A phone for a Sysadmin? No longer exists?

[Haldanity]

It's odd - I can't find a phone better than my seven year old Nokia 9300.

I need a phone for remote command of my computers, and for editing dense spreadsheets.

For remote control, I need a good screen to read small dense text, and a good keyboard to replicate all the keys/symbols I'll be inputting into the remote machine. (I don't want to try and write shellscript, use vi, or read remote mutt mail under latency while obscuring and smudging the dense rapidly changing text with a non-tactile cut-down keyboard. Fair?). At the very least I need Ctrl, Tab and arrows. Escape or Alt are bonuses.

No, a separate bluetooth keyboard is no use to a guy on the move.

The Droid 4 looks nice, but I'm in the UK, and it isn't, neither was the Droid 3, and I've been through three phone batteries so, non-removable? Really?

Am I going mad, or are all my options practically downgrades?

 

[EarlyMon]

If a glass keyboard is an option at all you will want this -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard&hl=en

Hackers Keyboard, free.

 

[Crashdamage]

I use Real VNC and a HTC G2 (aka Desire Z) for remote administration with great results. But of course you have to install VNC server on workstations or servers and have static IPs.

 

[Haldanity]

I am hoping to avoid a glass keyboard, as it leaves me worse off than where I am screen+keyboardwise. Nice app tho. I suspect I may end up using it on a LARGE android screenphone at this rate.

Regarding VNC, I'm of the darker arts, and most of my targets have no graphics. Besides, shipping kilobytes of images instead of bytes of keypresses unnecessarily hurts the wallet and latency

 

[Crashdamage]

I suggested the HTC G2 (aka Desire Z) because it has a very good hardware keyboard, removable battery and was available in the UK. Also, it can easily be found used for very reasonable cost.

 

[Haldanity]

I suggested the HTC G2 (aka Desire Z) because it has a very good hardware keyboard, removable battery and was available in the UK. Also, it can easily be found used for very reasonable cost.

I was tempted, until I spotted it had NO CURSOR KEYS?!?!?! That ball thing's just not funny. *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* edit *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* edit *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* *swipe* ....

It's like some cosmic force has been sabotaging every decent qwerty out there...

 

[Crashdamage]

I never use the little trackpad. Just touch the screen where you want the cursor to be.

 

[redfox05]

Have you tried the Nokia N900? Its amazing! I had it (and still have it) until I was given a company phone and did not want to carry both with me.

Have a look at the links and tell me your thoughts on the N900.

Nokia N900 - Nokia - UK

Nokia Unveils The Nokia N900 A Linux-based Maemo Phone - Maemo 5 injects speed and power into mobile computing

A Mobile Phone for Sysadmin Use etbe - Russell Coker | etbe - Russell Coker

PC Mag Takes on N900, Crowns it Ultimate Linux Geek Phone

 

[Crashdamage]

I have a N900. That's what I used for remote admin for quite a while. An amazing device but it is getting a little long in the tooth.

 

[Haldanity]

I never use the little trackpad. Just touch the screen where you want the cursor to be.

Aye, but with the text density I'm currently using on my old phone I could fit whole words under my pinkie. It's not accurate enough. Also, *press* cannot interact with things you cannot see. Try using your command history with a GUI or travelling offscreen.

Regarding the N900, tis indeed very nice - some friends have it, but Nokia have just sold their future for a handful of magic beans, and I was hoping to get a rooted android to benefit from the ecosyste...

... they've hacked Ice Cream Sandwich onto the N900?.....