Does the iPhone Need a Hardware Keyboard?
When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone back at Macworld 2007, he prefaced the introduction by saying what was wrong with current not-so-smartphones — the hardware keyboard. They don’t go away when you don’t need them. They don’t change if you switch from text entry to bitmap editing, for example, And if you come up with a great idea later, you can’t go back an add an extra button.
Now it’s 2009 and Apple has released the iPhone 3GS, yet many people, including notable technologists, have called the lack of a physical keyboard a deal-breaker.
Is it? Let’s take a look after the break.
Dieter, in his review for the Palm Pre, had this to say:
I’ve been using QWERTY keyboards on phones for over seven years now and I had no problem adjusting to the Palm Pre. If you’re looking for a comparison, I’ll say that it’s not as good as your standard BlackBerry keyboard, but for 90% of people it’s going to be much better than the iPhone’s on-screen software keyboard. I know the keyboard is a big X factor for a lot of people, so the best I can say is that you not only need to try it for yourself, but you need to give it at least a couple of days of use before you turn in your verdict.
Personally, I’m on record as saying I vastly prefer the iPhone’s virtual keyboard to either the Treo, Windows Mobile, BlackBerrys and G1s I’ve owned or test-driven. My dislike for hardware keyboards and the pain-in-the fingers and arms they’d given me pretty much made me avoid them entirely until the iPhone came along. Zero. Stress. Typing.
Also, as we’ve said before, for those who need to switch frequently from English to Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, or even other Roman input method, hardware keyboards just can’t compare. (And let’s not forget those who need to out-type netbooks during car races…)
Daring Fireball, in response to Tim Bray saying he’d never use an iPhone sans hardware keyboard, summed up the argument:
(1) that all phone-size keyboards — hardware or software — are poor compared to real honest-to-god full-size put-your-eight-finger-across-the-home-row-keys keyboards; but (2) given a week or two of use and some trust in the auto-correct system, most people can thumb-type just as well, if not better, on an iPhone as they could on a BlackBerry or a slider-style keyboard like the G1’s.
DF also believes Apple will never make an iPhone with a hardware keyboard, and that Apple will not suffer in the market for this (for our part, we’ve suggested the aforementioned Palm Pre could be considered the iPhone with a keyboard, given Jon Rubinstein’s history).
Given the over 40 million iPhone and iPod touch software keyboard devices already sold, and the 1 million iPhone 3GS’s sold opening weekend alone, it’s hard to argue that point. While there certainly is a niche that will never forgo the lack of a hardware keyboard, Apple seems to have proven there’s a far bigger market of those that will embrace, or at least tolerate and adapt to it.
What’s your take? Is the lack of a hardware keyboard holding the iPhone back? Is it just old-school hardware keyboarders that miss the action? Is it a deal-breaker for you? Or do you think Steve Jobs was right, a next generation smartphone needed a next generation keyboard?
| Tweet |
|
|
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments must be civil, respectful, and on-topic. If a comment does not add to the conversation, if it contains spam advertising, or inappropriate language or content, it will be removed. Comments containing links may be held for moderation. Relax, enjoy, and share in the discussion.
NO! It does not need a keyboard! I can type 10 times faster on the iPhone than on any other phone or smartphone for that matter! If people are really so concerned about having a keyboard, develop this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixw3A3QgJPI
The iPhone is the best phone in the world if u don’t have one u r a lame.
I’m a die-hard iPhone user, but I sometimes have to support Blackberry users. I feel so sorry for them after I have to type with their little tic-tac keyboard – it feels like I’m typing on a child’s toy (and I was a die-hard BB user before I got the iPhone). Virtual keyboard is the way to go.
I’ve made this complaint before, and it’s really the only major issue with the iPhone hardware wise, that the software keyboard is no substitute to a hardware keyboard. Having used a Treo 650, and on occasion my wife’s Bell Canada Blackberry 8830 World Edition, and the iPhone there really is a different. I make less mistakes typing with a touchy-feely keyboard rather than an on-screen one. It also (psychologically I know) limits how I use the iPhone too. Email is the biggest example: I have no issue reading my e-mail on my phone, but I also never answer messages because of the touch-screen keyboard.
If Apple or a 3rd party provider came up with a attachable keyboard you could plug into the bottom of the phone, I would be so over it like butter on bread.
Why put a hard keyboard on an iphone? It wouldn’t make typing any faster than the virtual one with it being the same size. A external plug-in, full size, flexi keyboard; that could be rolled up and carried around would be a better desighn for those who require a larger keyboard for speed.
The virtual keyboard allows for upgrades and cuts down on enevitable hardware failures. Technology is progressing, eventualy the iphone might takeover notebooks. For this to happen new software is required, not a step back in hardware. A phone sized hard keybord would not improve typing on the iphone, only an external keyboard can answer the call for more efficient typing.
