Do Androids dream of electric apps?

September 27, 2009 4:37 PM

1) Android phone. 2) Querty keyboard. 3) Before end of year. Does such phone exist? (Other than G1)

Friend wants to get a Android phone other than G1 and wants Querty keyboard. What options does she have? (Her current contract will end around November and is willing to wait till end of the year for a good phone)

Bonus: If you have experience using G1 and other Android phones - how do you like the querty/touchpad?

posted by jstarlee to Technology (16 answers total)

I have fingers like small sausages. Despite this I've found my G1 keyboard to be very usable on a daily basis (for almost a year now). The onscreen keyboard has also been surprisingly accurate too, and is great for one handed texting. Not so keen on the little trackpad/mouse thingy - it seems far too sensitive to me, especially when web browsing.
posted by Chairboy at 5:03 PM on September 27, 2009

Best answer: Yes, actually. The Motorola CLIQ(USA)/DEXT(elsewhere) is supposed to land by Black Friday. Also, Moto supposedly has another Android handset headed for Verizon.
posted by ConstantineXVI at 5:10 PM on September 27, 2009

Best answer: FYI, for future googling, it's qwerty, as in the keys on the top left, not querty.

I think the motorola cliq is coming out by the end of the year: http://news.techwhack.com/10967-motorola-cliq-october
posted by CharlesV42 at 5:11 PM on September 27, 2009

The iPhone virtual keyboard is much better than the G1 virtual keyboard.

The G1 physical keyboard is excellent, and worlds better than both.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:40 PM on September 27, 2009

My only complaint about the qwerty keyboard on the G1 is that the backlighting isn't bright enough.
posted by amro at 5:45 PM on September 27, 2009

Going from a Blackberry Pearl a year ago to the G1 was slightly difficult, but after two days it was no issue at all. I chalk it up to just getting used to the keyboard. The G1 keyboard is really great now, curious as to why your friend doesn't want the G1 though. Any specific reasons?
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:52 PM on September 27, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for all the response so far!

Looks like Cliq (pre-order in 3 weeks!) may be the one for her. The cpu speed (same as G1) and low quality of video recording seem to bee what people are complaining about - but I don't think she'll mind too much. Thanks everybody!
posted by jstarlee at 5:54 PM on September 27, 2009

I just bit the bullet and got the G1 - even before I told the T-Mobile rep at the store I went to about my decision to purchase the G1, he was saying that the Cliq wasn't worth the wait. Take that as you will.
posted by anarchivist at 5:58 PM on September 27, 2009

Check out the Phandroid phones on upcoming and what's there. They seem to main the list diligently.
posted by sien at 5:59 PM on September 27, 2009

The arrival date is not clear on this phone yet, but I've been eyeing the Samsung InstinctQ, and it seems that it will make it before the end of the year.
posted by hellogoodbye at 6:36 PM on September 27, 2009

Can I piggy back and ask chairboy or wongorgi how to access the virual keyboard? I have the Rogers HTC Dream which I believe is the same phone but I cant seem to find the VK
posted by Neiltupper at 12:05 AM on September 28, 2009

Neiltupper: Hold the "menu" button. (Requires "Cupcake" or higher.)
posted by jrockway at 1:30 AM on September 28, 2009

Neiltupper, are you on Rogers network by any chance? According to wikipedia Rogers phones don't have the virtual keyvoard feature enabled, though why that is I don't know...

If that's the case, maybe try downloading one of the virtual keyboards available on the Android Market...
posted by Chairboy at 2:25 AM on September 28, 2009

Sorry - moving house today - Of course you are on Rogers... meh....
posted by Chairboy at 2:31 AM on September 28, 2009

Best answer: The other Moto handset destined for Verizon is currently (code-?)named "Sholes," if you wanted to research some of the buzz on that one. Some are excited, as it's going to be the first second-gen Android phone on the market.
posted by GamblingBlues at 4:29 AM on September 28, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks again everyone! Really helpful answers and pointed us to the right direction.
posted by jstarlee at 10:05 AM on September 28, 2009