QWERTY Smartphones

[john]

Contract is up so after a new mobile, ideally with a hardware qwerty keyboard. Any recommendations? Is there anything out there other than Blackberry? Or do I just need to get with the system and get used to a touch keypad.

For reference last phone was a desire z which I rooted etc. Seems mostly good but needs quite regular restarts, battery life is crap and it's big. Before that had a e72 which I've started using again. Great hardware and form. Let down by the OS, Symbian was OK in 2006 but it's a bit too glitchy in 2012, esp next to android.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I'm afraid it's either the Desire Z, the HTC ChaCha or the Samsung Galaxy Y Pro.

That being said, I never had problems with typing on my regular Desire, so HTC's on-screen keyboards are quite good.
The haptic feedback lets you feel when you've pressed a key too.

 

[NAILTRAIL96]

I didn't much want to do the touch screen either but my sausage fingers meant I neede a bigger keypad than a blackberry.
I went for a nokia lumia but it was damn near impossible to use and locked out after 3 days.
The replacement is a samsung galaxy, the keypad is big and easy to use.
It's annoying that most punctuation isn't on the same screen as the qwerty board but it's minor.
It's great for texting and fast for internet but it's a rubbish phone!.

 

[john]

I'm afraid it's either the Desire Z, the HTC ChaCha or the Samsung Galaxy Y Pro.

That being said, I never had problems with typing on my regular Desire, so HTC's on-screen keyboards are quite good.
The haptic feedback lets you feel when you've pressed a key too.

Did try a pure touchscreen phone a while ago, maybe I'll try again.

 

[hamster]

Had a Blackberry 9900 since January - it's been very good. The camera is fantastic, and I personally like the keyboard for tapping out emails. I'm surprised how good it's been, crashed maybe twice. It's company issue, not my own money. It will just about do two days on a charge.

Apps etc are less choice than others, but for me it's a work tool not a toy. The main advantage for me is that it gives 3G in Japan and Korea..

 

[legrandefromage]

All of our Blackberrys have been awful but as they are work phones, the mrs' has no choice.

I have been using a Samsung Galaxy pro for a while. Hated it at first but I wouldnt be without it or something similar. The only let down is lack of Flash support, beyond that, its as good as any laptop from a few years ago.

 

[Alison]

I went for a HTC touch screen as I found I was having difficulty seeing the keys, failing eyesight, and have not looked back. It's such a pain having to get your readers out every time you need to make a call, although getting verifocals on Wednesday, So touch screen for me

Alison

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

I use a blackberry, A basic curve model tied up with a Blackberry Playbook, (will run android apps). the combination takes care of 75% of my computing needs. There is a new blackberry OS on its way in the summer that is looking like it might kick many other smartphones in the water. Try www.crackberry.com

 

[gregs656]

The iPhone in my experience has the best on screen keyboard. I found the HTC one pretty useless. The iPhone also has across the board auto correct, so you never have to worry about being *that* precise.

What ever you go for, make sure you purchase it online or over the phone, to give your self 14 days to play with it.

 

[rosstheboss]

The iPhone in my experience has the best on screen keyboard. I found the HTC one pretty useless. The iPhone also has across the board auto correct, so you never have to worry about being *that* precise.

I found the opposite true! HTC has auto correct too, I'm a big fan of HTC phones and find Blackberries awful to type on, I guess it's what you get used to...