Physical portrait keyboard?

[cvam1985]

Any upcoming phones in the Blackberry form with a physical portrait keyboard? I've seen something called the Salsa from HTC and a slider from Moto (Heron?)

I wonder why this particular form has been ignored in Android phones. I love a QWERTY but HATE a landscape slider.

 

[KlaymenDK]

Don't know. It would certainly make an interesting option for folks who like the "Pre" form factor!

But that same reason may be why manufacturers are a little wary of it ... too much potential for comparison, so you'd better make sure you come out of it on top.

 

[dbpaddler]

You mean the Pixi/Treo/BB form factor. And no they don't have to be the best. They just have to be good enough. You either buy into Android or you don't. Having a secondary form of navigation in the joystick is key. The only problem I see is the landcape style screen. You already see the issues created by the Droid and N1. Now you have a third resolution to deal with. And Android doesn't scale nearly as well as webOS. So you have to get developers to take the screen res into account. PITA. HTC should look at the Pixi and see where Palm screwed up. Keep the device narrower, lose the wasted space below the keyboard by shifting it down, have a nav pad instead of the joystick with the flanking send/end buttons and have a portrait 16x9 screen with minimal bezel all around.

I look at the Salsa and just think it's way too yesterday and that it's not even going to be good enough. Which stinks for competition because that will leave Palm with the only capacative treo style phone until MS jumps in with their, but their 1st phone isn't even out yet.

Don't know. It would certainly make an interesting option for folks who like the "Pre" form factor!

But that same reason may be why manufacturers are a little wary of it ... too much potential for comparison, so you'd better make sure you come out of it on top.

 

[mrqs]

e71 is the one in my mind when talking of that sort of form factor...

too much potential for comparison

right, 'cause the current android phones aren't being compared to any cupertino products

 

[TheSultan]

The way of the future is 100% touchscreen!! Those who can't adapt will still be using Blackberry