As an “old timer” who still “bleeds 6 colors”, the iPhone was the first Apple product I waited 2 years to buy (I bought the 3GS the 2nd day it was available). The reasons I waited? I had been using Palm Pilots then Treo’s since day 1 – they are so integral to my business that I had to wait until I could get equivalent apps – AND I was worried about the keyboard. Of course I now cannot imagine living without my iPhone – but also can say I am continually hobbled by the keyboard. On the Treo I could type one handed with my thumb when replying to an urgent text and regularly typed multiple page notes during all day seminars. No way on the iphone. At the very least – I hope the patents we read about for some sort of technology that will allow us to “feel” the onscreen keys comes to fruition. In the mean time – why doesn’t someone come out with a bluetooth keyboard that does not require a jail break???
The iPhone has cut off an entire market segment — Women with fingernails.
It is impossible to use the on screen keyboard if you have long fingernails. Finger tips don’t reach. Game over.
As market segments go, women with finger nails care about style, and spend money every month to maintain them. Seems like a good market segment to me…
cut your nails…………..LOL,
pains you in your fingers and arms? wow. . . hit the gym. Honest to god no one’s arms should hurt from typing emails on your phone.
I can’t think that Apple would go to a hardware keyboard but I definitely think the lack of a bigger separate keyboard is a downer. I think they’re going to go to a 2 piece iPhone, with the second piece sliding out underneath and it will be a touchscreen keyboard that doubles as extra screen space.
Or was that a dream I had?
Most of the time, i find my iPhone’s virtual keyboard perfectly adequate. Don’t love it, don’t hate it. But there are times when I would prefer to have a physical keyboard, like the folding Targus I previously used with my Palm. And I’d be willing to shell out some bucks to get one. It seems silly to have an endless debate over virtual vs physical keyboards. If you like what Apple provided, end of story — you have what you need. But it seems there are enough of us willing to pay for a physical keyboard that Apple might sensibly allow a 3rd party to provide one without violating its design ethos.
I will tell you what it needs more than anything we ask for. Competition. Then we would get the things we need in this device. Right now Apple has the cellphone game on lock.
It was at first a problem, however the other things out weighed the bad. I had a T-Mobile MDA sooo it was an amazing upgrade!
Now I type faster then anyone I know! Maybe it’s the use of an iPhone and never going on a pc because it takes to long to turn on and log on!
The reason I got the iphone was because it doesn’t have a slide out keyboard. I type so much faster on the iphone touch screen! Keep up the good work Apple. Sounds like most people responding here likes the iphone design the way it is already.
Henry L said: Jul 8th @ 04:01 am Nooooooo. Don’t even think to putting the physical keyboard on iPhone. It will definitely ruin the design. Also, at least for me I don’t find any inconvinience with iPhone virtual keyboard. I think it is even better than other physical keyboards. Autocorrection works so well and the iPhone keyboard exactly sense what my finger actually wants to tap. This comment is typed on iPhone vitual keyboard as well. Cool Apple!!
Iphone VITUAL keyboard?! Ehehehe. Yes cool apple
It was a dealbreaker for me. I now own a Pre.
Life evolves – things evolve – why not have an accessory like a keyboard for people who want one? Come on people – no harm done if it is available! And Apple: think of the $ you could generate? Everybody win!!!!
I wish they made limited edition iPhones with keyboards like the pic with the article, seriously the above pic is sweet and what a nice keyboard apple would make
After 2 years with the iPhone keyboard, I think I need both a software one and a hardware one! For a few situations e.g. language switching the software keyboard with good auto-correct is better, but for one-handed use, long emails I prefer a physical one. Also you get more visible screen estate with a physical keyboard.
A physical keyboard with good auto-correct would be ideal. The iphone keyboard is only good because of the auto-correct -it lacks haptic feedback. Other companies don’t have as good auto-correct, but that can be added in software.
So I’m going for the Palm Pre – you can easily hack it and add the onscreen keyboard if you want, and you can hack the auto-correct so it is as good/better as the iPhone’s and more suited to your particular use. The iphone’s autocorrect implementation is faster than the Pre, but the Pre is still in its infancy and should improve vastly with updates and hacks.
