Obsession with a real keyboard?

[Doju]

What is with society's obsession with having a smartphone with a real keyboard? My father has a Blackberry Bold because, well, he has to for work, and the company offers it free. Before I bought my iPhone 3G, we used this as a 'family phone' more or less. If I had a soccer or tennis game out of town, I'd bring it to keep in contact with my parents, and I'd surf the internet somewhat and text friends a bit (okay; a lot) to pass the time.

Now, having an iPhone 3G, I love the virtual keyboard. I don't understand the hatecrime against it. Yes, it does take some getting used to, that's true, but after a week (or two at maximum) you should be a master of the virtual keyboard.

Practicality

The first positive I see is the obvious one, Blackberry, Palm, and other smartphones have keyboards there when they're not even needed. I'm watching 'Cars' on my dad's Blackberry Bold, the keyboard is of zero use, and just gets in the way of a potentially larger screen, to enjoy the video more.

Not with an iPhone! It's only there when you need it, I'm watching a movie, it's gone. I'm texting a friend, it's there. Why have it active when it doesn't need to be? The iPhone's keyboard seems to be a *massive* step into the future when it comes to practicality. How do you write in Japanese on a Blackberry efficiently? What about drawing Japanese characters? Nuh-uh.

All in all, having the ability to customize when you need something or not seems a lot more advanced than having it there whenever you don't even need it.

Speed

Ah ha! "But Doju, you can't type as fast on an iPhone as with a real keyboard!" you argue. Wrong, in my opinion at least. Having been an avid texter on a Blackberry Bold, I know my way around typing, and I know this train of thought very well, I even shared it for quite awhile.

But, the Blackberry has significantly smaller keys than the iPhone, and that's just in portrait mode. The iPhone's keyboard is 'smart' too, as Jobs said, and that it will almost help you write a word and find the write key. Can plastic keys do this? Nuh-uh.

And again, put 'er on landscape, and you just blew the Blackberry out of the water. Taking some tests, I average 12 WPM faster on my iPhone than I do with my dad's BB Bold. And that's not even in landscape.

Conclusion

Why does everyone want it? iPhone's keyboard is much more practical, and much faster. What more is there?

[Brandon Heat]

it's preference... I think the virtual keyboard is Wack... I have to double check what I type... I have no confidence in what I wrote... I've had it since 1 week after launch... The keyboard will lag... Holding down the delete key erases almost everythig... This combined with the other probe this phone has, I'm ditching it and paying early termination to get the bold...

I've had the curve before... I could type blazing fast with confidence with thtat thing... This iPhone's keyboard CAN keep up.. Sometimes...

[Brandon Heat]

but you're argument about watching movies is good... I'll miss that

[bluenoise]

I've had phones with keyboards for quite some time now: Treo 600, Treo 650, Blackjack, Blackjack II, Moto Q9h. For the first few days of owning my iPhone, I fumbled around on the keyboard and found myself constantly having to correct mistakes. Then it seemed to suddenly click for me and now I can type far more quickly and accurately on my iPhone than I ever could with those previous phones and their real keyboards.

[eplchamps0304]

the iPhones keyboard is ok., even though I have to constantly look at what I am typing. It's the price you pay for having a large screen without the slide out keyboard.

[SFStateStudent]

+1 I agree that the physical keyboard is a hinderance to me, and there have been several occasions when I've borrowed a friend's BB and couldn't figure out where 80% of the keys were located or what they did. Gawd, I couldn't even make a phone call...:eek: I think everyone's infatuation with a keyboard that they can physically push the key(s) then watch the letter/symbol show up on the screen, stems from the hunt and pick method of typing. For me, the home keys were taught to me at a young age, which resulted in my typing much faster and with fewer mistakes, eventually not even looking at the keyboard or paper that I was typing on, but looking at the book, newspaper, letter or manuscript that I was reading (back in the day when typewriters were our only source of business machine). IMHO:eek:

[firewood]

You're young and adaptable. Lots more people than you think aren't interesting in spending time learning new skills.

Palm ran some actual user studies (probably not including youngsters) and found some people preferred using touchscreens and some using little buttons. Close to half and half. Thus the love/hate posting ratio.

[bluenoise]

You're young and adaptable. Lots more people than you think aren't interesting in spending time learning new skills.

Palm ran some actual user studies (probably not including youngsters) and found some people preferred using touchscreens and some using little buttons. Close to half and half. Thus the love/hate posting ratio.

