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Any QWERTY Android Phones 2012

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dsmush

Lurker
Hi

I was going to get a new phone for Christmas at first I was going to get an iPhone 4S 64gb as I need a lot of space for apps, movies, music which I use when out or on holiday but then I decided to get an Android phone as I could have endless storage with MicroSD and have owned a G1 when it came out and although it wasn't that good as Android was new but I loved its endless possibilities such as installing emulators giving access to games that were once only available to likes of a GameBoy or playing classic DOOM it was fun while I was waiting around. Now I could get a SGS 2 and have this freedom to do many things but would be more difficult without a keyboard which is where my problem lies as there doesn't seem to be much choice in terms of high end Androids with physical keyboard here in the UK as we have no 4G yet.

So my question is does anyone know if there any high end Android phones coming out in the next few months with a physical keyboard that will reach UK or should I pick from the current selection? As I don't want to be waiting for 6 months or more as you could do that with anything and end up with nothing like waiting for the next iphone either wait 1-2 months or just settle with what is currently available and upgrade when the time comes.

Thanks
 
Droid 4. It will be a RAZR with a slide out keyboard.

High end phones with keyboards are becoming few and far between. They are slowly being phased out. I saw this coming a couple years ago and no one believed me when I kept saying keyboards would go away completely. I can honestly say that less than 1 out of every 20 customers even wants a keyboard at all when they are looking at phones, they just don't sell anymore. Then you have the majority of people that won't even consider a phone with a keyboard.
 
try the htc doubleshot (in the us it is mytouch 4g slide) it has the same guts as a Sensation, but with a smaller screen and a keyboard. I love mine.
 
In the past year, I have seen a number of phones with keyboards released. You have to expect to make compromises if you want a phone with a keyboard. You probably will have to settle for a smaller screen, slower processor, increased thickness and greater weight.

I'm one of the minority who still likes keyboards. I like being able to see the whole screen when I'm typing. I also like having the tactile feel of the keys when I'm typing. I find it less error prone because I can feel if I'm slightly off when pressing a key or how centred is my press without having to look as my finger obscures the keyboard whether physical or virtual. I even want a keyboard with my tablet as I cannot see how I can type as fast on a virtual keyboard.
 
Stuntman said:
In the past year, I have seen a number of phones with keyboards released. You have to expect to make compromises if you want a phone with a keyboard. You probably will have to settle for a smaller screen, slower processor, increased thickness and greater weight.

I'm one of the minority who still likes keyboards. I like being able to see the whole screen when I'm typing. I also like having the tactile feel of the keys when I'm typing. I find it less error prone because I can feel if I'm slightly off when pressing a key or how centred is my press without having to look as my finger obscures the keyboard whether physical or virtual. I even want a keyboard with my tablet as I cannot see how I can type as fast on a virtual keyboard.
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I thought a tablet would be tough to type on, but I actually love typing on my iPad screen. I don't think I am any slower on a touch screen tablet then on a full sized keyboard.
 
chrlswltrs said:
I thought a tablet would be tough to type on, but I actually love typing on my iPad screen. I don't think I am any slower on a touch screen tablet then on a full sized keyboard.
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I think that on a phone, I may be able to get used to typing on a screen. I have on occasion used the touch screen instead of my keyboard of my phone. I decided to go a week to learn. I thought I was OK and my typing speed was approaching my typing speed on my keyboard. On a phone, I still have to look at the keys in order to type and I type with my thumbs only.

On a tablet or PC, I type with 8 fingers and a thumb. I don't look at the keyboard when typing. I rely on being able to feel the home keys on the keyboard to rest my fingers on. On a tablet screen, I cannot feel around to make sure my index fingers are on the F and J keys. I have to actually look at the screen of my tablet in order to type instead of the part of the screen where the text appears.

I estimate that my average typing speed on a PC keyboard is around 60 words per minute. On my keyboard dock of my tablet, I think I type the same speed. It took me a month to get used to a keyboard that is 90% the standard size. Once I adjusted, my typing has been as good on my tablet keyboard dock as on a PC keyboard. My typing speed on my phone's physical keyboard is probably at best 15-20 words per minute as I can only use 2 thumbs instead of 8 fingers and a thumb. It's close, but probably a little slower with the screen keyboard due to more errors. My typing speed with a tablet virtual keyboard is maybe 10-15 words per minute in landscape and maybe 15-20 in portrait using Trace or my thumbs. I don't practice typing on the screen of my tablet much, but I don't see my being able to approach anywhere near 60 WPM on the on screen keyboard.
 
