How do people survive with touchscreen keyboards?

[tokie]

So I've been using a friend's iPod touch lately to just fool around with it and test out various apps. As a consumption device where you click and get to something, it is nearly perfect. So for a News app where you tap on a story and it appears that is great. Similarly for games or videos or whatever.

However, that clicking experience is mixed in with a typing experience. If you need to type in a username or password, or a web address, or compose a text or email it is PAINFUL. Granted, as a newbie I probably have a lower typing speed but even so -- a virtual keyboard is awful. How do people who text a lot put up with something like an iPhone?

 

[Puddle Jumper]

It's really not that bad once you get over the slight learning curve. I can actually type much faster using Swiftkey on my Galaxy s then I can using most hardware keyboards. Granted that's on a 4" screen but the last time I played with a iphone 4 it's keyboard seemed pretty decent in landscape.

 

[corkyg]

Basically, you are talking about a device aimed at entertainment, not work. It is very good for that.

 

[Bateluer]

I've been trying to use my Droid's touch screen keyboard for typing more, so I'm not restricting myself to only phones with hard keyboards next go. My typing speed is improving, but the hard keyboard skill wins hands down for accuracy. If I make a mistake with the hard keyboard, it takes a fraction of a second to use the D-Pad to quickly correct the letter or word. With the touch screen, you either delete everything you typed since the mistake was made, or tap repeated on the point of the mistake until it puts the cursor where you want it. I'm almost as fast at typing on the touch screen keyboard as I am on the hardware keyboard, provided I don't make a mistake.

 

[EightySix Four]

My touch screen typing on an iPhone is at least 60-70 WPM with few mistakes. I'm still getting used to the bigger screen and different keys on my Surround, but I think I'll accomplish a similar level of speed/accuracy from it as well.

I really don't miss having a hardware keyboard honestly, but the iPhone was better for quick corrections.

 

[sivart]

My touch screen typing on an iPhone is at least 60-70 WPM with few mistakes. I'm still getting used to the bigger screen and different keys on my Surround, but I think I'll accomplish a similar level of speed/accuracy from it as well.

I really don't miss having a hardware keyboard honestly, but the iPhone was better for quick corrections.

They have an app that measures your speed? 60-70WPM is fast on a normal mechanical keyboard using 10 fingers. Not doubting you...well...yes I am...as 60WPM seems fast using 2 thumbs.

 

[EightySix Four]

They have an app that measures your speed? 60-70WPM is fast on a normal mechanical keyboard using 10 fingers. Not doubting you...well...yes I am...as 60WPM seems fast using 2 thumbs.

The distance between keys is far smaller. I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a guy punching out nearly 100wpm on the iPhone. I type on average 80-90wpm on a mechanical keyboard and can do 100wpm+ when I know what I'm typing well enough and it is relatively simple.

Now that 60-70 on an iPhone is obviously with simple sentences and such, my average is probably closer to 45, and there are apps which tell you your typing speed. I can't remember my exact top but it was above 60 and just shy of 70.

According to iphonetypingtest.com I just did 40wpm on my WP7 phone.

 

[MrX8503]

So I've been using a friend's iPod touch lately to just fool around with it and test out various apps. As a consumption device where you click and get to something, it is nearly perfect. So for a News app where you tap on a story and it appears that is great. Similarly for games or videos or whatever.

However, that clicking experience is mixed in with a typing experience. If you need to type in a username or password, or a web address, or compose a text or email it is PAINFUL. Granted, as a newbie I probably have a lower typing speed but even so -- a virtual keyboard is awful. How do people who text a lot put up with something like an iPhone?

I have bad news for you...the iPhone/iPod Touch has arguably the best touch keyboards on the market. It has multitouch, superior predictive text, responsive, and its fast.

It takes a little bit of practice, but when you get it down, you can be pretty quick at it. I've typed entire paragraphs on this forum before on my iPhone.

With the touch screen, you either delete everything you typed since the mistake was made, or tap repeated on the point of the mistake until it puts the cursor where you want it.

Not that its better than using a d-pad, the iPhone brings up a magnifying glass to put the cursor where you want it. Its pretty accurate too.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I slaughter the English language trying to type on my DX. Even with a different keyboard. Smart Keyboard. I am still horrible at it. Thank god for voice to txt. That's the most effective way i can txt and its MUCH safer if you are on the road.

 

[zerocool84]

Like everyone said it's a slight learning curve and very good once you get used to it but me personally I prefer a real keyboard to a on-screen one.

 

[Bateluer]

The distance between keys is far smaller. I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a guy punching out nearly 100wpm on the iPhone. I type on average 80-90wpm on a mechanical keyboard and can do 100wpm+ when I know what I'm typing well enough and it is relatively simple.

