Handspring Says People Want Built-In Keyboards

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.)

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?