Any newer VZW smartphones that have physical keyboards NOT named Droid?

[SunnyD]

Looking to upgrade my wife, as her Droid A855 is getting a little long in the tooth. Yeah, it's a good phone, but it's getting a little old and sluggish to do some mundane tasks. I offered to get her a new phone, which amazingly she relented to let me. Now the catch is it has to have a physical hardware keyboard. If the deal we're getting in PagePlus wasn't perfect for her uses, I'd switch her to TMO and get her on a G2 or similar. But we're sticking with PagePlus, and hence a VZW phone. Suggestions?

 

[gorcorps]

iphone 4 + keyboard case

I'm only mildly serious, as I doubt the added cost and weight would be worth it. Though if the phone is usually in her purse then the size/weight may not be a problem.

 

[Malak]

What's wrong with getting a Droid?

 

[SunnyD]

What's wrong with getting a Droid?

Was hoping for something with a larger screen. She also made it a point of how light my (vibrant) is compared to her droid.

 

[Deeko]

The weight comes with the keyboard - look at the Droid line, G2, Venue Pro...all very heavy phones.

Also, you aren't going to find too many bigger screens with a keyboard, either. The Epic 4G and Venue Pro each are 4"+, but other than that, most keyboarded phones are smaller.

Sorry to say, but on Verizon, the Droid 2 is going to be your best bet (although that's not a bad thing - its a good phone). If she likes Android, wants a keyboard and bigger screen, but also lighter, the Epic 4G would probably be her best bet...but its not Verizon.

 

[Deeko]

Also, for what its worth, you mentioned the G2 - it doesn't have a bigger screen and its quite heavy.

 

[AstroManLuca]

What you want doesn't exist. Phones with keyboards are just larger and heavier than ones without. And 3.7" is the third-largest screen size available - the only larger ones are 4" (Samsung Galaxy S) and 4.3" (Droid X).

She'll have to either learn to get by without a physical keyboard, or just keep using her Droid, or get a Droid 2. I think the only other option for her is a Palm Pre 2, which has a much smaller screen and an OS that is on life support. And the Pre 3 won't be available until summer.

 

[s44]

You can't hack the Epic for PP?

 

[SunnyD]

You can't hack the Epic for PP?

Voice & Text yes. Getting data/mms on sprint phones to work with VZW/PP is a huge pain in the ass at best.

 

[mvbighead]

Does she not like Swype? I have to admit, I use to be a physical keyboard person with my phone... but after buying the Droid and using swype, I can't imagine using a physical KB again.

Also, as far as the phone getting long in the tooth, have you considered modding it? Using a custom ROM and that sort of thing?

 

[Ksyder]

Does she not like Swype? I have to admit, I use to be a physical keyboard person with my phone... but after buying the Droid and using swype, I can't imagine using a physical KB again.

Also, as far as the phone getting long in the tooth, have you considered modding it? Using a custom ROM and that sort of thing?

This. I relentlessly searched for the same thing, vzw phone with keyboard, but got the droid x instead. Don't miss the keyboard at all, mainly due to the lack of a slider mechanism.

 

[shortylickens]

Looking to upgrade my wife, as her Droid A855 is getting a little long in the tooth. Yeah, it's a good phone, but it's getting a little old and sluggish to do some mundane tasks. I offered to get her a new phone, which amazingly she relented to let me. Now the catch is it has to have a physical hardware keyboard. If the deal we're getting in PagePlus wasn't perfect for her uses, I'd switch her to TMO and get her on a G2 or similar. But we're sticking with PagePlus, and hence a VZW phone. Suggestions?

Phones are not cars. They dont naturally get slow over time.
Tell her to uninstall all the crap she's not using and kill the live wallpaper. Use a task killer to stop things that dont need to run all the time.
Also, wait for the next update. Its supposed to improve performance across the board.

