keyboard attachment in tablet mode?

[djsell@earthlink.net]

hi all...1st post i believe....
i am interested in this device with some hesitations as with most upscale pda-phones, one cannot go down to the store and play with one so until one can do that , he just makes templates and pretends!

well, i did previously have the i-mate jasjar and loved it, and especially the form factor, which still has me thinking if an htc omni is waiting around the corner...giving time to sell a bunch of advantages first, before the launch, but i digress.

the actual question is whether the keyboard attaches magnetically to the back of the device when using it in tablet mode, so it is in essence always with you and there is no need to remember where you may have put it when using in the tablet mode.

2nd question for you users is if the joystick is appropriately functional to use one handed...at least until the device weighs you down.

thanks in advance

djsell

[LTxda]

hi all...1st post i believe....
i am interested in this device with some hesitations as with most upscale pda-phones, one cannot go down to the store and play with one so until one can do that , he just makes templates and pretends!

well, i did previously have the i-mate jasjar and loved it, and especially the form factor, which still has me thinking if an htc omni is waiting around the corner...giving time to sell a bunch of advantages first, before the launch, but i digress.

the actual question is whether the keyboard attaches magnetically to the back of the device when using it in tablet mode, so it is in essence always with you and there is no need to remember where you may have put it when using in the tablet mode.

2nd question for you users is if the joystick is appropriately functional to use one handed...at least until the device weighs you down.

thanks in advance

djsell

On mine, the x7500/Advantage, the keyboard does magnetically attach but it's very weak and slides all over the place. I just keep my device in the case because I've learned that if the case is not protecting the device, the device gets scratched up. Since I keep it in the case, when I do use it in "tablet mode" I just bend the keyboard part of the case behind the main unit and all is well. Hope this answers your question #1. An alternative is to utilize a full screen keyboard and eliminate the use of the hardware keyboard alltogether.

I don't really use the joystick much. I use a combination of Microsoft Voice Command and when I need to browse I use the stylus.

Hope this helps bro.

[phamoui]

I use my Dopod u1000 directly in my ocket without any protection case.

Belive me , I was owner of jasjar and HTC Advantage is the only one device so far ...

[apd]

one cannot go down to the store and play with one

I don't know where you are based but my local T-mobile store (in London) was happy for me to play with an Ameo for quite a while (presumably because they get a hefty commission). That may apply elsewhere.

well, i did previously have the i-mate jasjar and loved it, and especially the form factor, which still has me thinking if an htc omni is waiting around the corner...giving time to sell a bunch of advantages first, before the launch, but i digress.

I too came from a Universal and think the Ameo's great (even more so now I have Salling Clicker!). The Omni keeps on coming and going. Without wishing to be profane - there are other options if you want to keep the Uni format (Imate Ultimate 7150, Toshiba G900 etc)

the actual question is whether the keyboard attaches magnetically to the back of the device when using it in tablet mode.

No. I tend to leave the keyboard at home or in the case.

2nd question for you users is if the joystick is appropriately functional to use one handed...at least until the device weighs you down.

It is perfectly positioned for your left thumb in landscape or portrait mode. And the Ameo is not that heavy!

[djsell@earthlink.net]

thanks for the responses, they are quite helpful!

responses to some responses:

i am in ann arbor , michigan, USA and t-mobile does not have it available here for "playing"......yet?!?!

i guess the answer to the kb attaching to the back of the device when using in tablet mode is that it does but slides off?, meaning it was not meant to attach or it is faulty, bc from what i see/hear about the magnet it is supposed to be quite strong.

i hesitate to wait for the i-mate ultimate bc in photos it appears "cheap" looking and have found the htc devices are of good, sound durable make, and i have had cheaper devices that are lighter but i believe the sacrifice of durability and incr weight is worth it, ie., the jasjar.

i did not know the G900 was a convertible pda-phone....i will check on it and google "salling clicker", as i have not heard of that either!

for me using the virtual kb defeats the purpose of the form factor as i love to have the device sitting on my bedside table in laptop or reverse laptop mode for viewing and the keyboard acts as the stand/cradle...i guess the advantage could NOT be used in reverse laptop mode as i think of it?!

