Keyboard vs Graffiti 2

[PREVOST]

There are 2 handhelds on my near future: Zire71 and Tungsten C.

I would like to know, are integrated keyboards really usable?

One of main purposes for I own a Palm is to use it as a notebook, so you see how important is to me to be at ease with imput interfase.

[Bill Westwood]

Like you, I was a bit sceptical at first, but I now find the keyboard really quick. Some things take a bit of getting used to, like press & hold for a capital letter. I never really use Graffiti now, and I used to think I was quick with it!

[dbutenhof]

Although I've heard others who like minikeyboards, I wonder if they are all "hunt and peck" keyboarders? I find it difficult to see how any touchtyper could tolerate them. I certainly can't, although I love my T|C, and I've tried to write notes with the keyboard. (Graffiti is far faster.)

I do use the keyboard, though; to enter critical characters in applications that have autocomplete features that haven't been fixed to work with 2-stroke G2 characters. Including Pocket Quicken and the builtin PalmSource Web browser. If there's an autocomplete for an "L" at a character position, it's absolutely impossible to enter a Graffiti "T". (Or rather, the program autocompletes on your first stroke as "L", and then G2 goes ahead and adds the "T" on your second stroke. Weird.) On the Zire 71, I suppose you'd have to accept the autocomplete, then go back and edit the middle of the string.

Aside from that glitch, incidentally, I love Graffiti 2. ;)

[jcmattern]

I was "forced" into an upgrade when my m505 died a sudden premature death like so many others of its kind. I have been using graffiti since 1995 when I got my first palm. I absolutely love the Tungsten C. I find myself using the keyboard most of the time and find it very functional. I do know how to type and don't just "hunt and peck". Even though it's small, if you know the layout of a keyboard, you should have no problems with entering text.

[dbutenhof]

Even though it's small, if you know the layout of a keyboard, you should have no problems with entering text.
Apparently for some people, and that's interesting. My experience, however, differs substantially. I find the keyboard nearly useless because my fingers know the layout and spacing of their own portions of a full keyboard, which doesn't transfer at all to the minikeyboard. :(

I suppose, ultimately, this just means what ought to be fairly obvious anyway: everyone is going to need to pick one up and try for themselves to judge whether it suits them.

However, this exchange does bring out something important in common. I hate the keyboard, and I love the Tungsten C and it's full-screen Graffiti 2. "jcmattern" loves the Tungsten C and its minikeyboard. Either way... take away the message that the Tungsten C is awesome: and whether you use the keyboard or not, you won't regret it. ;)

[babsk]

I wasn't sure what I'd think of the keyboard, but I have gotten used to it in no time and find that I prefer it now. The keyboard buttons are easy to push for me, and even though I'm familiar with Graffiti 1, I've never mastered punctuation, so using the keyboard comes in handy. I also have a Clie NX70, and have used the keyboard for punctuation input, but I don't care for it otherwise. But the T|C buttons are a different feel, and I easily got used to them. I haven't totally memorized Graffiti 2 yet, but the differences aren't all that huge. But I find that I don't use it too often with the keyboard.

[Sonny]

The keyboard was the main reason I bought my T/C. I have always hated using grafitti (I came to Palm from Psion). No matter how carefully I tried writing the letters there were always some mistakes and usually several more letters had been written before I noticed the mistake. I find the keyboard on the T/C much more accurate and faster than grafitti.
I did make a point of trying the keyboard on the T/C before I bought it. I am pleased with my purchase.

[macguru]

Having become quite skilled at the "old" Graffitti on my M505, I was hopeful that I would like G2 even more on my new Tungsten C. As it turns out, it is a BIG disappointment (too many changes). The good news is that the keyboard (thumboard) has easily supplanted it as my entry method of choice. Having never been a "touch typist", but rather a rapid "visual typist", I find some of the comments about using the tiny "thumboard" amusing. Of course you can't "touch type" on it! It's WAY too small for that. Really folks - it was never intended to be used that way. As the commonly-used name for this design (thumboard) implies, it's best used by entering text using your thumbs. If one takes the time to get used to it, you can enter text quite rapidly this way, with fewer mistakes than Graffitti. The only learning curve item is the blue "function key" (used for numbers and symbols). It should also be noted how handy it is to now have added buttons for "Home", "Menu" and of course, let's not forget the "Thumbpad/Button" (joystick?) device. Considering how small this thing is compared to the Sony NZ90, it sure packs a lot of great features in a small form, including the great new Hi-Res screen and "Thumboard". ENJOY!

[donnjr]

I presently also own an M505...and contemplating making a move to the T/C...I have become very compitent and confortable using "graffiti"...that is my fear if I make the jump to T/C.
What variables did you encounter using "graffiti 2" ?
Although I ahve purchased a thumboard for my M505 sometime ago, I still perfer graffiti.
Thanks, Donnjr.
:confused:

[jcmattern]

The one big difference is that some letters require two stylus strokes now to make and the period only requires one tap. T, I, and K (and 4 on the number side) are the 2 stroke letters and of those, I seem to not be able to make k very well and end up with an "l d" combination instead. I also end up ending my sentences with two periods. It's not bad, just different. The T|C is so much better than any of the others I've had (Pilot Pro-->IIIc-->m505). If you have the funds, I'd recommend getting it.

[macguru]

I agree with most of "JCMattern's" comments about the new Graffitti 2. You now have to "dot the I" to make a lowercase i, and you have to make two strokes (down, then across) to make a lowercase "t" - I liked the old method better (Left-to-right-down) -it was faster! Also, I've never been a fan of the "virtual graffitti" concept (where the whole screen is a writing area) This came from the old "Jot" product, which is what G2 is based on. I find it often reacts incorrectly to what I want, precisely because there are other keystrokes that the Palm interprets differently. (Like "shortcuts" for cut/copy/ paste). I also liked the "upstroke" to invoke caps-I haven't been able to get it to work right in G2 at all. Still, since I switched to using the "thumboard" on the TC, I find I can "thumb" just as fast as I could write, with fewer errors. BOTTOM LINE: Don't let the changes to G2 disuade you from getting the TC! It's such a SUPERIOR UNIT in all respects compared to the M505, it's hard to believe they're from the same company! I LOVE MY TC!!

[macguru]

Now if only someone would make a BlueTooth SD Card with 256 Meg or 512 Meg or (1 Gig!) on it, I'd be truly happy. (WiFi is cool, but there are still too few access points out there). I need to be able to use my TC with my SonyEricsson T68i. I think I'll have to settle (for now) for a cable to hook them together. Bummer!

[PREVOST]

Is there a program so you can use something close to graffiti in devices coming with graffiti 2?

I own an m515 and already noticed I will need to upgrade into faster processor (to use ZipCAD) but I am afraid graffiti 2 is going to kick my butt, and I am not sure Tungsten T and its slider is a good idea.

[jcmattern]

Although I have not tried it, TealScript is supposed to let you tune your graffiti back to regular graffiti. I saw the ad for it but didn't try it.