Database Users

I have had ENOUGH with this DOG$H!T keyboard!

I need alternatives! Or I will very soon be launching this POS out of a top story window or stamping on it.
The keyboard is completely blinking useless.
The keys are too close together.
The auto spell is absolutely awful and doesn't learn.
it doesn't put a capital at the beginning of new sentences.
You also can't type at any speed since if you don't lift your finger directly upwards after selecting a letter, the drag motion across will select the letter to it's side. It so frustrating I don't want to use the phone for anything involving text input. Period.
I had an 3G before, which with a smaller & lower res screen manages to excel at text input. How have HTC managed to completely screwed this most basic and important feature up?!
Are there any other keyboards one can install over this [email protected]? Oh, and before someone mentions anything about installing the reduced sensitivity .cab - I have. I have been using it for a week and it's still an unusable POS!
I love the phone but I cannot live with this any longer. If no proper solutions are available then it's going back, just hopefully before it's in tiny bits!

I hear you man lol lol lol.
I cringe when I hear an incoming text message alert.....because it means I have to deal with typing a reply.....and then having to correct every single word I type. It's sooo tedious and I came from another touch-screen phone, so it isn't like I don't know what I'm doing.

Its odd, the same keyboard is fine on the HD, but not on the HD2. I use the phone pad option with xT9 on, it works really well for me

The problem with the HD2 keyboard is that it takes the last key you touched not the first on. So if you you press on A and moved to L without removing your finger, it will take L. This is really weird...because most of the time after pressing on the key you want while removing your finger you accidentally touch another one due to the limited space available between keys...

Try Touchpal, works with great accuracy and learns as you type new words. They have also emailed me to say that they will be updating software for phones with bigger screens such as the HD2.
You can try before you buy, just do a search on google. If you do buy the software, make a request as the more requests they get, the sooner they will probably make an updated release.
Also as a side note, I don't think the original keyboard is as bad as you have described as I seem to be able to use it fairly accurately though I do agree they could have done a better job.

personally I use touchpal, but you might like resco keyboard, it has much more spacing.

I have to totally agree with you. I have went this year from an Iphone 3G, to a hero, now to an HD2, and the text input is way way worse on the HD2. I find the blooming delete key is the worst offender, seems to type m or n, or for that matter any other letter, really annoying. I have also aligned the screen, many many times, and installed the .cab mentioned earlier, not better. .I Love the hardware, but hate the software, so debating putting it on flebay and buying a 3GS, or even a Milestone (Droid), but am reluctant to do so in case it gets fixed. I emphasise also with the previous post, it has got to the point now, that if I need to reply to an email, and it will be more that a few words, if I am at home I will boot up my laptop to reply to the email, just so I dont end up throwing the HD2 out the window in frustration.

It's a fact. I miss my 3Gs keyboard. Although it was smaller, it was more precise and fast... and the "xT9" of it, worked way better as well. It seemed like I reads our mind
HastaSSSS

I've just downloaded the Resco keyboard and it seems much better....still not perfect but I think that's down to the sensitivity of the HD2 screen.
Does anyone know how to turn off the annoying Resco click every time I use to keyboard?

I'm not alone then!
Seriously, if nothing's done soon i'll end up being arrested for muttering profanities and expletives in public like a loony tune! I'll file another remark with HTC along with the dodgy camera (pink spot) complaint I made last week. Which, considering their insistence that it is a software problem, they are taking a long time to resolve!
Thanks for the heads up on the alternatives on the keyboards...I will give one of them a pop and if that doesn't work then i'll have to just get the quill and blotching paper out...i'd rather that than going back to an iPhone and there's nothing else out there that's even interesting, phone wise. (Droid's naff)
Cheers!

You might want to try Shapewriter, takes a little getting used to but it's been easier for me to use than any of the keyboards I've tried...
http://www.shapewriter.com/software.html

I agree the 3G/3Gs keyboard are more clever but that's only a software thing. It can be corrected on the HD2 but the question is will they?!
It was quite ironic that I was having the same problems as you all have but when I loaded CoPilot and used its own keyboard the accuracy was near the iphone standard! Makes me realise HTC are too blame for the in-accuracy and hope they correct it soon....
Sometimes trying to be different isn't always the best idea especially when Apple have at least got the keyboard right. Create something like CoPilot or the iPhone keyboard and we're all happy again.
s1rl4ncel0t said:
It's a fact. I miss my 3Gs keyboard. Although it was smaller, it was more precise and fast... and the "xT9" of it, worked way better as well. It seemed like I reads our mind
HastaSSSS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Nothing wrong with it. I came from an iPhone and as such it took me some time to get used to the HD2's but I got there in the end. I still can't compose an email or text message as fast as I could on the iPhone but some people go on about the HD2's as if it's totally unusable which is frankly a pile of s**te. The key is not to rush.