What is the age cutoff for being young and adaptable? I'm 41 and have adapted quite nicely.

And how is Palm faring these days? :)

[c43amg]

What is with society's obsession with having a smartphone with a real keyboard? My father has a Blackberry Bold because, well, he has to for work, and the company offers it free. Before I bought my iPhone 3G, we used this as a 'family phone' more or less. If I had a soccer or tennis game out of town, I'd bring it to keep in contact with my parents, and I'd surf the internet somewhat and text friends a bit (okay; a lot) to pass the time.

Now, having an iPhone 3G, I love the virtual keyboard. I don't understand the hatecrime against it. Yes, it does take some getting used to, that's true, but after a week (or two at maximum) you should be a master of the virtual keyboard.

Practicality

The first positive I see is the obvious one, Blackberry, Palm, and other smartphones have keyboards there when they're not even needed. I'm watching 'Cars' on my dad's Blackberry Bold, the keyboard is of zero use, and just gets in the way of a potentially larger screen, to enjoy the video more.

Not with an iPhone! It's only there when you need it, I'm watching a movie, it's gone. I'm texting a friend, it's there. Why have it active when it doesn't need to be? The iPhone's keyboard seems to be a *massive* step into the future when it comes to practicality. How do you write in Japanese on a Blackberry efficiently? What about drawing Japanese characters? Nuh-uh.

All in all, having the ability to customize when you need something or not seems a lot more advanced than having it there whenever you don't even need it.

Speed

Ah ha! "But Doju, you can't type as fast on an iPhone as with a real keyboard!" you argue. Wrong, in my opinion at least. Having been an avid texter on a Blackberry Bold, I know my way around typing, and I know this train of thought very well, I even shared it for quite awhile.

But, the Blackberry has significantly smaller keys than the iPhone, and that's just in portrait mode. The iPhone's keyboard is 'smart' too, as Jobs said, and that it will almost help you write a word and find the write key. Can plastic keys do this? Nuh-uh.

And again, put 'er on landscape, and you just blew the Blackberry out of the water. Taking some tests, I average 12 WPM faster on my iPhone than I do with my dad's BB Bold. And that's not even in landscape.

Conclusion

Why does everyone want it? iPhone's keyboard is much more practical, and much faster. What more is there?


For ONE thing, would you have written all this in your iphone with the "great" keyboard? NOPE. I know I would have not, if I had to post something that would just be a quick reply I could/would do it with the iphone. But for something long like you posted I would go to my PC. BUT, if I still had the ATT Tilt I could/would post something long like your post.

So, lots of people like to respond to their emails with keyboards like the tilt. IF it has to be a really really long reply they will wait to get to their PC. To use the iphones keyboard for long piriods of time such as emails, posts, ..etc.... you would have to take the time and practice practice practice and at the end you will still run to your pc. My 2 cents, Ive owned many ppc phones and the pullout....keyboards are always better than the in-screen keyboards

[markgamber]

More like what's this obsession with people wondering about the obsession with physical keyboards. I have two with, one without. It's a preference, who cares? Next.

[Doju]

For ONE thing, would you have written all this in your iphone with the "great" keyboard? NOPE. I know I would have not, if I had to post something that would just be a quick reply I could/would do it with the iphone. But for something long like you posted I would go to my PC. BUT, if I still had the ATT Tilt I could/would post something long like your post.

So, lots of people like to respond to their emails with keyboards like the tilt. IF it has to be a really really long reply they will wait to get to their PC. To use the iphones keyboard for long piriods of time such as emails, posts, ..etc.... you would have to take the time and practice practice practice and at the end you will still run to your pc. My 2 cents, Ive owned many ppc phones and the pullout....keyboards are always better than the in-screen keyboards
I did post this on my iPhone. ;) Landscape version.

But I don't agree with the other user, it isn't hard to adapt at all. Plus, I'm simply asking *why* people like a real keyboard if it's 50/50.

More like what's this obsession with people wondering about the obsession with physical keyboards. I have two with, one without. It's a preference, who cares? Next.
Stop trolling, this is a discussion topic. Next.

[Anuba]

What is with society's obsession with having a smartphone with a real keyboard?
Well, for one thing a shocking amount of people like to write text messages when they drive. If you try that on an iPhone, you'll drive straight into a tree.

