What's the Best Mobile Device Keyboard You've Ever Used?

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4579' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4579</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;The other day, I went into a Verizon store to hold a Q9m in my hands. I was curious as to how the new keyboard, much different than that on the first generation Q, performed for me. How'd it do? Besides the onscreen keyboard of the iPhone, the Motorola Q9m keyboards wins my vote as the best keyboard on a mobile device, and I've used many keyboards.&quot;</em></p><p><img alt="" border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1192556205.usr6.jpg" /></p><p>For me it would be my BlackJack or my VOX. On the VOX I like both the slide out keyboard and the normal dialpad. What would your favorite keypad be?</p>

[rodan32]

I'd have to throw the Psion Series 5 into the ring, even though it's ancient. More modern, I really loved the keyboard on my iPaq 4350. The Dash is pretty darn good too.

[Macguy59]

The on screen keyboard of my iPhone is the best to date. In an odd twist my accuracy is higher when I'm typing at a faster rate. At a slower rate I get more incorrect key presses (especially on the outisde edges of the keyboard).

[Rocco Augusto]

I'm not a huge fan of the Blackjack keyboard. It's alright but the keys are a little tiny for my taste. The same with the original Moto Q on Verizon. After spending a good chunk of time playing around with the iPhone keyboard on the device we have floating around the office, I would have to rate that as the worst keyboard I have ever used even overtaking the spot of the virtual keyboard that projects itself onto flat surfaces that I got to play with a while ago.

Out of all of the tiny keyboards I have used, the only one I actually liked was my old generic fold up Bluetooth keyboard that I had when I owned an SMT5600. Sure it was bulky and was more of an "accessory", but it was just large enough to make inputting data into the device less of a chore.

[randalllewis]

Far and away the best keyboard I've used is the Blackjack. I agree that the keys are tiny, but if they were bigger, the device wouldn't have the perfect size and heft that it has. The layout of the keys is well done. There is the dedicated e-mail key and the color coded number keys are easy to spot in a hurry. And best of all- there is a good tactile feedback. I never thought I'd send many messages with a smartphone given the tiny keyboards, but I have found the Blackjack keyboard to be useable enough that I reply to most of my messges from the phone.

[mbranscum]

Blackberry 8300 (Curve) hands down.

[Birdsoft]

I also found myself in a Verizon reseller today and tried out the Q9M and it is an awesome keyboard, way better than my current Q, my Treo, the Dash and PPC6700 I have tried. I also saw the q9h at a conference but didnt remember it to be this good(maybe they are identical). But Motorola made the new Q a step up with this keyboard...I was considering the upgrade just for that....

[Stinger]

It would be a toss-up between the HTC Universal, Nokia E70 and my old, old Psion Series 5 organiser.

I'd give it to the Nokia E70. The keyboard has a wonderful tactile feel, the keys are all in the right places (including a row of numbers up top!) and the ergonomics are great. Considering how fantastic the keyboard is, it's far from the largest phone ever created.

[yslee]

I haven't met a Treo whose keyboard I didn't like. :P

That said I haven't tried the new Curve's and Q9's keyboards, both which look really nice from the pictures. As a Samsung i600 owner I don't think its keyboard is that great; certainly usable, but I do believe I type faster on the Treos.

[Kris Kumar]

iPhone's keyboard! :rolleyes:

Just kidding guys. BlackBerry I believe has the best keyboards, I have tried the Curve and found it pretty good.

I haven't tried the latest crop of WinMo devices like the Vox or Q9m, so can't say anything in its favour. BlackJack, Dash, old Q are not as good as BBs.

[Mike Temporale]

Interesting thread.... Of all the devices, I think the BlackJack has the best. The Vox keyboard is annoying as can be, and the Dash keyboard just seems too small.

For me, it's the BlackJack - geez, I miss that phone.

[heavyduty]

...The Vox keyboard is annoying as can be....

Would you care to expand on that? Exactly what's the problem?

Also, any news regarding the s730?

[Jerry Raia]

I had forgotten about my Treo, that was a good keyboard.

[Rocco Augusto]

For me, it's the BlackJack - geez, I miss that phone.

What happened to your Blackjack?! Did you upgrade already? :)

[MR_E]

While I found a lot of things I didn't like about the Blackberry 8707, I did like the keyboard. The Dash keyboard grew on me, after a few weeks, but I have to admit the 8707 has the better keyboard of the two.
The only other smartphone with keyboard I used was the iPaq 6515 - terrible keys...

[Mike Temporale]

Would you care to expand on that? Exactly what's the problem?

Sure - the over all feel is poor, the layout of keys is bad, the common alternate keys are also in bad locations, I find the backlight hard on my eyes in the dark, when the keyboard is open the top softkeys are too close to the top half of the phone, the right hand side of the phone is thicker (due to the camera) so it doesn't sit in your hands as nice as it could. That's just off the top of my head. If I was typing this on that phone I would have a lot more to add. :D

Also, any news regarding the s730?

Nothing new yet. It should be available soon. Keep an eye on our hardware affiliate, and you should see it listed. Last I heard it was due in late Oct / early Nov. It will be a nice improvement over some of the things that are wrong with the 710 - like the lack of 3G support.

[Mike Temporale]

What happened to your Blackjack?! Did you upgrade already? :)

Kind of. That's a post I'll try and make on the front page in the next day or so. Stay tuned. ;)

[andrewbadera]

had a Treo 700w -- loved the keyboard, but the device itself is weighty. you could kill a man with a Treo.

have an 8125/Wizard. the keyboard pretty much sucks. lighting doesn't stay on long enough. actually key clicks are the one thing I like, but the keys themselves aren't well differentiated. not very raised.

been thinking about a VOX as my next device, specifically for the combination of regular phone dialing and full keyboard.

has anyone used those IR "keyboards" where you tap on a surface or in air? I know they were kind of rough 10 years ago ... Think Geek carries one ... I'd really like a keyboard like that, IF it's not a gimmicky POS. and if it has Bluetooth. IR is for the birds.

[Jerry Raia]

Here is a review of one:
http://www.geardiary.com/2007/01/16/the-itech-virtual-keyboard-vkb-review/

[john1027]

I have to agree with Jerry on the Q9m. I would previously have said the Treo but after using the Q9m for a week, I find myself making almost no mistakes when typing and I have large hands. I do wish that they had put a second caps/shift key on the left side and the ability to have the upper key symbol/number selected when you hold it down or the ability to have it switch to a cap after a long press. The Q Cap developer has promised an update for the Q9 series in a couple weeks. The key press delay/lag that was present at times in the oringal Q is completely gone in the Q9m. I imagine this will be the same in the Q9h.