Newbie question re data input

[Guest gary2000]

Hi,

I am thinking about getting a PPC phone shortly. I had been considering either the M2000 or the MPx, when they come out, as both have keyboards and I am after a phone I can use MSN messenger on. Using MSN messenger on an E100 or C500 phone is a joke, as you just cannot type at any sort of speed whatever so ever.

The only thing about the M2000 is the size, and just looking at the MPx the durability may be questionable. I have just seen the I-Mate JAM, which appears smaller the the M1000/2000, but it doesn't have a keyboard. What input methods are available for text and has anyone used MSN messenger satisfactorily on the M1000/I-Mate Jam.

What would people recommend? Does anyone know if the I-Mate Jam (or equivalent re-branded phone) is coming to any UK networks in the not so distant future?

Ta for your help.

[Guest Dade]

Hello.

I currently use an M1000 as my main phone and think its great for MSN and Email. You have a number of input option on the M1000 (And the JAM).

Firstly there is a Soft Input Panel (SIP) that is basically a qwerty keyboard on the bottom half of the screen. This is the input method I use and its quite amazing how quick you can type with that.

Then there is Block Recogniser, Ive not used this but its a bit like the Grafiti on the palm where you can write in a special box at the bottom of the screen a letter at a time.

Letter Recogniser is a variation of this.

Finally there is Transcriber. This lets you write anywhere on the screen with your own handwriting and it then converts this to text. Ive tried this a bit and found it to be really quite good even without any training.

To be honest, I tend to use the SIP even on the M2000, I found that I can type faster with the SIP than I can with the keyboard from the M2000 but its just a case of what you get used to I guess. I would imagine that a new user would really prefer the keyboard to any other input method.

The M2000 has other advantages over the M1000, the best thing for me is the WiFi.

As for the JAM (HCT Magician) Ive been trying to find out if any of the UK networks are going to take this but surprise surprise no one wants to speculate as to which future handset they will carry. Id say its quite unlikely that Orange will carry it which is a real shame!

[Guest gary2000]

Thanks for the response Dade, very helpful, I think I will upgrade in the new year to either the M1000 or M2000.