I also dreaded the TXT alert.. I updated to a 148 rom using the sticky guide.. The HD2 has just earnt a stay of execution. Many times better than before, still not up to the iPhone standard, but then i doubt we will ever see this happen.

Blartiartfast said:
I also dreaded the TXT alert.. I updated to a 148 rom using the sticky guide.. The HD2 has just earnt a stay of execution. Many times better than before, still not up to the iPhone standard, but then i doubt we will ever see this happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why you think that, there is no reason the HD2 can't have a keyboard identical in use to the iPhone.

Pagnell said:
Nothing wrong with it. I came from an iPhone and as such it took me some time to get used to the HD2's but I got there in the end. I still can't compose an email or text message as fast as I could on the iPhone but some people go on about the HD2's as if it's totally unusable which is frankly a pile of s**te. The key is not to rush.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the keyboard is a pile of sh!te and you are definitely in the minority- the point is too build a keyboard on which that you can type quickly, accurately, precisely and without stress. Not one that you have to concentrate on every single keystroke on, and woe betide you if you have to use the dreaded delete key...mmmnlllllllnmmmmmmllll.
But hey, at least HTC have given us a big space bar and HUGE forward, up, down & backwards keys....phew, what would we do without them?!

Got my phone this morning and at first did struggle with the keyboard, but after a few hours I have absolutely no problems with it, typing's absolutely fine. I get the odd press wrong while navigating but I'm on target most of the time.

I agree, there is no reason why HTC can't improve the keyboard software and make it more accurate. If Apple can do it, HTC certainly can.....
Pagnell said:
I don't see why you think that, there is no reason the HD2 can't have a keyboard identical in use to the iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

chronicle said:
No, the keyboard is a pile of sh!te and you are definitely in the minority- the point is too build a keyboard on which that you can type quickly, accurately, precisely and without stress. Not one that you have to concentrate on every single keystroke on, and woe betide you if you have to use the dreaded delete key...mmmnlllllllnmmmmmmllll.
But hey, at least HTC have given us a big space bar and HUGE forward, up, down & backwards keys....phew, what would we do without them?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the beginning of the thread, you asked for alternatives. Have you tried any of the suggestions people have made?
If none of those suit, you may be better off going back to the iPhone (where, you're right, the keyboard is great).
But I'm not sure I've ever seen an adult get so upset about something that's really not that bad, and certainly not worth getting that stressed over.

greatcapp said:
At the beginning of the thread, you asked for alternatives. Have you tried any of the suggestions people have made?
If none of those suit, you may be better off going back to the iPhone (where, you're right, the keyboard is great).
But I'm not sure I've ever seen an adult get so upset about something that's really not that bad, and certainly not worth getting that stressed over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes well greatcapp, irony, SOH's, sarcasm, exagerations and frustrations don't translate well over forums! I'm pretty chilled now, since I haven't had to use the phone to a while
I have to disagree with you strongly - it IS that bad, and i'm pro WM and anti iPhone. I'm not bashing it to have a laugh, i'm bashing it because I want something done about it by HTC. If everyone just rolled over every time technology went backwards saying 'it's not that bad' and 'you get used to it' then we'd all end up back with a coke can and a bit of string!
HTC have had a VERY long time to get this right, Apple showed the industry the light and even HTC have managed much better keyboards with previous versions of their phones. This one needs some fuss kicked up about it to spur them into action.
It won't take much, just a million small tweaks here and there and this phone will be perfect
ps. I will have a go at one of the keyboard versions later, hope there's trails- I really don't want to waste any more money on software.

Anyone move from TP2 to N1?

Hi,
As the title says, just looking for some feedback from those who had a tp2 and moved to N1 - is there any major disadvantages of the N1 over the tp2 (omitting obvious keyboard)
I hear the speaker on the N1 is bad and the speaker on the TP2 is awesome, can anyone verify this?

