I Want a QWERTY Keyboard Windows Phone

[SickFreak]

Something I just found out - Nokia did a poll to ask customer thier preferred input method.  Guess which one won?

http://www.zdnet.com/nokia-poll-finds-consumers-prefer-keyboards-on-smartphones-7000002547/

(Branched this post to this new discussion for better exposure..original thread too old)

Message was edited by: Verizon  Moderator (M)

[hopmedic]

Interesting.  I always loved using a hardware keyboard when I had Windows Mobile phones, but since I have had my Trophy, I've gotten used to the touchscreen, which, of course, with a capacitive screen, is MUCH more responsive than the resistive screens of the old Windows Mobile devices.  At this point, I'm not sure which one I could type faster on, though I do know one thing for sure.  I could type better without looking on a hardware keyboard - in situations where I needed to have my attention focused on something else, but taking notes for instance (no, not texting and driving - I do that by voice - thank you Mango ).  You really can't type without looking on a touch screen keyboard, but you can to at least some extent with a hardware keyboard.  Until they come up with raised bumps on the home keys on a touchscreen, at least.  The advantage for hardware may not be speed, but there are advantages.  Of this I have no doubt. 

I definitely would not use the hardware keyboard all the time, as opposed to what I would have told you a year and a half ago, but I would use it.

[SickFreak]

I've still got my Touch Pro 2 because there VZW has ignored the needs of a Windows Phone with a keyboard.  I use the hardware keyboard for almost everything when I have to type more than a few letters (texts, emails, etc.) and only use the onscreen keyboard for something very short.

I tried the Trophy for a week and dumped it - I just couldn't type very well on it.  My hands are so large that I just kept fumbling with it and it just plain didn't work for me.

Even if the OEM doesn't come out with phones with a slideout keyboard builtin, why can't they come out with an accessory like the BoxWave Keyboard Buddy - it just clips on like a case and has a keyboard?

[hopmedic]

Yeah, if you have large hands, I can totally understand - the Trophy is pretty small for someone with big hands.  Which makes me wonder about big people with iPhones.....  and that reminds me of the guy on these boards (I think it was here) a while back, who said, "I'm not going to get a phone as small as the Trophy!  I want a big phone, so I'm going to get the iPhone!"  My reply: "Yeah, the 3.5" iPhone is surely bigger than the 3.8" Trophy.  You've obviously done your homework."

Have you ever met Shawn Wildermuth (developer/educator/author)?  He's got pretty big hands, and he uses one of the bigger Windows phones. 

As far as hand size, I've got medium sized hands.  When it comes to going into the hardware store and buying work gloves, I have a hard time, because they always have more large gloves than anything else, and medium is what I need.  I wouldn't want to try a touch screen any smaller than the Trophy (and the iPhone prior to 5 - and for keyboard purposes the 5's keyboard is no wider - is smaller) but I can do well with the Trophy.  My dad has bigger hands, though, and I'm sure he wouldn't like it.

You bring up a good point that I hadn't thought of.

One more reason for VZW to bring us 920.  Big screen.

Message was edited by: hopmedic

[SickFreak]

No, I don't know who Shawn Wildermuth is, but I'm not a developer.

Big hands can be looked at different ways - long fingers or thick fingers or big palms, etc.  I've got it all.  I often have to special order my gloves because the stores (even the Big & Tall) don't have any my size.