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Any word on an upcoming HTC Keyboard Phone? Or an HTC event where they may announceit

I am just treading water now. I don't understand why keyboards are being dropped. I love the Fuze's keyboard. It could be improved on, of course, but keyboards like the Droids make me lose faith in anyone's ability to build a good keyboard.
HTC is the only one I have faith in. And with awesome phones like the HD2 and the Evo... I may not have a keyboard phone at all!! What to do!!
Someone give me good news!!

I have nightmares of a not so distant future where real keyboards on phones (and perhaps one day even computers) no longer exist. Even on this board, when reading posts of people going from the Touch Pro 2 to the HD2, and exclaiming how (because of the gigantic screen) they no longer need a real keyboard, I shed microscopic tears.
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
I cannot imagine using SSH or RemoteDesktop with a touch keyboard that obscures half the screen every time I want to type something. I like using my phone as a mini computer, and I appreciate having the choice to control it without always smudging up the screen. Ever try scrolling through large webpages with a series of flicks? Yea, hooray for directional buttons!
Anyways enough rant, I have no idea what the next good keyboard phone from HTC will be. There's the HTC Tera, but that seems to be a stripped down Touch Pro 2 (lower screen res, similar CPU) which makes no sense. Something like an HD2 Pro would be boss, considering the surface area of that device, HTC could fit some serious keyage in there.
Until then you can pry my underpowered Touch Pro 2 out of my cold dead hands.

MooGoo said:
I have nightmares of a not so distant future where real keyboards on phones (and perhaps one day even computers) no longer exist. Even on this board, when reading posts of people going from the Touch Pro 2 to the HD2, and exclaiming how (because of the gigantic screen) they no longer need a real keyboard, I shed microscopic tears.
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
I cannot imagine using SSH or RemoteDesktop with a touch keyboard that obscures half the screen every time I want to type something. I like using my phone as a mini computer, and I appreciate having the choice to control it without always smudging up the screen. Ever try scrolling through large webpages with a series of flicks? Yea, hooray for directional buttons!
Anyways enough rant, I have no idea what the next good keyboard phone from HTC will be. There's the HTC Tera, but that seems to be a stripped down Touch Pro 2 (lower screen res, similar CPU) which makes no sense. Something like an HD2 Pro would be boss, considering the surface area of that device, HTC could fit some serious keyage in there.
Until then you can pry my underpowered Touch Pro 2 out of my cold dead hands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get an lg expo.

Personally, I find the keyboard just easier to use, and it allows for you to use other applications (such as games, which I never play cause the Fuze is slow) or, even better, to scroll through contacts precisely when you have a phone without a front-facing D-Pad. Buttons are great. You just need those keys. I do like to use my phone as a mini-computer as well. I fell in love with the Sidekick when I was younger (never one one), the idea of a mini little IM station. I use my Fuze like that now, putting it next to my monitor when playing a game to direct the IMs to it.
Without a keyboard, it'll feel incomplete. Sure, an onscreen keyboard works, but it's slow. It's clumsy. You need to look at it when you type, and you can never get too far ahead because you are unsure of what you're hitting. My Fuze keyboard is second nature. I need a GOOD keyboard, as good as the Fuze or better.
And I'm not seeing one.

thehyecircus said:
I am just treading water now. I don't understand why keyboards are being dropped. I love the Fuze's keyboard. It could be improved on, of course, but keyboards like the Droids make me lose faith in anyone's ability to build a good keyboard.
HTC is the only one I have faith in. And with awesome phones like the HD2 and the Evo... I may not have a keyboard phone at all!! What to do!!
Someone give me good news!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I´m with you!
Only HTC I want and with keyboard.
Not any virtual keyboard can be compared to the REAL feeling of typing on REAL keys!!!
Tera should be launched in q3 o q4 this year but it´s not really an upgrade from actual great Rhodium
I would say, wait till q2 2011 and for sure we will see something it worth the upgrade.
I spent several years with Universal waiting for a great successor and got it hard to find something till I got Rhodium.
If you know something please share it here!
I´ll do the same
Posted by MooGoo
Even if one could become as proficient with a touchscreen keyboard as they would be with a real one, there is one thing that a real keyboard can do that a fake one will never be able to emulate. That is, the ability to not take up 3/4ths of the screen while using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn right!!!!!!!!
----------------
See this reference thread regarding members asking for a keyboard device

I'm with you guys on this. I'm sure HTC will be releasing some sick phones once win7 hits

I feel the same. I hope that there will be HTC Android phone with keyboard in near future.
And NO i don't want Motorola, LG etc. I want HTC phone with xda support!
Typing on screen is super-slow-motion for me compared to hardware keyboard, probably because of the small screen. But i think good HW keyboard can beat any SW keyboard on any screen.

Keep it alive!!
Great words
Let´s keep alive and actual this thread!
Perhaps...who knows....somebody from HTC could be watching...

Well I don't know about HTC but DELL are rumored to release some great devices one with a keyboard that I bet will have XDA support. It's worth having a look at this monster.
http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_lightning-3280.php
I hope that DELL being a serious firm will not let us down everything on paper looks very promising.

thehyecircus said:
... I need a GOOD keyboard, as good as the Fuze or better.
And I'm not seeing one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touch Pro 2 Keyboard > Touch Pro 1 Keyboard in all way, shape, & form.
In fact so far, the Touch Pro 2 is the most perfect phone keyboard that I have ever used...no comparisons anywhere else.
But I'm with the OP here, I want to see some new phones coming out w/ specs like modern phones with keyboards like my current phone. It shouldn't be too much to ask. Or else I'd be tempted to make a frankenphone of the HD2 w/ the touch pro 2 keyboard if possible!!!
Jason

myrandex said:
It shouldn't be too much to ask. Or else I'd be tempted to make a frankenphone of the HD2 w/ the touch pro 2 keyboard if possible!!!
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be incredible, please DO IT!! Xda will create a new subsection for your frankenphone.
And while your at it, hax the scroll wheel and d-pad from the hermes onto your new phone of horrors, and maybe a couple lazzzars too.
I'm totally serious!

andes83 said:
Well I don't know about HTC but DELL are rumored to release some great devices one with a keyboard that I bet will have XDA support. It's worth having a look at this monster.
http://www.gsmarena.com/dell_lightning-3280.php
I hope that DELL being a serious firm will not let us down everything on paper looks very promising.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That ain't a real keyboard.
And the TP2 keyboard lacks buttons!! And has awkward placement on some keys!! I can use the TP1 so well that I see no reason to compromise. Now, a bigger screen, and the TP2 approach works.

orb3000 said:
I´m with you!
Only HTC I want and with keyboard.
Not any virtual keyboard can be compared to the REAL feeling of typing on REAL keys!!!
Tera should be launched in q3 o q4 this year but it´s not really an upgrade from actual great Rhodium
I would say, wait till q2 2011 and for sure we will see something it worth the upgrade.
I spent several years with Universal waiting for a great successor and got it hard to find something till I got Rhodium.
If you know something please share it here!
I´ll do the same
Damn right!!!!!!!!
----------------
See this reference thread regarding members asking for a keyboard device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets

alexsemi said:
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A real Tablet PC is a convertible, where the screen can flip down and go on top of the keyboard. They ALSO use digitizers so you can use a stylus and draw on the screen accurately (instead of this multi-touch capacitive crap designed for fingers.) That is the laptop I want. Not these tablet craps.
If it is designed for the internet, I NEED to type on it. That's all I do online.

