Keyboards: Physical vs Virtual
I see the old debate between physical and virtual keyboards is still alive and well. The latest discussions seem to center around the Moto Droid and the HTC Incredible. Here's the way I see it: It's all in what you get used to. I totally understand why some people prefer a physical keyboard. I get it. But I don't like them. They make the phone thicker, they make the phone feel cheaper because of the "play" at the hinge or slider, and I find some are just plain hard to type on.
My current phone is a LG Dare. I have gotten so used to typing on it's virtual keyboard that I have zero problems with it. My wife (who has a LG env2) can't stand typing on my phone. She's not used to it.
The way I see it, since anyone can get used to ...
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My current phone is a LG Dare. I have gotten so used to typing on it's virtual keyboard that I have zero problems with it. My wife (who has a LG env2) can't stand typing on my phone. She's not used to it.
The way I see it, since anyone can get used to ...
(continues)
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My issue is different. I like physical keyboards, but finding one I like on a model I like is difficult.
My basis for keyboards is the Motorola Q. I loved that phone, treated it well, maintained it well, and never had problems with it.
I used to jokingly refer to the keys as "tic tacs on my phone." But, the keys fit me perfectly. I could type with such speed that I've never seen anything else come close to duplicating it.
I prefer a slim vertically-oriented keyboard with tall keys and separations between them. The closest thing sold right now to my preferred keyboard style is the Palm Pixi. If someone made a phone like that but with Android on it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
A couple things bother me:
Keys placed directly n...
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My basis for keyboards is the Motorola Q. I loved that phone, treated it well, maintained it well, and never had problems with it.
I used to jokingly refer to the keys as "tic tacs on my phone." But, the keys fit me perfectly. I could type with such speed that I've never seen anything else come close to duplicating it.
I prefer a slim vertically-oriented keyboard with tall keys and separations between them. The closest thing sold right now to my preferred keyboard style is the Palm Pixi. If someone made a phone like that but with Android on it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
A couple things bother me:
Keys placed directly n...
(continues)
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I agree about the design of a physical keyboard making a big difference. My wife's env2 seems ok (I could get used to it) but others I've held seemed really awkward.
Like I said earlier, I honestly think my biggest issue with a physical keyboard is what it does to the over-all phone body. It's like my new TV; I recently got a new TV with internet aps. Because of the aps, the TV comes with a bluetooth remote with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It works great and it's nice to have for typing, but it makes the remote feel thick and kinda flimsy. If I don't need the keyboard and I'm just changing channells, I can feel it trying to slide open slightly if I hold it a certain way. That's kinda what bothers me about keyboards on phones too.
Like I said earlier, I honestly think my biggest issue with a physical keyboard is what it does to the over-all phone body. It's like my new TV; I recently got a new TV with internet aps. Because of the aps, the TV comes with a bluetooth remote with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It works great and it's nice to have for typing, but it makes the remote feel thick and kinda flimsy. If I don't need the keyboard and I'm just changing channells, I can feel it trying to slide open slightly if I hold it a certain way. That's kinda what bothers me about keyboards on phones too.
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I agree the keyboard makes a big deal.
I have the moto Droid now and I rarely use the physical keyboard since my big fingers hit the wrong key 50% of the time. In fact I use the physical keyboard only when I need to use the square pad to navigate on a web page and enter info in specific fields on the web page.
I use the Bank of America widget to get on-line and use the virtual keyboard to type my user name and password.
I use the virtual keyboard a lot since the predictive texts are accurate 85+% of the time and I can hit the space bar (virtual of course) when the highlighted word is the one I mean to use. I can type the 1st 3 or 4 letters in a 7-10 letter word and it predicts it so well that I can hit the space bar or the correct...
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I have the moto Droid now and I rarely use the physical keyboard since my big fingers hit the wrong key 50% of the time. In fact I use the physical keyboard only when I need to use the square pad to navigate on a web page and enter info in specific fields on the web page.
I use the Bank of America widget to get on-line and use the virtual keyboard to type my user name and password.
I use the virtual keyboard a lot since the predictive texts are accurate 85+% of the time and I can hit the space bar (virtual of course) when the highlighted word is the one I mean to use. I can type the 1st 3 or 4 letters in a 7-10 letter word and it predicts it so well that I can hit the space bar or the correct...
