Log in

View Full Version : HTC Vox Keyboard doesn't Feel Balanced


Kris Kumar
05-22-2007, 01:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://community.softteq.com/blogs/nick/archive/2007/05/17/htc-vox-alignment.aspx' target='_blank'>http://community.softteq.com/blogs/nick/archive/2007/05/17/htc-vox-alignment.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"In my previous post I covered a number of the nice features of the HTC S710 (ie the HTC Vox). I did allude to the fact that the keyboard didn't feel as balanced and as natural to use as the K-Jam keyboard. ... In this picture I have marked in a number of different "centres" and as you can see they don't really align. Starting with the red and orange markings. The red indicates the centre of the keyboard, based around the space key, while the orange marker is the middle of the screen. You can see from the mis-alignment that this isn't going to be a great user experience when the eyes aren't aligned with the middle of the keyboard."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/kris-may2007-keyboard_alignment.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Nick Randolph is talking about the one issue that is bugging him about the new HTC Vox - its keyboard is not balanced. The photograph with the various markers makes it very easy for us to follow what he is talking about in his article. Even without holding one in my hand, I am sure that I will be bugged by the space key and the location of the left key. Why didn't HTC put a wider and more centered space key? And why didn't they put the soft keys at the edge of the keyboard? Do they think the users are so dumb that if they don't put the keys directly under the on-screen menus then the users will be lost. So what do you think? Does all this really bother you? :)

Prosper
05-22-2007, 01:20 PM
I can't agree. I don't feel anything mis-aligned on the keyboard.
Yes, it's a bit annoying to move the left hand to the left key of the sofkeys and the space could be a bit larger, but you accustom to this very fast IMO, so that's not a real problem (for me).

Pinnacle
05-22-2007, 03:19 PM
This is nit-picking at its best. I can't agree with the conclusion that this device will not provide a good user experience. I've been using this phone for about a month, now, and I haven't even noticed this as a negative...and I'm not going cross-eyed. :lol:

This is a fantastic Smartphone. Although I thought the keyboard would be hard to get used to, I quickly got the hang of typing on it quickly. I realize HTC could only get so many symbols included on the hard keys, but I do wish that a few frequently used ones could have made it somewhere on the keys ($,&amp;).

Hyer
05-22-2007, 03:21 PM
The un-balanced issue doesn't bother me at all, with regard to the screen. The thing that I wrestle with is that the keyboard itself isn't alligned well and many of the keys I use often are in odd places. As an example when I am typing, I don't use the arrow keys very often, and they are where I would expect the period and comma to be. Also, having the period and comma stacked bugs me. Finally the layout of the rows is off from a conventional keyboard, so you have to pay attention as you type or you will get the wrong key.

All in all, these are pretty nit picky things and it beats the h&amp;ll out of T9, but I think the layout could be improved.

bryant
05-22-2007, 05:53 PM
:roll: Is this guy serious?

I haven't had any problems with my keyboard or the layout, it seems fine to me.

SteveHoward999
05-22-2007, 08:12 PM
Do they think the users are so dumb that if they don't put the keys directly under the on-screen menus then the users will be lost.


Absolutely.

Typical users are not always the sharpest tacks ...

SteveHoward999
05-22-2007, 08:12 PM
Do they think the users are so dumb that if they don't put the keys directly under the on-screen menus then the users will be lost.


Absolutely.

Typical users are not always the sharpest tacks ...

Damion Chaplin
05-22-2007, 08:34 PM
Case in point. :wink:



j/k Steve :lol:

SteveHoward999
05-22-2007, 08:58 PM
Case in point. :wink:
j/k Steve :lol:


Oops :oops:

karinatwork
05-22-2007, 09:32 PM
Well, I am a 95 WPM kinda girl. So having a keyboard like that will throw me off anyway, and in the end it does not matter how centered or not centered it is, because I will have to first adapt to and practice on that particular layout.

I like having the option of a full keyboard, even if it's not my favorite "Comfort Curve" layout and feel...

Just my 2 cents.

dwhitney
05-22-2007, 10:27 PM
Speaking as a former owner of:

Kjam
TyTN
Ipaq6945
Dash
HTC P4350

.... and didn't have any issues with the keyboard layouts on any of those devices (the smaller keys on the dash took some getting used to...) - I can unequivocally tell you that the keyboard layout on the Vox has been a MAJOR PITA! For those of us that have become touch thumb typists, you count subconsciously on the relative layout/spacing of the keys on the keyboard and I am constantly finding myself mistyping letters (by one key...) on the left hand side of the keyboard. It has slown my effective data entry rate on the device WAY down in order to compensate for the wonky key layout and spacing

mbranscum
05-23-2007, 01:19 AM
So what do you think? Does all this really bother you? :)

It does now. I wish you hadn't mentioned it! :wink:

Kris Kumar
05-23-2007, 03:03 AM
I am sure given some time we can get used to any keyboard (maybe "any" is a bit far-fetched) but you get the point.

In Nick's defense, a balanced keyboard just makes it easy for us to get accustomed to it. :-)

I feel that the size, spacing, shape, layout, how much the keys need to be pressed, the feedback and whether or not the keyboard is balanced or not are the factors which makes it easy for a user to get accustomed to a new keyboard. One or two of these doesn't really affect the acceptance. And I am sure every user would find one of the above extremely hard to overcome. Maybe I should set up a poll? What do you think?

Kris Kumar
05-23-2007, 03:07 AM
This is nit-picking at its best.

I am sure it is. :-) But without these things how will we ever be able to run enthusiast Web sites. :lol:

Mike Temporale
05-23-2007, 04:23 PM
I can see how some people might be bothered by it. I don't know that it's a show stopper for anyone. I would expect a little time spent using the device and you would be past it.

Rocco Augusto
05-23-2007, 05:38 PM
Absolutely.

Typical users are not always the sharpest tacks ...

i have learned from my many years of working the floor for many different carriers that when it comes to being the sharpest knife in the drawer, a large majority of cell phone users are spoons. :(

my favorite stories all involve people who would get upset because they didn't realize they had to charge their phones and thought the phone was broken when the battery died. this happened more often then i would like to admit :lol:

Mike Temporale
05-24-2007, 02:40 AM
my favorite stories all involve people who would get upset because they didn't realize they had to charge their phones and thought the phone was broken when the battery died. this happened more often then i would like to admit :lol:

8O oh my.... :roll: