1. Alex_Hong's Avatar
    i think shortcuts will be the limiting factors for full touchscreen devices. there may be shortcuts implemented via long presses, gestures, and what not. But still using a physical keyboard will still be more efficient.

    Then again, its back to compromises again. Whether users will be willing to give up doing certain things a little faster in exchange for a bigger screen.

    Personally, i don't think it's worth it. Probably because i'm not into watching videos or playing games on my phone, even when i was on an iphone as i found the experience to be a little limiting. Thus, i am willing to give up a big screen in exchange for efficiency on a smartphone. If i wanted a consumption device for watching videos, playing games and reading magazines, i would rather have a tablet. It offers a much better experience even compared to full touch screen phones.
    Morty2264 likes this.
    02-07-12 10:35 AM
  2. Economist101's Avatar
    It has nothing to do with evolving. For 100 or so yrs we have been driving cars. Theres just things you can do with keyboard you cant without. I.E shortcuts. They just dont work on a virtual keyboard.
    Sales numbers, and thus the market, do not agree, and I remember a time when the same resistance describe above was offered against the mouse.
    02-07-12 10:41 AM
  3. BoldPreza's Avatar
    I do think eventually they will be fazed out, but not for quite a while.

    Right now, BB makes its business mainly on its physical keyboard products. They don't have much incentive to leave it behind and yes I know we have only seen the London leaked so far but I highly doubt it will be the only BB10 phone launched.
    02-07-12 10:54 AM
  4. syb0rg's Avatar
    Is it running now?
    I was playing with Go Keyboard, but now I'm back on SwiftKey.

    I don't like the iPhone4 look of the keyboard.

    Sent from my fingers to you eye socket using my Cyanogen powered Android.
    02-07-12 10:56 AM
  5. 13echo4's Avatar
    Sales numbers, and thus the market, do not agree, and I remember a time when the same resistance describe above was offered against the mouse.
    Huh? That went straight over my head.
    02-07-12 11:24 AM
  6. jaydee5799's Avatar
    No definitely not.

    There will always be the older users who prefer the keyboards, even if they / we are the minority.
    Since when does my love for a keyboard make me OLD?
    HAHA
    Just busting you! I had to laugh at this tho
    02-07-12 11:31 AM
  7. SRR500's Avatar
    It's all about choice and personal preference. Nothing more. It doesn't matter if person "A" can type faster on a touch screen or if person "B" is better with a keyboard.

    What matters is that the choice is available. If you want a touch screen only, you can choose from BB, Apple, WP, Android, etc.
    If you want a keyboard, you are down to BB, Android, and WP.
    If you want a horizontal keyboard you leave BB out. But if you want a vertical keyboard BB and Android is your only choice.

    I know I've stated the obvious. My point is, if there is a market, someone will make and sell it.

    There is no doubt that there is a market for keyboard devices. Therefore, they won't be going away until the market for them does.
    kraski likes this.
    02-07-12 11:51 AM
  8. Morty2264's Avatar
    I agree with you, 100%. Physical keyboards are wonderful to use. My first qwerty keyboard was a Nokia C3. I loved that phone. The keyboard was so easy to use; and it helped me prepare for my BlackBerry's keyboard later. I too think there's something gratifying about physically pressing buttons; and you know what you're typing, too (your thumb won't slip and touch another letter by accident).

    I'm not saying that I'm 100% against touch-screen phones. They're cool; and I often admire the Android or the HTC phones my friends have. However, I enjoy a keyboard. I edit every text, message, and post I send; so I'm always using the trackpad to go back and edit. I also love the text shorcuts and am constantly updating my dictionary and shortcut lists. The keyboard makes it easy for me to do that.

    I'm sure people with touch-screen phones would also say that messaging is efficient with their platform; and I'm sure it is. However, I just prefer keyboard phones. I like knowing what I'm doing; and I feel like a touch-screen phone would unnerve me. My editing would be in overdrive!
    02-07-12 02:24 PM
  9. Tre Lawrence's Avatar
    I type one handed on my 9800/9860 one-handed without swype.
    My point was that Swype helps me type one-handed like I could on BB.

    Works well on tablets too.

    Mobile post via Tapatalk
    02-07-12 02:28 PM
  10. 13echo4's Avatar
    It's all about choice and personal preference. Nothing more. It doesn't matter if person "A" can type faster on a touch screen or if person "B" is better with a keyboard.

    What matters is that the choice is available. If you want a touch screen only, you can choose from BB, Apple, WP, Android, etc.
    If you want a keyboard, you are down to BB, Android, and WP.
    If you want a horizontal keyboard you leave BB out. But if you want a vertical keyboard BB and Android is your only choice.

    I know I've stated the obvious. My point is, if there is a market, someone will make and sell it.

    There is no doubt that there is a market for keyboard devices. Therefore, they won't be going away until the market for them does.
    Very well said.
    02-07-12 02:52 PM
  11. 13echo4's Avatar
    My point was that Swype helps me type one-handed like I could on BB.

    Works well on tablets too.

    Mobile post via Tapatalk
    Oh I got your point. My point is I rather have my blackberry than another brand and run an app just to type like I do on a blackberry.
    What is the point in having an iphone wishing it was a blackberry. I don't wish for my blackberry to be an android.
    02-07-12 02:56 PM
  12. BitPusher2600's Avatar
    Nope, no, no way, nuh-uh, nyet, not so much, absolutely not, h*ll no, etc.

    There are few things in life in which there aren't more than one option for doing what you want/need (ie car vs truck, shoes vs boots, wired vs wireless etc.) You could compare just about anything. Everything has it's place, has it merits and shortcomings compared to the other, maybe it's need, preference or both, but no sir. What's better in one person's world is garbage in another's. It's all about what is best for the individual. Period.