I went from tp2 to n1. The keyboard and speaker are all I miss. The n1 is the much better phone and toy : )

I moved from TP2 to N1! I had a g1 before the tp2, and now getting back to android, I wonder why i ever left!
The speaker is the only thing i "miss" i didnt really you use it often though...
The N1 is soooo much better than the tp2

Former (mostly happy until the touch screen died) TP2 user here. I love the Nexus One. I miss the hardware keyboard, obviously, but swype makes up for it.
The unit is incredibly responsive, and now that we have sense ported on the N1 the Exchange integration is excellent.
Now I don't miss the TP2 at all. Especially since I love tinkering with the OS and Android is better than WM for that.

shure2 said:
Hi,
As the title says, just looking for some feedback from those who had a tp2 and moved to N1 - is there any major disadvantages of the N1 over the tp2 (omitting obvious keyboard)
I hear the speaker on the N1 is bad and the speaker on the TP2 is awesome, can anyone verify this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The speaker on the TP2 was the best of any phone I've heard or used. As a result the speaker on the N1 was a let down.
However, the phone itself is outstanding. The build quality is quite good and the SW keyboard isn't as hard to adjust to as I had expected (especially in landscape mode).
The only thing you haven't touched on that I would mention is that the TP2 (CDMA at least) had *outstanding* battery life. The N1 is no slouch when it comes to battery life in the smart phone arena, but I did see better battery life with the TP2.

speaker was good
keyboard was really good
i want the htc clock but dont know the settings for the weather widget.

typ_ex said:
speaker was good
keyboard was really good
i want the htc clock but dont know the settings for the weather widget.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
weather skin downloader > h7c.zip
then install from SD card
clock skin downloader > h7c-clock.zip
then install from SD card.
Maybe you only have to do one or the other, but i did both to be safe and it worked.

jz9833 said:
I went from tp2 to n1. The keyboard and speaker are all I miss. The n1 is the much better phone and toy : )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 same here. This was also my 1st android device, came from many years of WM devices. I don't regret a thing. All pro's, zero cons.

jz9833 said:
weather skin downloader > h7c.zip
then install from SD card
clock skin downloader > h7c-clock.zip
then install from SD card.
Maybe you only have to do one or the other, but i did both to be safe and it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
those can be found here
edit: but, apparently it isn't as simple as 'move to sd card and install'. gotta pick up 'weather widget donate' from the market to use this

i did t hat, but the clock looks really scrunched in. also the black background doesn't cover the whole clock + weather.

i went from a TP2 as well. the speaker was nice and i do miss that and the keyboard sometimes but other then that im happy with my switch. windows mobile was so boring and dull to me and going to android has been good so far with no intention to going back to the TP2 and WM for that matter. N1 is a really nice phone

well i just sold my TP2 and my N1 should be here in the morning but I can tell you one thing... I love android, and as a previous G1 owner, I missed being able to mess with the OS. WinMo was too intricate and seemed "junky" whereas android is just PNG and XML really...

Another Happy TP2 -> N1 customer here. Few points:
Speed - the N1 is VERY quick compared to the TP2 (stock TP2, running WM6.5/Sense 2.1). No lag, everything works instantly on the N1. Phone doesn't slow down after a few days uptime, there's no lag in SMS or MMS.
Keyboard - The major concern moving from TP2 was the lack of hardware keyboard. That was one of the major factors in my decision not to get the HD2. Hardware keyboard IS better for typing longer pieces of text (i.e a decent length email for example) but for the standard phone texts/mms/short mails/web browsing/IM the N1's keyboard is fine. Enabling haptic feedback and using in landscape mode makes it a doddle to use, rarely now have to go back and correct words etc. Yet to try non stock keyboards, these should aid the transition even more.
Look and Feel - The N1 is MUCH more attractive that the TP2, however I sometimes find the N1 a touch on the small side - that being said it's probably more due to being used to the larger TP2, the N1 is certainly easier to used 1 handed than the TP2 tho do sometimes feel like I'm going to drop it!
While HTC's sense was full of eye candy, with a couple of widgets and some time Android can look just as good (and that's before you consider the custom ROM's with sense etc available)
Android vs WiMo - Night and day here (and this is probably the biggest "love" for me at the moment). Everything is at your fingertips. It's so easy to take a pic and whack it on facebook, send it via MMS or email. Check google maps or browse the net. It's all there, and really quickly available. The app store is pretty acomplished too, easy access to a load of apps - something which (last time I checked) the MS stored was lacking in.
Moving from a non smartphone to the TP2 was a pretty big jump. Good net access on the move, easy access to email and other information. The jump from the TP2 to N1 was probably equally as big. All the previous information is available (only MUCH faster) + a whole load of new information, apps and ways to keep in contact with people.
Hope this helps