Now that 60-70 on an iPhone is obviously with simple sentences and such, my average is probably closer to 45, and there are apps which tell you your typing speed. I can't remember my exact top but it was above 60 and just shy of 70.

According to iphonetypingtest.com I just did 40wpm on my WP7 phone.

With or without predictive text? I always turn it off because its annoying. Swiftkey was amazing with it, but the spacing/positioning of the keys kept causing me problems so I uninstalled it.

That's the most effective way i can txt and its MUCH safer if you are on the road.

Or you could just use Bluetooth to call the person rather than text?

 

[corkyg]

You folks are obviously talking about short tweets - not full .DOCs for professional or business use. Ready to do your graduate thesis on a iPad?

 

[EightySix Four]

You folks are obviously talking about short tweets - not full .DOCs for professional or business use. Ready to do your graduate thesis on a iPad?

Right, because we like to use the right device for the right purpose.

 

[simonizor]

I had a Samsung Intercept for a week before I got my Mesmerize and I absolutely love the touchscreen keyboard on the Mesmerize as opposed to the slide out keyboard on the Intercept. I find it much easier to tap the keys than have to physically press them.

I know a few people that have Motorola Droids and never use the slide out keyboard.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I've had my EVO for a few days now and have gotten notably better at using the on-screen keyboard. It's still not quite as good as hardware keyboard yet but I'll take the thinner device trade off at this point.

 

[SunnyD]

That's like asking how people survive with beer. I personally don't like beer... but others do. Do I question it? No, I don't.

Other good questions:
How do people survive without religion? Good question, I seem to get along just fine without it.

How do people survive without a car? Hmm, up until about 150 years ago, the human species seems to have done just fine without them for hundreds of thousands of years.

Ho do people survive without sex? Well, that's an interesting one. Pretty sure that the catholic church has proven that people actually can't survive without sex.

Ask a stupid question... get a stupid answer.

 

[kaerflog]

That's like asking how people survive with beer. I personally don't like beer... but others do. Do I question it? No, I don't.

Other good questions:
How do people survive without religion? Good question, I seem to get along just fine without it.

How do people survive without a car? Hmm, up until about 150 years ago, the human species seems to have done just fine without them for hundreds of thousands of years.

Ho do people survive without sex? Well, that's an interesting one. Pretty sure that the catholic church has proven that people actually can't survive without sex.

Ask a stupid question... get a stupid answer.

LOL, I like your answer the best.
Just because you can't do something well, you can't be ignorant about it.
I can survive a touchscreen keyboard just fine.
I won't touch a phone that has a physical keyboard.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I had a BB Curve and now have an iPhone. Typing on the BB was a much better experience, but would I go back to a small screen (or a bigger phone that has a sliding keyboard)? Never.

 

[HeXen]

some can't play games without kb/mouse. but you keep using it, you eventually get good with it.

 

[waggy]

Like everyone said it's a slight learning curve and very good once you get used to it but me personally I prefer a real keyboard to a on-screen one.

me to. when i was looking for a new phone i looked for one with a real keyboard.

 

[YoungGun21]

Swype + Voice to text. Way better than any physical keyboard.

I thought I would never ever go without a hard keyboard. Now, I'll never go back to one.

 

[rh71]

I have the HTC Titan (Verizon XV6800) that has a slide out keyboard but typing on-screen with the stylus is just as good. I still like the stylus and wish all phones have it stored-in.

 

[GeekDrew]

Everyone said that there was a "slight learning curve" to using a touchscreen keyboard... so I bought a Captivate (Galaxy S on AT&T). I hate touchscreen keyboards now even more than I did before I'd tried them. Whatever asshat came up with the idea needs to be shot. Hardware keyboard is the only way to go.

 

[zerocool84]

I have the HTC Titan (Verizon XV6800) that has a slide out keyboard but typing on-screen with the stylus is just as good. I still like the stylus and wish all phones have it stored-in.

Once you get away from Windows Mobile, you'll understand why using a stylus isn't needed any more.

Everyone said that there was a "slight learning curve" to using a touchscreen keyboard... so I bought a Captivate (Galaxy S on AT&T). I hate touchscreen keyboards now even more than I did before I'd tried them. Whatever asshat came up with the idea needs to be shot. Hardware keyboard is the only way to go.

HTC stock keyboard and iPhone ones are very good. Getting introduced to software keyboards on a Galaxy S isn't the best representation of how good they are.

 

[kaerflog]

Everyone said that there was a "slight learning curve" to using a touchscreen keyboard... so I bought a Captivate (Galaxy S on AT&T). I hate touchscreen keyboards now even more than I did before I'd tried them. Whatever asshat came up with the idea needs to be shot. Hardware keyboard is the only way to go.

I think you need to be shot.
Just because you can't do something well, it doesn't mean others can't.
There are people that can type on an iphone isanely fast.