said:
I just came from a TYTNII with Hardware keyboard and we VERY worried about getting the HD2 without a keyboard as i type e-mail and SMS from my phone regularly for work purposes. So my choices were the HD2 or Touch Pro 2... The HD2 just had WAY too many PROS compared to the Touch Pro 2, so i took the plunge and got the HD2 and resolved myself to if i can't type well enough, then i'll just put up with the frustration or wait till i get back to the office to reply. Well, i was pleasantly surprised and can type fairly fast, probably SLIGHTLY slower than the hardware keyboard. I also have FAT fingers. I think the capacitive screen and multi-touch work in its favor to make typing a bit better on this phone than a normal (old type) touch screen. So, all in all, VERY happy with the HD2 without hardware keyboard. Oh, and i type in PORTRAIT mode, not Landscape!!! If i could marry my HD2, i would!
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He he nice! I love my HD2 too. I came from a Kaiser as well and my reservation was losing the superb hardware keyboard.
I found the HD2's standard keyboard flawed. The problem isn't the sensitivity as such but the fact that the keys are too small and close together. With an improved design it could be great.
BUT I found my solution, SWYPE! What a god send! I'm actually significantly faster with Swype than I was with my old Kaiser hardware keyboard. It really is that good. I am almost as fast as a PC keyboard.
And as for learning it, well it takes no time. I have demonstrated it to several people who have had a go and within a minute they are Oooing and arrring as they Swype words with ease. It's so intuitive there really is very little learning or adaptation required.
I'm on the edge of ordering the Nexus One, the only thing stopping me is the lack of the hardware keyboard, which I use a fair bit for texting and terminal/SSH tweakery.
How are you G1->N1 owners finding the switch?
I thought I would miss the keyboard more than I do so far.
The speech-to-text works surprisingly well for me. I do all of my IMing and emailing with it. The OSK is pretty usable too. The only change I've really had to make is replacing some of my SSH strong passwords with ones that are easier to type on the OSK.
While I came from a series of WM HTC phones with keyboards and not a G1, two days on the N1 and I dont really miss the physical board at all. Suprised myself really.
danguyf said:
The only change I've really had to make is replacing some of my SSH strong passwords with ones that are easier to type on the OSK.
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This!
Other than that, I don't mind the on screen keyboard at all (and I was really really worried when purchasing.
First of all let me say that i'm speaking into my phone. I think that i end up typing on about 80 percent speed compared to typing on my g 1 phone. with a bigger screen in the faster processor you really don't feel like you need a hardware keyboard. It's not as big of a jump to the virtual keyboard from hardware keyboard issue might suspect. voice recognition clearly works pretty well.
I came from the G1, and I don't miss the keyboard at all. I'm not really a heavy ssh user, but I text and email a lot. Not having any issues.
I will be the dissenting opinion here and say that I miss my hardware keyboard. Voice translation is all right but
- You look even more insane than talking while on a bluetooth headset.
- There are many situations where talking is not appropriate or practical. (class, quite car on a train, very noisy environment, etc...)
- I have had a few times where voice translation was unavailable even though I had a internet connection.
The on screen keyboard is good enough that I am willing to compromise and use it but that does not mean it is as good as the hardware keyboard. My typing speed is about 60-75% of what it was on the g1 but with more typos and the occasional word autocorrected to the wrong word.
So yes, i miss the hardware keyboard, but consider the other benefits gained to outweigh this loss.
i dont miss it at all
I went from a shadow to a regular $15 nokia to this.
I was wary of using a touch screen, but shapewriter helps alot. Give that a try.