[anjinha]

I really love the virtual keyboard. I write really fast with it, faster, i think, than I did with a physical keyboard. No, it's not perfect but it's very, very good.And I don't think young people accept it better, a lot of my young friends are very resistant to change or anything that's different while older people that I know are the opposite.

I just wish we could type in landscape mode in SMS and mail.

[anjinha]

Well, for one thing a shocking amount of people like to write text messages when they drive. If you try that on an iPhone, you'll drive straight into a tree.

They shouldn't text while they drive even with a physical keyboard.

[juswest]

Well because not everyone cares to watch videos on their phone. So having a regular keyboard and a smaller screen is not a problem for plenty of people. Many people just want what what they are used to.

[Opie]

I like my virtual keyboard. Works great for me.

[Anuba]

They shouldn't text while they drive even with a physical keyboard.
I agree, but a recent poll showed that 28% of drivers do. And the question is, if you can't stop them from doing it, which would you prefer? Having them text on a physical keyboard they can handle without taking their eyes off the road, or on an iPhone where they have to look at the screen while typing?

[fireshot91]

I'd prefer a qwerty phsyical keyboard...but the virtual one is all we're getting so oh well. I'm fine with it. as long as its horizontal!

[anjinha]

I agree, but a recent poll showed that 28% of drivers do. And the question is, if you can't stop them from doing it, which would you prefer? Having them text on a physical keyboard they can handle without taking their eyes off the road, or on an iPhone where they have to look at the screen while typing?

Just because some people choose to use something the wrong way doesn't mean that thing is bad. Did you know that driving while on the phone is as bad as driving drunk? Are cell phones bad because some people choose to drive while talking on cell phones? Is makeup bad because some women choose to apply it while driving? (yes some women do).

People shouldn't text while driving, period.

[Aurial]

It'll be interesting to see what Nokia's implimentation will be like in use. They're giving haptic feedback for each key press, but not via vibration which is what most manufacturers do. The key will actually give the sinsation of clicking under your finger, as if you've actually pressed it in.

Should be on the Tube, if not the next N9X. There's a release event for the Tube on October 2nd.

[neesh0]

I agree, the virtual keyboard is a great idea that apple has used to maximize screen space and functionality, the pros of it outweigh the cons in my opinion

[ucfgrad93]

What is the age cutoff for being young and adaptable? I'm 41 and have adapted quite nicely.

And how is Palm faring these days? :)

I'm 42 and have no trouble using the virtual keyboard. But it really is quite a subjective matter. What suits one person may not suit another.

[kdarling]

The first positive I see is the obvious one, Blackberry, Palm, and other smartphones have keyboards there when they're not even needed. I'm watching 'Cars' on my dad's Blackberry Bold, the keyboard is of zero use, and just gets in the way of a potentially larger screen, to enjoy the video more.

Not with an iPhone! It's only there when you need it, I'm watching a movie, it's gone. I'm texting a friend, it's there. Why have it active when it doesn't need to be?

You ignored the fact that an onscreen keyboard takes up valuable viewing space. Imagine if every time you wanted to type on your laptop, half the screen was obscured.

So, using your pointed about "getting in the way", the logical conclusion is that a slideout keyboard makes the most sense. You get the best of both worlds: non-blocking view of the screen and a keyboard.

Better add a few physical multimedia buttons around the edge of the device, while we're at it, so onscreen controls don't cover up the movie we're watching either.

An all touch device would be a frustrating thing to use. Apple agrees, and has even added volume buttons to the new touch model. Imagine how painful the iPhone would be to use if it didn't have physical volume, ringer, sleep and Homepage menu buttons, along with hardware button control of the answer and iPod functions via the headset.

Touch is great, it's fun. But it's not the end-all of input, just as voice isn't either.

Kevin (who's been programming large and small touch devices since 1990 as a living, and since 1982 for fun)

[drakeshipway]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii292/drakeshipway99/iPhoneProConcept-1.jpg
hehe

like :)

[Anuba]

Just because some people choose to use something the wrong way doesn't mean that thing is bad. Did you know that driving while on the phone is as bad as driving drunk? Are cell phones bad because some people choose to drive while talking on cell phones? Is makeup bad because some women choose to apply it while driving? (yes some women do).

