How is your Droid KEYBOARD EXPERIENCE?

[Snipperdo17]

The one problem I have with this phone is the typing/keyboards. I came from a tour and storm2 and I absolutely love the typing on those. I could type faster on the S2 than any other phone I have ever had. I always make mistakes on the droid and the auto correct isn't as good as the storms. I hardly ever use the slide out keyboard because it is just awkward to use. Other than that typing the phone is awesome.

 

[TvTechGuru]

I must admit it's not as great as my Blackberry Curve was. I could type really fast on that.

As for the on-screen keyboard for the Droid, I can't do it. I can't successfully type sentences, maybe it's because of my large fingertips. As for the physical, I'm still getting used to it after 2 months. And I still can't type as fast as I could with my old BB Curve.

 

[li2327]

I got use to the keyboard really quick. It did take a little getting use to.

 

[STC09]

The physical keyboard is easily the worst feature of the phone. It's very poorly laid out and the ergonomics are terrible. The cursor control should be on the side opposite the antenna lip so the keys aren't shifted so far to the left that it becomes painful to type. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

It wouldn't be an issue if the virtual keyboard weren't buggy.

 

[MikeB]

Chuck, you've found a way to copy/paste? This is a major shortcoming in the software. Major.

Guys .. in any input box, long press and you get a menu that has select all, select text, cut, copy ... etc ..

Did you miss this one?

 

[ericatomars06]

I love the keyboard. Its pretty awesome. I have small hands so i dont have any double button pressing going on.. It's great for those long txts. If I going to do a quick reply then I use the on screen one. Most of the time I use the on screen one... but its nice knowing i have the slide out keyboard too

 

[Zorro1]

Well, son of a gun, Mike! I've actually read the manuals and never saw that...only lots of us complaining! That's huge. Now, for the non-text entry areas. I did find a couple tips when I searched for copy paste...have yet to try them. But yours is the best of tips! Where's one of those Thanks buttons?

 

[androidguru007]

Swype is what cut it for me

I hated the native keyboard of droid as it was kinda slow, but after installing the leaked version of Swype on it I was able to type much faster & got a happy with it. If you have not tested Swype yet, take a look at Leaked Swype Keyboard for Android

I hope that get you all happier with the Droid. I even heard other similar keyboards are going to be available soon.

 

[itzperch]

I personally feel that the keyboard is terrible. I wish I could rip it off and make it a slim phone, the keyboard does nothing for me what so ever! Other than that, i love it (the phone sans keyboard)

 

[ali.fazal]

Well, son of a gun, Mike! I've actually read the manuals and never saw that...only lots of us complaining! That's huge. Now, for the non-text entry areas. I did find a couple tips when I searched for copy paste...have yet to try them. But yours is the best of tips! Where's one of those Thanks buttons?

In the browser, you can click 'Menu' than 'select text' to copy anything on the page.

 

[Ghostshifu]

Having come from a dare I enjoy having a physical keyboard. Plus in my opinion it's a pretty nice alternative to the landscape setup.

 

[chuckz28]

Well, son of a gun, Mike! I've actually read the manuals and never saw that...only lots of us complaining! That's huge. Now, for the non-text entry areas. I did find a couple tips when I searched for copy paste...have yet to try them. But yours is the best of tips! Where's one of those Thanks buttons?

The way I like to do it to open the slider, hold the shift key and touch the area I want to start to highlight and drag the finger to where I want to stop and it will highlight what you drag on. Release the finger and the shift key and it copies to clipboard. Then to paste just long press where you want to put it and it will give you the option to paste. This is the most accurate way I have found to do it without copying a bunch of stuff you don't want to and having to delete it. I do agree though that the copy paste function could use improvement. I would like to be able to long press with two fingers on the screen to begin highlighting and just drag both fingers simultaniously to select.

 

[Dapke36]

Swype is the only keyboard for me.

I hated the native keyboard of droid as it was kinda slow, but after installing the leaked version of Swype on it I was able to type much faster & got a happy with it. If you have not tested Swype yet, take a look at Leaked Swype Keyboard for Android

I hope that get you all happier with the Droid. I even heard other similar keyboards are going to be available soon.

I use swype almost exclusively now that I installed it a week ago. I am decent with the hardware keyboard (use it when walking, in a car/bus as its easier to type for me on something that has a feel when external motion is happening), love the landscape, and ok with the portrait. But now with swype, I don't even use the landscape keyboard, and rarely the hardware keyboard (mainly error correction, specific words, etc).

 

[billrininger]

I went form a Treo 680 to the Droid. I had a hard time getting used to the Droid, but I am getting better at it. It would be much easier if the keys were less flat. Even a small bump in the middle would be a help.

 

[maggiem]

If I'm responding with a long message, I typically use the hardware keyboard. But, its a bit cumbersome for me, I always feel like I'm the edge of dropping the phone. I didn't really like the virtual keyboards at first but am getting so much better at them. I want to try swype at some point too.

 

[jdwx]

Coming from a BB 8830, I'm pretty much hating life right now and hopin I get used to one of these before I go back to a BB, and I love so much about this phone...

 

[theshaz]

There was a learning curve as with all mobile keyboards, physical and on screen. For me the biggest issue I was the DELETE and ENTER key were. I was hitting the wrong one. But after a couple of weeks, I'm fine with it. If its a long note or letter, I use the KEYBOARD, for quick stuff I use SWYPE.

That N1 looks enticing, the doube speed processor is tempting. But I like a hardware keyboard....I have another upgrade on one of my VZW lines in May......dunno if I will make the jump to the N1 and give my eldest the Droid or keep the DROID till the Fall.

But in reguards to the DROID's keyboard.....it works. Not the most ergonomic, but it was a decision the designers made to keep the phone slim.

I have no problems using it. I do so daily.

This was typed on the Moto Droid using the hardware keyboard.

 

[chaddymoff]

My phone never slides open. I don't touch the physical keyboard (wish they offered solely a touch version!)

The touch screen keyboard is great in landscape and, with spellcheck help and some custom dictionarty additions, OKkkkaayyy in portrait.

I have used Swype for two days now and as soon as they fix capitalization and spacing then improve word suggestion, I will likely use it more often.

 

[MikeB]

I have used Swype for two days now and as soon as they fix capitalization and spacing then improve word suggestion, I will likely use it more often.

I just got swype and all I can say is WOW. It is amazing.

To capitalize, just swipe the first letter and then off the top of the keyboard and back down to the rest of the letters. If you swipe a loop-de-loop above the keyboard, all of the letters will be capitalized.

It should also automatically space between word it knows. You can add to the dictionary as you go .. so as you use keep using it, it gets better.

 

[IAmTTim]

Yep, it does take some getting used to though it still would've been nice if the keys were raised slightly. But the DROID is THE best phone that I've had to date.