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akidwai said:
Now if the Droid ever marries the LG Voyager, I will invite myself to the wedding even if I do not get an invitation. 🤣
lol, good point. i personally like the physical keyboard on the DROID. to me it was easier cos all i had to do was tap lightly, reminds me of my VAIO's layout. the only thing that bothers me is the d-pad, if it wasn't there the DROID's keyboard would be just right.
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Yeah, I like the Droid's keyboard just fine also. This is my first qwerty slideout smartphone, I've had my Droid for 6wks now.
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Did you get the new Vizio tv? I've been considering the 47". They sell it @ Costco.
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hrmles1 said:Yup...that's the one. I got mine from Sam's Club for $1387. I got the 47" also. The picture is amazing. The LED backlighting gives a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. I LOVE it. Zero regrets. Just be careful that the one you get has the internet aps (if you want them). Vizio has two versions of the same TV. The ONLY difference is that one has the internet aps and the other doesn't. Even the model numbers are super-close. You have to watch.
Did you get the new Vizio tv? I've been considering the 47". They sell it @ Costco.
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Thanks for the info! Costco has the 47" with built in wi-fi for $1350 minus $181 instant rebate. For me that would be $1350 plus 10.25% sales tax totaling: $1488.38 minus the $181 for a total cost of $1307.38. How is the internet access? Some reviews have said that it's slow. Have you streamed any videos? Thanks!
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I like the internet aps. I was able to move my Roku box to a different TV because Netflix works great on the new Vizio ap. I recently streamed Sherlock Holmes in full 1080p to it using Vudu and it was perfect. I should tell you that I am not using the built-in "N" Wifi. I have mine hardwired with a cat6 network cable directly to my router. I highly recommend the TV. I have three other HDTVs and this one blows them all away by a mile.
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Thanks so much Matt for the information. Sorry to the others for hijacking the thread!! :-)
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I don't understand what you mean by "matrix style keyboard" and "Blitz-style keybard.
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Two mixed analogies.
Matrix = math term. Row and column format. Four by six format. Like what the blackberry uses.
Blitz = crappy full keyboard phone on Verizon that would have been in the "feature" category.
Matrix = math term. Row and column format. Four by six format. Like what the blackberry uses.
Blitz = crappy full keyboard phone on Verizon that would have been in the "feature" category.
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I used to have a flip phone. Then a palm treo. then a flip. now an all touch.
You adapt. Takes some time, but it happens.
Some people value a physical keyboard over latest/greatest/fastest. Some value speed.
*Shrug*
In the end... as long as there is a dearth of options - and thankfully with Android we have that - everyone should be happy.
You adapt. Takes some time, but it happens.
Some people value a physical keyboard over latest/greatest/fastest. Some value speed.
*Shrug*
In the end... as long as there is a dearth of options - and thankfully with Android we have that - everyone should be happy.
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I like my physical keyboard. I also like my virtual keyboard. I'm more accurate on physical, so I use that one. I've no problems with using my girlfriend's Hero and its virtual keyboard.
Adapt, mortals!
Adapt, mortals!
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Ever tried playing Android Angband on an all-touchscreen phone?
Probably the only case I can think of where physical keyboard stomps virtual. 🤤
Probably the only case I can think of where physical keyboard stomps virtual. 🤤
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I just tried looking "Android Angband" in the market, and no results came up. What's the deal?
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I LOVE the keyboard on my Pixi. I had a virtual keypad before and grew sooooo tired of the touchscrren for typing. IMHO, The virtual isn't as accurate or as fast.
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Each person has their preference. I prefer the physical keyboards because I can easily type what I need to type. I find on virtual keyboards (touchscreens) that I either press too soft or too hard. I find that I would most likely break my touchscreen phone because I would be pressing the screen too hard to do any typing.
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I'm not sure about all touchscreens, but with my LG Dare it's a very light touch. You do have to press, but not hard. Plus it has the "haptic feedback" feature so it vibrates slightly with each keypress. I like that. Like I said, I could get used to either way. I just prefer a phone body without a physical keyboard.
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When I type, I slide my fingers across the keyboard. That is why touchscreens don't work for me. I also prefer the point & click method of browsing rather than touching something onscreen as I have very large fingers.
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I've used it briefly. It's fantastic. Not quite as good (imo) as Smart keyboard pro ($4 on the market) but def. the best stock keyboard I've used.
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Thanks for the feedback Menno. I have an ipod touch and was thinking that if any of the new phones virtual are as horrible as the touch's I in trouble with my fat fingers.
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