Sony Ericsson Xperia X1's Keyboard And Stylus

[tcw6]

Hiya,

I was wondering if someone be kind enough to offer a little information....

I'm currently stuck between the Samsung Omnia and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.....

What is key is the touch user interface on the two devices and the text input options. I know that the X1 wins hands down in terms of its full QWERTY keyboard, however, what’s it like to use without the slide out keyboard? Could someone maybe run through the on screen keyboard options and let me know how easy they are to use? Realistically too, how good is the slide out keyboard?

That brings me to my next question - do you have to use the stylus? I've again heard reports that, due to the touch user interface not being great that the user is nearly always forced to use the stylus. Is this the case?

I know these may sound bizarre questions as the stylus and keyboard are two of the X1's biggest features, however, I require, at times, to be able to use the phone discretely and sliding out the keyboard or using the stylus isn't all that discrete!



Thanks in advance.



Tim

[Pinguino1]

First of all the most important factor is your preferences then your needs in that order (sounds ilogic, but that's most ppl)

But let me tell my preferences.
1- Full keyboard I feel more confortble and type faster.

2- Stylus. Fantastic, I do't mind I have used stylus for over 10 years,
I use to type as fast as people talk with the Palm Pilot

3- Blackberry style is harder an slower than full keybpard.

4- Virtual for me are painful. eventhe iPhone
I have to be attent for every keystroke Iype very slow a ot errors

5- Numeric keyboard what a pain!! (I know a LOT of people are increible faster with this)

What you do with your phone is important.
If you type a lot touch is convenient but not critical.

If you mostly just call and txt a good touch will do for you.


The high resolution is an important important preference/need for me.

.

[kBm]

I use a mixture of touch, stlyus and keypad. Not sure you could do everything by touch (well, you could, but it would'nt be the quickest way).

Had no issues with the key pad - very quick, not made many mistakes either which has surprised me! I do find im going into 2 text messages, as its back to full wrds, nt txt speak - gr8!

[nirave]

Hi Tim,

I've had both phones so let me outline the main advantages and disadvantages of each phone !!

Samsung Omnia

Optical Mouse (the xperia only has the option for you to use it as an up/down control, but with the Omnia you can use it exactly as a Windows Mouse!!)

Samsung Today Screens & Samsung Adaptation to Windows -

Basically Samsung have put quite a bit of software on the phone so that you don't have to use the DEFAULT windows mobile options as such - in a nutshell, it's more finger touch friendly!!

Internal Memory - Depending on your usage, a lot of people will find having an internal memory very useful - it's available with either 8gb or 16gb of memory so if you're a media user then you might prefer the internal memory and MicroSD card compatibility of the Omnia to the 2GB/4GB included memory card of the Xperia.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Metal Finish Body - Personally, I prefer the metal body of the Xperia to the plastic feel of the Omnia!! Also I have had TomTom on both, and the Internal GPS of the xperia is much better than that of the Omnia as firstly TomTom picks up the internal gps receiver on the xperia but requires you to configure port settings and install other software on the omnia, and it picks up satellites MUCH quicker on the xperia than on the Omnia!!

Full QWERTY Slide Out Keyboard - In my opinion, if you get a touchscreen phone you have to be prepared to actually use the touchscreen, but sometimes its very useful to have a full keyboard to use specially when you're using creating and editing documents!!

Stylus - Obviously, both phones come with stylus, however the Xperia has an inbuilt stylus slot so it looks more sleek than the Omnia which requires you to attach the stylus to the phone at the top on the side so it hangs loose and looks ugly in my opinion!!

Overall, my preference has to be the Xperia as I'm not that much of a media user but prefer the slide out keyboard and inbuilt stylus slot to the extra memory!

That's pretty much all I can think of lol but if you want to compare the phones to others or want more specs, check out my battle of touchscreens post (follow link in my sig) and check out GSMArena.com - GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more... and search for each phone!!

Hope this has helped you,

Nirave

[tcw6]

kBm and Pinguino1,

Thanks for your replies guys....

Sorry for more questions but it's good to get 'custom' reviews from people who actualy OWN and use the phone......

Is the camera any good? I've heard reviews that it's not the usual Sony standard - something to do with it being HTC software or hardware I believe - but don't quote me on that!

This isn't X1 specific, more Windows Mobile specific, but can you automatically filter incoming, and outgoing for that matter, SMS and MMS messages into set folders?

Finally, whats the battery life like?

Thanks once again.

Tim