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Personal Preference: Which keypad do you use? (Android, Samsung, or Swype?)

I've been using Swype from the start. it's still a novelty for me to type like this. There's definitely a learning curve. I'm still not as accurate if I use one of the normal keyboards. I think a previous post hit the nail on the head regarding the learning curve. I find myself swyping around the keyboard faster than my thumb can locate the next letter, whereas typing with two thumbs I can naturally find the next letter by muscle memory. It's still amazing that Swype can put out the right word even when I butcher it.
 
My father just got his Droid X yesterday and I was poking around showing him some things, cause its his first smartphone. I turned on swype to show him how it works... and his swype keyboard has the voice-entry button! What the crap!? Why is ours missing it? Is there a way to import the Droid X swype keyboard?
 
I actually find it rather slow when swype requires I look up each time to make sure it is giving me the right word as the default predictive choice. I can never get it where it doesn't require a significant amount of corrections, and those always take so long.

There's a free app called myTextSpeed, which offers typing tests to check your speed with detailed stats. With swype, I can never get over 30 wpm, with average being in the low 20s. On Samsung keyboard I had as much as 48 wpm. Curious to see others give a comparison of speed with swype vs. normal landscape keyboard.
 
ChaoticKinesis said:
I actually find it rather slow when swype requires I look up each time to make sure it is giving me the right word as the default predictive choice. I can never get it where it doesn't require a significant amount of corrections, and those always take so long.

There's a free app called myTextSpeed, which offers typing tests to check your speed with detailed stats. With swype, I can never get over 30 wpm, with average being in the low 20s. On Samsung keyboard I had as much as 48 wpm. Curious to see others give a comparison of speed with swype vs. normal landscape keyboard.
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I find it a lot faster to just swype out my entire msg, then go back and proofread instead. Which I believe is how swype recommends you do it also. myTestSpeed sounds neat though, I'll try it out.
 
Swype seems best suited for portrait, one-handed typing. In landscape, I definitely prefer SwiftKey.
 
I like all the options, and have gotten pretty quick with them as well. Here's my list in order of preference:

1. Swype - I wasn't expecting much from this keyboard, but I enjoy it now that I've used it for a little while. It's the fastest thumb-typing method. I'm still waiting to see the inclusion of a speech-to-text button (which I read will be coming in the next major update... I've got my fingers crossed that it comes soon.).

2. Samsung Keyboard - Seriously, I don't like anything about TouchWiz aside from the contacts app and this keyboard. It's the fastest dual-thumb typing keyboard for me, and after using the T9 Predictive text it keeps getting better and better (though I screw myself over sometimes by hitting double-spacebar for a period and getting two more words). It handles muti-touch very well for me to type faster.

3. Android Keyboard - Slowest for me since I have to be careful about the lack of multi-touch, but I absolutely love the speech-to-text button (I can't believe people would even make a keyboard without putting this little option in).

Hopefully this helps someone :)

EDIT: Swiftkey - I've tried swiftkey beta, but while it's interesting I never found myself really getting into it. It's similar to T9 in speed and functionality for me (can sometimes be faster than Samsung with T9, but can also be just as distracting at other times).
 
That was actually very helpful because it helped me understand why I type fastest on the Samsung keyboard. I never realized that only certain keyboards have multi-touch. Samsung's multi-touch is great and works exactly as it should. Android apparently also has it but it just doesn't highlight the second press. Swype does not had it for touch typing.

I also have SwiftKey and the HTC keyboard. Neither of those has multi-touch. It seems any keyboard that allows you to hold down the button does not have multi-touch. I wonder if it's possible to have both.
 
I use swype for everything now. Just make sure to the tutorial and try out all the tips. Makes a big difference. I use handcent sms for speech to txt when driving. Can even swype left handed when I need to.
 
jhnstn00 said:
I use swype for everything now. Just make sure to the tutorial and try out all the tips. Makes a big difference. I use handcent sms for speech to txt when driving. Can even swype left handed when I need to.
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I forgot that Handcent includes voice-to-text... that compliments Swype pretty well. I've still been using the stock SMS app with the Swype keyboard.

A little off-topic, but is Handcent SMS much slower than the stock app?
 
gilbequick said:
OK I'm sold, I want to give Swype a try. Problem is, I can't find it on the market. Where can Swype be found?
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1. If you are using a Galaxy S phone, just goto your "settings > locale and text > Set Default Keyboard."

2. Alternatively, you can long-press in a text entry field, and select "input method"

3. If you are not using a phone that already has swype installed, you'll need to checkout the swype website
 
I've looove swype. It took some getting used to but once you use it often and it starts learning what you type it's awesome! Swype FTW!
 
I'm torn. Swype is great for the portrait orientation and is really simple and intuitive. Typing on the android keyboard is about twice as fast in landscape orientation and has the speech to text feature. I think I'll stick with android.
 
novagator said:
I'm torn. Swype is great for the portrait orientation and is really simple and intuitive. Typing on the android keyboard is about twice as fast in landscape orientation and has the speech to text feature. I think I'll stick with android.
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Yes, Android is faster... especially on landscape. The difference is, though... I don't wanna have to type with 2 hands. After a few weeks now I'm almost equally as fast with 1 hand swyping as I was with 2 typing.
 
I've been using whatever the system default is (wasn't too keen on Swype when I tried it - apparently my fat fingers don't spell well).

That being said, I'm looking forward to BlindType, as it seems like it might be the perfect storm for me.
 
I use the Android keyboard. Tried swype and liked it but probably need more practice to make it default.

sremick said:
How does one get arrow keys to move the cursor around while using the Android keyboard?
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I was wondering about this too. I don't think they exist in the android keyboard, am I wrong?
 
jhnstn00 said:
I use swype for everything now. Just make sure to the tutorial and try out all the tips. Makes a big difference. I use handcent sms for speech to txt when driving. Can even swype left handed when I need to.
Click to expand...

Additional reasons that swype is better.it has a virtual D pad and the ability to select text, copy, and paste. Swype from the swype symbol to the SYM key to reveal editing tool. I can now paste into a quick office word document. Sweet....
 
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