Lenovo X200 Multi-Touch Tablet FTW. It could literally eat the iPad.

I upgraded from an HTC Dream to the Nexus One, thinking that I probably wouldn't miss the physical keyboard at all because I had been reading how people were pretty happy typing on their iPhones and whatnot. Although a physical keyboard is not necessary, I find that I make a lot of mistakes typing on a virtual keyboard. I've since switched to a BlackBerry and typing emails is so much worry-free now.

alexsemi said:
Hey. I was checking out iPad in a local best buy one day, thinking about if it's going to replace my laptop, went back home, opened my lenovo X301, and caught my self thinking, that this kind of flip device, with keyboard on the bottom and screen on top, is a so freaking good NEW idea after all this tablets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah!
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myrandex said:
In fact so far, the Touch Pro 2 is the most perfect phone keyboard that I have ever used...no comparisons anywhere else.
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, wholeheartedly. Of course, it's also my first keyboard phone. Regardless of that, I think I've already been spoiled rotten by the TP2's keyboard.
Actually, the Touch Pro 2 is my first smartphone ever. Being a noob to this phone tech level, I did what research I could, but one of the considerations back then that really locked me on to the TP2 was how great its keyboard looked. (This was before I knew what there was an XDA or that the phone could do other little neat things like host 3 different operating systems and other stuff.) I even dropped Sprint and signed on to T-Mobile to get the TP2 in its first week in the states. I love the phone, and I was dead on in my assessment of the keyboard.
It's awesome. I mean, the buttons are huge AND there's space between them like a real keyboard. (I looked at the Palm Pre for awhile and couldn't fathom how someone was supposed to actually press the keys on that tiny keyboard.) The keys are laid out in very efficient locations; again it's like a real keyboard. I actually like the TP2's keyboard layout better than the one on my ASUS netbook.
Yes, the row of number keys gets partially blocked by the screen when it's flipped up, and, I agree, it's annoying. But it's not crippling to me, and the problem is easily solved by just flipping the screen back to the flat position.
Here's the kicker, though. I can type probably 10x as fast on the keyboard than I can on the touchscreen. I'll usually use the touchscreen if I just need to type a few letters for something. I was using the touchscreen more recently, but it got annoying trying to accurately press the right keys quickly with my much larger fingers. So I switched back to keyboard, and now I'm flipping it out just about every time I need to type more than 6 letters or so.
I recall a probably-500-word email I recently had to mash out on my phone as fast as possible to get it to someone important. Keyboard all the way. And I managed to get it done and to the person just before they left for their appointment. Without a real keyboard, I wouldn't have even tried.
So, yeah, I agree with MooGoo above. Until another good keyboard phone comes along, I'll be clutching my Touch Pro 2...and shredding out emails while clutching.

MooGoo said:
Lenovo X200 Multi-Touch Tablet FTW. It could literally eat the iPad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of technology eating technology, one of my simple pleasures in life is the state in which my desk at work may often be found.
Often I'll have my netbook sitting in front of my desktop and my TP2 sitting in front of my netbook with the keyboard out and the screen tilted up. It looks like the netbook is going to eat a miniature version of itself. And the whole setup is like one big computer matryoshka doll. (I should probably throw a full sized laptop in there for even greater effect.)
This, to me, is another strong argument for keyboards on phones.

SemisolidSnake said:
Speaking of technology eating technology, one of my simple pleasures in life is the state in which my desk at work may often be found.
Often I'll have my netbook sitting in front of my desktop and my TP2 sitting in front of my netbook with the keyboard out and the screen tilted up. It looks like the netbook is going to eat a miniature version of itself. And the whole setup is like one big computer matryoshka doll. (I should probably throw a full sized laptop in there for even greater effect.)
This, to me, is another strong argument for keyboards on phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just the fact that I can see my whole screen, navigate using the d-pad (for anything tricky), and actually type on documents that need it is way too strong an argument for any phone maker to be ignoring keyboards. I don't understand why keyboards aren't being used more - I know the Droid's keyboard sucked big time, but it proved how THIN you can make a phone with a keyboard while still being way too powerful.
If Motorola grew a brain, they could pump out an awesome keyboard phone. And then, maybe it'd set a precedent like the Droid didn't.

Who here misses their smartphone with a physical keyboard?

Honestly, I don't think I can do this whole touch screen phones anymore. My first smartphone was a palm Treo 650 and it ran like a champ.. I had then bought a touchpro but the touchscreen keyboard, along with that landscape keyboard just wasn't cutting it(plus I thought windows mobile was pretty sluggish) anyways I don't want to bore you with all the phones I've owned throughout the years but I've had alot.
At the end of the day I'm trying to be productive, whether it be me shooting an email real quick, replying to a message or pulling up a contact to call, it's all easier, and a hell of a lot faster on a device with a keyboard. The best device to do this on would of been the dell venue pro. Nice size screen, nice slide out keyboard but one problem for me, it wasn't running android.
I don't care what anyone says, a touchscreen keyboard can never replace a physical keyboard, I don't care how well the auto correct or prediction is(I'm using swiftkey). I think I had the best experience with a touch screen keyboard with the iphone 4 and nexus s running ics but it still wasn't cutting it.
I think I'm gonna go back to my Droid pro, hell I might pick up a Droid pro plus. I need to productive, I need to be able to respond to texts messages with a quickness.. Not have to keep back spacing like I am now because of how off the auto correct is. I need to safely be able to text and drive (yes this can be done on phones with portrait style keyboards) I need to be able to flow like water and be smooth like butter when it comes to taking down notes, adding people, adding an event in a calendar.
Why am I riding this? Because I miss my Treo 650, my Treo 755p, my Palm Pre, nokia e71and yes, even my old ass blackberry curve lol. I'm sure some of you can relate to my situation.
What sucks is that the current portrait style android phones out there seem to be those cheap budget phones. The only I've seen that's somewhat high end was the Motorola admiral for sprint. Such a sexy phone but it's not gsm!
In all honesty I hope RIM fails at their next OS and decides to start selling handsets running android, that would be sweet.
Hell who knows maybe ill jump ship to a blackberry but I. Honestly don't see myself doing that.
Sorry for this thread, I guess this was a little bit of venting and hoping there's a few out there that can relate to me haha
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

I kinda agree... yes there are some Android QWERTY devices such as the Galaxy Y Pro and the Moto Droid. But you kinda have to think, Android on a small screen doesnt work... It works for BlackBerryOS as they have been built for the QWERTY type but Android needs to have a large 4.0+ screen... hence why we have slideout ones... An alternative to the BlackBerry is THE LEGENDARY SONY ERICSSON P1I SYMBIAN UIQ3 PHONE which I am using at the minute as the devices under in my sig are gone back / sold for a HTC One X, Galaxy Note II and something cool. All I have is the AsusPrime and im waiting for my SensationXL

Earlier i was using Galaxy 551 which had a physical keyboard but i didn't use them much.. It was okay typing on touchscreen
I never care for physical keyboard while it comes to buying new phone for me or suggesting some friends out thr....
Now im well accustomed and feel lot comfortable typing on touchscreen....
Sent from my GT-I9103

I had one that had a physical slide-out keyboard. SE X10 Mini Pro. Was not a bad phone for the price but was very small and battery hungry.
With that said i kind of miss having a keyboard, but it makes for a bigger phone, which i don't like.