I also moved from a touch pro 2 to a nexus one (with an iphone 3gs in the middle meh not even worth mentioning lol) and yeah I have to agree with everyone else. The touch pro 2 is a great phone but nowhere near as awesome as the nexus one but I'll probably end up swapping my nexus for the touch pro 3 or whatever they decide to call it.
*sigh* dont you just hate it when something so cool and new becomes redundant and old like 6months later..

Bought Them Both at the Same Time
I actually bought both the phones at the same time, after my HD died (I killed it when I opened it up).
The TP2 like everyone says is a great phone. Though the GSM T-Mobile US version (that I had) had pathetic battery life (Compared to my Blackstone). But the TP2 can not hold a candle to the N1.
The only thing I miss from the TP2 is the EXCELLENT speaker, and the keyboard.
The N1 is sleeker, it's RIDICULOUSLY FAST! the display is superb. I can do about 10 things in the time it takes me to do one thing on the TP2. Combine that with Xralogic Remote Desktop Client, and Documents to Go Pro, and you have a WM replacement.
Trust me, I'm no Windows Mobile Hater, I'm actually an advocate of WM and I have been for the last 7 years, but the the N1 is just a superb phone. I've had the G1 and the Moto ClIQ, but I went back to WM but the N1 is awesome.
I am looking forward to owning a US T-Mobile branded HD2 though.
I hope you find this useful .

wow... seems to be that the general consensus here is loving the jump they made from the TP2 to the N1... honestly, if there had been a stable fully working haret build for XDAndroid on the TP2 i maybe would have been a little more hesitant. I loved the keyboard, and i loved the solid feel of the TP2. But i strapped on a hardcase with silicon lining on in and out and this phone feels great now. I have yet to root, and this is the longest I have held out on rooting/flashing a device. I am pretty sure that once someone figures out how to relock the bootloader (if at all possible) I would go ahead and root. But I also wanna use this phone stock for a few weeks just to test the waters and make sure no glitches/disfunctions happen. (dust under screen, nonresponsive touchscreen, just little things that i wouldnt be able to get fixed once the warranty is void)

Any former Touch Pro 2 owners with opinions on TP2 v. HD2?

First off I love my TP2. Best phone I have ever owned. But the HD2 looks really really great and I see the term "Best Windows Mobile Phone ever" touted a lot in several reviews. So perhaps you former TP2 owners now that you've had the phone a while can help me decide if it's worth it to upgrade over the TP2. I know people complain about the HD2's battery but I make it through a normal day with 40-50% left on my TP2, so I'm hoping battery isn't an issue. How is the bulk of the phones compare? I use a ultrathin SENA slipcase and keep my phone in my pocket, but the TP2 is so much thicker then the HD2. So you former TP2 owners do you regret going to the HD2 or is it a well worthwhile upgrade?

I own both these phones. I love both phones. Actually, I love TP2 better for work -- the battery life, the ease of data entry. As for HD2, I love the big screen especially. In fact, it is a VERY difficult choice for the two. That is also why I kept both.

The much better GPS is worth it alone. The autofocus on the camera is a lot quicker too. Most programs start up super fast due to the processor. Best move i ever made.

I've had both, and whilst I was happy with the TP2 when I had it, I could never go back. The HD2 is just SO much smoother and fun to use, so much so that I don't mind the lack of a hardware keyboard (my 5 previous phones all had proper keyboards).
The HD2 is a glorious machine, and I am chuffed I got £270 for my TP2, lol!

wait untill a new wp7 series phone is released and keep your tp2 for business ,never upgrade to hd2 now , it is over with it

Ok, let me tell you
In just a couple of hours after purchasing the HD2...i just couldn't stand the TP2. Its so much better than the TP2. If you don't text that much, the HD2 is your best choice. Its incredibly thin, the screen is WOW, its pocketable, its so much faster than the tp2 and you don't have to worry about ram memory. I used to use clean ram and schedule it every 3 hours or so. With the hd2 i always have enough ram.
Trust me, its a no brainer. Go and get it (unless the keyboard is really important to you).

lorin.bute said:
Ok, let me tell you
(unless the keyboard is really important to you).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've found with the big TP2 screen I hardly ever used the hardware keyboard any more. Only other thing I worry about is the accuracy of the capacitive screen when trying to use older programs designed for a stylus. But I don't use a lot of those and not very often (mostly to reg edit, etc).

