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Just wondering if any of you nexus one owners happen to text frequently and if you have a hard time with the virtual keyboard. I can type at light speed on my G1 and frankly, the only thing that worries me about the nexus I ordered is not having this physical keyboard. So let's hear it. Is it awful, usable, good, or downright amazing?
That has been my largest worry as well. I'm a G1 user who is very fond of the hardware keyboard. However, I am forcing myself with the Nexus One to learn to love the Onscreen. It seemed like all the best and newer phones were not coming with keyboards, or when they did the keyboard was not very pleasant to use. At least once I(we) get over the hump of getting used to the onscreen with the N1 we can then go to ANY other android phone and be satisfied.
My Nexus One SHOULD be waiting for me on the counter when I get home... will pop my SIM in and away I go.
I'm in the same boat although I've noticed on my G1 I'm better with the HTC_IME keyboard than the stock. I'm hoping we can push the HTC_IME keyboard to the N1.
It's actually not as bad as i thought it would be. I wish it had the HTC IME, so I wouldn't have to click a button for numbers or exclamation points. FYI: I installed HTC IME, but it doesn't look that great on the screen.
I don't have a nexus one and part of the reason why I love my G1 is because of the physical keyboard and I also like the HTC IME over the android one by leaps and bounds. I am currently using "shapewriter" from the market and it took about a few days to get used to and see the benefits but since i got used to it, my texting is now almost twice as fast as the keyboard. I haven't used the keyboard for texting for a couple weeks now whereas before i would only use the keyboard during texts. Shapewriter is making me really consider getting a nexus.
The keyboard in landscape mode is great. Plus I've been using the voice input to send texts and its pretty accurate for the most part, awesome new feature. I'm not missing my G1 keyboard at all.
I'm sure the VK will be good. My G1 physical spacebar broke (go figure..) and I have been using the HTC_IME on it for months now :\. Can't wait for the N1 though. It should be here tomorrow
Glad to hear all that! I've switched to using on vk on my G1 to get ready lol. But unfortunately I'm using HTC_IME and it's awesome. I think cyanogen said he plans on porting the HTC_IME for nexus shortly. Let's keep our fingers crossed
Well I have never used the HTC IME and always had a hardware keyboard (except the Artemis where I used a stowaway bluetooth when heavy typing).
I can not type at the speed I could on the G1 keyboard but it is not bad. I do not like that I can not see my IMs/SMS when typing in landscape but the keyboard is good for the most part. In portrait mode I rely a lot more on autocorrect but mistakes are not terrible there either. Of course I have only been using an on screen keyboard for about 2 hours so hopefully with experience it will get easier. Even now though for texting where typos are not a huge concern it gets the job done.
It is a trade off, no hardware keyboard but it is very thin. I would have gone the other direction but I can understand the choice.
I went from a g1 to an iphone and really missed the keyboard. Once I got used to the iphone I was able to type quickly and accurately. I send/receive about 2200 texts a month so I would say I'm an avid texter (not a fan of talking except to certain people).
I expect the n1 to be similar to the iphone in terms of texting.
matt_stang said:
Just wondering if any of you nexus one owners happen to text frequently and if you have a hard time with the virtual keyboard. I can type at light speed on my G1 and frankly, the only thing that worries me about the nexus I ordered is not having this physical keyboard. So let's hear it. Is it awful, usable, good, or downright amazing?
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I send about 2K-3K texts a month in addition to my email, Web browsing and other keyboard use. The physical keyboard was a must for me for years. Two months ago I traded one of my G1s for a myTouch. I decided to play with the myTouch and then ended up using it. While I sometimes miss the keyboard I got very used to the onscreen keyboard. Now that I have the N1 I can say that I don't miss the keyboard at all. Besides, with ShapeWriter (simply amazing) and Swype (haven't tried it yet but will now that I have an N1), onscreen keyboards are very good.
So far, I have found that using speaking to send the texts are remarkably easy and accurate. I have a feeling I will be doing a lot of speaking to "type" my texts.
The VK isn't that bad though... seems really accurate and there is no lag so its easy to deal with.
Speech to text has removed my need for keyboard use of anykind at home/work/walking.
On screen is accurate enough not to annoy me when speaking out loud would look weird.
I would try better keyboard if default is no good. User dictionary is a must.
I was really worried about this, too -- I got really used to the physical keyboard on my G1 and was really fast at it, although I sometimes used the HTC IME (the Android one sucks).