I still use my HTC G2 every now and then because of the physical keyboard. However if we were to go use physical keyboards again, I would be very picky about which one I want. The one on the G2 takes more pressure than I would like and it slows down my typing. Whereas the keyboard on the Samsung Captivate Glide/Epic 4G was perfect for me. The one on the G2 wouldn't bother me as much had it'd been a bigger phone. 4" display is pretty good for the keyboard phones: that's one thing I envied about the Droid 3.
But a 4.3" display with a keyboard would be even better for me. Maybe the trend will come back as most buyers want a light slate-phone more than anything. I'm hopeful a "HTC G3" will be the answer.

This is my HTC Universal 2005 (still works great), the best hardware keyboard device ever build!
Wish HTC launch a newer device with H/Kb
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MO3iusONE said:
Honestly, I don't think I can do this whole touch screen phones anymore. My first smartphone was a palm Treo 650 and it ran like a champ.. I had then bought a touchpro but the touchscreen keyboard, along with that landscape keyboard just wasn't cutting it(plus I thought windows mobile was pretty sluggish) anyways I don't want to bore you with all the phones I've owned throughout the years but I've had alot.
At the end of the day I'm trying to be productive, whether it be me shooting an email real quick, replying to a message or pulling up a contact to call, it's all easier, and a hell of a lot faster on a device with a keyboard. The best device to do this on would of been the dell venue pro. Nice size screen, nice slide out keyboard but one problem for me, it wasn't running android.
I don't care what anyone says, a touchscreen keyboard can never replace a physical keyboard, I don't care how well the auto correct or prediction is(I'm using swiftkey). I think I had the best experience with a touch screen keyboard with the iphone 4 and nexus s running ics but it still wasn't cutting it.
I think I'm gonna go back to my Droid pro, hell I might pick up a Droid pro plus. I need to productive, I need to be able to respond to texts messages with a quickness.. Not have to keep back spacing like I am now because of how off the auto correct is. I need to safely be able to text and drive (yes this can be done on phones with portrait style keyboards) I need to be able to flow like water and be smooth like butter when it comes to taking down notes, adding people, adding an event in a calendar.
Why am I riding this? Because I miss my Treo 650, my Treo 755p, my Palm Pre, nokia e71and yes, even my old ass blackberry curve lol. I'm sure some of you can relate to my situation.
What sucks is that the current portrait style android phones out there seem to be those cheap budget phones. The only I've seen that's somewhat high end was the Motorola admiral for sprint. Such a sexy phone but it's not gsm!
In all honesty I hope RIM fails at their next OS and decides to start selling handsets running android, that would be sweet.
Hell who knows maybe ill jump ship to a blackberry but I. Honestly don't see myself doing that.
Sorry for this thread, I guess this was a little bit of venting and hoping there's a few out there that can relate to me haha
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
texting while driving is now illegal in most states.. it cannot be done safely.. a young kid is in jail for killing someone while doing that.

Comfortable typing on screen
But will always prefer H/kb.
Even with clean fingertips oil from skin still smudges screen from time to time.
I like keeping my screen clean without having to Screen Wipes after just a cpl txt msgs.
Unless they come out with a felt fingertip attachment thats touch screen compatible I wont be 100% content with touch screen kb.

firehopper said:
texting while driving is now illegal in most states.. it cannot be done safely.. a young kid is in jail for killing someone while doing that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I read about that. It cannot be done safely on a all touchscreen phone, ie iphone, evo, galaxy, etc.. But phones such as blackberry, an old palm pre, basically anything with a portrait style keyboards is doable.. Would I advise. It? Probably not but if kids are gonna text and drive cause let's be honest, their gonna be doing it, give them a portrait style keyboards, physical keys all the way.
Also, I never been a big fan of landscape keyboard. I feel their too slow, takes too long to slide out that keyboard, wait for the screen to rotate, although that has gotten better. Plus you can't type with one hand on a phone like that. That's why portrait keyboards are awesome. Everything is so jumbled up close together that when it comes to typing on that keyboard, it's easy. I had posted a video years ago on YouTube, me typing on a palm pre and I was quick with it. Once your thumbs get the hang of where all the keys are, typing just becomes a breeze
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

Google the dell venue pro. The screen is ideal and they keyboard is nice and spacious. In all honesty ill go back to my Droid pro and use this one x as a weekend phone or something.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

General Discussion in the General Thread

Redirected from
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2551715&page=58#post57872212
(Sorry Moderators if I'm doing something wrong, but most of us were posting stuff on the DEV thread...)
I have to agree with @Dukenukemx that newer phones suck and that most don't even have physical keyboards.
This is probable because of the increase in screen size and the general interest in lighter, thinner phones. I actually really, really enjoy a heavy phone. It makes them feel solid, like those age-old Nokias. The myTouch especially is rather heavy, and I've dropped mine a lot mainly because I'm in college and I'm always in a rush but also because I'm clumsy as ****. Heavier phones are more solidly built, because of the thicker plastic required to support all the moving parts, in the myTouch's case, the G2, and the G1.
Gonna edit this later, I'm not done.

AndrMatr said:
Redirected from
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2551715&page=58#post57872212
(Sorry Moderators if I'm doing something wrong, but most of us were posting stuff on the DEV thread...)
I have to agree with @Dukenukemx that newer phones suck and that most don't even have physical keyboards.
This is probable because of the increase in screen size and the general interest in lighter, thinner phones. I actually really, really enjoy a heavy phone. It makes them feel solid, like those age-old Nokias. The myTouch especially is rather heavy, and I've dropped mine a lot mainly because I'm in college and I'm always in a rush but also because I'm clumsy as ****. Heavier phones are more solidly built, because of the thicker plastic required to support all the moving parts, in the myTouch's case, the G2, and the G1.
Gonna edit this later, I'm not done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an interesting situation. Now I like the smaller phones because I don't want to have to be toting what is increasingly becoming a tablet in the front pocket. 4" screen is my limit, which rounds out to 122mm height, just small enough for a camera case.
I could have went iPhone with a Bluetooth keyboard but I don't like the Apple company model.
I won't repost the link I left in the other thread, but it talks about how Sprint did customer surveys which found people preferred hardware keyboards. They built two models, and close to no one bought them.
A big issue is that the lines are unrecognizable, and middle of the road in terms of specs. Since the specifications have pretty much stayed the same since then, "new" models are now bordering on low end phones. Ones that will never get updates, support, or any hope in general.
The suggestion in the end was that a qwerty line must be tied to a flagship device, or it won't survive. But after I had a couple beers with a network provider, their thoughts is that the market for qwerty is so niche that it would be too much risk for them.
A full sized device with a keyboard would not be practical. With the size they make them now, a few extra millimeters thickness for the keyboard makes it look bulky. A "Q" model would have to be tied to a device with a reduced size, like the S4 Mini, which is already a niche device.
Another issue, particularly with the doubleshot is with the hardware breakdown. Flex cable problems are all too common. With bar phones, it seems the only hardware problems they get are with the power button, and sometimes the volume rocker.
This may be my last foray in the hardware keyboard trend. I could (probably) get my cases made, which would be expensive and annoying, but it is what it is. Without a keyboard, and the ability to have a custom made case, I am willing to go to a phone size up to 5.5". So that would mean either a Nexus 5, Moto X 2013, or Moto G.
But it will be a while before I need to make that decision. My F3Q is still going strong (and strangely less miserable than the MT4GS, even though it wasn't a bad phone), although I miss the tactile response home buttons. ROM support would be nice, but I really like the LG interface right now (even though I replaced the launcher and icon pack).
My rant is over, for now.
Sent from my LG-D520 using XDA Free mobile app