The only time I have had a keyboard on a phone since summer 2007 was the OG Droid, I had it for about a year and I think I opened the keyboard twice. Once you get used to on screen you never go back. The advantages of no keyboard just outweigh the advantages of a keyboard which is why they are going away and almost impossible to find on high end phones.
 
Have you ever tried playing a game on an emulator like DOOM or QUAKE for example it would be more difficult trying to control movement than using WASD keys I would have to do without emulator games which is something I liked doing on my G1.

When is the DROID 4 set to come to UK (if it all) There's the Sony Xperia Pro (Not mini) but I'm not so keen on Sony Android and their skin doesn't look that good.
 
For years I swore by QWERTY keyboards and refused to switch over to a touch screen but honestly with programs like Swift Key X you could type just as fast (if not faster) then a qwerty. It's also a lot more accurate with the auto correct and it syncs to your existing texts and facebook to get a feel of your normal typing styles and commonly used words.

For games just buy a blue tooth controller and sync it to your device, which is 1000x better then using a qwerty keyboard to play games.

Trust me, you'll love how thin your phone is and won't regret it. I only wish I stopped being so thickheaded and switched over sooner.
 
schwenger said:
For years I swore by QWERTY keyboards and refused to switch over to a touch screen but honestly with programs like Swift Key X you could type just as fast (if not faster) then a qwerty. It's also a lot more accurate with the auto correct and it syncs to your existing texts and facebook to get a feel of your normal typing styles and commonly used words.
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Would't the auto correct features on phones also work with a physical keyboard?
 
I can't really be using a Bluetooth controller on the bus or something. If only they made small physical keyboards which could clip on to phones they'd make a fair amount of money I think or even manufacturers selling their phones with the option for keyboard at an extra cost I wouldn't mind paying little more for the privilege.
 
If you go on Youtube and search for: MobileTechReview, They have THE best and most updated phones that are released and upcoming releases! Not advertising but I am subbed to them and they are awesome :D
 
dsmush said:
I can't really be using a Bluetooth controller on the bus or something. If only they made small physical keyboards which could clip on to phones they'd make a fair amount of money I think or even manufacturers selling their phones with the option for keyboard at an extra cost I wouldn't mind paying little more for the privilege.
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The problem with selling clip on keyboards is that what phone do they fit? They are all different. Even the GSII is different on every carrier. With so many different sizes/dimensions of every phone I don't see it being cost effective to sell a clip on Bluetooth keyboard for the few people that want one.
 
chrlswltrs said:
I thought a tablet would be tough to type on, but I actually love typing on my iPad screen. I don't think I am any slower on a touch screen tablet then on a full sized keyboard.
Click to expand...


I have used a BlackBerry, an HTC Touch Pro 2 (GSM for backup and prepaid texting), an iPad and iPod Touch 3rd Gen. Out of the 4, I also type the fastest on the iPad. But for some reason, when I need a full keyboard for texting, I pick up the HTC. I HATE typing on my BlackBerry and replacement iPod Touch (maybe it's because it's the second one, and doesn't feel as good to me as the first one, which I loved typing on until it had to be replaced due to a screen defect).

HOWEVER, I don't need to look at the screen for any of them.

But I am looking for a new QWERTY device next year and the ones I like are as follows:

HTC myTouch 4G Slide
LG MyTouch Q
LG DoublePlay
Samsung Gravity Smart
Samsung Sidekick 4G

The Gravity Smart appeals to me because it's the smallest of the bunch.

I like the all-black appearance of the MyTouch Q and 4G Slide.

The Sidekick is listed because I have a history of using the Sidekick line.

I would have to test the Double Play as it looks too large to hold comfortably (even though I have large hands as a female). Maybe the split keyboard is throwing my vision off.

I have a big decision to make in 12 months LOL
 
Don't think those will see UK release and not that good spec-wise. I dislike LG Androids. Anyone used a Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro (not mini)?

Okay forgetting physical keyboards for a bit is there anything worth waiting for coming out in the next 1-3 months (i.e. SGS3, quad core devices, etc) or should I just settle with what is out and get something for Christmas?
 
dsmush said:
Don't think those will see UK release and not that good spec-wise. I dislike LG Androids. Anyone used a Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro (not mini)?

Okay forgetting physical keyboards for a bit is there anything worth waiting for coming out in the next 1-3 months (i.e. SGS3, quad core devices, etc) or should I just settle with what is out and get something for Christmas?
Click to expand...


Get a Galaxy Nexus, that will be the best phone released for a while.
 
I will probably hold off buying anything until after CES in January and possibly MWC in February as new phones that are in development are usually shown at those events.
 
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