I don't have a TP2, but I can comment on WHY I didn't get one when it would have been the logical upgrade path for me seen my long history of phones with hardware keyboard, yet got the HD2 as soon as I saw it in real life.
Firstly when I had the TP2 in my hands it really felt like a brick. Large, thick, heavy. Felt like there was a lot of "lost space" (between the keyboard keys, around the screen, that "zoom bar" I'd never find a use for)...
Secondly the speed, it didn't change me from my usual winmo experience that had always been a bit disappointing. As usual, it can do a lot of stuff, but not smoothly. It did show some improvement over my current device (Kaiser), but nothing exceptional.
The HD2 is a whole other story. As soon as you have it in the hand it feels good, perfectly designed, comfortable... the thin form factor and thin borders around the screen make it feel not like a brick of a device that has a screen to interact with, but more like an "intelligent screen" with just what's needed to hold it together, you forget the actual shell. Hard to describe by words. Then the speed, this is now a world of difference, everything is smooth and responsive, nothing in common with any other winmo device before. Then the capacitive screen, which is also a major difference and big step towards that "intelligent screen" feeling, moving things around barely touching the screen etc...
Fell in love right away and sold a bunch of unused things I had laying around in less than a week to buy it.
Yes the lack of hardware keyboard is noticeable, close keys, no tactile feedback so you don't notice when you "slip" to the neighbour key, eats half of the screen when the onscreen keyboard is out... but I must say it's not all that bad. I definitely wouldn't type a book on the HD2, but anyway I don't think I would have on a TP2 either
Just remember that it like any winmo device it needs tweaking to get the best out of it, a small but extremely noticeable one being opera, browsing the web with the default settings is laggy and ugly, while with the 50fps tweak it's perfectly smooth and changes the experience completely. And more of course.
Conclusion, just try one in a store near you, I doubt you'll resist very long

DeoreDX said:
First off I love my TP2. Best phone I have ever owned. But the HD2 looks really really great and I see the term "Best Windows Mobile Phone ever" touted a lot in several reviews. So perhaps you former TP2 owners now that you've had the phone a while can help me decide if it's worth it to upgrade over the TP2. I know people complain about the HD2's battery but I make it through a normal day with 40-50% left on my TP2, so I'm hoping battery isn't an issue. How is the bulk of the phones compare? I use a ultrathin SENA slipcase and keep my phone in my pocket, but the TP2 is so much thicker then the HD2. So you former TP2 owners do you regret going to the HD2 or is it a well worthwhile upgrade?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I loved my TP2 for the sharp display, and excellent in-call sound quality. The HD2 is WAY better with GPS locks, and overall snappiness and operability. One of my favourite features of the HD2 is the dual LED flash. The fact that I couldn't use the TP2 camera in low light was annoying - The HD2 makes photography/video and uploading to social networks a breeze.
The speakers on the HD2 are a bit ****e tbh, but that's a sacrifice I'm happy to live with. Don't care about losing the hw kb, it's actually fun to learn with the on-screen kb and after 2 weeks I think I'm quicker on it.
Also worth mentioning that the stock ROM is pretty damn good too.

My company would pay for a TP2, but instead I spent my own money on an HD2. I've had a TP and friends with TP2. It all comes down to how addicted you are to a hardware keyboard.
If you turn on T9 (essentially spellcheck) and get the hack to turn email sideways, typing on the HD2 is pretty easy and fast. As others would say, I only rap out txt and email on it. If I need to type anything lengthy, I use a laptop.
The HD2 is just fluid. It's press and go. Scrolling is slippery quick. Copilot GPS locks in a snap and scrolls smoother than my TomTom. When screens don't slide quite as smooth as usual, I'll open up TaskMgr to find a screen full of apps I've left open.
Form factor is like holding a picture frame to your head. It's a little awkward at first but the thinness I got used to immediately.
Dual flash camera is great. Presence sensor is SO welcomed. Call clarity is great. Bluetooth reconnects much faster for some reason. And standardized 3.5mm headphone jack and micro USB port.... 'bout time.

