Windows Phone 7 keyboard "incredibly accurate and fast"

August 6, 2010 | By Surur

On Windows Phone 7 we will not have the choice to swap Soft keyboards, meaning Microsoft’s work better be more than good.

Fortunately it seems Microsoft realized this, and despite the basic appearance of the keyboard, the software behind it is pretty good. CNET’s Bonnie Cha described the onscreen keyboard as "incredibly accurate and fast" and Crave’s John Chan considers it to be “almost as good as Apple’s iOS keyboard for speed and accuracy.”

Of course for those of us still adverse to non-tactile keyboards we know at least one Windows Phone 7 handset will come with a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard, meaning the best of both worlds.

Are out readers happy with early reports of the keyboard, or still upset that they will not be able to change it? Let us know below.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged sip, soft keyboard, video, windows phone 7

milad

I'd like to have swype on WP7 but its not a dealbreaker….the virtual keyboard seems to be pretty good which is fine,
Scaloop

I like the fact that we have a choice as to whether to go with a software or hardware keyboard. The fact that the software keyboard is excellent is a bonus.
Kylie

The keyboard on the test machines is the single best feature of Windows Phone 7.

I worry about all the other missing things that still won't be there at release time.

Paul

"I worry about all the other missing things that still won't be there at release time."

Yeah. There's a real risk that it looks like MS products often do: half complete. And you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Adding copy and paste (at least) would have helped. It's ridiculous that the Kin project was going on for all that time when those resources could have been used to fix these glaring holes in WP7.
http://www.mobilitydigest.com Murani

Actually from everyone i've heard from the single most outstanding aspect of WP7 so far is the fluidity and stableness of the OS. I do however agree that the keyboard is a star too.

GAM3R

Mike Mo Breaks Fastest Texting World Record-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4beErJTdcw
arizona_sk

I don't understand this “almost as good as Apple’s iOS keyboard for speed and accuracy” business. It's almost as if the iPhone is the gold standard in UI design and any implementation that is not similar becomes "almost as good".

Paul

Right or wrong, Apple is considered the gold standard for UI design. And comparing new phones to the iPhone makes sense given how successful it has been. What I find disturbing is that MS can't build a virtual keyboard that's clearly better than Apple. This is head to head development. No excuses. MS outspends Apple 8:1 on R&D. They really need to do better.

GAM3R

I really love & prefer the android's virtual keyboard layout over iOS4 or Winmo, IMO..
Guest

Yep, I agree.
Being "almost as good" isn't going to cut it unless you're also "considerably cheaper" which won't be the case. It's going to be good enough to "plug the wound" of market share loss, but definitely not enough to "kill Goliath".

Pedro de la Riva

I am not happy with te kkeyboard, since I want SWYPE on my device. I'm used to it ad it's far more efficient.
Craig S

but it's not Swype.
MusicGamesPCs

I’m very happy. I don’t want apps or PC programs screwing with ANY part of the OS.

It’s probably a better keyboard than what’s on iOS. People who have spent years getting use to the Apple keyboard say WP7′s keyboard is fast and accurate after mere weeks of using it. (Even if they say “Almost as accurate”)

What do you guys think?
Eric Badger

I've been using it for a while now, and I definitely think it's better than Apple's keyboard.
There is predictive error prevention, the auto correction works extremely well.
The selection model has been changed, so instead of having to tap and try to place the cursor to make edits, the word is highlighted and alternates are shown immediately – pressing and holding does allow precise cursor placement if desired – selecting an alternate suggestion replaces the word. The keyboard is as good as Apple's plus it has prediction candidates, super fast editing and two tap undoing of auto corrections — which make it way better.
GAM3R

Here's a real question:

if the crappled WP7's virtual keyboard incredibly accurate and fast as iphone, then why THE HELL it has a mechanical physical keyboard?

i admire how apple and ceo don't believe device should have a mechanical physical keyboard like iphone, ipad, touch.. MSFT wanted mechanical physical keyboard with touchscreen complete with Apple's touchscreen device.. its not! Like The Drowned Ceo Steve ballmer said, he himself doesn't understand apple's strategy..