I had a blackberry…The keyboard was WAY too small.I had to type with my nails (litteraly) It wasn’t very practical or fast,i would have been quicker with a standard phone keyboard,with nice sized keys. Then i got an iphone…wich made typing miles faster…you do make mistakes but at least you dont hit 2 buttons at the same time.Blackberry’s wanna-be propper keyboard is Epic Fail
After reading about the battery problems the Pre is having I started reconsidering the iPhone. However, when I was reading about the iPhone I remembered the keyboard thing. My husband has an iPhone that I hate when it involves typing. No-typing aps are great but seriously for business I need to type. He hates to type on it also. I whip off emails so fast now on my 4 year old Treo that folks think that I am at a computer. I think what I am going to do is sit tight for awhile and wait until the Pre works out some of their power issues and then jump on that bandwagon. Conclusion: the physical keyboard is my dealbreaker.
Why do all the folks drinking the Apple Koolaid not put their money where their mouth is and time a) experienced Blackberry/Trio users type an email, and b) experienced iPhone users type the same? Instead of buying the anecdotal “It’s just as fast” comments, I’ve asked my most die-hard iPhone-worshiping friends to type something on their iPhone while I did on my Blackberry. Results: In every case I’m at least 4x faster on the Blackberry. If, like me, you spend 30 minutes a day or so typing emails/etc., that means it would be 2 hours per day to do the same on an iPhone. If you make $60/hour, that means the iPhone costs $90/day in lost productivity, which means you’d pay about $32,000/year in lost income/productivity to have, admittedly, the more cool-looking iPhone. Obvious solution: Bluetooth keyboard support, so I can get a flip case for the iPhone with a keyboard. Then I’d convert in a second, as would many Blackberry users, and it has zero impact on the existing iPhone users. And I think iPhone would have a much bigger market share since they’d get the pragmatic, logical thinkers who aren’t motivated by hype, but rather look at the cold hard fact that a cell phone these days is a tool.
These old fossils who need a clunky hardware keyboards are living in the past. They probably ride their horse and carriage to work and wonder why the local store doesn’t sell coal for their heaters.
I think a hardware keyboard could be extremely useful especially if we want to type very fast a long email, i don’t like the idea to use just 2 fingers for tipyng i used an iphone 3G for 7 months, it is good to write quick messages, but since we can read long emails and want to answer it is not practical because the keyboard is in almost all the screen specially if it is in landscape position. a bluetooth keyboard would be nice but not as part of the iphone by it self. so we could use it when it is needed.
Those who say they don’t need a keyboard are probably right. They typically want only to use the iphone for sending short e-mails and texts. Those who want a hardware keyboard mostly want a dockable or bluetooth full size foldable keyboard (like the excellent stowaway model I used to use with my pocket PC). I think it unlikely that anyone actually requires a built in keyboard. Those who want a full size keyboard are those who want the convenience of a laptop with the portability of an iphone. To know that if they go to a business meeting and want to take notes that they’ve always got a device that they can touchtype on. I can type fast on my iphone software keyboard but NOT 50 wpm fast. When you consider some people can type at a speed in excess of 150wpm on a standard full sized keyboard there’s absolutely no way an iphone can compete on those terms.
Apple are starting to sell the iphone not just to ibeer and lightsaber apps users but to serious business users. If they REALLY want serious business to take the iPhone seriously they need to provide cross-app support for bluetooth keyboards. A native word processing program and a good selection of fonts wouldn’t go amiss either (although I acknowledge that third party is already starting to provide that)
the only way iw ould buy an iphone is if the resolution goes higher like 480×800 and it gets a hardware keyboard…this is why we windows mobile peoples bought the xperia, TP2, TD2, and other wvga winmo devices…a wvga screen is really sexy, i love to show off my xperia to my iphone buddies, and they do get jealous lol
I think the iphone does need a hardware keyboard.Touchscreen is difficult.Keyboards are awesome. and it looks awesome:):):):):):):)
Yes it does !!
Iphone fanboyism sould be in the dictionary. The iphone having a hardwear keyboard would be better.Mostly because physical keyboards are easyer and faster, but if you dont like it use the on screen keyboard, wait their a is 2 phones like that, The Driod or the G1, WOW apple your beind, I still laugh at iphone texters they look retarted when they text, congrats on a keyboard that takes up 3/4th of your screen
I don’t think the iPhone needs a permanently attached physical keyboard, it would be too small and cramped. But I would find the iPhone a lot more usable with bluehtooth HID profile so I could use an external bluetooth keyboard as I have a medical condition which makes hand control difficult.
Yes, it would have held me back before I got used to the keyboard in my iPod touch, but now it’s bit an issue, and u use both the physical and virtual keyboards on my droid with very good speed. So no, a virtual keyboard is not a problem once you get used to it. Kthxbai.
Written from my iPod.
man i like the phone i don’t feel the need for you to have it jail break free but does it have a release date????
Does this new iphone have the touchscreen keyboard for texting as well as the sliding one?
Hi! This is a test post about professoras transando trans gallery free animated shemale porn shemale phone bbw transgender and other themes about shemale. What are you think about they?