People shouldn't text while driving, period.
Talk about missing the point. :rolleyes:

I KNOW that people who text while driving are idiots, but this thread isn't about traffic safety, it's about exploring why some people insist on having a phone with a physical keyboard. The OP asked why people are "obsessed" with a physical keyboard, and my answer is that at least some of them, about 1/4 to be specific, write SMS messages while driving. Yes, it's a ********* up habit but that's another discussion -- the fact remains that they are doing it, and ergo, the iPhone or anything else with a virtual keyboard isn't their cup of tea.

[anjinha]

Talk about missing the point. :rolleyes:

I KNOW that people who text while driving are idiots, but this thread isn't about traffic safety, it's about exploring why some people insist on having a phone with a physical keyboard. The OP asked why people are "obsessed" with a physical keyboard, and my answer is that at least some of them, about 1/4 to be specific, write SMS messages while driving. Yes, it's a ********* up habit but that's another discussion -- the fact remains that they are doing it, and ergo, the iPhone or anything else with a virtual keyboard isn't their cup of tea.

I just think it's not fair to say a virtual keyboard is a disadvantage because "it's more dangerous to text on a virtual keyboard when driving than on a real keyboard" when it's not how it's supposed to be used anyway.

[firewood]

What is the age cutoff for being young and adaptable?

There's no hard cutoff. But compare the difference in the percentage of people who can't/won't do email at all between high school students and people in a large retirement home.

[NT1440]

im going to assume by "real" keyboard you mean a physical one....

[firewood]

I just think it's not fair to say a virtual keyboard is a disadvantage because "it's more dangerous to text on a virtual keyboard when driving than on a real keyboard" when it's not how it's supposed to be used anyway.

It's not just texting, but basic cell phone use.

With my old Nokia and Treo, I could answer calls without even looking at the thing. I could make calls to certain people with only a quick glance before hitting the dial button to verify my blind contact scrolling. I could launch several apps on my Treo without looking.

Each of those blind tactile operations leaves my eyes on the road for at least a fraction of a second or more longer.

With my iPhone, it takes me longer just to determine whether I'm holding the thing right side up or not (I tried blind swipes to answer a call once and missed a call because I grabbed the phone upsidedown).

[NT1440]

little advice to people who are complaining about not being able to use the keyboard while driving. DONT USE YOUR DAMN PHONE WHILE DRIVING!

as much as people say, "im a good driver" there are hundreds of people who die every year because they caused an accident/got into an accident because they do other things than drive while driving.

[pedroistheman]

seriously.... I mean the auto-correct can get annoying when I am quickly typing a text and I forget to doubecheck before I send. and you gotta love the screen size. I don't see why the new android has a fold out keyboard when the future of smartphones is obviously with touchscreen typing.

[anjinha]

It's not just texting, but basic cell phone use.

With my old Nokia and Treo, I could answer calls without even looking at the thing. I could make calls to certain people with only a quick glance before hitting the dial button to verify my blind contact scrolling. I could launch several apps on my Treo without looking.

Each of those blind tactile operations leaves my eyes on the road for at least a fraction of a second or more longer.

With my iPhone, it takes me longer just to determine whether I'm holding the thing right side up or not (I tried blind swipes to answer a call once and missed a call because I grabbed the phone upsidedown).

Using a cell phone while driving is not dangerous because you don't look at the road, it's dangerous because you're distracted. I read a study that explained how using a cell phone while driving could be as dangerous or even more than driving drunk. And a quick glance at the cell phone is enough for someone to crash.

[kdarling]

I don't see why the new android has a fold out keyboard when the future of smartphones is obviously with touchscreen typing.

Note that a touchscreen device with a sliding keyboard, can use either input method.

I think it's largely dependent on the size of the phone's screen. If it's a small screen, a virtual keyboard is too tiny.

Jobs talks about wasting space with a keyboard. Fine, but the iPhone has tons of wasted space next to the sensors and home button. A couple of programmable buttons would go a long way towards making it easier to use one-handed or in a pocket.

The need for more iPhone buttons has already been proven, by Apple taking the afterthought path of overloading the home button with multiple double-click meanings (and I think triple-click on the headphone button). But with only single buttons, they had no other way to make the thing usable without pulling it out and looking at it.

Just try quickly explaining to someone what all the double and triple click meanings are, depending on what the person is doing (phone or ipod). :rolleyes:

[NT1440]

The need for more iPhone buttons has already been proven, by Apple taking the incredibly sloppy UI path of overloading the home button with multiple double-click meanings (and I think triple-click on the headphones). But with only single buttons, they had no other choice to make the thing usable without pulling it out and looking at it.
WTF are you talking about? the double click on the home button is a freakin ingenious decision. I have mine set for ipod use and its one of its greatest features.


