Should it be a Horizontal Slider?

**dLo GSR** · 03-04-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by spiderhider

Horizontal slider can not be used one handed though.

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even a regular BB is hard enough to use one-handed, i don't even bother most of the time.

**prozart** · 03-04-2010, 03:09 PM

Definitely not. Horizontal sliders are a pain, I don't want to turn the phone sideways every time I want to type something. For long emails it's fine, but most of the time I'm sending a short message or typing something into a search bar. I've used quite a few horizontal sliders and honestly bigger isn't always better. The Bold 9000 keyboard is the best I've ever used.

**wbdillworth** · 03-04-2010, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by ch3wybarf

The vertical slide just makes the device larger and top-heavy.

So you asume. Is the Palm Pre top-heavy? Not that I've heard. Until you actually hold this phone, you can't make uneducated comments like "it will be top-heavy".

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**snowindec9** · 03-04-2010, 07:43 PM

not a fan of horizontal sliders.

**JRF_1986** · 03-04-2010, 09:13 PM

I would prefer a horizontal slide out, what's the point of such a large screen if you are gonna use it standing up? The larger screen would be better used in landscape for internet and stuff, so I would prefer the horizontal keyboard. Still its a good concept.

**SLVR6** · 03-04-2010, 09:20 PM

I think the vertical slide looks right and makes the most sense. Horizontal slide keyboards are clumsy and feel WAY too big and spread out. I might actually consider this phone if there is NO suretype. Curious to see how this turns out in the end!

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**BzB** · 03-04-2010, 09:26 PM

interesting how some of you seem to have forgotten one important thing....blackberry makes some of the best portrait physical keyboards you can get on a smart phone. portrait seems like the obvious design choice.

the main drawbacks of a portrait slider is that you can't use it when looking at the screen in landscape view. and if there's a virtual keyboard in landscape mode it still would take up a lot of screen real estate when up.

i think they'll have (or should have) the option of portrait and landscape virtual keyboards so you don't have to use the slider keyboard if you don't want to. same as the storm series but without surepress.

**cadman** · 03-04-2010, 09:40 PM

Horizontal FTW.....if I wanted a pre I would buy a pre

They should concentrate more on os then new device designs.

**dale.elder** · 03-05-2010, 09:48 AM

I agree with NO horizontial slider. I use my storm one handed all the time so thats a no go for me.

**cadman** · 03-05-2010, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by dale.elder

I agree with NO horizontial slider. I use my storm one handed all the time so thats a no go for me.

but if it's closed wouldn't it have the same abilities as a current storm?
I would hope so regardless of which way it slides.

**mi_canuck** · 03-05-2010, 10:13 AM

I find typing on horizontal sliders worse than in portrait mode... I live either thumb to be able to reach opposite ends of the keyboard, as can't always two-hand it...

**papinj2004** · 03-05-2010, 10:28 AM

Your right, If it comes with the Storm abilities (minus Surepress) when closed and the Bold keyboard slide open (verticaly) when then it will be a good phone. but would love a better OS with it..

**tnewton3** · 03-05-2010, 11:53 AM

Verticle keyboard or bust. Show me one person that can type faster than me on a horizontal keyboard and I'll be a believer. Blackberry = Verticle keyboard, trademark, and that's how it will stay.

**dlight57** · 03-05-2010, 02:45 PM

They discussed this in the last podcast and I must agree the best. Qwerty keyboard is one that is as tight as possible without being cramped. Horizontal sliders make your thumbs cover way to much real estate I enjoy typing on my S2 in landscape mode but find portrait mode to be much speedier

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**Xader** · 03-07-2010, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by spiderhider

Horizontal slider can not be used one handed though.

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Not true. It's the only form-factor I CAN use one-handed.

My hands are so big, that once I have a grip on my 8900, my thumb is pushing the stand-by button! I have to hold it left handed and peck away with my right hand.

**suarezrh** · 06-14-2010, 09:40 AM

im chiming super late on this =P.... but id have to say i like the vertical slide better than a horizontal slide. And yes even tho the horizontal would be a bigger keyboard it does suck having to turn it side ways. And like many have mentioned, 1 handed typing on a full keyboard is nice. Thats what originally made me a BB person in the first place (can't txt on a reg fone anymore haha!).... i have a storm and as much as i thought i would use the landscape view (bigger sideways keyboard) most of the time i am using the phone vertical and on the "suretype" (which i use to hate) with one hand. touch screen full keyboard is too small. I loved my Curve w real buttons tho like this one!

just my 2 cents =)

**kbz1960** · 06-14-2010, 10:10 AM

I want to know where all of you that text, bbm etc. and drive live so I can stay away from there!

**Steve Rizla** · 06-14-2010, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by ch3wybarf

The vertical slide just makes the device larger and top-heavy. A horizontal slider does make much more sense.

The battery is probably heavier than the part of the screen that will extend beyond the frame of the opened phone and will most likely balance it out.

**Masahiro** · 06-14-2010, 01:24 PM

Vertical slider all the way. I was hoping for a horizontal keyboard at first, but then I realized that you'd have to turn the phone sideways everytime you'd want to use it. The cast majority of the time, I use my Storm in portrait mode.
Also, don't forget the four keys and trackpad. It would be really awkward having them on the side of the phone, perpendicular to the keyboard when typing. The same applies to the convenience keys.
Lastly, having a headset or USB cable plugged into the phone may block the sliding mechanism if it's on the other side. They could put it on the same side as the keys, but then they'd get in the way. They can put the plugs on the bottom, but that would be rather unprecedented. I don't know how that would work out.

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**Xader** · 06-16-2010, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by SLVR6

Horizontal slide keyboards are clumsy and feel WAY too big and spread out.

Spoken like a person with musicians fingers. Smaller and dexterous.

But for those of us with hands more suited to, say, running a jackhammer...the space afforded by horizontal keyboards is much appreciated.

**vikingjunior** · 06-16-2010, 09:17 PM

They could also make a NO slider model but with trackpad and keys. I like the storm but it has no trackpad. ALL touchscreens should have at least a trackpad.

But I vote for vertical.

**jen8112** · 06-16-2010, 09:33 PM

Vertical all the way!!! I had an 8330 then moved to a Moment. I had it for 2 months and never got used to the keys being so far apart with the horizontal slider. I would have got the Pre but the buttons seem way too small. Granted I'm a woman with small hands but the BB's have the best size keyboards that I've used. I think they should stick with what they know!

**kjb10** · 06-18-2010, 02:10 PM

RIM couldn't have made it a horizontal slider without actually having to develop a new keyboard. Why bother when they can just reach into there recycled parts bin and make a "new" phone with the Storm screen and bold keyboard.

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