@joel.maxuel, you have an interesting point when you said that a flagship device is needed for the keyboard to survive.
At the time, the myTouch was a flagship device. At the T-Moblie store I worked at every one of the guys I was working with had one. One had a red one, one had a white one, and I had LG Doubleplay (which is terrible phone, by the way) that I only got because it had two screens, which defeated the purpose of a battery.
While useful, the keyboards take up a little extra battery with the backlight. As far as the Doubleplay goes, the second screen combined with the keyboard just made the battery drain like someone who won the lottery throws away their money on houses, cars, etc. I never looked into Cyanogenmod for it, although that would be AWESOME with 4.x.x, having that extra screen for messaging and the top screen for whatever else so I can watch videos while I text.
Another device for the keyboard issue is the Kyocera Echo.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the device, but it had two screens, which could be used in tandem with each other, you could pull an image onto both screens expanded so the image took up both screens. It was an extremely advanced version of the Doubleplay. The second screen was also the keyboard, which I didn't like because there was no physical feedback except the vibration of the phone. I liked the myTouch that when I was working for T-Mob I almost bought one, however I forgot about it as soon as I had access to the Sidekick 4G. What I liked about that phone was the lock screen, which displayed the time in words rather than the numbers. The trackpad was a joke, never worked properly, but it had a decent processor and a decent amount of RAM for 2.2 Froyo.
The keyboard was excellent, it had pretty good functionality. The buttons were really, really well spaced. There was no room for accidentally pressing a key and sending a text sending something really inappropriate instead of something harmless. Froyo is like Windows XP.
The downside of the Sidekick was that you almost always had to use both hands to press the soft keys, which I found to be almosed completely useless. Samsung did a terrible job of designing it. I have almost always had a keyboarded phone, and that's why I have switched carriers so much. T-Mob has always had the best Android phones, by far. Verizon's are also moderately decent, but T-Mob's were the best.
My favorite phone ever, was the G1. Forgive me, but I totally forgot about the spitting image of Google. Poorly designed, ugly, but very, very easy to use. I found out that it went all the way to ICS, and I threw mine out just about the time that ICS came out. The keyboard was the best addition to the phone that HTC could have added. The keyboard was snug, good for my (at the time) small fingers (I was 13). The trackball didn't light up, which was disappointing, that's what I liked about Blackberries (but blackberries themselves are a joke). When the myTouch 3G Slide came out, my friend got one and then he gave it to me. Even though it was slow as $#!+ the keyboard was the best thing (As I type this I realised that HTC had a thing for keyboards) about the phone.
My final point: Keyboards were a very, very important part of Android history. While keyboards had a fad, and like most things, they will make a come back. They might not be on major devices, but they will be on devices that will be supported enough for Cyanogenmod and the likes. I visited a AT&T store about a year ago and there were a couple of Android phones with keyboards. I look at foreign markets occasionally, and there are some companies that have keyboarded Android phones with decent specs (like a 2.2GHz quad core ARMv7 processor and an Adreno 430) but their hardware is cheaply made and the ratings that were translated by Google said that the hardware burned up fast. Battery life was almost zero.
Conclusion: wait a few years, or go live in China or Japan.
Edit
Oh, and by the way, I found this:
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/artic...ils_leaked_on_upcoming_mytouch_android_sequel
The phone looks like a combination between the myTouch 4G Slide and the 3G Slide, but there's no "chin" or whatever. The face is completely flat.
Personally, I think this one looks really cool. I have no idea why HTC didn't go with this design, I think it's really good, but instead they went with the original design of the current myTouch 3G Slide, which is what the 4G Slide is based off of.
What do you guys think?

Why non keyboard phones? It's not hard to imagine why companies don't make them. The demand for them has gone away. Why? Is touchscreen superior?
Look at the current trend of Android phones. They're getting bigger, but everyone hates them bigger, but everyone needs them bigger. Cause when you hold the phone on the side the keyboard consumes the screen. It's the most comfortable way to type, because holding it vertical gives you more visible screen, but less keyboard. So the solution is to make the screen bigger.
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But the reason everyone gets these keyboardless phones is because of iPhone. Everyone wants an iPhone clone. It's to look cool without the Apple tax. Manufacturers have no problems with this, as it makes manufacturing these phones cheaper. They encourage people to go for brick style phones, just like they encourage people to spend more on internal storage and cloud services. It's done by not including SD card slots and charge a lot for 32GB phones. Despite that a 32GB class 10 SD Card is only $17 on Amazon, and that's not even the cheap ones.
How hard is it to make a brick phone? Screen+SoC+battery = phone. When companies like HTC are falling apart when all they can do is continue to make more powerful iPhone clones. Like I care how much faster my phone can get when I don't have the software on it. Hey look 2+Ghz quad core with GPU9001 graphics with screen resolution beyond 1080p. So it's obviously for gaming, cause Facebook doesn't need this kind of power. It would be more comfortable to use a keyboard for gaming, especially games like ShovelKnight. Instead of HTC going after qwerty again they just keep trying to one up Samsung, LG, and Apple in shear power. Meanwhile best touchscreen games are AngryBirds, FruitNinja, and etc, which don't need that kind of power.

Well, in the beginning, it was more than a fad, it was a requirement. On screen keyboards were not part of the OS until Donut 1.6, where the G1 was released with Cupcake 1.5...
Sent from my LG-D520 using XDA Free mobile app