Your opinions (or mine) =/= proof of anything.

[kdarling]

WTF are you talking about? the double click on the home button is a freakin ingenious decision. I have mine set for ipod use and its one of its greatest features.

So WM phones, with almost all buttons programmable for clicks, holds, double clicks and double holds, etc, must be brilliant beyond compare :)

[NT1440]

So WM phones, with almost all buttons programmable for clicks, holds, double clicks and double holds, etc, must be brilliant beyond compare :)

I happen to like simplicity, and HATE menu navigation, so i wont go within a mile of WinMo

[TheSpaz]

I tried using hard keyboards on other phones and it's almost impossible to not hit 2 keys at once with those tiny little keys. They're difficult for me to use. On the other hand, with the iPhone's software keyboard, I fly on that! I can type so fast, but one thing that bothers me is when I try to type the letter "I" sometimes, it will hit "U" instead and it will KEEP IT! Since when does typing JUST the letter "U" do anything for anyone? Also, "love" comes out as "lobe" for some reason... I think love should be a little more important than "lobe", but whatever. Most of the time, I trust what I type.

As for the word "U" instead of "I", I think Apple figures people hate typing "you" and would rather type just "U", but that's totally unlike Apple to do something like that. I always type in long hand and I have a feeling that a lot of Apple users also like to spell everything out too.

Oh, and if Apple DID intend "U" to be "you" why can't you type the word "Yo"? That seems like a slang word that's used by a lot of kids. Anyways, whatever... I like the soft keyboard 90% of the time.

[firewood]

Using a cell phone while driving is not dangerous because you don't look at the road, it's dangerous because you're distracted. I read a study that explained how using a cell phone while driving could be as dangerous or even more than driving drunk. And a quick glance at the cell phone is enough for someone to crash.

Absolutely. So is a quick glance down at the speedometer, gas gauge, side view mirrors, radio, or even just talking about something to a passenger. Driving itself can be dangerous. People crash and die even when not talking on the phone, to a passenger, or listening to the radio. But the latter are legal, so most people will. What tools will we give these people?

[anjinha]

Absolutely. So is a quick glance down at the speedometer, gas gauge, side view mirrors, radio, or even just talking about something to a passenger. Driving itself can be dangerous. People crash and die even when not talking on the phone, to a passenger, or listening to the radio. But the latter are legal, so most people will. What tools will we give these people?

Are you seriously defending using a cell phone and driving? What about drinking and driving, is that ok too?

First, a quick glance at the speedometer, gas gauge, side view mirrors is a necessity when driving and it takes much less attention than a cell phone.

Second: "Motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves, according to a study of drivers in Perth, Australia, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety."

"Many studies have shown that using hand-held cellphones while driving can constitute a hazardous distraction. However, the theory that hands-free sets are safer has been challenged by the findings of several studies. A study from researchers at the University of Utah, published in the summer 2006 issue of Human Factors, the quarterly journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, concludes that talking on a cellphone while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk, even if the phone is a hands-free model. An earlier study by researchers at the university found that motorists who talked on hands-free cellphones were 18 percent slower in braking and took 17 percent longer to regain the speed they lost when they braked."

"A study released in April 2006 found that almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event."

[firewood]

Are you seriously defending using a cell phone and driving? What about drinking and driving, is that ok too?

The former is still perfectly legal as well as accepted practice in most jurisdictions*. The latter is neither**.

(* over 18 and when using a headset or handsfree in CA).
(** at or above 0.08% BAC in CA).

[anjinha]

The former is still perfectly legal as well as accepted practice in most jurisdictions*. The latter is neither**.

(* over 18 and when using a headset or handsfree in CA).
(** at or above 0.08% BAC in CA).

So the only reason you don't drink and drive is not because it's dangerous but because it's illegal?

Using a cell phone while driving is or will be prohibited or restricted in more and more countries.

"As many as 40 countries may restrict or prohibit the use of cellphones while driving. Countries reported to have laws related to cellphone use include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Botswana, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. Most countries prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving."

[firewood]

Are you seriously defending using a cell phone and driving?

