How's the Typing / Keyboard?

**berdinkerdickle** · 06-22-2010, 04:23 PM

How's it working?

Too small?

One handed?

Predictive?

**wyountrx** · 06-22-2010, 06:30 PM

I'm a long-time Treo user and a physical keyboard has always stopped me in the past from getting a pure touch screen. However, I'm quite suprised at how well I've adapted. I've got relatively big hands so I do find typing landscape a little easier, but with the predictive typing i can plug along portrait without any problems for quick messages.

**berdinkerdickle** · 06-24-2010, 03:05 AM

Yes, I like static keyboards.

I went by my local Att just to give it a try, and they don't have it. :hmm:

**Kevin O'Quinn** · 06-25-2010, 02:16 PM

I used it briefly. I've had a Pre for a year, but when I picked up the Aria (only used it for like 2 minutes) I typed a short paragraph and only made 2 errors. My speed was about the same as the Pre. So either I'm in denial about the Pre keyboard or the Android keyboard is just that good. Or both.

**miki7** · 06-25-2010, 09:01 PM

I am having a horrible time with the keyboard! This is my first touch screen tho, and I think I need a physical board, but I am determined to give this a fighting chance.

**Go1denChi1d** · 06-25-2010, 09:29 PM

At first, it was a bit vexing to type in the portrait mode. This being my first true smartphone/touchscreen device it felt very cramped. After a day of messaging, IMing, and other what nots; I've become more used to keyboard. Though landscape mode is also a major plus!

**waltah#ac** · 06-25-2010, 10:15 PM

I haven't had any issues with the keyboard. I've learned to trust HTC's auto correct options and it's working out well.

**dandrumheller** · 06-27-2010, 09:40 PM

Having just come from a Bold 9700, and a pearl before that, I have to say I am very happily surprised by the keyboard on the Aria. I really liked suretype on the pearl, and never really got as fast on the 9700 as I was on the pearl - I was always 2-thumbing the Bold. I tend to fat-finger a lot, so I was expecting to need to use landscape keyboard on the Aria to keep the speed up, but have found this isn't the case. After 2 days with the Aria (my first device with touchscreen keyboard) I am faster than I was with the Bold after 9 months or so, and almost as fast as I was with the Pearl. I am mis-typing a lot on the Aria, but the auto-correct fixes me up about 95% of the time - I basically treat the portrait keyboard like suretype and hammer away. Using the Aria's keyboard has made me faster on my wife's iPhone, too :-)

DD

**REDDEVILVS AKA GLEN** · 06-28-2010, 03:17 PM

I have somewhat bigger fingers.....and am concerend about this decive with Texting and messaging.....When I went to try it at ATT store it wsnt that bad for me at all..What I did love was the Google voice option when generating a text you just speak with you want and it gets typed ! Pretty cool !!! Also works for web browsing..IE.. CNN.COM and it loads page....

Im coming fromSamsung Eternity for the last 2 years and that 3.2 screen didnt really cause me any issues.

**maevro#CB** · 06-30-2010, 08:31 AM

I used to be a rep for a ton of companies and I am really happy with the Aria, both its size and keyboard.

In the past few months I've had a Blackberry 9000 & 9700. Those were physical keyboards and I can type faster and more accurate on the Aria.

I love the size and speed of the Aria. It feels great in your hand and the screen is very crisp and clear.

I have a MOTO Backflip that's sitting in a drawer, as well as a Nokia 5800XM, N97, X6 and N97 Mini.

The battery life is normal. HTC states a 1400mAh gives you 6 hours & a 1600mAh gives you 6.5.

My biggest complaint is that there is no front camera or main camera flash.

I get great service, the Aria has a strong radio picking up 850 & 1900 HSDPA beautifully and I find myself in an UMTS or HSDPA 95% of my day.

I respect the iPhone but I like having the ability to remove my MicroSD card.
3.2" is a great size screen. IMO, the EVO's screen and actual phone is to large.

I can type one handed and I can type fast 2 handed. Predictive text works well.

I'm not a Samsung fan. I want to stay with HTC and this phone feels wonderful on my hands.
I know Samsung offers larger screens but as a previous rep for them, 25% to 35% of all their phones came back defective.

Listen, everyone has their opinion and I respect it. AT&T wasn't allowed to push Android because of the new iPhone and now that they are slowly releasing them, they will get better and better.

There is no phone that is as thin as the Aria. I can multitasking and do anything I need it to so.