@Dukenukemx
You're right on the "More Power" idea. I totally agree.
Companies are repeatedly trying to 1-up each other with hardware.
While the G1 is struggling with 4.0.4, phones like the LG Phoenix are thriving even on Lollipop.
The Samsung Glalaxy Note III has an insane processor that can play Minecraft with no problem.
The Samsung Glalaxy Centura has an 800Mhz processor that can handle Minecraft with no problem. The only problem I have with my Phoenix is the processor architecture being ARMv6, and Minecraft is built on an ARMv7 platform. The Adreno 200 handles NFS Shift with no problem. If the Phoenix had ARMv7 I would have just bought a Bluetooth keyboard and played around with that. I'm happy with the Phoenix and if I can downgrade the CWM recovery back to 5.x.x.x I might also downgrade the OS to either 4.0.4 or 4.1.2.
And you're right with the whole memory problem. My Phoenix shipped with an unexpected 32GB Sandisk 32GB MicroSD card already wiped in the device! I bought the phone itself for $19.95 on amazon, and the card came with it! Apple bumps the price on a new iPhone up about $100-$200 per memory level. Other manufacturers are doing the same. It's not about the phone anymore. It's about the game. Manufacturers just slap the newest and biggest on their devices while devs are constantly tyring to keep up. The battery life is dismal. My Phoenix gets 2-3 days on a charge with a 1520MAh 3.7V battery. The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 10.78 WH battery... Since when was battery life rated in the amount of watts used? The watt is a measurement of heat... That's disturbing. Even my myTouch gets warm while browsing the web, nevermind I fried my last one playing Minecraft. Given I had the processor overclocked by a whole 500MHz, that's mostly my fault. My Phoenix can barely handle a 148MHz overclock. The phones (myTouch and Phoenix) were released two months apart! Had Minecraft development started then, we would probably still see a lot of ARMv7 exclusive apps actually developed for ARMv6 as well. Developers tend to go to the brighter side of the latest and greatest, however people like me prefer to hang out on the deep end and dig through the dirt and bring old relics to light (like the Phoenix or the G1). Even the iPhone 3GS received an Android update! All you had to do was jailbreak it. iDroid development stopped right around the release of JB mainly because the 3GS's hardware couldn't keep up with Android and the developers had better things to do than tinker around with brand new iPhones. iOS is up to what, iOS 9? Android is only recently to 5.0!
I definitely prefer Android, though, because Android is open source and Apple is paranoid and has all of their stuff closed-source. I remember the announcement in Google News when the Android Market reached its one-billionth app download, and now most apps have over 100,000 and the number of Android apps is blowing up exponentially. I looked at Google's stock worth per share: 526 as of posting. About 8 or 9 months ago it was at over a thousand. Apple's stock? 110. Microsoft? Forget it. microsoft is becoming a game company now. Microsoft is becoming Blackberry: Everyone uses it but they either don't care about it or hate it. Windows 8 was a joke. I have extremely high expectations for Windows 10. I don't want to be disappointed so I'm using Ubuntu.

joel.maxuel said:
Well, in the beginning, it was more than a fad, it was a requirement. On screen keyboards were not part of the OS until Donut 1.6, where the G1 was released with Cupcake 1.5...
Sent from my LG-D520 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be argued that it's a fad to not have a keyboard. Is removing SD cards also a fad too? Nobody wants Windows phones, but somehow they keep getting made. Part of it is market influence, and part of it is collaboration. I believe there's a lot of people who are still waiting for a next generation QWERTY phone, but nobody is making them? Something is not right here. We are being pushed into a direction that companies want. Who doesn't want a SD card in their phone? WHO?
The Motorola Droid 4 is the best QWERTY phone today. It has respectable specs for a phone today, but it was made 2 years ago. I would be using it now if it worked on T-Mobile. There are people waiting for the Droid 5, but that's likely never going to happen. But I also believe that companies like HTC, LG, Samsung, and even Apple are facing a growing menace. The Chinese ultra cheap market is growing and ready to explode into a problem for them. Willing to believe they have no problem with making QWERTY phones. I have no problem with Mediatek or Allwinner chips in my phone. Probably the worst thing going for the Chinese phones is lack of community rom support and support for T-Mobile.

AndrMatr said:
Even the iPhone 3GS received an Android update! All you had to do was jailbreak it. iDroid development stopped right around the release of JB mainly because the 3GS's hardware couldn't keep up with Android and the developers had better things to do than tinker around with brand new iPhones. iOS is up to what, iOS 9? Android is only recently to 5.0!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know about the iDroid project, sounds like a cool initiative. Too bad they didn't keep it up (with the newer devices).
Your point that the iPhone couldn't keep up with JB tells me that either (a) Apple products are underspecced as well as being overpriced, or (b) the shift in OS requirements for Android were rather steep (in reality the big jump was from GB to ICS). With the options available, I figure it is mostly the former.
I don't understand the point of Android vs iOS versioning. Both release major versions once a year. Android just didn't mark those milestones with a full increment.
Sent from my LG-D520 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 01:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 AM ----------
Dukenukemx said:
It could be argued that it's a fad to not have a keyboard. Is removing SD cards also a fad too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that no longer having a keyboard is more of a trend, not a fad. A fad is a passing phase, likely/hopefully phablets for example. Since a hardware keyboard is no longer necessary, and too many people have voted with their wallets (never mind the fact my friend at Eastlink pointed out - you cannot customize a hardware keyboard) it is difficult that manufacturers will go back to that, including cheap chinese manufacturers to create latin-based phones for that matter.
The big companies have took too many notes from Apple - no SD card, non-removable battery, although they have pushed other nasties onto the market i.e. ever increasing screen sizes to hide the need for more chassis space for the specs.
Lack of SD card and removable battery is the worst for people like us. No SD card means we cannot back up userdata in recovery. No removable battery means we have nothing to pull if we bootloop and need to hard reset (AFAIK).
Their stance is that it saves space, and with 64GB onboard, why need expansion for a card that often cannot be more than 32GB anyway? I don't know the reasoning for the battery, but it means that the phone has to be replaced much sooner, and it cannot be shipped easily in many locations.
Its hard to tell what is a fad or a trend, but if enough people vote with their wallets, hindsight will determine the outcome.
Sent from my LG-D520 using XDA Free mobile app

joel.maxuel said:
I didn't know about the iDroid project, sounds like a cool initiative. Too bad they didn't keep it up (with the newer devices).
Your point that the iPhone couldn't keep up with JB tells me that either (a) Apple products are underspecced as well as being overpriced, or (b) the shift in OS requirements for Android were rather steep (in reality the big jump was from GB to ICS). With the options available, I figure it is mostly the former.
I don't understand the point of Android vs iOS versioning. Both release major versions once a year. Android just didn't mark those milestones with a full increment.
I think that no longer having a keyboard is more of a trend, not a fad. A fad is a passing phase, likely/hopefully phablets for example. Since a hardware keyboard is no longer necessary, and too many people have voted with their wallets (never mind the fact my friend at Eastlink pointed out - you cannot customize a hardware keyboard) it is difficult that manufacturers will go back to that, including cheap chinese manufacturers to create latin-based phones for that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as Apple devices being underspecced, I completely agree. The 4S had a 1Ghz dual core processor in 2011, where as we have the myTouch and the Samsung Galaxy S Whatever. While the iPhone 4S had really, really good battery life (that's the only good thing about Apple and Blackberry, everything else is total crap) it was a terrible phone, I ended up installing android on it with working 3G and wifi, plus texting and calling. A lot of apps were super incompatible with the iPhone's hardware. The Cortex-A9 was a sh*tty processor to begin with, and the PowerVR GPU was total BS as well. In contrast, my little, reliable Phoenix runs NFS Shift really well. I downloaded it for iOS when I wasn't using Android, and the iPhone could barely handle the graphics. I'll give Apple the cake for design. The iPhone 4S looked really cool. The ONLY part I actually enjoyed about iOS was Siri, and ther's a bunch of Android apps just for that. Given the'r not as good, they work much better in my experience.
On another note, how good would X86 and X64 desktop architecture work with Android? I heard newer versions of Android phones will be x64 compatible.
Aside from that, the Droid Turbo has better specs than my current PC, and once the Droid Turbo loses value because of the terrible battery life I might buy one and load up Bochs (a x86 desktop processor emulator and virtual machine for Android) and just boot Windows XP. I wonder how well that would work? It almost worked on a G2, it was just really slow.
Yet another topic, a lot of PC games that have launcher clients (Skyrim, Oblivion, COD, NFS) all use a standalone .exe that grabs the files and loads them into the RAM as needed. What if someone recompiles the launcher/client .exe for Android, and transfers the files to the SD card and installs the APK? Can that work? The Android apps like Ravensword also uses external data separate from the standalone APK app are practically the same, except the APK is the client instead of .exe. Could this mean we can get Skyrim for Android? I mean, we have the hardware. All we need is a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, or a compatible game controller. I take it you'd have to modify a few files for hardware reasons, but other than that it might work. A buddy of mine tried to get it to work with Oblivion, but he failed because it was too big of a task and took too much time.

