Any Android qwerty phones coming?

[jlinder]

I've had my droid for a few months now and am really disappointed in both the soft and hard keyboards. I've tried the better keyboard app and smart keyboard app, which does make it better but this thing is no BB Bold. (as far as typing goes) I use my phone for work, and deal with lots of email each day. Short replies are fine, but I get frustrated when banging out a paragraph or two reply and spend more time correcting the typos than composing the message.

From what I see all the new phones coming out have some amazing equipment, but the trend is toward a touch screen and no keyboard at all. Is there anything out there with a full qwerty (not a slide) coming down the pipe? My perfect device would be a Bold 9700 with android, I think BB has the physical design mastered while Android has the OS nailed. Any thoughts?

 

[zhelf]

I've had my droid for a few months now and am really disappointed in both the soft and hard keyboards. I've tried the better keyboard app and smart keyboard app, which does make it better but this thing is no BB Bold. (as far as typing goes) I use my phone for work, and deal with lots of email each day. Short replies are fine, but I get frustrated when banging out a paragraph or two reply and spend more time correcting the typos than composing the message.

From what I see all the new phones coming out have some amazing equipment, but the trend is toward a touch screen and no keyboard at all. Is there anything out there with a full qwerty (not a slide) coming down the pipe? My perfect device would be a Bold 9700 with android, I think BB has the physical design mastered while Android has the OS nailed. Any thoughts?

Well let me start by saying i love all smartphones so i have sent some fair time on blackberries and no phone of any make has a keyboard as nice as the BB bold 9000 they killed it by making the 9700 so much smaller totally ruined the experience. as far as soft keyboards go next to using a swype keyboard the iphone definitely has the best soft keyboard IMO. but i have no issues with the droids soft or hard keyboards i really like them actually.

unfortunately as of now it looks as if the devour and droid are the only 2 qwerty android devices on VZW so until probably the fall or november(droid2) you probably wont see too many more new devices. have you tried the htc keyboard? def. one of the best.

sadly the phone world keeps things solidly under wraps until they are released, there is a new LG android device coming soon with a slide out qwerty but imo looks quite cheap and not a fan of LG's skin ui. Most of the new phones that have been leaked as far as i can remember all seem to be touchscreen only or are lower end android devices.

There is the new MYtouch slide but that will be on T-mobile i believe so that is probably a no go since you are on vzw.

But i highly doubt you will ever see an android device with full qwerty that isnt flip or slide. if you want candybar style w/ qwerty its BB or Palm Pixi. sorry

 

[kdshayhague]

Why do you highly doubt we'll ever see an android device with a full qwerty keyboard?

 

[Devinator]

Why do you highly doubt we'll ever see an android device with a full qwerty keyboard?

Probably because it's a waste of space.

My X2 is a great size, I wouldn't want them to tack on a physical keyboard to it and make it bulkier. Once you get used to a digital keyboard, it's fine. Maybe I'm not be as quick on it as I was on a physical keyboard, I really don't know, and, I resisted it before I got my phone, but, I'm used to it now. The only issue I have with the keyboard on my X2 is that the space bar needs to be a bit longer or repositioned. I frequently key in a period instead of a space. I have heard other people complain about the same issue with different phones, and, I see it in text messages or emails from other people.

 

[SAENZ_SCENE]

I agree. I have a physical keyboard now and I never use it anymore. I use SwiftKey x and find myself using touchscreen, even with long emails and texting all day. The next device i get will be without a physical keyboard. The only phone i can think of with a qwerty keyboard (non slide) is htc cha cha. I believe motorola is releasing one soon to called, ex 225. I may be mistaken but I remember reading an article on it.

 

[DINGSTER1]

THe LG Enlighten is out now

 

[srkmagnus]

Plus one for Swiftkey X. There are other great keyboards in the Market but Swiftkey keeps me idle on my Trusty Hero. A physical keyboard was always on my mind for a future phone just to give the two types a try...However, I am starting to re-think the added bulk the physical keyboard would add.

 

[ronald600]

Why do you highly doubt we'll ever see an android device with a full qwerty keyboard?

You are aware that the OP was a year old
There have been several phones released in 2011 with real keyboards. It just depends on the carrier

 

[nerdydesi]

It seems that physical keyboards on phones are a very divisive issue. Some people love them for the tactile feel, and also you can see more of the screen because it isn't hidden by the virtual keyboard, its easier to play games such as emulators, among other benefits. Others loathe them because of the extra thickness and heft they bring to phones.

I personally love a physical keyboard and am very sad to see they are dying out. Very few phones are released with them now, and even for those that are, many have mediocre specs. Almost all the superphones are only slates.

I can "survive" with a virtual keyboard, but there's nothing like physical buttons, just like on a computer keyboard. Wait until they ditch those and we have to use "Swype" on our desktops and laptops.

 

[michikade#AC]

I've said this before - if I could port Gingerbread on my old Blackberry Bold I'd have the perfect phone for me. There's no physical keyboard better than the Blackberry, imo.

Personally, I don't like sliders and they few android devices with non-slide keyboards feel... I guess flimsy is the right word. I'd rather have a full touchscreen than a keyboard that isn't a complete joy to use, like blackberry's was.

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Devinator]

It seems that physical keyboards on phones are a very divisive issue. Some people love them for the tactile feel, and also you can see more of the screen because it isn't hidden by the virtual keyboard, its easier to play games such as emulators, among other benefits. Others loathe them because of the extra thickness and heft they bring to phones.

I personally love a physical keyboard and am very sad to see they are dying out. Very few phones are released with them now, and even for those that are, many have mediocre specs. Almost all the superphones are only slates.

I can "survive" with a virtual keyboard, but there's nothing like physical buttons, just like on a computer keyboard. Wait until they ditch those and we have to use "Swype" on our desktops and laptops.

It's true, some love em, some hate em. I recall them fondly, but, I don't miss them anymore. It just took some time to adapt.

It's funny that you mention this. Someone I work with was just telling me about Projection Keyboards. I'm so glad you said this, as, it reminded me I want to look into it.

Projection keyboard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia