Ugh. I hope the keyboard is better than the dummy version...

[Tim K]

So I played with a dummy Droid at Best Buy since no one seems to have a working model in advance of Friday (which is stupid in my opinion). I played with the thing for a few minutes and I like the size and feel of the phone, but the keyboard may be a deal breaker for me. I don't like the little raised bubble keys at all and found them very hard to press unless I used my thumbnails.

{edit} I will say that FINDING the keys wasn't a problem...it was pressing them. I felt like I really had to center my fingers and press remarkably hard to 'click" them down.

I REALLY hope the actual model feels better than the dummy or I don't think I can use it. I'm not going to get a phone with a slide out keyboard and not use the keyboard. I'd get the Eris, but I don't want to be stuck with the 528mhz processor and Android 1.5, while the droid has a faster processor and 2.0 and with the likelihood of the Passion coming out in a few weeks sporting a 1ghz snapdragon and 2.0. I'd just as soon wait.

Yes, I know that if you always wait for the next best thing you will never get a phone....but I am not going to get a slider if the keyboard is unusable and I am not going to get phone A when a nearly identical but way better version is due out in 3 weeks.

 

[gwlaw99]

I doubt the Passion will have 2.0 because there is no Sense UI for 2.0 yet. Not a big deal except you won't have google turn by turn directions for a few months until Sense for 2.0 comes out.

 

[blazingwolf]

I doubt the Passion will have 2.0 because there is no Sense UI for 2.0 yet. Not a big deal except you won't have google turn by turn directions for a few months until Sense for 2.0 comes out.

That doesn't mean it won't be ready by the time it comes out. The last word was it might come out on black Friday if it was ready.

 

[Tim K]

Yeah, of course there have to be tradeoffs. No one can make me the perfect phone it seems. Its just that the droid seems so close...if not for the keyboard and "the lip". I can live with the much maligned media player and camera, and even limitations on home pages, multi-touch, etc. as they can all be addressed through apps or updates. But hardware you can't update which is why I struggle with the idea of buying a phone with a bad keyboard or last year's processor. If Droid had a good (I don't even need great) keyboard I could live with the lip.

If I can get the Passion (or whatever it is called) with a snapdragon processor and android 2.0 (with Google Nav!) then I can live without a keyboard.

 

[johninbigd]

I had the same reaction to the dummy model at Best Buy. Absolutely horrible feel to the keyboard.

 

[pettit03]

The dummy model is terrible, the real one is much better. I work at BB and we got our 25 droids today and I played around with one and it was much much better.

 

[johninbigd]

The dummy model is terrible, the real one is much better. I work at BB and we got our 25 droids today and I played around with one and it was much much better.

That is excellent news. I know several people who were very turned off by trying out the dummy model.

 

[ratchetjaw]

I went to BB today and they didnt have a dummy phone to try out. I am getting it reguardless though. Heck its bigger than the pre's keyboard and i have gotten used to it. There is just too much to like not to get it for me

 

[gwlaw99]

Passion has a 4.3 inch screen sense ui and snapdragon. I may have to forego a keyboard for that.

 

[AdamHC]

Passion has a 4.3 inch screen sense ui and snapdragon. I may have to forego a keyboard for that.

But it's ugly as a mofo.
But then again a lot of people find the Droid ugly, but I think it looks good.

 

[michaelk]

whoever runs the wireless part of bestbuy is a friggin moron. They always have those stupid plastic bricks instead of real phones.

who the hell is going to buy a 200 dollar smartphone that you get stuck with for 2 years (or 500 plus without a contract) without ever using the keyboard or even seeing the screen light up?

it's moronic.

if the keyboard on the real device is as crappy as the stupid plastic brick that best buy insistes on displaying then I'm sure every last review would start off with "dont buy this phone becasue the keyboard sucks" - but since no one has said that I doubt it is as terrible as the stupid best buy brick.

I will NEVER buy shop at best buy as long as they have the stupid bricks for display. At best I'll abuse them and do all my shopping elsewhere and then only buy from them if they have a much better deal. But I will never go there first to shop. EVER.

Now if you want me to tell you how I really feel....

 

[Redflea]

1. I was not having any problems with using the top row of letters in the hardware keyboard - no bumping into the body of the screen slid up above it - I have relatively large hands/wide fingers, and it was not an issue at all. Now that I've used it I'm surprised that people have listed that as an issue.

2. The hardware keyboard is much better than I thought it might be from the reviews, but needs some tactile way to let you know where your fingers are...getting "lost" is the main issue for me. I'm thinking I may apply a very small dab of super glue or similar on the F and J keys to help me w/locating my fingers so I can get to touch typing. One negative - reaching across the D-pad is a little annoying.

3. The HW keyboard is really appreciated when you're entering text into a field and the virtual keyboard just takes over too much real-estate. Wasn't a key feature for me before using the phone, now I'm really happy I'll have the option of either type of keyboard.

 

[Matthew]

The keyboard has been a concern for me as well. I got so excited when they announced the droid and I am switching from the iPhone so the keyboard got me really hyped up. Until I actually read the reviews and the majority of them talked about how horrible the keyboard was. Regardless the iPhone doesn't have a keyboard so if it's bad I'll just use the on screen. I'm just excited to switch to Verizon.

 

[ajm144k]

its all too subjective. people love the keyboards on blackberries, but I cant stand typing on my curve. I dont think the Droid's keyboard is anything to worry about, at all. Take a look at the Pre's tiny ass keyboard. At least we dont have something like that.

I'd rather have a more landscape oriented keyboard. And its really NOT a problem having to press the alt key if you want to enter in a number here or there. I've had smartphones that were 4 row, and I never even knew it was a "problem" not having a dedicated number row until I read some people whining about it.


like Redflea mentioned, it would be nice having some sort of feeler-point on the "f" key so I can feel where I am at on the board. but seriously... is that even really a "problem"

 

[michaelk]

the stupid brick at best buy had "nubbies" on like the F and J (or maybe D and K) keys.

does the real keyboard not have the bumps?

 

[michaelk]

.... And its really NOT a problem having to press the alt key if you want to enter in a number here or there. I've had smartphones that were 4 row, and I never even knew it was a "problem" not having a dedicated number row until I read some people whining about it...."

funny but I've had smartphones for years now, treo 600, 650, 700, htc mogul, centro, and curretnly samdung saga.

i NEVER had a dedicated number row- never bothered me in the slightest. I guess the BB's have a number row?

I have a full keyboard to text so I dont find it necessary to use all the short hand number text thingies like "gr8t I am 2 smart 4 you l8r" and the like.

how often in normal life to you type a number? Reading the couple thousand characters on this page and it looks like there are hardly any numerals.

 

[Tim K]

Not to mention there is no consistency between employees as to what they tell you. One guy told me they don't do NE2 discounts....they sell the phone for $100 less than VZ because VZ has a mail in rebate. Granted, that guy looked like he was Sloth's half brother. Then I turn around 5 seconds later the other girl working there is looking up someone's Verizon account to see if they were eligible for a upgrade discount.

I walked out at that point. Going through that kind of hassle isn't worth the instant rebate. I'd rather fill out the form and wait 6 weeks than have to argue with morons for 10 minutes. Of course, if my VZ store sells out, and BB still has some I will deal with the morons!

-Tim

whoever runs the wireless part of bestbuy is a friggin moron. They always have those stupid plastic bricks instead of real phones.

who the hell is going to buy a 200 dollar smartphone that you get stuck with for 2 years (or 500 plus without a contract) without ever using the keyboard or even seeing the screen light up?

it's moronic.

if the keyboard on the real device is as crappy as the stupid plastic brick that best buy insistes on displaying then I'm sure every last review would start off with "dont buy this phone becasue the keyboard sucks" - but since no one has said that I doubt it is as terrible as the stupid best buy brick.

I will NEVER buy shop at best buy as long as they have the stupid bricks for display. At best I'll abuse them and do all my shopping elsewhere and then only buy from them if they have a much better deal. But I will never go there first to shop. EVER.

Now if you want me to tell you how I really feel....

 

[Redflea]

the stupid brick at best buy had "nubbies" on like the F and J (or maybe D and K) keys.

does the real keyboard not have the bumps?

If they are there, they weren't enough for my insensitive fingers.

I think it's also that the keyboard is not offset like a normal QWERTY keyboard is - that takes a little getting used to...if I had only one change I could ask for, I'd get the keys offset.

 

[knickerbocker]

The keyboard is strange, but it has been designed to be that way to make the phone as slim as it is.

 

[Matthew]

Its hard for me to knock the keyboard..yet since I haven't used it but I still don't understand why Motorola insist we have a direction pad. Get rid of the d-pad and make the keyboard wider and with a little more feedback and you got yourself a killer phone!

 

[CatsTide]

Its hard for me to knock the keyboard..yet since I haven't used it but I still don't understand why Motorola insist we have a direction pad. Get rid of the d-pad and make the keyboard wider and with a little more feedback and you got yourself a killer phone!

or how bout put the d-pad in the middle???

 

[twstnc5]

i had same experience at BB. i was on my way to reserve my phone for friday ... saw the demo phone and just got turned off. the keyboard was useless. i couldnt see myself ever using it and it was hard to convince myself to buy a phone with a keyboard id never use. Employee said real one was better .. but hey... what else are they gonna say?

finally just decided i'll wait to try out the real thing on friday.

i will say i had a real blackberry storm and compared it to the demo and the demo storm was way worse. phone section of store is utterly useless...

 

[Tim K]

i had same experience at BB. i was on my way to reserve my phone for friday ... saw the demo phone and just got turned off. the keyboard was useless. i couldnt see myself ever using it and it was hard to convince myself to buy a phone with a keyboard id never use. Employee said real one was better .. but hey... what else are they gonna say?

Well, the 3rd blue shirt lingering around the mobile area claimed he had played with an actual version (though not activated) and that the keyboard was the same..... so, some of them either can't tell the difference or don't know that honesty isn't the best policy as a salesman!

 

[xvenom89]

I agree that the "dummy" droid's keyboard is terrible. I'd assume the actual model we are going to be purchasing is much higher quality, which leads me to my next concern. The dummy model's sliding keyboard/screen feature had me a bit worried because it felt loose even after clicking in place, as in if you hold the keyboard in one hand and the screen in the other and twisted them in opposite directions, it wasn't on there very good. Both dummy models were like this. Anyone with or have played with an actual droid, would you give input on this?

 

[Nimijneb]

The dummy model is terrible, the real one is much better. I work at BB and we got our 25 droids today and I played around with one and it was much much better.

Oh I cant wait!

iPhone is gone. Woot!