Dukenukemx said:
The Motorola Droid 4 is the best QWERTY phone today. It has respectable specs for a phone today, but it was made 2 years ago. I would be using it now if it worked on T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking about that. It has better specs than the MT4GS, existing the 8GB internal and the 1024MB of RAM. I might buy one for novelty purposes, use it as an android equivalent to and iPod Touch (which is what my MT4GS is doing, I have all media forwarded through bluetooth[calls, texts,internet]) but my problem is I already have two MT4GS's and I'm just gonna wear both of them out. By the time I break both of them HOPEFULLY there will be a decent QWERTY phone. T-Mobile seems like a good option, it's too bad alternate ROMs don't let us do a SIM unlock. My LG Phoenix, which I adore, is still loyal to me even though it doesn't have an SD card and is still sticking with me considering how much crap I've put it through.
It's also a shame that LG took over the Gx series, I really would have liked HTC to continue it. Just imagine another QWERTY phone! The HTC G3! I'm probably gonna whip out my pencil and draw it, I'll share it with you guys! Then I might send the design to HTC... Forget it. It's only a dream, but the concept is enjoyable. The HTC One should have a slide out variation, like the myTouch and the Evo 4G series'. Just browsing Amazon I see quite a few really, really crappy QWERTY phones in the style of Blackberrys. They disgust me.

Like it or not like it, I expect thanks for this. I apologise for the poor drawing skills, they are usually better and I was excited and rushed this a little.
Just in case the image doesn't show up, here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Qo4xLF16dSOFlVRDM4ZUFwV0E/edit?usp=docslist_api

What do people think of the BKB50 Bluetooth Keyboard?

Interested to know what those of you who have received the BKB50 and are using it with your tablet actually think of it. I am reading a lot of reviews that say negative things about it. (Flimsy, too small. too expensive etc.).
Personally I really like it. I tend to use it at my desk so I cannot comment on it falling off my lap and stuff. I don't find the keys too close together nor do I find the keyboard too small. I suffered from a bit of "mouse-drag" when I first got it but you can adust the sensitivity in the settings and now it is fine for me. I also tend to use it at work quite a lot when taking notes in meetings etc. Given the 10-inch tablet size, it is far less obtrusive in a meeting than a laptop and by synching notes in the cloud, it makes it easier to share information with colleagues quickly and efficeintly.
I probably would not go out and pay £140 GBP for one, I must admit. There are other bluetooth keyboards out there that are just as effective at a fraction of the price. But as an accessory bundled with my Z4, I m happy with it.
Also, prompts some interesting looks from people when you get it out in a coffee shop and start typing away!
But am curious as to what others who have the BKB50 think of it. Are you using it or did you play with it for the first few days and then put it back in its box (or on eBay!)?
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk

I don't have the keyboard (or the tablet) yet, but I was wondering how strong the connection between the two is? I realise it's just held in my friction, not any latches. Do you have any worries about it falling out?

This is how I do it:
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Just get any BT-Keyboard. I got this decent quality HP labeled thing in a surplus sale for under 15 EUR.
and a foldable Tablet stand (< 10 EUR):
I like the degree of freedom this gives me and it works with all my BT-enabled devices...

pelago said:
I don't have the keyboard (or the tablet) yet, but I was wondering how strong the connection between the two is? I realise it's just held in my friction, not any latches. Do you have any worries about it falling out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently, not an issue. The keyboard is held in place firmly by a couple of rubber pads. Also, because it is cut to just the right size, it holds the tablet in place very securely.
It is possible that, in time, wear and tear will make this less effective but only time will tell.
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk

DHGE said:
This is how I do it:
Just get any BT-Keyboard. I got this decent quality HP labeled thing in a surplus sale for under 15 EUR.
and a foldable Tablet stand (< 10 EUR):
I like the degree of freedom this gives me and it works with all my BT-enabled devices...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in getting this tablet as well and was debating whether or not to get the keyboard vs getting a generic Bluetooth keyboard. As far as I can see, a generic BT keyboard with a stand (pretty much exactly as you have) gives pretty much all the benefits without any of the downsides.
Advantages of generic BT keyboard with stand:
1. Can be had Between 10 to 20% of the cost of the Z4 keyboard.
2. Can be used for other devices as well.
3. Can still be used if/when you upgrade the Z4 tablet.
Advantages of the Z4 tablet keyboard:
1. Allows the tablet and keyboard to be carried around like a laptop (depends on how much you'll be using the tablet away from home but to me seems a very minor advantage)
2. Looks better and cleaner (subjective but a minor advantage)
A generic BT keyboard seems like a hands down winner. You also have a huge choice available with varying sizes, types, colours etc. Some that are powered by AA type batteries, others powered by internal battery charged via USB. Some that include track pads, some that are foldable etc.

Techno79 said:
Advantages of the Z4 tablet keyboard:
1. Allows the tablet and keyboard to be carried around like a laptop (depends on how much you'll be using the tablet away from home but to me seems a very minor advantage)
2. Looks better and cleaner (subjective but a minor advantage).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also add that the BKB50 when used with the Z4 tablet will also give you the 'windows style' recently used apps dock and 3 customisable app drawers which the generic keyboard will not. The BKB50 also has the touch pad.
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk

Another advantage of the official keyboard is you could use it casually on your lap or on the arm of a sofa, which would be very awkward with a separate keyboard and stand.

tonylee2000 said:
I would also add that the BKB50 when used with the Z4 tablet will also give you the 'windows style' recently used apps dock and 3 customisable app drawers which the generic keyboard will not. The BKB50 also has the touch pad.
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get many generic BT keyboards with built in trackpads. However the point about the UI changes with the official dock is a good point. However, I'm sure you can get the same functionality via some 3rd party app or maybe someone will be able to create some clever app that can trigger it to come up via a toggle switch or when a BT keyboard is connected.

