I really do not understand why anyone would want a blackberry/treo or slide-out hardware keyboard.
Not everyone is a person that likes it. Not everyone likes the iMac, even in the Apple fan circle, so not everyone likes the iPhone's keyboard, even in the Apple fan circle.
I mean, I'm sure there are a certain percentage of hold-outs that are just too stubborn to learn to use it and will immediately reject it, or those that just absolutely prefer tiny hard keys.
I agree, but there are some that are holding out for a keyboard or some other important
feature from Apple or AT&T. I wouldn't say anyone is stubborn just because they find fault with a piece of technology. Those waiting for a mini tower aren't stubborn by any means, same thing goes for those that want a redesigned MBP with Nelahem and are waiting for it while using a G4.
I my opinion, it's just a matter of either, (1) prefering hard keys or (2) prefering an improved touch keyboard since there are other variants and many find them easier to use.
But I have to wonder if a large percentage of users criticizing the touch keyboard have ever even tried it for themselves?!
I don't think that's really the case now. Maybe when the phone first came out. Now it's easy to just grab a friends iPhone/Touch, use one in the story, or pickup a Touch yourself... or an iPhone. There are a few posters that have the iPhone, that don't like the keyboard. And there are some that find the keyboard the only fault.
That, however, was not the case. One week of heaving typing on my iPod Touch, and I was already faster and more accurate than the Treo I had been using for 2+ years. It really is a world apart from other so-called "touchscreen keyboards".
I would say the same thing, but as another poster and I discussed, other touch screen keyboards are just different and many times can't be compared. On the HTC Touch there are four different ways to enter text, the iPhone only has one. With XT9 on the Touch keyboard you can enter text somewhat faster than the iPhone, but the iPhone has word correction which means you can just keep typing, there is no need to search for words in a really short list, just punch away at the keys and let the phone do the rest as best it can.
The HTC has word recognition, which pulls up words that you type often, or one that is typed the most (XT9) and you just hit the space bar. It's a little faster when typing long words. The keyboards are different. For me, the HTC's keyboard speeds me up, the buttons are larger even on a smaller screen, and I punch in "P" and "H" and Photojournalism comes up instantly. I don't have to fumble through the letters and have the phone correct them for me, and I have used the iPhone/Touch keyboard enough to know the difference.
Then there are the high end users that need to do productive things with their devices. A lot more people than most think will use their Treos/iPhones to type papers or other short docs. Even on the HTC, it's a bit unruly... so the iPhone will be tougher for me. iPhone users haven't been able to really experience that yet, unless they are typing really long notes. Giving business and power users a real keyboard would be welcomed even if it's just an attachment. I just want more input options, and XT9 with bigger keys.
Keep in mind, saying that the iPhone is better than other touch keyboards is the same as others saying the iPhone keyboard is this or that. If you bring up the argument that the nay sayers haven't used the iPhone keyboard, the nay sayers can say that you haven't used ALL the other keyboard out there.
I meant no harsh tones or implied angry feelings in this post 