Most of my Apple fanboys were impressed, nuff said.

**brivette007** · 07-02-2010, 11:49 PM

I don't mind the typing on my Aria. I have kinda chubby fingers and typing in portrait is a little tight, but managable. Landscape is perfect though.

**REDDEVILVS** · 07-02-2010, 11:56 PM

Good tp hear...I will be getting my Aria on Tueday...Dam Holiday weekend for Fedex...

My semi Sausage fingers are ready ! I do look foreward to using the specch to text function !!

**mtmjr90** · 07-11-2010, 07:25 PM

Has anyone tried Swype/ShapeWriter? Do these applications help compensate for the relatively small screen?

**slowman** · 07-11-2010, 11:57 PM

The keyboard isn't too bad. I'm coming from an iPhone and that keyboard is no doubt, the best one I've used, ever. But this is def a close second. It's very responsive and quick. Portrait IS a bit cramped but still usable. It's only my first full day with it and have been getting used to it. The landscape keyboard is def my preferred choice on this phone but on my iPhone I would never use it because it wasn't needed to me.

I'm going to try out the Captivate when it comes out in the store, and if the larger screen is more suiting for me, then I will exchange this Aria for that probably. But I really like HTC. So IDK. Might keep with the Aria and upgrade when I can. When ATT will have some top notch HTC or Motorola Android phones. (I hope!)

**sigmamason** · 07-13-2010, 09:44 PM

I had a chance to play with Aria for a long time today and compared to the iPhone 4 that I own. Outside of accidently hitting the O when I wanted the P, and the back button from time to time, I found the keyboard on the Aria to be pretty good. I liked the size and feel of the Aria and considering I am real close to returning the iPhone 4 (not because it is bad, just not overly impressed especially with the negative press on the various issues)...I might pull the trigger on the Aria...

**Terrigno** · 07-14-2010, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by miki7

I am having a horrible time with the keyboard! This is my first touch screen tho, and I think I need a physical board, but I am determined to give this a fighting chance.

Let me know if its upsets you. I have a Bold 9700 im trying to get rid of for this device.

**DroidNoobie** · 07-21-2010, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by mtmjr90

Has anyone tried Swype/ShapeWriter? Do these applications help compensate for the relatively small screen?

Swype is awesome! Only thing that I hated was texting on touchscreen devices but swype erased all that, I have fallen in love with my lil HTC Aria.

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 07-25-2010, 11:40 AM

I just saw the Aria for the first time today. That phone is small. Maybe I am just used to my EVO, but I didn't think the device would be that small. I would definitely have to use the compact qwerty keyboard to type on that phone in portrait mode.

**hotfire** · 07-25-2010, 04:17 PM

I have somewhat big fingers and typing on portrait works well for the most part but htc's auto correct works really well and takes care about 98% of my errors. But landscape typing is perfect. Sure its smaller than its cousin the EVO, but like any and all touchscreens your fingers will adapt to it and all will be fine.

**judgeman#ac** · 07-29-2010, 02:02 AM

Does anyone know how Swiftkeys is on the Aria?

**cmiquel** · 07-30-2010, 06:12 PM

I moved from BB Bold with keyboard.
Took a weekend to get use to this. I am dependent upon voice and spell checking in advanced of my typing to make it easier.

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 07-31-2010, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by hotfire

I have somewhat big fingers and typing on portrait works well for the most part but htc's auto correct works really well and takes care about 98% of my errors. But landscape typing is perfect. Sure its smaller than its cousin the EVO, but like any and all touchscreens your fingers will adapt to it and all will be fine.

You are right about that. With every device that I have owned, I have been able to quickly adjust to the size and feel. I was just shocked that it was so small.

**DroidNoobie** · 07-31-2010, 11:06 AM

I was shocked too when I received my Aria...I was coming from a BB 8900 and never thought the Aria would be a little smaller than the 8900...lol but I love this little phone!

**REDDEVILVS** · 07-31-2010, 02:26 PM

Ive been known to have sausage fingers but the Aria screen and texting works fine 98% of the time for me !! I love the Google speech to text when texting....allthough some people in public give me a look when I speak into the phone to "text"...........lol

**Hong3103** · 08-22-2010, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by JudgeMAN

Does anyone know how Swiftkeys is on the Aria?

Swiftkey is pretty good keyboard app. More accurate than the stock keyboard IMO.

Been using SlideIT - similar to Swype and loved it. Can't wait for Swype to be released fort the Aria.