2 ms·

Even after over a decade to adjust, typing on my old Blackberry's keyboard was just light years better than any touch keyboard I've tried since. Gesture typing,

Even after over a decade to adjust, typing on my old Blackberry's keyboard was just light years better than any touch keyboard I've tried since. Gesture typing, aka "swype," seemed promising at first but has somehow progressively gotten worse since then, to the point where I'm now considering disabling it. I guess for most people, probably myself included, the tradeoff is still worth it, because most of what we do with our phones benefits more from a larger screen, than it would from a physical keyboard. But, if I had a job that required me to write messages all the time, I would certainly consider a physical keyboard again. In fact I would even consider carrying a second device with it.

smiley1437 6y ago
I miss the days of rattling off detailed email responses with practically zero typos on the physical keyboard, on a touchscreen I'm constantly checking for incorrect Autocorrect replacements. I carried two phones (an Iphone and a blackberry) for about a year before dropping the Blackberry, and I'd had about 10 different Blackberry models over the years. That said, I don't think going back to physical is worth it anymore, I found that getting a slightly larger touch screen phone made the keyboard just big enough that my typing became sufficiently accurate that I can live with it.
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  I have a gargantuan phone now (which I can't stand, but anyway), but I think my typing accuracy is worse than it was on 2013-era Android, and I think that it's because the keyboard software is getting worse and worse. Virtually every single time I have to enter anything more than "ok" or "5m", it's a frustrating experience. The only reason I put up with it is that I never need to write emails or engage in long chats on the phone. I just use a computer for those. If I'm not home, well, you might have to wait until I get home to chat with me. This is a rather stark difference from the Blackberry days, I was happily emailing and chatting away on mine even at home with a computer within easy reach. Since the pandemic started, I only use my phone for the 2FA app. It's regularly a chore to even find it, when it's been a week since I've used it and the battery is dead, so "Find my phone" can't be used. Side note, I just got a new phone in December... considered the more expensive S10e, but ended up with the dirt cheap ($150 shipped) Moto G6. Man, was that a great decision in hindsight or what!
  - smiley1437 6y ago
    The typing accuracy of physical is crazy! I was able to take notes in meetings without looking at the screen, can't do that on touch... More importantly - where the heck did you get a G6 for $150??
    - boring_twenties 6y ago
      Amazon. They were on sale (November or December of last year). I kind of wish I'd bought two.
      - smiley1437 6y ago
        Thanks, I'll keep an eye out this year

smiley1437 6y ago

I miss the days of rattling off detailed email responses with practically zero typos on the physical keyboard, on a touchscreen I'm constantly checking for incorrect Autocorrect replacements. I carried two phones (an Iphone and a blackberry) for about a year before dropping the Blackberry, and I'd had about 10 different Blackberry models over the years. That said, I don't think going back to physical is worth it anymore, I found that getting a slightly larger touch screen phone made the keyboard just big enough that my typing became sufficiently accurate that I can live with it.

boring_twenties 6y ago
I have a gargantuan phone now (which I can't stand, but anyway), but I think my typing accuracy is worse than it was on 2013-era Android, and I think that it's because the keyboard software is getting worse and worse. Virtually every single time I have to enter anything more than "ok" or "5m", it's a frustrating experience. The only reason I put up with it is that I never need to write emails or engage in long chats on the phone. I just use a computer for those. If I'm not home, well, you might have to wait until I get home to chat with me. This is a rather stark difference from the Blackberry days, I was happily emailing and chatting away on mine even at home with a computer within easy reach. Since the pandemic started, I only use my phone for the 2FA app. It's regularly a chore to even find it, when it's been a week since I've used it and the battery is dead, so "Find my phone" can't be used. Side note, I just got a new phone in December... considered the more expensive S10e, but ended up with the dirt cheap ($150 shipped) Moto G6. Man, was that a great decision in hindsight or what!
- smiley1437 6y ago
  The typing accuracy of physical is crazy! I was able to take notes in meetings without looking at the screen, can't do that on touch... More importantly - where the heck did you get a G6 for $150??
  - boring_twenties 6y ago
    Amazon. They were on sale (November or December of last year). I kind of wish I'd bought two.
    - smiley1437 6y ago
      Thanks, I'll keep an eye out this year