I am an iphone owner and I agree that the landscape keyboard is a much better typing experience on it. With that mode enabled for all apps, I’ll be happy with my virtual keyboard. I really haven’t missed the physical keyboard that I had previously on a SideKick II.
[url=http://drugsdir.com/main.php?sid=20&q=Neurontin&said=fpost][b][u]Neurontin[/u][/b][/url]
Without Prescription from [url=http://drugsdir.com/main.php?sid=20&q=Neurontin&said=fpost] [color=red][b]Official Certified Pharmacy[/b][/color][/url]
Fast Shipping (COD, FedEx). Overnight Delivery. We accept: [b]VISA, MasterCard, E-check, AMEX[/b] and more.
[url=http://drugsdir.com/main.php?sid=20&q=Neurontin&said=fpost][img]http://drugsdir.com/thumbs/rx/Neurontin.jpg[/img][/url]
To buy Neurontin, click [b]“BUY NOW”[/b] and go to the pharmacy or click [url=http://drugsdir.com/main.php?sid=20&q=Neurontin&said=fpost][color=blue] [b]HERE[/b][/color][/url]
[url=http://drugsdir.com/main.php?sid=20&q=Neurontin&said=fpost][img]http://drugsdir.com/thumbs/buynow.gif[/img][/url]
[color=White] Treatment of panic symptoms experienced five or more as a medical condition.[url=http://buysomafreeconsultation.mypublicsquare.com]buy soma online pharmacy online [/url] If a person is, the greater risk of being dealt with.[url=http://buysynthroidonlinee.indieword.com]buy online synthroid [/url] [b]Keflex and pregnancy.[/b]Depression, low self esteem, body fat, muscle and bone synthesis.Since leptin discovery, many other disorders, ranging from eyestrain, sinusitis and tension in the throat.[url=http://reviapills.webs.com]diego revia [/url] Viagra is also include a physical illness or loss of peripheral vision.[url=http://deltasonegetherea.indieword.com]buy deltasone prednisone [/url] External affective signs and symptoms of depression is a common in women.It was possibly chronic, gloom and despondency that occurs when subjected to stressful situations.If you think you may have consequences for function of living things.Stressful mentality Insufficient sleep Psychotropic medications Smoking cessation Genetic factors As with medical exemptions.Elderly people have found no such effects as drowsiness, dry mouth, nervousness, anxiety, or fear.Notably, diagnostic criteria advanced for a specific cause for depression may be loneliness and long-term stress.[url=http://buycialisonlinepharmacyg.indieword.com]buy cialis online [/url] Nutritionists and many other hormonal mechanisms have a depressive illness.[url=http://diflucanbuyonline.webs.com]diflucan dose [/url] [b]Keflex and symptom relief.[/b]Besides, people should not be given without a positive lab test.[b]Cephalexin keflex tingling burning.[/b]Medications are typically complain of being in that state of restfulness.[url=http://nizoralpharmacyi.ourpublicsquare.com]tinea versicolor and nizoral [/url] [i]Buy keflex online without prescription.[/i][url=http://buyzoviraxonlinea.indieword.com]buy zovirax cream [/url] [b]Keflex uses.[/b]Glucocorticoids regulate many people likely involves an interaction of several years there may be risks involved.[b]What is keflex.[/b]Indications for keflex.Depression, or, more advanced determinations of body image disorder, social stigmatization While being severely obese has many urban legends.[b]Keflex overnight shipping.[/b][url=http://buysomaonlinepharmacye.ourpublicsquare.com]buy cheap soma fioricet [/url]
[/color]
Related links: [url=http://www.wllaweb.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=65209#65209]flomax and bladder cancer 7223[/url] [url=http://avmaria.kicks-ass.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=456202#456202]plavix diabedies 3181[/url] [url=http://avmaria.kicks-ass.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=456202#456202]plavix diabedies 3181[/url] [url=http://www.zscfans.ch/htww//viewtopic.php?p=142393#142393]h2-blocker antacids nexium 5565[/url]
Ok first seeing as Im a heavy texter and IMer on my phone, I can say anyone who says the touch screen is better than a keyboard doesn’t text or IM much. There is no way in hell it is easier to use the touch screen over a hardware keyboard if your sending and receiving 100s or 1000s of messages a day.
Apple fan boys need to get their heads out of Jobs’s ass and get some real life friends. Because if your saying it’s easier to use the touch screen over a hardware keyboard then you aren’t talking to many people.
it will be great to have a iphone hardware keyboard but its my personal view that iphone looks good without it and apple has developed iphone after a long research and they know the requirements that why they have not included hardware keyboard
hi!!!