PocketMatrix

Does anyone know of any current or upcoming PocketPC that has a built in keyboard? I mean both Palm and LinuxPocket have a unit with one (Sony Clié PEG-NR70V & Sharp Zaurus SL-5000D)...... so when will we get one?

<center><b><i>The Sony Clié PEG-NR70V ______ The Sharp Zaurus SL-5000D</b></i>
<img src="http://www.sonystyle.com/micros/clie/media/70features/design-main.jpg"><img src="http://www.sharp-usa.com/images/hpc_sl5500_pic1.jpg"></center>

That zaurus looks pretty damn tight, I would like to have something like that for my iPAQ that you could hide in the chasis when not in use. Compact and sleep but I dont think we have the technology for that just yet.

Who knows!?!?!


Jay

Let me break it down for you.

How is that tiny keyboard any better than the virtual keyboard (SIP) we currently have. You certainly can't do any touch-typing on it, it'll all be peck-peck-peck-peck.

More hardware to break, get gummed up, or crap out for no reason. Yippee. ~

Why do people have such a problem letting go of their keyboards? Anything smaller than the 720 keyboard is going to be a complete waste of time.

Following Palm would be the dumbest thing PPC could do at this time. It appears Palm is catering to people like you that just can't let go and become truly mobile. They buy the device and then realise the the keyboard sucks Jaybots balls, and isn't very functional.

I like the keyboard still, but I use the transcriber most of the time. Just cause I want to be "truly" mobile does not mean I have to give up a keyboard. That is like telling you, that for you have to be truly mobile you have to give up something you prefer. If they want to cater to what my prefrence is and it works like I want it to then they can have my hard earned money. If you dont like that model go with something you like. I am not like you nor you like me, that is why when you buy anything there are diffrent options you can or can not buy. I can be truly mobile and still use a keyboard or the transcriber or IBM sucky ass viavoice software. How can using a built in keyboard make me any less mobile? I faile to see your point on that. If your keyboard gets gummed up then try washing your hands and keeping your equipment clean. I own 3 laptops and I do nto have any gummed up keyboards. I own an old HP Jornada 545 Win CE 2.1 device and the keyboard is not gummed up.

-Jay

Um thank you very much. Just FYI, I have no problem with having no keyboard. I owned a Jornada 430se and now have a Casio E-125 and am hoping to upgrade soon. Touch typing is not the issue but thumb-typing. For some people this is faster, but either way, you dont' have the bottom 1/3 of your screen being taken up by an input section. You could also have it to use in aiding gameplay (I.E. Pocket Quake - Weapon Selection). As I said, I have no problem with being keyboardless, I just wanted to know if any units were in the works. I mean, I guess it's just personal prefernce.

Actually, i think you can buy a thumb-type keyboard that fits at the base of the machine, for the Ipaq series and Jornada 56x series. Not my cup of tea, but you might find it useful.

Yeah I'm not much on those attached one's, just something else to have to carry around and add to the size.

integrated kKB for PDA's are worthless. Not everyone needs one, and they don't do anything for the device.

I use the Jornada 56x with the Pocket keyboard, and it's perfect. It barely changes any of the dimensions, and is sooo usable. plus I don't have to lug it around with me if I don't want to use it.

Yep, thats my point. Why add a useless feature, when it can be an addon device. Carry it or don't.

If built-in keyboards are what you truly need, then buy a Palm. Not much horsepower is required to run word processors.

Regardless, an addon keyboard is still your best option, and certainly much more efficient. Touch-typing compared to thumbtyping... dunno about you, but one option is 10 times faster than the other.

Or look at a Jornada 720. Still fits in your jacket pocket.

If I wanted a palm I would have bought one. I got a PPC 2002 unit and if I want a keyboard that is built in then that is what I want and it is one less addon to carry. I like all in one with the wants/options I like in a device. That is why there are choices and diffrent things on the market. Who said I was going to do word processing on it? I said I would like a built in keyboard, I never said what I would use it for. Plus if you do not like it so much then make sure you do not buy that model if it is offered. Choices are out there and you can decide what you want/need/choose/buy. That is what makes the market what it is. But I am not going to get into anymore of a dick fight over this. I have my views and opinions and you have yours. I see how threads get in this forum on matters of opinions and diffrent outlooks. So have a good evening!

-Jay

blah. I just don't want to see PPCs turning to the wrong direction. Remove the keyboard and make the device smaller, or cheaper or add an extra feature (built in USB support). Extra crap doesn't come free of charge.

Better yet, go and actually test one of those thumb keyboards. I can't do a damn thing with them- maybe my thumbs are too big and they are designed for girlie hands. Hell, I dunno.

I also agree. A device that offers multiple accessories that can be seamlessly added to the device, like the iPaq's Expansion Sleeves, is far superior than trying to turn a device into a rigid Swiss Army Knife. An example to illustrate that would be those TV-VCR combos. You know, the one where the two are merged into a single case. I would never purchase one, because 1) they are more expensive than buying the pieces separately, and 2) I have never had a VCR last more than 2 years. Our last TV lasted 20 years before it crapped out, and even then we could have fixed it for $50, but we wanted a new, larger screen. So in other words, permanently appending hardware that increases / has a higher risk of failure is not a good idea long-term. Hinges break. Ribbon cables connecting electronics in moving parts wear out. Dirt, grit, etc, get into keypads and eventually cause problems. It would cost more to send that sony in for repair because a couple keys stop working, than to buy an entire replacement add-on keyboard for an iPaq. You get the point.

I think it is a FAR, FAR more valuable thing to have a minimal level of standardization. For example, a D-Pad, IR Port, CF Slot, display orientation and resolution, minimum memory, processor type, and OS. That drives down prices, for example, with CF cards because they can be mass produced and are ubiquitous. Most everybody can make use of them. Companies can spend the big bucks it takes to develop diverse hardware in that form factor, like Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, Modems, Hard Drives, Bar Code readers, because they know there are x million devices out there that support CF.

That is where Sony does the industry a great dis-service, with all their duplicate, proprietary formats (Memory Stick anyone?). However, if you have the Japanese attitude of planned-obsolescence, and have a market like the Japanese public that is obsessed with sucking up new electronic gadgets as fast as they are produced, then long-term value is not a great issue.

Dan East