Your argument on the topic of this thread sounds similar to saying that since riding a bicycle, even though legal on many roadways, is far more dangerous than taking the train, bicycle manufacturers should not include any features which can improve bicycle safety.

[anjinha]

Your argument on the topic of this thread sounds similar to saying that since riding a bicycle, even though legal on many roadways, is far more dangerous than taking the train, bicycle manufacturers should not include any features which can improve bicycle safety.

Your analogie doesn't make sense at all.

And that's not what I'm saying at all. I just mean that it doesn't make sense to say that physical keyboards are better because they're better for people texting while driving when that is still very dangerous and it's not what they're meant to do anyway.

[Anuba]

I just think it's not fair to say a virtual keyboard is a disadvantage because "it's more dangerous to text on a virtual keyboard when driving than on a real keyboard" when it's not how it's supposed to be used anyway.
We can talk in hypothetical terms all we want, but in REALITY, a virtual keyboard is a very REAL disadvantage to the 25+% of drivers who 'text and drive'. Whether you like it or not, one of four potential iPhone buyers will decline to buy one because of this. And until you have convinced each and every one of these millions of drivers around the planet to stop texting and driving, they will keep buying phones with real keyboards.

If this thread was called "Obsession with toxic glue", and the OP wondered why some people refuse to buy toxic free glue, the answer would be that toxic glue contains toluene and is therefore ideal for sniffing. You would probably then argue "but it's wrong to sniff glue". Why, yes it is -- duhh -- but that wasn't the question. The question was why some people are obsessed with toxic glue.

I repeat: This thread isn't about what people should or shouldn't do, what's legal or illegal, what's smart or dumb, what's safe or risky. The purpose of the thread is to find out why some people are obsessed with a real keyboard. And so far, we have the following answers: 1) Some people are conservative old geezers, and 2) Some people text-and-drive.

[TheSpaz]

We can talk in hypothetical terms all we want, but in REALITY, a virtual keyboard is a very REAL disadvantage to the 25+% of drivers who 'text and drive'. Whether you like it or not, one of four potential iPhone buyers will decline to buy one because of this. And until you have convinced each and every one of these millions of drivers around the planet to stop texting and driving, they will keep buying phones with real keyboards.

If this thread was called "Obsession with toxic glue", and the OP wondered why some people refuse to buy toxic free glue, the answer would be that toxic glue contains toluene and is therefore ideal for sniffing. You would probably then argue "but it's wrong to sniff glue". Why, yes it is -- duhh -- but that wasn't the question. The question was why some people are obsessed with toxic glue.

I repeat: This thread isn't about what people should or shouldn't do, what's legal or illegal, what's smart or dumb, what's safe or risky. The purpose of the thread is to find out why some people are obsessed with a real keyboard. And so far, we have the following answers: 1) Some people are conservative old geezers, and 2) Some people text-and-drive.

How is typing on an iPhone different than typing on a real keyboard? I've never used a QWERTY hard keyboard with one hand before but, I can do it on the iPhone. My brother has a Smartphone with a slide out keyboard and he texts and drives, but he has to use 2 hands to do it because it's awkward to hold it and type with one hand.

[anjinha]

We can talk in hypothetical terms all we want, but in REALITY, a virtual keyboard is a very REAL disadvantage to the 25+% of drivers who 'text and drive'. Whether you like it or not, one of four potential iPhone buyers will decline to buy one because of this. And until you have convinced each and every one of these millions of drivers around the planet to stop texting and driving, they will keep buying phones with real keyboards.

I feel so sorry for the people who want to text and drive and can't do it on the iPhone... NOT.

[lakaiordie]

i have no problem with the virtual keyboard. i like it better actually. i had a bb pearl, and it was ok. but i like the iphones keyboard ever. the only thing i wish it would do is rotate when you turn the phone in all the apps that use the keyboard.

[Anuba]

I feel so sorry for the people who want to text and drive and can't do it on the iPhone... NOT.
I don't feel sorry for them either, I'm just explaining why they avoid the iPhone.

"As many as 40 countries may restrict or prohibit the use of cellphones while driving. Countries reported to have laws related to cellphone use include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Botswana, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. Most countries prohibit the use of hand-held phones while driving."
I can't speak for the other 39, but to suggest that Sweden has laws that restrict or prohibit the use of cellphones while driving is entirely false. There are no regulations whatsoever, you can duct tape 30 phones to your head and talk and text on all of them simultaneously if that's your thing. And in most other areas, Sweden has more and weirder regulations than Canada...

