Dear BlackBerry! There's still time to fix the Passport keyboard.
- ThunderbuckRetired ModeratorThis is about the best post in this entire thread.
Unfortunately, I believe more people will 'hate' the device than 'love' it when it's all said and done. Think: Storm series with the whole "clicking screen" or the BB Style with its flip phone approach during the full touch screen influx. It's just another instance of BB trying to stand out and be different just to be different.
Now, I understand what site I'm on, and undoubtedly my comment will be met with much more negativity than re-enforcement. Doesn't mean it won't end up to be true. Only time will tell.
I DO like the notion of BlackBerry introducing something innovative and risky.06-30-14 04:20 PMLike 0 -
-
- ThunderbuckRetired ModeratorBecause on the Passport you'll be dragging your finger across the keys for gestures and cursor control. It adds an element of risk that the user will get an unexpected outcome if you include keys that modify the behavior of other keys.06-30-14 04:41 PMLike 0
- Exactly - people like us.
Most people buy a smartphone as their daily communications device rather than just toys. In my opinion, most people will avoid this device because they screwed with the keyboard too much.
The keyboard gestures, big screen, high quality specs and interesting form factor are enough to make this phone intriguing to the general user. A radical change to the way keyboard users type was unnecessary.
I'm basing this on my own opinions from images and videos, and feedback from 1 person who used the device for 10 minutes, who admitted the typing was clunky and unintuitive. I hope we are both wrong and this turns into a a wild unprecedented success, but I think we're all able to predict the likely outcome.
Posted via CB1006-30-14 04:59 PMLike 0 -
When we swipe down on the Passport keyboard to display the symbols, are we likely to accidentally press the keys and get an unexpected outcome?
Do you see what I'm getting at? Your argument is nonsense.
Not only would an ALT key with symbols printed on the keys make this phone instantly intuitive to the general user, but it would also make the typing experience better.
Posted via CB10goncal likes this.06-30-14 05:04 PMLike 1 - 06-30-14 06:10 PMLike 0
- ThunderbuckRetired Moderator
And instead of hitting an ALT key, the user just swipes down on the keyboard. Is that really so hard?06-30-14 06:15 PMLike 0 - ThunderbuckRetired Moderator
I'll bet gestures can't work on the touch sensitive keyboard while a key is being pressed. That leaves these options:
1) Make the keyboard so that only the ALT key isn't touch-sensitive
2) Make the ALT key a separate hardware button on the device
3) Render the ALT key on a virtual kb row.
Which of those alternatives do you think is the easiest to implement?06-30-14 06:24 PMLike 0 -
I see that you have failed to recognize that the whole point was for you to speak for yourself and not for others.
I've posted numerous times in other threads that I for one would like to see a new all touch flagship. Sorry... I mean, people would like an all new touch flagship... lol...06-30-14 06:34 PMLike 0 - IMO, people weren't drawn to the iPhone because they LOVE the typing experience. They were willing to put up with it for the other things it brought, like larger real estate. Giving people the option of a large screen and an easy typing experience could be attractive to a lot of users. It could be the end to signatures like my co-worker's: "Any typos can be attributed to Siri and/or auto-correct..."
And let's be honest, a large majority of smartphone users don't even use punctuation, so they won't miss that 4th row...06-30-14 06:48 PMLike 0 - IMO, people weren't drawn to the iPhone because they LOVE the typing experience. They were willing to put up with it for the other things it brought, like larger real estate. Giving people the option of a large screen and an easy typing experience could be attractive to a lot of users. It could be the end to signatures like my co-worker's: "Any typos can be attributed to Siri and/or auto-correct..."
And let's be honest, a large majority of smartphone users don't even use punctuation, so they won't miss that 4th row...
Posted via CB1006-30-14 07:22 PMLike 0 - Bold_until_Hybrid_ComesWaterloo's FinestI'm not being fooled into this phone. I'm getting the classic06-30-14 07:27 PMLike 0
- Those people that do not use punctuation still need the # and @ quite a lot.
If they can add these keys while keeping the usability exactly the same, I hope they do. If not, I think I prefer it the way it is now.
BlackBerry 10 signed.06-30-14 08:08 PMLike 0 - So you are suggesting that there is a separation between virtual keyboard users and physical keyboard users. Ever stop to think there are people who don't mind both and don't belong to just one category?Thunderbuck likes this.06-30-14 08:56 PMLike 1
-
- Then I guess this is still a good time for people to voice their concerns. :-)
However, it seems unlikely that BB would put too much stock in comments here - from people who have never even held or used the device. That's not to say that opinions here are worthless. Comments based on the pictures, video's, and some understanding of how it is intended to work must have -some- value. But surely they have focus groups and testers with hands-on feedback to deliver that will carry far more weight.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using CB Forums mobile app06-30-14 10:46 PMLike 0 - This is a phone with three rows. Even the space bar being off to the side wasn't a big problem. And Blackberry Passport with the space bar to the middle, it will be okay.
Attachment 281646
but we need more keys... shift (for caps)? alt? and sym? and therefore additional characters on the keys... WHY having a wide "Q" when we can fit "Q", "0" and "~", on the same key?
Blackberry wanted to reinvent typing?
I want to purchase a Passport, but one drawback that might make me think twice is having to go back and forth between keyboard and touchscreen more often than if it had all the usual keys available.CeCoQ likes this.06-30-14 11:00 PMLike 1 - ThunderbuckRetired ModeratorI could go with that 3-row keyboard! Now if a 3-row keyboard could have all the keys of a 4-row keyboard, that would be great. The reason I wanted a 4-row keyboard is so that all the other non-letter keys (alt, shift, back, enter, sym, etc.) could be included.
I want to purchase a Passport, but one drawback that might make me think twice is having to go back and forth between keyboard and touchscreen more often than if it had all the usual keys available.
Posted from CB10 running on my awesome Z30 2B6927F706-30-14 11:04 PMLike 0
- Forum
- BlackBerry 10 Phones & OS
- BlackBerry Passport
Dear BlackBerry! There's still time to fix the Passport keyboard.
Similar Threads
-
White Verizon BlackBerry Z10
By ajst222 in forum Buy, Sell, Trade - Sold / ArchivedReplies: 12Last Post: 07-09-14, 09:25 PM -
Blackberry Flip phone
By Valetta bloodstern in forum Developers LoungeReplies: 6Last Post: 07-01-14, 07:50 AM -
BlackBerry Z30 available at 25K INR on Flipkart
By Anubhav Nagpal in forum BlackBerry Z30Replies: 7Last Post: 06-30-14, 11:45 PM -
BlackBerry shows off the Z3 in Indonesia with two commercials
By CrackBerry News in forum CrackBerry.com News Discussion & ContestsReplies: 0Last Post: 06-30-14, 12:40 PM
LINK TO POST COPIED TO CLIPBOARD