Keyboard Comparison, Please

[wmadan]

I currently have an SL-C860 and am wondering how the keyboard on the 6000L compares to it. I realize typing will be cramped, but I have small fingers. I previously owned a 5500 and found that keyboard a little too tiny. I would be interested to hear opinions on how the 6000L compares to the 5500.

Thanks,
Bill

[nilch]

Well if you found the 5500 keyboard to be tiny, I am sorry, the 6000 keyboard is the same size, except that the keys are more raised and there is a better tactile feel to it.

No comparing the C7xxx keyboard with the 6000 or the 5500 series. They are entirely different.
But even then, I first used a 5000D keyboard and used to compose larger emails etc , then moved to the C750 keyboard. I composed the same larger emails - but it was definitely faster and easier on the fingers to type than the earler experience.

Now having moved back to the 6000L keyboard, I take more time in composing the mails, but my fingers are slender enought to accomodate easily on the smaller keyboard. But of course the C7xxx keyboard is easier to type on than this.
The other point is that I haven't found any key that I miss on the 6000L that was there on the 750, except the shortcut keys and the two shifts and control keys and all that.

[wmadan]

Nilch,

Thanks for your reply.

What I didn't like about the 5500 keyboard was that the keys themselves were tiny and it was easy to miss keys. As I look at pictures of the 6000 and 5500, it appears the keys on the 6000 are a little larger. Maybe it is just my perception or the fact that they are square, not round.

I know the 6000 keyboard is not going to be as good as the 860.

[stbrock]

I have both the 860 and the 6000, and the 860 clamshell form and larger keyboard are much better for me most of the time. Straight entry of text is a bit faster and easier. But the main difference is the extra keys on the 860. Entering numbers and all the other sorts of characters and control keys you need on the command line requires the function key and is slower and more awkward on the 6000. The backspace key gets a lot more use on my 6000. If you decide on the 6000, you may want to get one of those small flexible USB keyboards too.

[bluedevils]

The 6000 keyboard is easier than the 5500 keyboard, but not by much.  The big advantage the clamshells have (other than keyboard size) are the individual number keys.  It was a little annoying going back to holding the fn button again.

[systemparadox]

I have a 5500, and am interested in getting a 6000 or an 860.
I cannot see that it is possible to type with more than thumbs on the 5500 keyboard (pleas, correct me if i'm wrong), and I wouldn't have thought that the 6000 is much different.
How many fingers do ppl use for typing on the clamshell keyboards? I can't really see that these are big enough for two handed typing, and they seem too wide to use thumbs on.

I know this would probably be better in the 860 forum, but rather than create a new thread...

Thanks
Simon

[nevarrie]

I uses my Targus IR keyboard or a usb keyboard alot with my 6k...being able to use a full size natural keyboard is nice to be able to do on the 6k...Having only used a 5600 for about 15 minutes I thoughts the keys where harder to uses then the ones on the 6k...but then again I think the keyboard on the Cxxx is harder to type on then the 6k...but I had a treo that sent text message and took notes on before I got my 6k so I was really uses to the thumb board...Just my thoughts...

[bluedevils]

generally typing on the clamshell is thumb typing, but it is much easier to type.  On the clamshells you are typing with the ball of you thumb whereas the others make you type with more of the tips of your fingers.  Being able to control backlighting using the keyboard is also a major convenience on the clamshell.

Again, the 6000 has better feel than the 5500, but the clamshell is much better.  I prefer to use the clamshell for on the go computing and use the 6000/usb keyboard for around the home use.