Now that I have my N1, I'm finding that both Swype and ShapeWriter are AMAZING and with them I can type nearly as fast as I could on a physical keyboard. Definitely give them a try.
i typed a couple hundred text messages yesterday without really any issues, and i come from the ultimate text whore from the Bold 9700 but i had the mt3g b4 then so im not a total noob haha
mlevin said:
I was really worried about this, too -- I got really used to the physical keyboard on my G1 and was really fast at it, although I sometimes used the HTC IME (the Android one sucks).
Now that I have my N1, I'm finding that both Swype and ShapeWriter are AMAZING and with them I can type nearly as fast as I could on a physical keyboard. Definitely give them a try.
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I have to agree with you about Swype. I've not owned a phone without a physical keyboard since before 2005 and I was worried about the N1 not having a physical keyboard as I'm a big texter/GTalker. The standard keyboard is 'OK' but Swype is pretty damn good. It takes a little getting used to but when you've learned the basics, you get pretty quick at typing out long texts/messages.
Can I ask if it's the beta that was released for the Droid that you're using? I get a silly message box every time I switch to landscape or open the camera app.
Every phone I've owned has had a physical keyboard until my MyTouch, although I still used my G1 as my main line, but I can say that while I would prefer a physical keyboard, I don't really miss it. The screens big enough that it's really easy to type, I use Better Keyboard which doesn't have the voice key, but I'm not that interested in the voice typing. I'm not having any problems or regrets though.
When using this phone in landscape mode, I type as fast and accurately as I did with my Tmo wing. It's very responsive and the keyboard is plenty big.
The HTC keyboard does work on the nexus one, the person on this video has it running
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB8Xv3qpEDs
Almost all my phones have had physical keyboards and i text a lot... I've been using the nexus one for only about a day now and the keyboard is OK but... sometimes it doesn't register keys. I don't know if it has to due with the lack of multi touch but it doesn't catch some of my button presses especially space bar.
i owned an iphone for about 4 months and while I'm not a huge fan of the iphone I have to admit that their virtual keyboard works a LOT better...
How are you finding the virtual keyboards? I use swype but its pretty innacurate at times is there any alternative that you have used in landscape or portrait that has meant you no longer miss the physical keyboard. I'm not sure I can make the jump from a physical keyboard!
I was a BlackBerry convert to Android for the Desire Z. The physical keyboard was a 'must' for me, however, in real world usage the more I used the DZ, the less I actually used the physical keyboard and found myself using the onscreen 90% of the time.
It's been 2 days now on the Nexus S for me, can't say I'm missing it. The pro's for me were the larger screen, lightweight feel & design, and in my usage case, stronger reception everywhere I go (this was important).
I'm switching between swiftkey, smart keyboard pro and the default gingerbread keyboard and find myself using the stock keyboard more often than not. I never spent a ton of time with Swype or it's equiv's, (and what I did, I didn't like) so I can't comment much there.
I guess this is why there's a return policy on phones
I was totally a hardware-keyboard kinda guy. Got my NexusS and wasn't sure how I'd adapt, but frankly it works great for me. Sure, I make typo's, probably more than on a hardware based kb, but the autocorrect works pretty well, and the more I type on it the fewer mistakes I seem to make. Also, when you get tired of typing you can always just hit the mic button and just talk to it.
The improved form factor of the phone is nice as well. Thinner and sleeker without the extra hardware. Surprisingly, I dig it.
I came from a G1.. I do miss the physical keyboard but have gotten used to the touch screen pretty quick. I switch back and forth from the stock keyboard and SwiftKey..
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Hi,
I've just get a confirmation by other members that the dock keyboard is not well suited for fast typing ! I'm really amazed that nobody in eeepad forums (I googled them all) is talking about this problem, which is really an issue for a >100 $ keyboard ! Am I the only one to consider this keyboard as a kind of toy ?
Do this experience : if you type a key not right in the center, but on the side, you will find a place when the key is pressed and we can hear it, but nothing appears on the screen ! An it's really near from the center of the key ! Do this experience with any keyboard laptop, and the key responds, no matter where you press it.
So buyers, beware, if you are a quick typer, this keyboard is a kind of joke for me... But an expensive one !
Cheers !
Update for people reading this thread, see page 5 for more explanation :
ok guys, following constructive advice of some of you, I did an rma, and try another one eeepad... I must admit that I got a lemon, the dock keyboard I have right now is acceptable, i'm typing at 90% of my full speed, but anyway, it responds far better than the one I had.
I had a defective keyboard unit.
To test if your keyboard is ok, do this simple test :
1. open Polaris
2. hit a key on the center : it must work
3. hit at the middle right of the key : it must work
4. hit the key almost at the end (right) of the key : it must work
The same for the left. If 3 and 4 doesn't work very well, the mechanic of your keyboard is bad : change it.