Does this make Sweden a dangerous place to drive? Well, we have 450-500 traffic fatalities per year in a population of 9 million. In the US there were 37,248 fatalities in 2007, in a population of 300 million. This means that your chances of being killed in traffic are nearly 3 times higher in the US than in Sweden. Note also that the fatality numbers have remained pretty much constant in both countries since long before people had cellphones, and given that populations were smaller back then, traffic deaths per capita have been decreasing throughout the cellphone boom. I would worry more about DUI's and less about phones.

How is typing on an iPhone different than typing on a real keyboard? I've never used a QWERTY hard keyboard with one hand before but, I can do it on the iPhone. My brother has a Smartphone with a slide out keyboard and he texts and drives, but he has to use 2 hands to do it because it's awkward to hold it and type with one hand.
I have a friend who insists on texting while driving, no matter how much I bash him, but he doesn't use a bona fide smartphone, it's a classic numpad cellphone where you enter text by pressing a numerical key X number of times. He's lightning quick and never looks at the display until right before he hits send, regardless of whether he's driving or not. He's very impressed by the iPhone overall, but considers the virtual keyboard a dealbreaker because you HAVE to look when you type, you can't feel your way around a flat glass surface...

[firewood]

I feel so sorry for the people who want to text and drive and can't do it on the iPhone...

They problem is that they can, even legally in a few jurisdictions, but have to take their eyes off the road a few split seconds longer than with tactile feedback keyboards.

[kdarling]

Back on track...

Here's a cool idea that they are using in Japan: a touchscreen phone with an optional touch keyboard linked by Bluetooth ... and held on by magnets!

So... you want a keyboard? Just slide it off the back of your phone, and put it on the bottom or side or by itself. Very slick.

Very short YouTube video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVqnCw55n4)

[revenuee]

The iPhone keyboard drives me crazy -- whenever a friend asks me to input some information they always have to say "just trust it" -- LOL

anyway --- i don't have a smart phone device, I have a "regular" cellphone and a Palm Pilot TX that I use several times a day.

I use the IR keyboard a lot -- BUT i use the stylus with graffiti even more. I love writing on the Palm and if the iPhone offered such an option i'de be sold -- almost.

I've read of a few apps still in beta that will offer this feature in the future, but until it's native it's still a toy for the technophiles.

I use the documents To Go on my Palm Pilot quite regularly and no such support exists on the iPhone -- BUT it does on the Blackberry (and other smartphone devices), and I find myself breaking down daily for one.

I don't mean to hijack this thread and turn into a "iPhone for business; Yes/No" discussion but it be would difficult to convince me that the iphone is much more then an iPod video with telephone and web access. DISCLAIMER - I'm not asking anyone too

[firewood]

It would be nice if some future OS upgrade allowed the iPhone to pair with a bluetooth keyboard.

[kdarling]

I just bought my son-in-law a Redfly (link here (http://www.celiocorp.com/)) ... it's a Bluetooth or USB connected large screen and keyboard... for his WM Treo.

Not the most portable solution, but it allows him to easily look at and edit the tons of spreadsheets and other docs he deals with while traveling.

[BrownManUPS]

The other day I was playing around on my friends Verizon DARE phone. The phone has hepatic feedback but is TERRIBLE when it comes to typing fast. I told her that just try typing on my iPhone and she immediately said "I heard its so hard on the phone!" and I said "Just try it and trust that it will get your word right" and she tried it and then said it was amazing. I think a lot of people underestimate the ability for the iPhone to know what you want to say when you type it.

[Anuba]

The other day I was playing around on my friends Verizon DARE phone. The phone has hepatic feedback but is TERRIBLE when it comes to typing fast. I told her that just try typing on my iPhone and she immediately said "I heard its so hard on the phone!" and I said "Just try it and trust that it will get your word right" and she tried it and then said it was amazing. I think a lot of people underestimate the ability for the iPhone to know what you want to say when you type it.
Actually I find the auto-correction terrible. I nearly always type right but iPhone makes sure to get it wrong. Since I communicate both in Swedish and English I have to enable both keyboards, but the phone never knows which language I'm typing in (we use a lot of English slang and terminology in Swedish). When I write in Swedish it can sometimes 'correct' it to something completely wacko in English like "Please milk my hello oven". Also, it insists on correcting names of people, and names are of course the same regardless of language. The other day I tried to google "Tina Fey" and iPhone changed it to "Tuna fet" (fet = fat in Swedish). If I google the actor "Rutger Hauer", iPhone changes it to "Rutger Bauer" (Jack Bauer's retarded cousin?).

