5 comments

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  Eric Speeth

  1 year ago

  There are several subjects much more interesting that keyboards on PDA phones, but i can't help but to agree with Nathan and be entranced by our abilities to communicate over these little devices. I've been going yearly to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas and have found that there are several companies with new ideas for mobile keyboards. However, nothing really seems to be sticking in the marketplace. From what i've seen, there aren't too many people who like anything quite as much as the QWERTY. The blackberry 2 character per button simply isn't as effective for most crazed mobile typists. Some will argue that the Iphone's mimicked QWERTY touch screen is the next wave. My experience with touch screens has been a little less convincing. The other technology that's becoming quite popular is voice to text. However, nothing seems to be as rock solid as the good ol' tiny buttons on the QWERTY phones. I think that the average cell phone consumer is painstakingly migrating from the stone age 12 key system to QWERTY and that we will be seeing a lot more of our quirky QWERTY friend for at least the next few years.
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  Anonymous

  1 year ago

  I actually prefer the T9 keyboards because of the fact that I can touch type on them. A full qwerty keyboard under your thumbs is too many keys to be able to hit accurately with thumbs without looking, but T9 touchtyping is very doable and not uncommon among my friends…
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  Tom

  1 year ago

  I'd also have to disagree with Eric as to the perceived movement towards QWERTY. I don't see it happening. Business consumers have spoken (Treo/Blackberry/*some* smart phones) - they want QWERTY. The average consumer - I don't think so.
  
  The average user's interests are: #1 form factor, and #2 ease of use. They might even tell you that "ease of use" is #1, but I bet their buying decisions don't reflect that. People will buy pink Razrs with mediocre UIs by the millions. They spend more time carrying their phones (in pockets and purses, not in briefcases) than they do using them - form factor is #1 for valid reasons.
  
  The QWERTY keyboard still hasn't made the form factor cut. Apple has arguably done the best job, but as you say, with QWERTY usability sacrifices. The Treos and Blackberries, while still getting smaller, are still bricks compared to phones like the Razr which came out several *years* ago.
  
  My prediction: T9 touchtyping will remain the "average user" king until something more efficient comes along that doesn't add bulk to the device. Even though consumers might prefer QWERTY, T9 is good enough and still allows them to pick up the latest, sexiest phones.
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  matt_winn

  1 year ago

  Thanks, Eric, Tom, and Anon, for weighing in. Tom, I think your argument is persuasive and likely holds. I remember looking at "smartphone" growth predictions in 2003 and the numbers were paltry. It's a different story today, but still far from "average" and the style over substance issue is, sadly, real.
  
  Best,
  Matt
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  Chris

  1 year ago

  I have the "O2 XDA smini" and I use my thumbs to type on the qwerty keyboard. Iam really fast and for those who want to write large articles on there mobile phone, its great.
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