It sounds to me you are simply not typing in the right way..or you may have a defect unit
I can type on my TF keyboard just as fast as on my laptop.
And expensive? really? for 50 quid (with bundle)? most laptop battery alone will cost the same.
Yeah I dont really have problems typing on mine either. It takes a little time to get used to its size though
I'm typing for almost 20 years, I'm around 55 words per minute, and I'm a well trained typer... I don't think that I'm typing in the wrong way for a very simple reason :
- I've got a bunch of laptops, used a lot of keyboards (probably dozens), and never meet this kind of problem, and one day ; I try the eeepad dock keyboard, and it seems that I have to learn a new way of typing ? Why ? Because if you don't type a key right in the center, but sometimes with a kind of angle and not centered, the key does not respond. Hell, make the test ! And try with any other laptop keyboard ! Taste the difference.
I think it's ok for two finger typers, or quick typer who hit hard on the keyboard, but my style is more kind of hit-light-and-fast typer, and anyway I've got a confirmation of two other members that there is a typing problem.
But the thing which is the most amazing is that it seems that I'm the first one to notice the problem, it seems that a lot of us are happy with this keyboard... Probably it can be the case for not-so-fast-typers, but for quick typers, it's like to get back again with an old car when you are used to go in Porsche.
So my advice, if you are a quick typer, go... go away... from this keyboard... poor fool...
I haven't had too many issues... I will say the keys need a solid press in some instances though.
altsyst said:
So my advice, if you are a quick typer, go... go away... from this keyboard... poor fool...
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I'm a 50+ wpm typer as well. I've had zero issues with mine (apart from a dead W key). Maybe you should take a look at your own issue. Why are you the only one complaining about this? I got a defective unit with a W key that wouldn't work no matter how hard, soft, fast, or slow you pressed it. You may have a defective unit as well.
You have to ensure that you press keys all the way down. But, if I do that I have no specific issues with the keyboard. But the Asus keyboard suffers from the same issues I see in many small laptop/netbook keyboards, namely the keys are too flat and the travel is too short. I guess they do this to save space, but it makes me long for a full size keyboard.
I type around 50-60 words per minute myself and, since the OTA, haven't had any major issues with the dock keyboard. I'm a little slower on it, just like I'm a little slower on my netbook, but that's to be expected.
IMHO, either you've got a bad dock or you're doing something wrong.
alexk1781 said:
IMHO, either you've got a bad dock or you're doing something wrong.
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Click to collapse
+1
I love the keyboard and the feeling when typing is fantastic. Sounds like you got a lemon.
Mine has been fine. Just to note its not a $150 keyboard. That includes the battery, dock, SD reader, charger and USB host functions.
I'm also a pretty fast and light typist....and the keyboard feels like you have to hit it with a hammer to get it to register key strokes....just a little bit to the side of a key and it doesn't do anything.
I noticed slow response from dock keyboard while I'm typing in google stocked browser. At the other hand Opera is working flawlessly. Other apps, stocked and 3rd party are working fine (ie: mail, gmail app etc)
As a macbook pro owner ican tell you the keyboard is fine. It is the nature of chiclet style keys that makes it feeldifferent. With time you get used to it and also keys soften a bit too.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I own a variety of Thinkpads from the small X series to larger W. They are acknowledged as having the best laptop keyboards and I've had no problems using the Transformer keyboard instead.
Now if you were complaining about the battery drain the dock induces, I could agree with you!
I'm finding the keyboard fine to type on but its not much different from my netbook or even my 14inch work laptop. It takes time moving to the smaller layout but thats just down to practise.
I haven't had any issues outside of the software lag. I type at 70-75 wpm, but (then again) I'll admit I haven't used it for anything that would require a ton of typing to really condign recognize if there were issues.
You sparked my interest now. I am going to test and see if I have any issues.
I will say that, outside of typing, there are so many benefits to the keyboard dock that I still feel it is worth it one way our the other.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
rpavich said:
I'm also a pretty fast and light typist....and the keyboard feels like you have to hit it with a hammer to get it to register key strokes....just a little bit to the side of a key and it doesn't do anything.
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Exactly !! Nobody has noticed that ??? Maybe it's due to the type of typist you are ? But it seems that for fast and light typist, it's an issue... For fast and hard typist, it's not... And when I'm typing, I'm not typing always right in the center of the key, but a little bit to the side, and this is why I found that typing on this dock is a problem for me...