I had a spare Apple Wireless Keyboard sitting under the dust so I tried with the Z4 tab. All working except for launchpad and expose keys. It is a little larger than the tab. You know, it isn't cheap, but if you happen to have one give it a try: you won't be disappointed.
Inviato dal mio SGP771 utilizzando Tapatalk

I have it and I like it. Does anyone use this with a screen protector on the Z4T? I am worried that attaching and detaching I'm going to go through screen protectors like nobody's business since the keyboard rubs on the screen.
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk

I'm not a fan I think it should have had a battery extension that plugged in and also then there would have been one plug socket to charge both. It came with, y tablet on O2 so I'm not that fussed but I might flog it on eBay.
Sent from my SGP771 using XDA Free mobile app

Pretty good
I quite like it but I think it depends on the size of your hands and fingers? I am pretty short at 175cm with small hands so it's quite ok for me to use. Of course though I still prefer a normal keyboard over it but it'll only get better as I spend more time with it with university home work etc...
In terms of build quality it's not fantastic. My alpha sign is printed on the wrong button lol (not the 2) and the mouse pad while it works definitely nowhere as good as the Microsoft ones.

Techno79 said:
I'm interested in getting this tablet as well and was debating whether or not to get the keyboard vs getting a generic Bluetooth keyboard. As far as I can see, a generic BT keyboard with a stand (pretty much exactly as you have) gives pretty much all the benefits without any of the downsides.
Advantages of generic BT keyboard with stand:
1. Can be had Between 10 to 20% of the cost of the Z4 keyboard.
2. Can be used for other devices as well.
3. Can still be used if/when you upgrade the Z4 tablet.
Advantages of the Z4 tablet keyboard:
1. Allows the tablet and keyboard to be carried around like a laptop (depends on how much you'll be using the tablet away from home but to me seems a very minor advantage)
2. Looks better and cleaner (subjective but a minor advantage)
A generic BT keyboard seems like a hands down winner. You also have a huge choice available with varying sizes, types, colours etc. Some that are powered by AA type batteries, others powered by internal battery charged via USB. Some that include track pads, some that are foldable etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd also add, that the original BKB50 keyboard has a touch pad, that's quite functional
I have it, and I like it very much. I practically don't separate the tablet from the keyboard.
The only disadvantage (besides the price) for me is, that I'd like to type in Bulgarian, but the keyboard layout forit there is BDS standard, and I'm used to the phonetic layout.

iam curious with BKB50 did the keyboard come with lights inside the button so when we type in the dark rook will be on the lights inside the key ?

Strange question to ask here, but does anyone know if the BKB50 will work/fit with the Samsung Tab S2 9.7?
I know there is a Samsung book keyboard but it doent have a proper hinge to keep the tablet upright like the BKB50 does.
Anyone reckon it'll work with the tab s2?
Cheers

screen protector
Hi,
Any issues using PRT13 official sony screen protector with the BKB50 ?
Also, has anyone found out how to trigger the start menu like interface with a bt keyboard (not bkb50) ?
Regards,
Kristo.

I too have it and like it.
Having had the Pixel C and its keyboard too, I find the Xperia keyboard not as cool but having more function.
I like the trackpad and additional menus that appear with the keyboard too.
I only wish it had backlit keys, as it is charged separately to the tablet, so could power some leds behind the keys.
Its also a fuller size than the Pixel C keyboard and feel less cramped. Also having the connection at the very edge rather than 2/3 across the keyboard is prefrred for me, as it also feel less cramped.

double posting ... sorry

zippy01 said:
I have it and I like it. Does anyone use this with a screen protector on the Z4T? I am worried that attaching and detaching I'm going to go through screen protectors like nobody's business since the keyboard rubs on the screen.
Sent from my SGP771 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a screen protector (3M film not glass) that works without problem inserting, reinserting. It leaves some small dents on the film but nothing you will see frontal. It does not damage the film.
I guess you can't put a tempered glass screen because it is 0,3 mm tick and will not fit.
Regarding using the kb I have long reviewed options (cheaper or not) and then decided that because I have the tablet as a laptop replacement then a keyboard that transforms the tablet in a laptop is the best choice considering portability (it is marginally increasing the size of tablet compared to any other generic kb) and it also protecting the screen.
I have also bought a tablet case (only for the tablet) because it was cheap (better than the original case) and have use it for some time like this, but then I have settled for tablet with kb docked.
Another practical thing is that you have a great grip on the tablet if is folded.
About keyboard what to say: amazing battery, makes typing on android something even better than on laptop because I have swiftkey that predicts so every spacebar hit will insert a prediction long before finishing the words. Also is correcting any mistakes you have. Do check what you type so you don;t have Anna replaced by anal !
As people say it is flimsy (it will bend a little if you hold from the corner) but is not cheap look/ feel at all. It is just because is very thin. Also it can flip because the tablet is heavier but only if you tilt it. Is more comfortable for me to put the tablet down with the keyboard up.
The very good thing is that you can put tablet in portrait mode in the keyboard and work on documents like you never did ! Can put the phone too if you have xperia without covers. Not sure if needed...
For practical reason another negative: the black bar and windows like menu that appear at the bottom of screen. That is the worse place to put links because hooked with keyboard is the worse place to hit with fingers. It should be an option to put the bar on the side. But this is an Android feature not Sony.
A final thought about laptop replacement: Android and this device is still not there because not of the hardware but software. However is the closest you can get and is good enough for travel so you don;t need to carry a laptop with you.
I think is still a partial replacement, some things I still do on the laptop because it can't be done on Android (try copy paste from Trello to messaging to send an SMS ... )
It works for me most of the times ... Tank you big G and Sony. Keep improving it.
Last Android MM 6.0 update has made keyboard respond incredibly fast and reconnect time is very low compared with 5.0.2 ! Just hit a key to wake up!
PS Writing not on tablet but on laptop because of a bigger keyboard that goes easy on my hands Excuse spelling errors.

Will the BKB50 Keyboard function normally including the Windows style taskbar is the Xperia Z4 tablet is running CM13?

Folio, keyboard folio or keyboard?

Hi, so decided to stump up for the Pixel C using the developer discount. Overall am happy with the tablet. Now time to decide what sort of casing I need for it. I'm based in HK and there is a serious lackage of accessories (apart from the keyboard which is roughly the same price as in the USA). I've heard some rumours that the keyboard starches the tablet up, is that true? If so, would a tempered glass screen help?
Anyway, so my normal usage for the tablet will be more media consumption (video watching), bit of reading etc. I will probably use it for working when travelling (i.e. emails, maybe document review via Citrix Receiver). But typing isn't the main concern.
I do like having a folio cover, because you can prop it up for watching videos. But having a keyboard would also be nice for those times I need to type with it. So maybe the folio keyboard (which isn't available in HK, but I'll be in the USA in a few weeks). But then is US$150 justified for buying something I would use maybe 20% of the time?
I appreciate you can use the keyboard as a stand, but I guess its not as good as a folio (and folio is certainly cheaper). Argh, decisions!

I´m using this one for my devices. On amazon or other stores the prices are reduced. You can pair 2 devices at twice and the keyboard is really space saving.

Yep, to me both keyboard solutions from Google are too expensive. Maybe one day I'll get one (and they discount it as well).
I ended up getting the ProCase Sleeve for the Pixel C and the MoKo Google Pixel C Case from Amazon. Both in black. I switch back and forth occasionally depending on what I'm doing. I'm really happy with both of them.

