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Zinger314

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 18, 2010
54
0
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.


IMO, a Bluetooth keyboard + iPhone is an odd combination. Only way I can see it being feasible is for someone with large fingers (who can't stand the small screen/keys) and good eyesight. :cool:
 
Imagine a case that has a slide out keyboard. That would end the argument against the onscreen keyboard forever.
There are still people out there who prefer real buttons and won't buy an iPhone for lacking them.
 
Have the iPhone cradled next to you or something... message comes through.... It's a lot faster and easier to type with a keyboard... I would use it if I had the phone near my keyboard all the time.
 
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I used to have a Palm Treo with a portable keyboard. I used it over my laptop for meeting minutes, notes etc. I loved using a keyboard since I type faster than I write, but hated lugging my laptop around. It was a chore to unlock my laptop, make sure I had charging cables for long meetings, etc.

I just need to find a small Bluetooth keyboard now.
 
Imagine a case that has a slide out keyboard. That would end the argument against the onscreen keyboard forever.
There are still people out there who prefer real buttons and won't buy an iPhone for lacking them.

This. I'm surprised one hasn't been released yet.
 
I travel for business and always have my laptops with me. But when I'm on vacation or quick non-business getaways I leave the laptops at home. However, on non-business trips I still often have to send somewhat lengthy email replies to clients and such. A BT keyboard would be perfect for this with my iPhone. No reason to lug my 17" MBP with me to just send emails.

I'm considering a fold up BT keyboard but the apple one is pretty small anyway.
 
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I can definitely see how you may have longish emails to write while on a trip in a hotel and to avoid paying for hotel wi-fi, one could use a Bluetooth keyboard with an iPhone.
 
Can someone who's used it answer this for me please:

When using the BT keyboard, do you still get the onboard screen keyboard, or does it get rid of this, and thus increasing the display when composing an email, as this makes it much easier when typing to see everything.
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.

People would use it because you can. They will probably come out with small keyboard cases just like the ipad for the iphone.
 
Can someone who's used it answer this for me please:

When using the BT keyboard, do you still get the onboard screen keyboard, or does it get rid of this, and thus increasing the display when composing an email, as this makes it much easier when typing to see everything.
In my test it does eliminate the on-screen keyboard.
 
I travel for business and always have my laptops with me. But when I'm on vacation or quick non-business getaways I leave the laptops at home. However, on non-business trips I still often have to send somewhat lengthy email replies to clients and such. A BT keyboard would be perfect for this with my iPhone. No reason to lug my 17" MBP with me to just send emails.

I'm considering a fold up BT keyboard but the apple one is pretty small anyway.

I had a Palm V and a collapsible keyboard,(before smartphones) the palm sat on the keyboard and worked quite well. I can see the blu tooth one would be perfect for the example above.
 
I'm not really up to date on the bluetooth keyboard market. How small do they come now? Can they fold up rather well?

If the keyboard itself isn't extremely portable it kind of defeats the purpose. A laptop could do far more, with a minimal increase in size and weight.
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.

I would use my BT keyboard with my iPhone if I could send messages with it too. You can only type them out, then you have to hit send on the actual phone. They need to make it so enter on the keyboard is send... Just my opinion.
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.

I love typing on the iPhone's virtual keyboard. I have a keyboard for the iPad that I have yet to use. Same reason. :)
 
I got one for use for a long term journalism project that has me on the road. I do blog entries with it and it is a lot better using the small BT keyboard I just got yesterday.

Got my bumper and another case today too, I am set, the phone is working great!
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.

At least for my ipaq they made small, foldable keyboards that fit in my purse well (though the one I liked best was not bluetooth and had a dock connector specifically for the ipaq. The blue tooth ones tended to be a bit bigger cause they had to be able to fit batteries). The one I had was not much bigger than the ipaq when folded up (though the ipaq I think was more size of the Evo than the iphone. I know it had a bigger screen than the iphone).

I was hoping maybe you'd see this happen with the iphone (prolly not though).
 
With an iPad, it makes sense, but I can't imagine it would be particularly efficient with a keyboard, since most keyboards are much, much larger than the iPhone.

That's why you get a fold up Stowaway keyboard. Not much bigger than the phone at all, then you fold it out to a nearly full sized keyboard.

I've had a few meetings recently where I've had to train out somewhere and been able to work on that rather than having to cart round a laptop. It's been amazingly helpful.

Phazer
 
I sit at my computer with Apple BT keyboard and mouse on the keyboard tray.

My iPhone sits in it's dock in front of my iMac next to another Apple BT keyboard.

Saves my sanity when I get in an SMS convo or something. Much easier and faster and no need to take the phone in and out of the dock.

Now, outside this situation I have never had a reason to use it. Only reason I have this setup is when I bought my iMac, I then had 2 Apple BT keyboards.
 
That's why you get a fold up Stowaway keyboard. Not much bigger than the phone at all, then you fold it out to a nearly full sized keyboard.

I've had a few meetings recently where I've had to train out somewhere and been able to work on that rather than having to cart round a laptop. It's been amazingly helpful.

Phazer
Could you link one of these? If it was portable enough I could see a use for it, especially when iWork comes to the iPhone.
 
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