Canadoc said:
As a macbook pro owner ican tell you the keyboard is fine. It is the nature of chiclet style keys that makes it feeldifferent. With time you get used to it and also keys soften a bit too.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
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Thanks for the info...good to know. this is my first chicklet keyboard.
Canadoc said:
As a macbook pro owner ican tell you the keyboard is fine. It is the nature of chiclet style keys that makes it feeldifferent. With time you get used to it and also keys soften a bit too.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
It definitely has the same feel as a MacBook. I have never been a huge fan of these flat keys with limited travel. But, as long as people want thin devices we will keep getting them.
You're doing it wrong.
I have had some of the best pqk (physical qwerty keyboard) phone's around from BlackBerry Bolds to the HTC G2 and even recently the Xperia Mini Pro. About a week ago I decided to give the newest version of Samsungs Galaxy line a try and figured if i did not like it, well I could always bring it back. I can say for sure I am not returning it.
Yes the Phone is fast and thin and the battery lasts longer than any other phone i can remember since having a blackberry but what really does it for me is the ability to type quickly and without error on a virtual keyboard. This is achieved using SwiftKey X as it corrects spelling and suggests common words before your done typing. The camera is absolutely amazing as it takes photos as quickly as you can press the button.
So for all you die hard physical keyboard guys out there... You have another option now and its really amazing.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
As awesome as the s3 is, I will definitely be selling it once the photon q or another high end slider is released... a physical keyboard transforms the phone from a toy to a tool... even this message was a pain to type out on the virtual kb
Hermetics said:
I have had some of the best pqk (physical qwerty keyboard) phone's around from BlackBerry Bolds to the HTC G2 and even recently the Xperia Mini Pro. About a week ago I decided to give the newest version of Samsungs Galaxy line a try and figured if i did not like it, well I could always bring it back. I can say for sure I am not returning it.
Yes the Phone is fast and thin and the battery lasts longer than any other phone i can remember since having a blackberry but what really does it for me is the ability to type quickly and without error on a virtual keyboard. This is achieved using SwiftKey X as it corrects spelling and suggests common words before your done typing. The camera is absolutely amazing as it takes photos as quickly as you can press the button.
So for all you die hard physical keyboard guys out there... You have another option now and its really amazing.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
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I've heard really good thing about Swiftkey 3 lately. I'm too used to Swype though, you should try that too.
Why SwiftKey x, get SwiftKey 3. It's amazing.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
I also came from the HTC G2, when I heard HTC going away with their physical keyboard line..I was really upset that there won't be a G3. I mean the G1 was the first Android phone.
Swiftkey 3 has made having a on screen keyboard bearable. I haven't used by G2 for a week, but no matter how good on screen boards will get, a physical keyboard will always win for me. I used the G2 today and I do miss it a lot; being able to browse the web and have no keyboard covering half the screen was amazing.
Before I used to think HTC was the best makers of android phones, but now I think Samsung is. Until Samsung makes a physical keyboard phone, I will stick to on screen keyboards.
I got SwiftKey for free from Amazon last year. I didn't know amazon had updated its version to v3 as well. Very neat.
jaytxvo said:
Until Samsung makes a physical keyboard phone, I will stick to on screen keyboards.
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They do. It's called the Epic 4G or Stratosphere.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda premium
Ascertion said:
I got SwiftKey for free from Amazon last year. I didn't know amazon had updated its version to v3 as well. Very neat.
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Same here.
bobloblaw1 said:
They do. It's called the Epic 4G or Stratosphere.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda premium
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Maybe I was too into HTC at the time, but are those phones top tier phones? I never heard of them.
There hasn't been a top tier slider since the og droid.
They were basically middle of the pack but high end for a slider since they were the first keyboard phones to have 4g. Stratosphere is the Verizon version and epic is sprints variant.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda premium
RTbar said:
As awesome as the s3 is, I will definitely be selling it once the photon q or another high end slider is released... a physical keyboard transforms the phone from a toy to a tool... even this message was a pain to type out on the virtual kb
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Click to collapse
how long have you been on w/o a physical it takes some getting used to. I highly recommend swiftkey
Seriously, if you use SwiftKey 3 for a couple weeks, going back to even a physical keyboard seems dumb. SwiftKey is perfect.
