Just a quick note here in case the product folks (from wherever) are reading this — TOTALLY agree w/you on this one.

>>>My next move will be an OQO2 (where are those OQO2 Reviews?!?)

How about a fondle?
http://mikecane.wordpress.com/2007/03/11/oqo-model-02-fondle/

I have two ‘very small’ PC’s, a Sony U50 (that has no keyboard), and an OQO 01+ that has the thumb board. I would not trade my OQO for the world (well, maybe for an OQO 02!) I find find the OQO so useful because it has the keyboard, it is so convenient to be able to tap out a few ACCURATE words, without having to correct handwriting recognition that won’t work as it should, or tap something out on the onscreen keyboard! Also, I find that using my OQO for Instant Messaging is very functional. Whereas I never used skype on my UX unless I was going to make an audio call.

Sure, I often use my U50 and OQO with a folding bluetooth keyboard, however, when I am in the line at the bank, or driving in my car, I can’t use that keyboard, then the thumb board is fantastic!

I have found that since I got the OQO I hardly ever use my U50 (it is now little more than a portable media player and occasional web browser).

I would love an OQO 02! Although, I believe the fan noise in that is just as annoying as it is on the 01 and 01+, perhaps I will settle for a Sony UX series next… I have never tried one to compare the keyboard with my OQO, so if anyone out there has, please let me know if it compares favourably or not.

Regards,

Dion
http://www.spirituality.org.za/blogger.html

I’m a newbie and I dont want to use a stylus tho i do want a touch screen . inking just seems cumbersome .. the very fact you have to take the stylus out of the device first to write anything puts me off. I can see how long time tablet users would prefer inking because they are used to it .. but .. just the thought of taking out a stylus to write something seems like an unnecessary step for soemthing so small.
Theres also the fact that when a normal every day user gets one of these devices it will most likely be the only device of this kind that they have and so they get very proficient at using thier thumbs as an input method . my sister does a lot of texting and she amazingly fast on just a 12 button phone .. thumb board is a must imo. i will not even consider a umpc with out one.

James.
Pick one up, balance it on one hand, get the pen out, click the input field, click the TIP icon, write, correct, then put the pen back naturally!

OK Its not as bad as that I know. I’m exaggerating a little. What we need are some newbies to test it out on. Anyone fancy taking a UMPC out with and without keyboards and doing some tests?

Steve.

Steve, I don’t think that’s true about Vista tablets. You can just pick one up and ink naturally.

@Ctitanic.
I guess you and many of the tablet users can ink faster than on a mini keyboard. You[ve had a lot of practice and thats one of the main points. Its too much of a learning curve for many people that are intersted (and targeted) by UMPCs.

This is an excellent thread of comments by the way. A lot of good thinking here.

Steve

Every time I try inking anything more than one number at a time on my WM2003 (cutting-edge!) PDA, I get so frustrated by it that I just go back to the software keyboard. I made 10 tries at inking a lower case k and could never do it, switched to the keyboard and it was there on the first try.

I agree that the thumb-keyboard is not an ideal solution for long periods of data entry. For short bits of text, maybe the size of an SMS, or email at most, it would do; but for entering a Word document, or lengthy programming, nothing beats a real keyboard. In those cases, an onscreen keyboard would be as good as a thumbboard for me; as both give me similar rates of wpm of data entry.

Like many of the others here, I like the addition of the split keyboard. I especially like it because it comes at no *cost*. What I mean by that is this: The space wasn’t being used anyway. It’s functionality without penalty. For those who like a tablet experience without the twisting and turning of a convertible, they have an option. It also keeps the thickness of the device down as compared to most convertibles.

No one is going to be a real speed demon on a keyboard like this. Heck, no one is going to be a speed demon on a P1610 keyboard. Speed demons use a full keyboard. But having and not needing is a whole lot better than needing and not having.

On design alone, I think the Samsung Q2 is going to be beat the hell out of the Flipstart. I just can’t help but think that the Flipstart is still a year too late, if not more.