 

[SunnyD]

Phones are not cars. They dont naturally get slow over time.
Tell her to uninstall all the crap she's not using and kill the live wallpaper. Use a task killer to stop things that dont need to run all the time.
Also, wait for the next update. Its supposed to improve performance across the board.

Le sigh. I won't go into all the things that are wrong with what you've just wrote. I don't suppose you've ever run windows, have you? Not to mention updating the OS can and likely will only exacerbate the issues.

That's all besides the point, the phone, itself, needs to be replaced. Period.

 

[Deeko]

Le sigh. I won't go into all the things that are wrong with what you've just wrote. I don't suppose you've ever run windows, have you? Not to mention updating the OS can and likely will only exacerbate the issues.

That's all besides the point, the phone, itself, needs to be replaced. Period.

There's actually some truth in what he said. Desktop computers that run Windows don't "slow down" with time either...they get filled up with crap. Just like reformatting your Windows PC will result in "speed increases", updating your OS and doing a reset will do the same with your Android phone.

The software can get bogged down, but the hardware doesn't just "slow down". It doesn't work thay way. Admittedly, there is better hardware out there than the Droid, and some newer apps are more power-hungry than the ones from 2009, but those are separate issue.

 

[SunnyD]

There's actually some truth in what he said. Desktop computers that run Windows don't "slow down" with time either...they get filled up with crap. Just like reformatting your Windows PC will result in "speed increases", updating your OS and doing a reset will do the same with your Android phone.

The software can get bogged down, but the hardware doesn't just "slow down". It doesn't work thay way. Admittedly, there is better hardware out there than the Droid, and some newer apps are more power-hungry than the ones from 2009, but those are separate issue.

It's a shame Win95 still isn't around. I'd be able to show you a system that is just about unusable after 6 months with 0 human interaction. But that's not the point.

Her phone is getting flaky. It has nothing to do with the apps she runs or doesn't run. In fact, she's one of the few people that actually uses her phone 90% of the time for what it is - a phone. It's an older phone that is for the most part not receiving much attention from the manufacturer anymore. It's time to upgrade her to something more functional, preferably before her phone has zero resale value.

 

[shortylickens]

Le sigh. I won't go into all the things that are wrong with what you've just wrote. I don't suppose you've ever run windows, have you? Not to mention updating the OS can and likely will only exacerbate the issues.

That's all besides the point, the phone, itself, needs to be replaced. Period.

Go fuck

your self.

jerk off.

I don't know what part of "No profanity in the tech forums" was too difficult to understand from previous infractions, but you now have a lot of time off to think about it.
admin allisolm

 

[AstroManLuca]

Why must the phone be replaced? Is there something wrong with it or is it just not new and shiny enough? Because based on what you're looking for, the only options are either the Droid 2 or another Droid 1, or living with no keyboard.

EDIT: Oh, you beat me to it.

Still, I'd try a full reset if you haven't yet just to be sure.

 

[Deeko]

It's a shame Win95 still isn't around. I'd be able to show you a system that is just about unusable after 6 months with 0 human interaction. But that's not the point.

Her phone is getting flaky. It has nothing to do with the apps she runs or doesn't run. In fact, she's one of the few people that actually uses her phone 90% of the time for what it is - a phone. It's an older phone that is for the most part not receiving much attention from the manufacturer anymore. It's time to upgrade her to something more functional, preferably before her phone has zero resale value.

I had Windows 95. It was certainly never unusable after 6 months, and I actually did interact with it. You're right though - that's not the point - the point is that cell phone hardware doesn't "slow down". It just doesn't.

 

[s44]

Whoa, that was an odd blow-up.

Anyway, the Merge is coming soon, but it's last year's phone -- single-core no FFC etc -- might as well get a Droid2Global. Or flash to an overclocked GB.

I haven't seen a single keyboard-sporting dual-core even demoed, so you could be waiting a while on that. You sure she can't just get an X/Fascinate?

 

[SunnyD]

Whoa, that was an odd blow-up.

