Comments on: Handspring Says People Want Built-In Keyboards

I still think this is bad, when you already have a stylus in your hand after tapping the screen it seems way easier to me to just go on and scribble graffiti instead of using the keyboard.
And what about graffiti shortcuts?

ight now, I have no need to replace my Visor Platinum. It is serving me well, and unless, heaven forbid, something happens, it should continue to do so for the foressable future.

That's not to say I don't engage in my share of what-iffing, daydreaming, and general window shopping.

I don't think I would buy a PDA that didn't offer some form of handwriting recognition. I don't find the keyboards a handy option when standing somewhere jotting down an appointment, and it becomes more awkward (as someone noted) to have to bounce from stylus to keyboard in some of my typical PDA settings (standing at someone's desk, in a meeting, etc.).

(This opinion was formed using an early, keyboard-based WinCE device. I know it is not the same thing, but more oranges and tangerines--I believe you'll experience many of the same quirks.)

Perhaps it is an industry trend? True, though there seem to be two schools of thought on the built-in keyboard. The Treos I've seen so far don't really have a Graffiti option. The Graffiti area is taken up by the keyboard, and the screen is, IMHO too small as it is--I couldn't imagine doing virtual Graffiti on it.

The second method is that of the Clie or the Sharp Zarus. This is to offer a screen that supports a virtual Graffiti area (or the analog in the Zarus world), but have the keyboard available (either by twisiting the screen, having a slide down area, etc.). This would provide the best of both worlds.

For me, with the trend away from being pen-based, I think I probably won't replace my Handspring with a Handspring. Of course, in two years (when it is more likely), who knows what the market will look like? Who knows what I will want.

(I do admit my bias is probably also due in part to being a pen collector, and having just gotten a Cross Matrix.)

To voice the countering opinion, and joing Handspring's "silent majority": I think the move to keyboards is a very positive one.

First, it gets past the "Mom factor". Yes, my mom is smart enough to learn Graffiti. But it's intimidating to her nonetheless, wheras a keyboard is very familiar.

Second, it's just easier, especially for composing longer documents. I used to use Graffiti to take notes during meetings, and compose emails, but my writing hand suffered for it. I switched to a Targus keyboard, and then a thumbboard, and am much, much happier for it.

I do agree that handwriting recognition is useful for jotting a quick note or entering a letter or two in a search field. Hopefully we'll soon move to "virtual graffiti" or PPC-style scrawl-anywhere, so we can have both a keyboard and handwriting recognition.

Actually, that reminds of me of a question: Does a hack like Graffitaid (sp?) or Jot allow you to also use Graffiti on keyboard Treo?

If you don't want the silkscreen, fine. But keep support for it in the OS so 3rd party on-screen grafitti enhancements will still work if you choose to use them.

Handspring has wholly pushed their models with a keyboard, without putting any media effort or in some cases even making the graffiti models available in certain outlets. For them to read sales numbers as people preferring built-in keyboards is a flawed anaysis. This along with not supporting flash OS upgrades, and/or completely screwing people who supported the Springboard concept is just one more reason why I'll never buy a Handspring product. Their gimmicks are designed for the unknowing general population, and they could care less about anyone who knows anything about PDAs.

I have tried to use the Treo thumbboard and have found it unusable. SONY's keyboard seems a lot easier for me to use but I, for one, would still much prefer to have a folding, full-size keyboard and grafitti.

Thanks, Robrecht

They're just scared of the Xerox lawsuit...

Handspring is a company that has shown over and over agin that they have no idea what the customer wants. First they try to gouge everyone on Springboards (how dumb was that?), then they release slighlty warmed over models of their current designs over and over. The Treo? Wouldn't touch it with a 10-ft pole. Can you imgine that their color model is STILL the Prism? Please.

Why all the whining and complaining? If Handspring does not have what you want..go to someone who does! I for one think that Handspring is heading in the right dirtection with their new devices and business model.

Handspring responded. Other PDA developers will follow. Pretty straight forward.

I want to officially go on record and say that I WILL NOT purchase a device which only allows input via a built-in keyboard. NOT GOING TO DO IT. I need some type of text recognition.

Thanks,

Ted

I think this is just a preventive move by Handspring, in case the Xerox case goes bad.

if they indeed are trying to satisfy this "surprised" surge of tumboard user, they would have released tumboard peripherals for all Handspring models. Specially for the visor edge and visor, their bread and butter product.

The treo 90 is just a back up plan in case 270 is a total flop, than they can still sell the left over motherboard as another product instead of total lost.

Treo 90 never makes sense to anybody, it doesn't fit the "treo" product marketing line (3 in one device). It also is overlapping with that color "prism". If PDA tumboard is the goal, than just add a tumboard peripheral over ALL visor line, why create another totally new PDA?

It doesn't take a genious to figure out that the reason Handspring is selling more Keyboard Treos than Grafiti Treo's is that, for people who want a keyboard, there aren't as many options. Therefore, less competition. So this strategy will work as long and there are so few other makers putting out Built in keyboard models.

I am not sure why anyone would want a keyboard for a PDA unless it was a wireless device. For adding a new appointment or todo item you only need to use a Palm type PDA for a few days to get to where you can write as fast as you could ever type on a thumbboard. However, on a connected device doing e-mails or IM you absolutely need the ability to enter lots of data more quickly. Believe me, I tried to IM with my sister and it was ridiculous trying to keep up with her with my one word responses. Every other response from her was "Are you still there?".