I wonder if anybody is going to design a built-in keyboard as good as those were on “Psion” handheld/PDAs. I started my PDA day using Psion 5 and then Psion Revo, both units have a really perfect keyboard. They keys are big for thumb typing but the design is so sleek that it does not sacrifice the overall size of the PDA. When you have those kind of keyboard, you can type way faster than inking.

For those who does not know Psion, here is a link of the picture of it: http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/assets/revo2.jpg

I think the stylus part of the UMPC is seen as an add-on , a bonus by the majority of people who are looking at umpc’s . You guys are tablet people and you think the device is for you but it isnt , its for us people and we want a keyboard .
The fact is that for lesiure activities no one wants to be holding a pen . e.g. if i’m in the kitchen making some tea and browsing I want to put the umpc down on the table and then pick it up again when I have out the tea bag in. I do not want to replace the sylus or have it roll around on my table , and then re take it out and find it etc etc.
add to this the awkwardness of using a stylus while I am jumping off the sofa on to the other sofa, what im the stylus goes in my eyes and blinds me ? samsung have thought about this.

Are they needed? In my opinion, yes.

When on the go, standing around or something, I don’t want to have to pull the stylus out to peck or hand write something out for something quick – I’d like the option, but I don’t want to be forced to use the stylus if I don’t want to. The keyboard gives choice. I’d prefer to hold the device with two hands, like the q2, pepperpad, oqo, etc, and type it out.

They are not meant for long things – just brief bursts of text. Integrated keyboards like the oqo, q2, etc are some of the best things to happen to umpcs in my opinion.

I think that I have been giving the impression that I do not like keyboard.
I do not need them, I can live without them but in another hand I understand that to have a keyboard could be good for certain uses.

I like a keyboard in a UMPC if that does not add extra weight and side to the overall Design. So, Samsung did a good job on that. Another good example of a keyboard implemented with a very good test and design is the one used in the US702W.

@Steve, I still think that I can write faster than what I can type in a keyboard that small as the one used in FlipStart or OQO devices.

One thing is sure and I have came to that conclusion a long time ago, I do not care if they are ugly, I do not care if they have or not keyboard. All I want is more and more devices between with displays between 5 to 7 inches. In another words, the release of new UMPCs will make this market healthy and will contribute a lot to reach that gold price range that everybody is expecting of 500 to 700 dollars.

Nobody seems to have mentioned one big reason why it’s nice to have a thumb keyboard… you don’t have to get the stylus out and can use your fingertip to get around on the screen. That’s something that is probably obvious to Treo owners.

I like thumb keyboards relative to inking letters because of the surity of what you enter (correcting input errors with a digitizer is frustrating) and because it’s easier on my near-carpal tunnel condition.

Split keyboard sounds terrible to me because you can’t watch what keys you are hitting unless your eyes dart back and forth, but I reserve judgement because many people report they like the pepper pad.

At any rate, the Q2 sounds like a winner to me if it’s not giant and not a giant price.

I’m a VERY mobile safety consultant, always running assessing businesses and properties all over the UK.

I currently use a combination of and MDA PRO, HP TC4200 and a desktop.

My experience is TC4200 to heavy and bulky to carry around with me while walking and working and the inking experience was lacking in XP (I have to fill out LOTS of Electronic forms) due to the steep learing curve (e.g. my in ability) to navigate around forms (I always found I had to use a combination of buttons and stylus).

However when trading up from a LOOX720 to an MDA PRO it was a fantastic experience.

I can convert a lot of my e-forms (pain having to convert back and forth though) to use with text maker 2007 on the WM5 device.

However I really miss the input buttons that were on the LOOX720 in portrait mode (the MDA PRO flips and covers the keys) as my gaming has really stalled without them (I played games ALOT when traveling). It’s surprising how many apps rely on keys and don’t provide soft key alternatives.

My next move will be an OQO2 (where are those OQO2 Reviews?!?), which I hope will bridge my input gap e.g.

Ink for notes and document review
Keyboard for completing forms/short reports

It should also satisfy my craving for the following:

Games (old ones granted)
No doc conversion
Integrated web access (via sim card)

I can always use by spv c600 for navigation via tomtom

Still I wish it had a passive screen rather than an active digitiser that way when I do need to ink I could use a finger in a pinch rather than HAVING to fishing for the stylus.