So... typing on iPhone isn't as bad as people think, but the auto-correction makes it worse than it could be.

[Mr. Giver '94]

Well, for one thing a shocking amount of people like to write text messages when they drive. If you try that on an iPhone, you'll drive straight into a tree.

That made me laugh. :D

[Mr. Giver '94]

What is with society's obsession with having a smartphone with a real keyboard? My father has a Blackberry Bold because, well, he has to for work, and the company offers it free. Before I bought my iPhone 3G, we used this as a 'family phone' more or less. If I had a soccer or tennis game out of town, I'd bring it to keep in contact with my parents, and I'd surf the internet somewhat and text friends a bit (okay; a lot) to pass the time.

Now, having an iPhone 3G, I love the virtual keyboard. I don't understand the hatecrime against it. Yes, it does take some getting used to, that's true, but after a week (or two at maximum) you should be a master of the virtual keyboard.

Practicality

The first positive I see is the obvious one, Blackberry, Palm, and other smartphones have keyboards there when they're not even needed. I'm watching 'Cars' on my dad's Blackberry Bold, the keyboard is of zero use, and just gets in the way of a potentially larger screen, to enjoy the video more.

Not with an iPhone! It's only there when you need it, I'm watching a movie, it's gone. I'm texting a friend, it's there. Why have it active when it doesn't need to be? The iPhone's keyboard seems to be a *massive* step into the future when it comes to practicality. How do you write in Japanese on a Blackberry efficiently? What about drawing Japanese characters? Nuh-uh.

All in all, having the ability to customize when you need something or not seems a lot more advanced than having it there whenever you don't even need it.

Speed

Ah ha! "But Doju, you can't type as fast on an iPhone as with a real keyboard!" you argue. Wrong, in my opinion at least. Having been an avid texter on a Blackberry Bold, I know my way around typing, and I know this train of thought very well, I even shared it for quite awhile.

But, the Blackberry has significantly smaller keys than the iPhone, and that's just in portrait mode. The iPhone's keyboard is 'smart' too, as Jobs said, and that it will almost help you write a word and find the write key. Can plastic keys do this? Nuh-uh.

And again, put 'er on landscape, and you just blew the Blackberry out of the water. Taking some tests, I average 12 WPM faster on my iPhone than I do with my dad's BB Bold. And that's not even in landscape.

Conclusion

Why does everyone want it? iPhone's keyboard is much more practical, and much faster. What more is there?

I agree with you completely. Coming from a Blackberry Curve, the iPhone is SOOO much easier to type on and, like you said, more space efficient. The Blackberry's keys are sooooo tiny and I would mess up whatever I was typing way too often. I cannot imagine how people use those Palm Centro phones, not only because they suck, but because their keyboards are designed to be used by mice. LOL! :)

I also have yet to try out another touch screen phone with a more responsive and accurate touchpad. I've tried out friends' Voyagers or Instincts or Dares or Glydes and they are all inferior, especially with the haptic feedback. It's like having a personal finger tickler. HAHAHA!!!

[sangosimo]

I hate typing out emails on the iphone a real keyboard is better. The htc phone shows you can have a keyboard and a small form factor.

[zachplaysguitar]

Coming from an LG Dare I love the iPhone's keyboard. I highly doubt there are any touch screen phones out there that come even close. I can see how it would be difficult to go from a physical qwerty but once you get used to it the auto-correction is great. (Provided you only use one language)

[sangosimo]

The htc touch pro and htc touch hd give the iphone a run for its money, and these will most likely be android phones.

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=49518
http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=64790

[BlackMax]

Conclusion

Why does everyone want it? iPhone's keyboard is much more practical, and much faster. What more is there?

Tactile feedback. For me having the tactile feedback of an actual keyboard makes a lot of difference.

I also grown accustomed with and am very proficient at typing with my thumbs. I'm sure if I practiced a lot I could increase my typing speed on an iPhone, but I do not believe it would ever be as fast as typing with my thumbs on my (work provided) BlackBerry.

[kicko]

I like the virtual keyboard, it might be easier in landscape mode but i dont think its any more or less accurate then some of the other tiny keyboards on devices.