Android Refugee: Not Happy . . .

[chanchan05]

If your fear is getting left out of updates on Android, get a Nexus. The two year old Nexus S would still be getting Jelly Bean (latest Android version). Basically for a Nexus device, as long as the hardware can run the new update, it will get it.

 

[GeorgeinLA]

If your fear is getting left out of updates on Android, get a Nexus. The two year old Nexus S would still be getting Jelly Bean (latest Android version). Basically for a Nexus device, as long as the hardware can run the new update, it will get it.

Give me a current spec Nexus with a keyboard and I'll buy it tommorow.

 

[breadnatty08]

Give me a current spec Nexus with a keyboard and I'll buy it tommorow.

I'd say chances are slim to none, but if you hang on for the next Nexus announcement in a month or so, there's a chance (like I said, probably 0) there will be one with a physical KB.
How much time have you had typing on a larger screen? I was a little worried going from one with a physical (Droid 1) to one that lacked (Bionic), but having a larger screen and a great third party keyboard (SwiftKey), it was so much better. Thinner, lighter phone and typing just as fast.
However, if you're willing to go to Sprint, the Photon Q got a pretty good review from Engadget and has a physical keyboard they loved. Also, its bootloader can already be unlocked.
Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE review: the best full QWERTY phone on Sprint's network -- Engadget

 

[chanchan05]

Uh, I thought you'd let go of the keyboard and willing to settle for an all touch screen? There is only one Nexus device released per year. The current Nexus is the Galaxy Nexus designed by Samsung for Google. Its got a dual core A9 processor and a PowerVR540 graphics chip. The next Nexus phone is due to be released/announced this November.

Here's a link to specs, with reviews, as well as a new review on the Jelly Bean update:
Samsung Galaxy Nexus - Full phone specifications

Currently you can get one for $350 from the Google Play Store.

The trend really seems to be that less and less people buy phones with keyboards, otherwise the phone companies would keep churning them out. Its becoming something of a niche market.

 

[Hadron]

There have been rumours of more than one Nexus phone this year, but I agree that the chances of one with a physical keyboard look slim indeed.

 

[tgm1024]

Hold up an S3 against the iPhone and it completely blows it away. If you drop the keyboard as a requirements then the S3 is the answer. Sorry but if you are looking for sympathy to get an iPhone, specially with some of the android super phones out there you won't get it here.

Please don't speak for others.

 

[tgm1024]

Not me. I need my slide out, especially for typing passwords. And certainly after I installed this nice HTML editor on my phone...

Yep, me too.

I try retraining myself on the virtual keyboard on the droid 4 just to make sure I'm giving it a good ol' college try. Every time i go running to the slide-out as if begging to be saved.

As far as virtual keyboards go, I'm just not there yet.

 

[tgm1024]

What's the current state of the attachable 3rd-party keyboards? I know there was one for the iPhone last year (at least)...are there any in the android market? The multiple chassis designs would make it difficult for a clean general purpose (non model specific) one though.

 

[chanchan05]

There's one from Logitech for tablets. Then not sure if this one will work for a phone: Logitech - diNovo Mini Keyboard

 

[tgm1024]

There's one from Logitech for tablets. Then not sure if this one will work for a phone: Logitech - diNovo Mini Keyboard

I was thinking more of the piggyback style that matches (more or less) the form factor of the phone, but that's interesting.

 

[zuben el genub]

For keyboards - again there is a Palm precedent. Sony put out small qwerty thumboards that attached to PDAs that didn't have a built in keyboard. Sony also had a game board with rocker type switches that also attached. We had both.

Palm had an almost full size keyboard that could dock with any Palm. It folded up as small as the device.

Neither used BT or IR.

It could be done - somehow you will have to catch the mfg. collective ear. Just because it's older tech, doesn't mean it's outdated if there is a real use for it. I'd like a decent keyboard at times, too.

 

[McBuzz]

Blackberry

 

[tgm1024]

For keyboards - again there is a Palm precedent. Sony put out small qwerty thumboards that attached to PDAs that didn't have a built in keyboard. Sony also had a game board with rocker type switches that also attached. We had both.

Palm had an almost full size keyboard that could dock with any Palm. It folded up as small as the device.

Neither used BT or IR.

It could be done - somehow you will have to catch the mfg. collective ear. Just because it's older tech, doesn't mean it's outdated if there is a real use for it. I'd like a decent keyboard at times, too.

Here's one of the offerings for the iPhone I've alluded to. The problem is that there just isn't any one *hardware* manufacturer with quite the volume necessary to gather that kind of attention........or is there?

Want a slide-out keyboard for your iPhone 4? You're in luck! | ZDNet

 

[TgeekB]

Blackberry

They have always been the keyboard kings. Will be interesting to see what happens when BB10 comes.