Who else now loves the keyboard?

[madmaxmedia]

When I first saw the TG50 I thought the keyboard was kinda weird looking and not convenient.

But now that I own a TG50, I have to say that the keyboard is one of the best things about it (among others). I enter text a lot faster, and I'm quite used to it. I only wish the keys were 'rounded' rather than 'flat', but I will probably buy those add-on thingies later that you stick on top of the keys.

If not for the keyboard, I might actually be tempted to even get that new iPaq (2210?) which looks quite nice.

So although Sony should still release a 320 x 480 CLIE to satisfy the masses, I find the TG50 design more productive in my actual day-to-day use. A bigger screen would be great for movies, pictures, and document viewing (I think Picsel Viewer would actually be very usable in landscape mode). But the keyboard would be hard to give up.

I think the ultimate CLIE would be a small clamshell like that prototype we saw. It would be shorter than the TG50, but a little thicker.

Thanks,
Steve

PS- CoLauncher works even better now with the keyboard, I assigned the 'To Do' button to CoLauncher and can now launch just about everything with 2 presses!

[redtani]

i agree. the keyboard does grow on you. i guess that's because there's a break-in period for both the keyboard and your thumbs... once they get used to each other, it's magic... hehe :)

[rhinoman]

I have to agree. Initially, the keyboard was a bit awkward. After really giving it a chance, I love it. It's been over two months since I bought my tg50, and I like it more than ever. Also, I find that I take it with me most of the time because of its usefulness. I'm still not getting the bluetooth connection with netfront working right yet. But, I am going to keep trying.


rhinoman

[s_n_m]

Most people who hate the TG50 (yes, believe it or not I know a few people who actually HATE the thing as if it did something to them) aren't thinking from a usablity standpoint.

I always used the soft keyboard on my Vx, I always use the hard keyboard on my TG50, and I really hope sony keeps on making clies with keyboards! Or else I will have to buy a tungsten c...:\

[s360clie]

The Hardware keyboard is very useful for me, especially after using a software called KeyQucik, Now I can do almost all the work w/o the stylus

[aaronrkelly]

If my fingers were small enough I would like a built in keyboard too......maybe I can get mine super sized???

[mvfrancisco]

Keyquick rocks.... i thought the keyboard was useful before I installed keyquick, but since then i don't take out my stylus for anything besides games (and even GTS doesn't require you to use the stylus for gameplay).

But the best part about the keyboard is that with a transparent half-lid, I no-longer need to open it up to use the tg-50. Checking e-mail, smsing, using the dictionary and playing mp3s is so much more convenient now.

[TreoRenegade]

OK, folks, a painful admission. Having purchased the TG50 soon after it hit the streets, I initially found the keyboard irritating, to say the least. But then, I figured that was primarily because the Treo90 and Blackberry had spoiled me. Eventually, I made peace with the thing. Or so I thought... (Sufficient details provided below for my fellow gadget freaks ;))

Then, I learned about a device which, unlike the Blackberry, would actually permit me to browse virtually all sites, google search, enjoy TRUE auto-push email, and even instant message via AoL. (Not being an AoL member, I'm doing one of those trial deals, strictly through the device, to see if I care.) Speed is comparable to dial-up. All you can eat data for under $30/month, as compared with the BB's $40 monthly tab.

It's called the T-Mobile Color Sidekick. Screen swivels open, to reveal one died-and-gone-to-e-heaven keyboard. Never thought any kb would match the BB, but it puts it to shame! It's intelligently backlit-- that is, you can also see symbol characters. The keys are rounded, with enough protrusion to handle anyone's finger/thumb size. Operates as well as a laptop's keyboard, in terms of overall comfort. The word that comes to mind here is magnificent!

I had been waiting for the TG50 WiFi stick, which I figured would run around $150 minimum. It finally dawned on me that I'd always be at the mercy of the nearest hot-spot, which may or may not exist. So I sold the BB, and grabbed the CSK ($250-$299, depending on promo) from a local T-Mobile store. Really appreciated it when I saw an email come in while at the Garden State Parkway rest area plaza, ran a search to answer a client's Q, and got back to him within minutes.

Still love my TG50, but the keyboard-- after constant exposure to the CSK-- just jacks me so much that I now use either Graffiti Anywhere, or the add-on keyboard. Don't wanna let the TG50 go, due to its superb PIM functionality per the software I've installed. The CSK has basic PIM stuff, but it's as weak as the TG50's keyboard is stiff when first purchased.

Bottom-line: now that I know what a keyboard SHOULD be, I tend to avoid the TG50's whenever possible. Oh- the CSK does have phone capability, but I'm still in a verizon contract, so I opted for data only. Yes, that means 3 devices, but each is small and light & performs it's primary job well; so, I really can travel now without the laptop.

Bonus: since the CSK can update the core system over the air, I suspect that Danger is most likely to give me the convergence I crave, with a serious PIM deal built in. In time, folks, in time.

TreoRenegade

[juandemi]

The Keyboard is excellent!

I use it all the time and now even forget about the graffiti!!! And it also can decrease the screen damage compare to graffiti!

But one problem is that it's a little bit hard (I mean those keys).

[Sneezy]

Treo,

Couldn't agree more. After playing with a Tungsten C, every time I go back to the TG I keep feeling like it could be so much better. I even added the sticky keys, and they help, but you can't get away from how stiff the keys feel.

If only the TC had stereo and a built in mic for voice recording. How could palm come so far and stop before perfection? I don't care as much about movies on the palm--that was a fad for me. But I do care about entering info, typing notes, and so forth, which the TC does better. But no MP3's (er, not in mono!). What a shame.