willgill said:
My company would pay for a TP2, but instead I spent my own money on an HD2. I've had a TP and friends with TP2. It all comes down to how addicted you are to a hardware keyboard.
If you turn on T9 (essentially spellcheck) and get the hack to turn email sideways, typing on the HD2 is pretty easy and fast. As others would say, I only rap out txt and email on it. If I need to type anything lengthy, I use a laptop.
The HD2 is just fluid. It's press and go. Scrolling is slippery quick. Copilot GPS locks in a snap and scrolls smoother than my TomTom. When screens don't slide quite as smooth as usual, I'll open up TaskMgr to find a screen full of apps I've left open.
Form factor is like holding a picture frame to your head. It's a little awkward at first but the thinness I got used to immediately.
Dual flash camera is great. Presence sensor is SO welcomed. Call clarity is great. Bluetooth reconnects much faster for some reason. And standardized 3.5mm headphone jack and micro USB port.... 'bout time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
let your company pay for tp2 and you get both

Any former TP2 owners want to comment on the relative battery life between the two? I don't think it is an issue with me since I am a fairly light user but with the upcoming US release I'm sure there will be plenty of people looking for this info as well and hopefully this thread will answer most of their questions about the TP2 v. HD2 (My searching on these forums lead to some comparisons but the information was pretty spread out in the forums and took a lot of digging to look up)

I love my TP2 and HD2
I have tweaked my TP2 (WM6.5) using all the tweaks of my HD2. Now I have a HD2 Mini with WVGA. I love the TP2 for the keyboard. Typing on a HD2 is less comfortable. Now I have all the 'goodies' of the TP2 combined with the superb user interface of the HD2.
The tweaked TP2 is as responsive as the HD2, despite its lower speed. The touch screen is very good and precise by use of a stylus or my finger...... Radio of the TP2 is a little more sensitive.

Worth moving from a Tilt2 to HD2 TMOUS?

With TMOUS rumored to be giving away phones on the 19th it may be my chance to bail on AT&T. I know the phone is superior spec-wise but I'm worried about moving from a physical keyboard to on-screen. I played with one at the store and it seemed ok but not great. I have to agree with some posts I've seen on here that the iPhone keyboard seems better, but I've got no plans to buy that PoS. I compose lengthy emails on my phone daily and was wondering if some of you who made the switch from physical keyboard to the HD2 could tell me what you think of it. I'm also not a huge fan of losing so much screen real-estate when typing in landscape which I'll be doing most of the time, so would like your thoughts on that as well.
Thanks.

I had your exact same concern when I upgraded from my Touch Pro 2 (also coming from a Fuze and Dash so I thought I was reeeeally going to miss that keyboard). Instead, I am a big texter. 20,000 sent/received per month. Compared to the iPhone's keyboard (I have an ipod touch so I can accurately compare the two) HTC's kinda sucks. However, after 3 weeks or so I can say I have built up quite some speed. It's like you said, okay, but not great.
The only time I miss a physical keyboard when the predictive text acts wonky. For example, if you try to type too fast itdoessomethinglikethisbutwhy? It got all the words right! How come when I hit space it knows to put that word down and then to predict the next word I'm about to type but it doesn't freaking space? Drives me up the wall. It's almost like you can out-type it.
Or the dreaded ,comma thing it always does ,and it's stupidly annoying.
The real advantage is the beautiful screen. It may not seem amazing at first, but use the HD2 for a week and then try to go back to the TP2. Everything seems...miniaturized.
So, in conclusion, it doesn't beat the iPhone's keyboard but after a few weeks of practice you can probably type at a decent speed. I might miss a physical keyboard sometimes but I don't miss the Touch Pro 2.

Great, thanks for the info. Had a Fuze myself and a Treo before that so a hardware keyboard is kind of ingrained in how I use a phone. Considering your volume of typing seems to be at least as much as mine maybe I could get by with the on-screen.
Thanks for the newbie guide also, very well written. If I do get the phone it'll give me a jumping off point while I research ROMs.

Considering upgrading to HD2 from TP2

I am currently using a T-Mobile TP2. I'm considering upgrading to the HD2.
Anyone out there who has had the TP2 and upgraded, can you provide me with your opinion?

