For your next phone, will you be getting one with a hardware keyboard?

[gatorbait]

As with many on these forums, the Droid is my first smartphone. Considering it is the best smartphone on Verizon, I didn't have to worry about comparing it with other phones based on aesthetics. However, once the next round of Android phones hits Verizon, I may potentially upgrade at the end of the year.

The one idea I'm battling with is whether or not I want a hardware keyboard on my next phone. Honestly, I don't use the hardware keyboard often. I do find it useful when typing longer emails and navigating forms. And of course, I love it for emulators. But since I rarely use it, I wonder if I would be better off getting a phone with a slimmer profile and no hardware keyboard.

Anyone else find themselves wondering whether or not they want a hardware keyboard again when they upgrade phones?

[StupidGenius]

Yes my next phone will have a keyboard since it'll probably be the Droid II.

[Eli]

I would like to have a hardware keyboard. Unfortunately the droid's is awful. It would be nice to see the layout of a hardware keyboard be more gaming friendly as well. D-pad should be on the left! Put some arrow/game keys on the right, and center they keyboard.

[meekless]

I came from the Voyager, and the Droid was also my first smart phone. The Voyager had a great physical keyboard, and it took a couple of weeks to get used to the keyboard on the Droid, but I am just as fast now on the physical keyboard for sure.

I will say I am becoming more of a fan of the virtual keyboard though since I rooted and installed the 2.1 keyboard with built in voice input. No longer do I need to use the Voice Text app from the market. The new keyboard uses the built in voice req capabilities and works very well.

[loop4zil]

I never use the physical keyboard...so that will not be a factor in my decision. Likely it will be Screen (size and technology), processor, quality of design, and of course Android OS.

When I was looking at moving to a SmartPhone...I almost went with the Samsung Moment....but once I held the Droid...and then compared it to the Moment it was a no-brainer. Droid was MUCH better designed (IMO)

[zakany]

I like the hardware keyboard for the simple fact that I can see what I'm doing on screen better. Virtual keyboards can sometimes cover up information on the screen.

[andrewdoane]

It is still my preference, but as long as it has a landscape virtual keyboard, I have learned that I am capable of using it. So it's not a deal-breaker anymore.

[BayouFlyFisher]

Absolutely will have a hardware keyboard. I love the droid's keyboard. I would not have bought it if there wasn't a keyboard.

[Mr Steve]

Yep, makes enter passwords much easier.

Not for places such as this which are cookied and automatically logged in, but sites like banks & work systems which require the password be entered on each visit. A 'good' password has upper case, lower case, and numbers so using the virtual keyboard takes too much flopping about. And with the PW not being a 'real' word it's not in the VK's dictionary. Sure, I could add it to the dictionary, but then again that's not very secure either. And if the phone should be lost/stolen someone could simply look in the dictionary file for my PWs.

[MdicnMan]

Nope. I have used it twice, other than to do resets. I'd prefer the lighter weight/thinner phone.