I don't understand why HandSpring doesn't integrate Jot! into their Treo's. I tried it with my Prism and a Thumboard combination and it worked flawlessly. It was the best combination of both keyboard and grafitti (flawed only by the bulk of a 2 pound Prism with a slide on keyboard - not very sexy).

Most people (both power users and newbies) will prefer a folding keyboard for long text entries.

The fact that handspings have a thumb keyboard will scare off full size keyboards makers. Have you ever seen a full size or folding keyboard available for a device with built in thumbboard?

I still belive that the best combination is graffity for short messages and the avaliability of a folding keyboard for longer text entries.

Also having to tap the screen to select fields and menus and then put down the stylus to use the tumbboard is tedious and time consuming.

Anyone out there like me who *doesn't* want a color device?

Someone who doesn't want to be tethered every night to a cradle plugged into an outlet in a surburbian Walmart town?

Someone who just wants their color device to be able to last at least as long as a medical resident's 12+ hour shift?

Someone, anyone...?!

It seems to me that the opportunity has risen for a group of investors to come along and purchase the springboard technology from HS and start a new PDA. I for one like the old Visor design and love the springboard concept. I am very disappointed that HS appears to be abandoning this technology and changing gears. They should have improved on what was tried and true like Sony rather than reinvent the wheel.

I look at all the recent flurry of activity as an opportunity for me to buy a couple of Prisms and Pro's as well as load up on all those springboards that will now become obsolete (sortof).

I had the opportunity to play with the whole line of Treos last weekend.

I am a dedicated Graffiti user (even if my spelling of it is dubious), and didn't think much of the keyboards, BUT ...

The Treo (at least the 90 an 270) has a nice colour screen, good contrast and has nice clarity for the size of the display. The keyboard I found to be a little off putting - placement of the backspace key in particular, but it was adequate.

The thing to remember about these devices is that they are cellphones. People like to be able to use a cellphone one handed, and not need to whip out a stylus to push numbers on a virtual keypad on the screen (how long would the screen last dong that??). OK, so you can use the jog dial and look someone up in the phone book, and not need to remove the stylus from its silo. I dial as many numbers on my cellphone manually as I do via a lookup.

People want built in keyboards because they are buying cellphones (the Treo 90 is the exception). People are buying these to replace Blackberry type devices (my boss could thumb as fast as I could graffiti).

If only 20% of people are buying the 180G, that is a pretty compelling argument for Handspring to focus on the keyboarded models.

I had hoped for a 90G though - it has everything else I wanted in a PDA ... oh well. If I wait long enough someone wil release a model that will make me want to upgrade.

I have tried every thumb board out there and cannot type as fast as I can right. This is discrimination! All of you little thumb people out there are trying to take over the PDA world and force us big thumb guys into the streets with nothing but our skin in the palms of our hands! It's a conspiracy!

you gotta hand it to Handspring for admitting that color rules :)

That's right, they're the only company that approached Xerox and paid for it. Kinda ironic doncha think, a little too ironic I really do think.

Handspring is quite clever, they removed only the grafitti yet the OS still support Jot or Reco-Echo to write "graffiti". Far of the ads is Jot or Reco-Echo works in this devices. However, it you can't jot on screen use only thumb keyboard will buyers still buy it. I doubt!

I for one don't want a built in keyboard and this is the main reason I will not be going anywhere near the Treo 270 . The keyboard for me spoils the good looks of the Treo.

I think handspring are very shortsighted in not providing both "options" for the colour Treo as they did with the 180 and 180g, I think it will prove costly for them. I have nothing against those who like this feature but "people" want choice and when you pigeon hole people in this way you end up like Psion (keyboard or nothing).

I think it is arrogant of Handspring to make sweeping comments like that to justify leaving no colour graffiti alternatives.

Handspring, please don't tell me what you think everyone wants.

regards,

Carl

I for one don't want a built in keyboard and this is the main reason I will not be going anywhere near the Treo 270 . The keyboard for me spoils the good looks of the Treo.

I think handspring are very shortsighted in not providing both "options" for the colour Treo as they did with the 180 and 180g, I think it will prove costly for them. I have nothing against those who like this feature but "people" want choice and when you pigeon hole people in this way you end up like Psion (keyboard or nothing).

I think it is arrogant of Handspring to make sweeping comments like that to justify leaving no colour graffiti alternatives.

Handspring, please don't tell me what you think everyone wants.

regards,

Carl

I saw this news on the Tucows newsletter, which I get by way of being a Psion owner. Lots of US PDA users never heard of this *perfect* machine, as Psion did a lousy job of marketing here; consequently, they lost ground to Palm/Handspring and ended up putting their energies into moblie stuff as Symbian. AMong the many great features that we Psion fans loved was the excellent keyboard, on which you can actually touch-type! The thumb keys don't do it for me, nor does Graffiti. If Handspring would make a unit with a comparable keyboard, I'd go for it in an instant. Otherwise, I'll buy up a couple of spares from the last bit of Psion 5 mx stock, even though the meagre Mac connectivity is a drag... the Psion 5/5mx is like a tiny laptop, much more than any other PDA has managed to be so far. And BTW-- I never cared about color, but a lot of Psion users have wanted it. The keyboard is the powerful tool for me. And to answer the writer who couldn't imagine typing AND dealing with a stylus, I admit that I rarely use the stylus, but instead use my fingernail (Psion's have touchscreens/styli, too).