I'd say do it. I had the Touch Pro originally, loved it. Got the Touch Pro2, brilliant. Upgraded to the HD2, AWESOME. It's definitely worth doing but you REALLY REALLY will miss the keyboard and the tilt. The speed is ridiculously better, screen quality is way better. The capacitive screen will take a bit of getting used to but once you have had it for a couple of weeks you'll feel right at home.
Although I cannot stress enough how much you'll miss the keyboard.

mcspikesky said:
I'd say do it. I had the Touch Pro originally, loved it. Got the Touch Pro2, brilliant. Upgraded to the HD2, AWESOME. It's definitely worth doing but you REALLY REALLY will miss the keyboard and the tilt. The speed is ridiculously better, screen quality is way better. The capacitive screen will take a bit of getting used to but once you have had it for a couple of weeks you'll feel right at home.
Although I cannot stress enough how much you'll miss the keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure - the HD2 doesn't have a stylus, correct? I'm not sure I can live with that... LOL.
EDIT: Plus, I have to talk the wife into allowing me to spend the $$.

stevedebi said:
I'm not sure - the HD2 doesn't have a stylus, correct? I'm not sure I can live with that... LOL.
EDIT: Plus, I have to talk the wife into allowing me to spend the $$.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't miss the stylus.. screen is big enough that its easy to type and pinch to zoom is useful... question is do you use the keyboard?

crispy514 said:
i don't miss the stylus.. screen is big enough that its easy to type and pinch to zoom is useful... question is do you use the keyboard?
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Actually, I use the keyboard only to select text. There seems to be no easy way to select text on the HD2 soft keyboard. Otherwise I actually generally use the soft keyboard.
Can you cut and paste from one document to another on the HD2, for example?

if you text a lot or use speaker phone tp2 rules, otherwise hd2 is better in every way. typing on hd2 jittery screen is a pain.

i've been using my HD2 for the past 3 weeks, coming from a kaiser (tytn2). and i can't stress enough how much i miss the hardware keyboard!
i have briefly used excel on the kaiser and i had to recently use excel on the HD2...with the kaiser's hardware keyboard that doesn't take up any screen space and hardware D-Pad, even the smaller QVGA kaiser screen was enough to give a pleasant user experience. but with the HD2, its...just...not...the...same!!! screen is big, but onscreen keyboard in portrait is not nearly as easy to use as a hardware keyboard. and the landscape keyboard is much easier to use but leaves little room for much else on the screen, especially in programs like excel.
still, the HD2 is an incredible device and i'd highly recommend it!

ASCIIker said:
i've been using my HD2 for the past 3 weeks, coming from a kaiser (tytn2). and i can't stress enough how much i miss the hardware keyboard!
i have briefly used excel on the kaiser and i had to recently use excel on the HD2...with the kaiser's hardware keyboard that doesn't take up any screen space and hardware D-Pad, even the smaller QVGA kaiser screen was enough to give a pleasant user experience. but with the HD2, its...just...not...the...same!!! screen is big, but onscreen keyboard in portrait is not nearly as easy to use as a hardware keyboard. and the landscape keyboard is much easier to use but leaves little room for much else on the screen, especially in programs like excel.
still, the HD2 is an incredible device and i'd highly recommend it!
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Have you tried the SPB Keyboard?

I went from a TP to the HD2, and I too really miss the hardware keyboard. As has been mentioned, the on screen keyboard takes up a lot of space and leaves almost exactly 2.8" free above it. On the plus side it is so much smoother and faster : ) Watching films or tv shows is a pleasure (indoors). The capacitive screen does take some getting used to, but several months into ownership i really like it.Unless the rumours about an HD2 with a keyboard are true, i'd say go for it....

Ouzo said:
I went from a TP to the HD2, and I too really miss the hardware keyboard. As has been mentioned, the on screen keyboard takes up a lot of space and leaves almost exactly 2.8" free above it. On the plus side it is so much smoother and faster : ) Watching films or tv shows is a pleasure (indoors). The capacitive screen does take some getting used to, but several months into ownership i really like it.Unless the rumours about an HD2 with a keyboard are true, i'd say go for it....
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What about cutting and pasting in, say, a Word document, for example? I can't select text on my TP2 without using the hardware keyboard (Hold "Shift" key and use arrows).
Can you easily select text on the HD2?

stevedebi said:
What about cutting and pasting in, say, a Word document, for example? I can't select text on my TP2 without using the hardware keyboard (Hold "Shift" key and use arrows).
Can you easily select text on the HD2?
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Ì say go for Touch HD. The screen is very responsive, I can easily copy and paste.
However I am experiencing some 3G network problems which might be hardware related, I've read more people with this problem. But there are a lot of users without these problems so probably a poor production batch or something, That is what warranty is for And I could also recommend a custom rom
Beside the solvable networkproblem, in my opinion Touch HD is a great phone.