Anyway, the Merge is coming soon, but it's last year's phone -- single-core no FFC etc -- might as well get a Droid2Global. Or flash to an overclocked GB.

I haven't seen a single keyboard-sporting dual-core even demoed, so you could be waiting a while on that. You sure she can't just get an X/Fascinate?

Yeah, despite my efforts, she refuses to consider something without a hardware keyboard. I haven't gotten a straight answer out of her as to why.

I don't care too much about the feature set of the phone. She'd prefer something somewhat lighter than the droid (it's all-metal housing is the bulk of the weight), and I'd prefer for her to have a slightly larger screen if possible. Other than that, a 1ghz single core CPU running 2.2.1 or preferably 2.3.2 would be nice. Particularly if it has a more responsive touch screen and somewhat more ram.

Otherwise, I would have gotten her a Fascinate, Incredible or X by now. Hell, there's someone on CL that has a pair of Incredibles listed for $150 each, 2 weeks old. But alas...

 

[AstroManLuca]

Like others have said, doesn't exist. The Droid and Droid 2 are tied for the largest screened phones with a physical keyboard on Verizon. The only other smartphones with physical keyboards are the Droid Pro (3.1" screen), the Pre 2 (3.1"), and Blackberries.

I think the Samsung Epic is the largest screened smartphone with a keyboard, but it's Sprint only. And I believe it is the only smartphone, at least in the US, that is both lighter than the Droid 2 and has a larger screen.

 

[SunnyD]

Like others have said, doesn't exist. The Droid and Droid 2 are tied for the largest screened phones with a physical keyboard on Verizon. The only other smartphones with physical keyboards are the Droid Pro (3.1" screen), the Pre 2 (3.1"), and Blackberries.

I think the Samsung Epic is the largest screened smartphone with a keyboard, but it's Sprint only. And I believe it is the only smartphone, at least in the US, that is both lighter than the Droid 2 and has a larger screen.

I know... tell me about it.

 

[s44]

Yeah, it's either wait for the Merge or pay somebody for a properly hacked Epic.

 

[AstroManLuca]

So, not to be rude, but why then do you keep asking for suggestions? People here have already given you the rundown of the situation: your wife's choices are to fix her current Droid, get a new Droid or Droid 2, or live without a physical keyboard.

It's unlikely that Verizon will ever release a phone that is lighter than the Droid 2, with a larger screen and a physical keyboard. Keyboards are on the way out; phone makers will keep a model or two around to placate those who insist on having them, but eventually you will have to accept so many compromises to get one that it's not worth it.

EDIT: Never heard of the HTC Merge until now. Still, it's not going to be much different from the Droid 2. It has the same size screen, and if it's anything like the G2 it appears to be based on, it will actually be heavier than the Droid 2. Are you sure your wife actually wants something lighter or does she just want a new thing because she's bored with her old thing? Either way, you can't have it both ways. If you want lighter, the keyboard has got to go.

 

[SunnyD]

So, not to be rude, but why then do you keep asking for suggestions? People here have already given you the rundown of the situation: your wife's choices are to fix her current Droid, get a new Droid or Droid 2, or live without a physical keyboard.

It's unlikely that Verizon will ever release a phone that is lighter than the Droid 2, with a larger screen and a physical keyboard. Keyboards are on the way out; phone makers will keep a model or two around to placate those who insist on having them, but eventually you will have to accept so many compromises to get one that it's not worth it.

For starters, I never knew anything about the Merge until s44 mentioned it. So it goes without saying that there's stuff out there that someone other than myself might know about. Second, I'm not up to snuff on the particulars of all the phones that are currently available, which is why I through out specifications and people with experience correlate and itemize phones that have and don't have features I'm looking for.

I'm not going to find out if I don't ask, right?

To answer your edit - no, I want to get her a new phone, something different and somewhat less flaky than the one she has. Experience dictates that it not be a Droid, since between her wants and experience, the Droid isn't what she wants nor what I want to support.