I, personally, have the folio keyboard case. Yes it was expensive, but it's so tightly integrated into the pixel C that it's hard to fault. It's made from real leather, is extremely protective, looks great and has 5 options for holding the tablet:
Positions 1 & 2 - Keyboard enabled with the tablet in one of the two magnetic typing positions
Position 3 - tablet stretched so that the chin goes over the leading edge of the keyboard. Make it great for using while laying down, having the tablet lay on your chest/stomach
Position 4 - tablet docked in magnetic tray and keyboard flipped back 180 degrees
Position 5 - you can remove the tablet from the magnetic tray super easily, close the folio, then magnetically attach the tablet to the leather back of the folio. This protects the keyboard while also giving you something less slippery to hold on to while using the tablet as, well, a tablet.
I DO wish the keyboard had function keys like the Belkin keyboard I purchased for my wife's iPad. The Belkin's keys are smaller, but still work fine. I'd happy trade key size for more usable keys.

Psyclism said:
I, personally, have the folio keyboard case. Yes it was expensive, but it's so tightly integrated into the pixel C that it's hard to fault. It's made from real leather, is extremely protective, looks great and has 5 options for holding the tablet:
Positions 1 & 2 - Keyboard enabled with the tablet in one of the two magnetic typing positions
Position 3 - tablet stretched so that the chin goes over the leading edge of the keyboard. Make it great for using while laying down, having the tablet lay on your chest/stomach
Position 4 - tablet docked in magnetic tray and keyboard flipped back 180 degrees
Position 5 - you can remove the tablet from the magnetic tray super easily, close the folio, then magnetically attach the tablet to the leather back of the folio. This protects the keyboard while also giving you something less slippery to hold on to while using the tablet as, well, a tablet.
I DO wish the keyboard had function keys like the Belkin keyboard I purchased for my wife's iPad. The Belkin's keys are smaller, but still work fine. I'd happy trade key size for more usable keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. How do you find the weight of the tablet with the folio keyboard? How bulky does it make the whole unit? I have read reports that the keyboard does add weight to the overall unit.
Also, did you buy direct from Google? I presume its not available offline? Reason I'm asking is I will be in the States in a few weeks for a few days, so would prefer to walk in to a store and buy it.
I do wish the tablet had a built in kickstand (like the Surfaces). In general I feel that Google missed a trick in its "productivity" implementation here. Seems both Michrosoft and Apple have better solutions in terms of linking keyboards up. Anyway, rant over.

I originally bought the Pixel keyboard. Was OK but I found having to seperate the tablet and keyboard and snap them together annoying every time I came to use it.
Final straw was when I ended up scratching the back of my Pixel C where the keyboard attaches. Must have been a small amount of grit or something and the process of attaching/removing caused a scratch.
Switched to the folio keyboard and loving it.

browngeek said:
Thanks. How do you find the weight of the tablet with the folio keyboard? How bulky does it make the whole unit? I have read reports that the keyboard does add weight to the overall unit.
Also, did you buy direct from Google? I presume its not available offline? Reason I'm asking is I will be in the States in a few weeks for a few days, so would prefer to walk in to a store and buy it.
I do wish the tablet had a built in kickstand (like the Surfaces). In general I feel that Google missed a trick in its "productivity" implementation here. Seems both Michrosoft and Apple have better solutions in terms of linking keyboards up. Anyway, rant over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The weight is fine. I wouldn't want to hold it up at shoulder level for hours on end, but it's far from heavy. It does add some thickness to the overall package, but in MY opinion, it makes it easier to carry around since it gives you more to hold on to. It basically turns the tablet into a very compact executive binder, just replace the normal yellow lined notepad with the pixel.
And yes, I purchased mine through Google. Order one, have it shipped to where you're staying, and if you don't like it, ship it right back before you leave.

It's not bad, I have one, but I only use it for travelling. At home I use a full Bluetooth keyboard that I got off of Amazon for $35. The Folio is extremely overpriced in my opinion.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

redukt said:
I´m using this one for my devices. On amazon or other stores the prices are reduced. You can pair 2 devices at twice and the keyboard is really space saving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you like it? Does it type well? Compared to a keyboard or a normal tablet keyboard?
bluestang said:
Yep, to me both keyboard solutions from Google are too expensive. Maybe one day I'll get one (and they discount it as well).
I ended up getting the ProCase Sleeve for the Pixel C and the MoKo Google Pixel C Case from Amazon. Both in black. I switch back and forth occasionally depending on what I'm doing. I'm really happy with both of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you maybe have some photo's of it? Wondering if the above mentioned keyboard would fit in.

Mustaaa said:
How do you like it? Does it type well? Compared to a keyboard or a normal tablet keyboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once used you´ll never missed it It types very well and paired your devices in a short time. The key pressures are balanced compared to a normal keyboard. For mailing / blogging / posting my favorite solution on our device Take a try even you can exchange it

redukt said:
Once used you´ll never missed it It types very well and paired your devices in a short time. The key pressures are balanced compared to a normal keyboard. For mailing / blogging / posting my favorite solution on our device Take a try even you can exchange it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm yeah, I completely forgot that I can return it in 2 weeks Think I'll order it from amazon.de , it's 75 there instead of the 100 at the miscrosoft site. I thought about getting the normal keyboard but for 160 it's too expensive for now and afraid of scratches after what I read about it

So, just wanted to update this thread. I decided not to purchase the keyboard or folio, just could not justify the cost.
In the end I opted for two solutions (basically to try out): a folio case and the microsoft foldable keyboard and a folio keyboard case. All three ordered from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Uni...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s03 (USD40)
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 (USD11)
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 (USD26)
So both set ups are are significantly cheaper than the USD150 cost if bought from Google.
Ironically, since purchasing from the States my laptop has needed to go in for repair, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to test out my new purchases so I could use the Pixel as a laptop replacement.
I've set the folio keyboard as the replacement and also connected a bluetooth mouse. Overall, pretty damn impressed with both the pixel and the keyboard (especially for the price). Now, lets not kid ourselves, I reckon the google folio keyboard would have been much much more better quality, but for the price that I paid for this folio, everything works generally fine.
Lets go through with the negatives first:
- Its chunky (but expect that would be the case with the official one as well)
- You can't just push the pixel into it like the official one (which benefits with the magnets)
- when it sits, because its held by velcro, the pixel pushes down a tiny bit, so it doesn't sit 100% in position, but doesn't really matter
- occasional connection issues with Bluetooth
- have to charge separately via micro usb (so no self charging)
- no trackpad (but don't think the official one has that as well)
- unlike my laptop, due to the size of the cables provided, I can't keep the unit charged all the time
but the positives
- did i mention the price?
- keys are pretty good and solid and clicky
- keyboard sits well
As for the other combo (microsoft keyboard and folio), this also works pretty well, have not tested it so much though, but can foresee using it when travelling. Its a bit of a pain to click into the folio, and a shame that it doesn't use magnetic strength of the pixel, but probably a cost issue.
Biggest issue with these third party solutions is that they don't make use of the pixel c's magnets and self charging, or at the very least usb c.
thing is, when I do get my laptop back, don't really know how much I would use the keyboard, unless when travelling.
Yes, I totally agree the official keyboard options are going to be much much better on every level, but still can't justify the price, unless I end up using a keyboard all the time.
I do have photos of the folio keyboard and will upload these later.
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk

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Any of you guys selling your used OEM keyboard, perhaps you could post it on swappa's boneyard? I'd be willing to buy, any condition as long as it works. Lmk