TP2 to HD2 - Pros & Cons
First - full disclosure, I'm on AT&T so I went from the Tilt 2 to an Australian Telus HD2 - flashed it for the latest Official HTC ROM. I understand you are on T-Mobile, which uses slightly different devices, so your milage may vary
The TP2/Tilt 2 was a great machine for typing lots of involved messages and emails. However, the hardware was still struggling to keep up with things, and it would frequently freeze or crash if I was muti-tasking or typing an email when a call came in. And don't get me started on how wonky it was if there was an Notification that hadn't been delt with. In other words, it was deficient in the same way that all WinMo phones seem to have been- namely the hardware wasn't able to adequately support the processor cycle/memory hungry OS. And the much-lauded graphics were frequently laggy or even frozen too.
To be fair, there was much less of this than any of my previous WinMo devices (I go back to the days of the MPX-200 so that's a lot of them), but fundamentally, after the Carriers steal all the memory for their Crapware, it was still not quite there - often in a disappointing or even dysfunctional way. I use my phone a lot for my business, and it's not funny when you miss several calls in a row due to phone freezes, re-boots and or lags due to Notifications. On the other hand, the Keyboard was fabulous!
The HD2 is a completely different experience. The processor, available memory and memory bus are almost as fast as the OS can handle. Freezes, lags and delays are almost (not quite) non-existant. It will still occasionally slow down if several Notifications remain un-acknowleged, but now this is a rarety, not a daily issue. It multi-tasks almost seamlessly and yes, I find it easy to cut and paste. The graphics capabilities are excellent, you can brows at high speed and not see the annoying Opera checkerboard for hours!
In terms of reliability, going from the TP2 to the HD2 has been kind of like going from W95 to XP. Finally you can actually count on being able to do everything the manufacturer said you could do, with minimal freezing and crashing. After 7 odd years of WinMo it is finally an almost seamlessly pleasant experience.
I'm still missing the keyboard when I type, but overall if I had to choose I'd say the HD2 wins hands down. The annoyingly less efficient keyboard still takes far less time and energy to deal with than the other performance issues of the Tilt 2. Add to that it's a LOT easier to see things on the bigger screen, it runs programs MUCH Faster and MUCH more reliably, and there's no doublt which I prefer. I still have my Tilt 2, but I will probably be porting Android onto it just for fun.
In the meantime, I'm still increasing my typing accuracy and checking out alternative keyboards, so the HD2 is closing in on the Tilt 2's better typing experience.
If typing information is almost all you do, then I'd keep the TP2 assuming you aren't going nuts with the it freezing up or lagging.
If you make good use of your phone for other things - browsing, games, music etc, then I'd say - go for the HD2 - you will wonder where this gem has been!
MadSci

There are several cabs to improve the accuracy on tapping the onscreen keyboard.
No keyboard is not a deal-breaker.
I got used to it very fast and never been a crybaby over 'missing the keyboard'
Unless, using MadSci's term, you'd rather pamper yourself with Win95.

Thanks for all the replies
I think I will go for the HD2, but it turns out it will be some months before I qualify for the lower pricing on T-Mobile.
Thanks to all who gave their opinion. I'm sold on the HD2!

I love my HD2 the only drawback from going to the tp2 to the hd2 is they ease of typing, it took me a while as well but with the help of swype i can type just as fast if not faster. but the processor the response is amazing the camera is much better and i love the addition of a flash. i know you already made up your mind and you are better off going on Craigslist and buying one in case you dont have a data plan because you will not a discount from t-mobile with out adding an unlimited data plan. Good Luck!

Finally Got One
Well, I finally got my TP2. I must say that is is vastly superior to the Rhodium. I don't miss the hardware keyboard all that much.
The only drawbacks so far:
The small battery and large screen make for a somewhat shorter time between recharge.
The device is so large that I generally find myself using two hands to operate it; the TP2, because it was narrower, could be done with a single hand.
Not that I'm complaining...