also, for me the idea of protecting the large screen with the keyboard is a must at all times when stored away.

thanks all, the responses are making me lean toward trading up my o2 xda trion for the advantage.

i wonder if i can sneak it past my wife without her knowing!!

djsell

[apd]

thanks for the responses, they are quite helpful!

i guess the answer to the kb attaching to the back of the device when using in tablet mode is that it does but slides off?, meaning it was not meant to attach or it is faulty, bc from what i see/hear about the magnet it is supposed to be quite strong.

i hesitate to wait for the i-mate ultimate bc in photos it appears "cheap" looking and have found the htc devices are of good, sound durable make, and i have had cheaper devices that are lighter but i believe the sacrifice of durability and incr weight is worth it, ie., the jasjar.

i did not know the G900 was a convertible pda-phone....i will check on it and google "salling clicker", as i have not heard of that either!

for me using the virtual kb defeats the purpose of the form factor as i love to have the device sitting on my bedside table in laptop or reverse laptop mode for viewing and the keyboard acts as the stand/cradle...i guess the advantage could NOT be used in reverse laptop mode as i think of it?!

also, for me the idea of protecting the large screen with the keyboard is a must at all times when stored away.

thanks all, the responses are making me lean toward trading up my o2 xda trion for the advantage.

i wonder if i can sneak it past my wife without her knowing!!

djsell

OK - responses to some of the responses to some of the responses!

Shame there's no unit to play with. I've never understood why it is that some companies expect customers to part with large amounts of money on things like this without being able to try them first. Good luck on that.

The magnet is strong - but only on the front. I have never heard that it was supposed to be usable on the rear. That suprises me a little as suerly that would require some extra shielding??

I agree re HTC phones. I am, however, just about to send my third Universal back to be repaired.

The problem with the trion is that it didn't really add anything over the Uni.

As to protecting the screen - a good screen protector is obviously a must. I have also fitted a body shield.

Good luck

BTW - regarding sneaking it past your wife - you'll be lucky.....;)

[djsell@earthlink.net]

apd,

thanks for the responses to the responses to.........well you know where i'm going!

i'm still caught in that "love the small compact size, but love that large vga screen even better", dilemma...until a fold out screen is reality i have to choose one over the other.

i am a doctor and like to have my device in my pocket all the time to use as my pda-medical software/internet device, camera for lesions, email, etc that is work related, but also use it for mp3 player for the commute home, gps and of course phone. i had the jasjar for about a year but the camera is abysmal and so i had a separate canon camera in the other pocket and it did weigh me down and got hot and uncomfortable in my pockets with 2 devices so i would end up leaving the jasjar on my desk and not using it for work at all!

the trions macro mode camera is quite good for up close photos for documentation and small enough to be comfortable in my pocket, but now i find i need more memory as the micro sd is full at 2 gb w/ music, photos and medical programs and photos, and i do miss the jasjars vga screen and form factor, sooooooooooooooooo, alas the advantage, it would solve the camera, space and screen problems and without the keyboard attached it might be small enough to be in the front pant pocket, but i have to try to see for certain.

i'll probably see if the omni surfaces before getting an advantage, unless i can get a good return policy to trial the advantage.

btw, i almost convinced my wife that my fujitsu 1510 was the same device as my fujitsu T4020 tablet until she heard me calling them different names!!!, i just slipped up!!

have a guiness on me!

djsell

[titmusa]

The BBC have just put a video up on the Tech section of the news website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6711785.stm where they look at a Sony Ericsson G-sensor and also demonstrate the Advantage/Athena. I thought they would also mention the g-sensor on that, but they appear to only be interested in the deficiencies in the magnetic attraction between the keyboard and screen. Is it as bad as is shown? I guess the whole idea isn't to walk around and hold the unit by the keyboard though.

Andrew

[eaglesteve]

The keyboard does not stock to the back is the unit. It would only to the front.

However, if you are like me in having discovered a far far better way of entering data, you would see the hardware keyboard as redundant and in fact much inferior method of input. I don't use the supplied keyboard even at home, let alone carry it with me.

I use TenGo software keyboard. It works in both QVGA and VGA mode, it is clever, there is virtually no learning curve, and typing is FAST with this magic.