Actually using SwiftKey keyboard is preferred when trying to keep spelling mistakes to a minimum. I use my SG3 for business so no typos allowed.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
hockey4life0099 said:
how long have you been on w/o a physical it takes some getting used to. I highly recommend swiftkey
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I just tried it, it's just ok IMO... I like the keyboard for other reasons besides typing though
Automatically switch to landscape when the keyboard is flipped open
Easier to hold in landscape
Added thickness is more ergonomic
Easier to browse (space bar is page down, arrrow keys, shortcuts, ect)
Keyboard doesnt take up the whole screen (especcially useful in Splashtop or orther remote desktop apps)
RTbar said:
I just tried it, it's just ok IMO... I like the keyboard for other reasons besides typing though
Automatically switch to landscape when the keyboard is flipped open
Easier to hold in landscape
Added thickness is more ergonomic
Easier to browse (space bar is page down, arrrow keys, shortcuts, ect).
Keyboard doesnt take up the whole screen (especcially useful in Splashtop or orther remote desktop apps)
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Click to collapse
This.. just because its easy to become efficient with the virtual kb, doesn't mean a physical one isn't better. It offers a lot more than just typing. One thing I'm gonna miss from my d3 is playing emulators w/ physical keys. I guess a sixaxis will suffice
Just like with anything new there is a learning curve. So give yourself time to adapt. Also my favorite keyboard and I think the best one by far is Swype!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I came from a Droid 3, and before that the OG Droid, and I haven't had any problems using the virtual keyboard on my S3. It helps a lot that the screen is so big. I couldn't imagine trying to do it on a 3.5" screen.
The S3 is legit but theres def no beating a onboard keyboard. It's easier to type long messages without even having to look at the screen. The what I miss most about the keyboard. Im to the point that even after using swype and a few other keyboard apps, typos were still everywhere. It helps, but it wont ever be as good as a physical keyboard. With that said, Im forcing myself to get used to this virtual keyboard. each day passing, I get better at it.. but itll never compare to a onboard keyboard..
S3 is a keeper for me though
I Am really struggling with the virtual keyboard. All of my previous phones had sliders and o just left the HTC Evo Shift. This week I was on my first business trip there I do a ton of emails and it was painful on the s3. Ini fact I even put the Shift back on a second line and linked all phones to google voice so I can use either. I am definitely keeping the S3 and will really enjoy it for everything but typing ..,maybe two phones are bad since I like having a backup, The only keyboard I didn't try on the s3 was the swift 3 . I used that on my tablet but preferred the thumb keyboard for that device.
does anyone know if there are any hi end sliders in the product plans for Htc o Samsung?
I was an all physical keyboard guy until this phone. My phone for the last two years was HTC's G2. This is also my first non HTC phone (been a hardcore HTC fan) but lately HTC has kinda been slacking in the slider keyboard department. I was surprised how quickly I adapted to an all touch phone, and I'll be giving Swiftkey 3 a look soon as well. Going from the G2 to this was such a big upgrade that I was able to ignore my reservations and fully embrace the thing. I usually avoid Samsung devices because they've always been too light for their size but this phone is different, though still lacking in terms of materials (would have got the One X if it were on T-Mo for that reason).
That said, once a new high end slider hits the market I'll be selling the S3, so long as the screen is large and it's from a manufacturer I can trust.
Hey guys, I'm coming to this device from the n7 and overall very impressed. It's actually got pretty good ergonomics overall though I miss being able to fit my tablet in a pocket. One thing hard to get used to is typing. How do you all do it? Thankful for the slick swipe feature on 4.2 but I'm still not comfortable typing, and forget about pecking words out on it like you would on the phone, even in portrait mode. I'm a pretty big guy but I only have average length fingers and pretty short thumbs. Any stock looking keyboard programs out there that split the keys. Wish this has the option stock. What say you?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium
Jayrod1980 said:
Hey guys, I'm coming to this device from the n7 and overall very impressed. It's actually got pretty good ergonomics overall though I miss being able to fit my tablet in a pocket. One thing hard to get used to is typing. How do you all do it? Thankful for the slick swipe feature on 4.2 but I'm still not comfortable typing, and forget about pecking words out on it like you would on the phone, even in portrait mode. I'm a pretty big guy but I only have average length fingers and pretty short thumbs. Any stock looking keyboard programs out there that split the keys. Wish this has the option stock. What say you?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, look up Swiftkey 3 Tablet. It's what I use and typing on the keyboard is a lot easier now since it gives you the option to split the keyboard
Also check out Thumb Keyboard. I've been using Sense (HTC) keyboards over the years, but this is my first tablet. I got frustrated very quickly with the lack of numbers and arrows on the stock keyboard. I've been using this app for about a week, and I'm loving it. It does have the split option, and its very customizable. I added a customizable row above the keyboard that has numbers, symbols, arrows, and even copy/paste.
Sent from my Nexus 10 baby!
I use the built-in PC layout keyboard.
Thumb keyboard is great.
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