    So says I...yohoho
    Last edited by BitPusher2600; 02-08-12 at 04:35 AM.
    02-08-12 04:32 AM
  13. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    Yes, physical keyboards are going the way of the dinosaur. There is simply no need for them. Virtual keyboards have faster and more accurate typing. On an android or iphone, type 2 or 3 letters of a word an many word options come up. Select the right word and move on to the next word.

    I think the market has spoken. As evidenced by the rapidly increasing market share of android and ios and the falling market share of RIM, keyboards are a thing of the past.

    The keyboard on my 9810 feels great but it is slow compared to virtual.

    If people cared about keyboards, RIM would be doing great right now.
    02-08-12 05:11 AM
  14. SnoozerBold's Avatar
    Some people like keyboards while some prefer touch screens. Touch screens are more popular.
    Which ever one a person prefers they claim it to be superior.
    Have I covered everything? Just want to make sure I'm caught up.
    02-08-12 05:56 AM
  15. belfastdispatcher's Avatar
    Yes, physical keyboards are going the way of the dinosaur. There is simply no need for them. Virtual keyboards have faster and more accurate typing. On an android or iphone, type 2 or 3 letters of a word an many word options come up. Select the right word and move on to the next word.

    I think the market has spoken. As evidenced by the rapidly increasing market share of android and ios and the falling market share of RIM, keyboards are a thing of the past.

    The keyboard on my 9810 feels great but it is slow compared to virtual.

    If people cared about keyboards, RIM would be doing great right now.
    You mean something like this? Lol

    You do realize a qwerty blackberry has this option too lol
    02-08-12 06:09 AM
  16. SRR500's Avatar
    You mean something like this? Lol

    You do realize a qwerty blackberry has this option too lol
    I was going to say the same thing.

    I don't think many people know that predictive text is available on the  querty devises.
    02-08-12 06:17 AM
  17. mssca's Avatar
    To OP, do you know the population in China and India? Well, the Blackberry is getting popular on those countries. If you get used to a physical keyboard at early stage like I am, it will be hard for you to go back to touch screen. This is why even Samsung is considering making special editions for Asia.

    When I was in South Asia I saw a lot of young people (under 18 or so) with their parents using Blackberries. (yep, there are rich people in South Asia). I am sure most of those kids will hate touch screens for sure.
    02-08-12 07:40 AM
  18. southlander's Avatar
    I think the physical keyboard is only being sacrificed to preserve screen size.
    It is also a concession to software developers who like the flexibility. I work with point of sale systems. The software devs always push touchscreens. The cashiers always (almost always) prefer a real keyboard. Less mistakes. We provide both methods of input. That makes everyone happy.




    Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 using Tapatalk
    02-08-12 07:54 AM
  19. 13echo4's Avatar
    Yes, physical keyboards are going the way of the dinosaur. There is simply no need for them. Virtual keyboards have faster and more accurate typing. On an android or iphone, type 2 or 3 letters of a word an many word options come up. Select the right word and move on to the next word.

    I think the market has spoken. As evidenced by the rapidly increasing market share of android and ios and the falling market share of RIM, keyboards are a thing of the past.

    The keyboard on my 9810 feels great but it is slow compared to virtual.

    If people cared about keyboards, RIM would be doing great right now.
    So you think people are going to androids and ios to get away from keyboards. I would think that you might be on to something but some android devices has keyboards....
    Sorry good idea though. So its faster to search for a word than type it? I dont think so. Not for me anyway. I would be totally confused. Its the reason I came to blackberry to begin with. To get away from T9. You suggest to go back. No way in..... Not in this life time.
    02-08-12 09:51 AM
  20. wuulfy's Avatar
    almost everyone in the UK drives a manual car. Dont ask me why ..i dont drive.
    02-08-12 10:33 AM
  21. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    You mean something like this? Lol

    You do realize a qwerty blackberry has this option too lol
    Belfast, I have that on my 9810. But you only get that feature if you use the VIRTUAL KEYBOARD and not the physical keyboard which is exactly my point. ROTFLMAO!
    02-08-12 08:24 PM
  22. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    So you think people are going to androids and ios to get away from keyboards. I would think that you might be on to something but some android devices has keyboards....
    Sorry good idea though. So its faster to search for a word than type it? I dont think so. Not for me anyway. I would be totally confused. Its the reason I came to blackberry to begin with. To get away from T9. You suggest to go back. No way in..... Not in this life time.
    The smartphones with virtual keyboards are also able to voice type. Speak and it types for you.
    02-08-12 08:28 PM
  23. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    I was going to say the same thing.

    I don't think many people know that predictive text is available on the  querty devises.
    Only if you are using the virtual keyboard on the 9810.
    02-08-12 08:29 PM
  24. 13echo4's Avatar
    The smartphones with virtual keyboards are also able to voice type. Speak and it types for you.
    So does phones w/ keyboards, whays your point?
    02-08-12 09:01 PM
  25. E92Vancouver's Avatar
    So does phones w/ keyboards, whays your point?
    Hi Echo. My point is that pushing keys to type a message is the same as Fred Flintstone using his feet to propel his car. It was acceptable when it was the only way but not now.

    When the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, zealots were outraged that anyone would want to spend so much on a car when a horse was so much cheaper.

    Anyway, I digress. My point about the voice dictation which works amazingly well on android and iOS, is it is an option for users who are not comfortable using a virtual keyboard.

    I like the voice typing option/dictation and hope that this feature is soon available on a blackberry as a core feature instead of as a 3rd party application. I guess if you have a QWERTY keyboard why do you need voice typing.
    Last edited by E92Vancouver; 02-09-12 at 12:12 AM.
    02-08-12 11:51 PM
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