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Idea: Asus should make a Padfone like device where the phone part has a full QWERTY keyboard a la BlackBerry

By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 at 2:12 AM
Idea: Asus should make a Padfone like device where the phone part has a full QWERTY keyboard a la BlackBerry

Yesterday I was ranting about the QWERTY keyboard-equipped Android smartphones a la BlackBerry (like the Motorola Pro), wondering why more handset makers don’t make such devices to “help” users switch to Google’s mobile platform. Today I want to go one step forward, making a case for a “perfect device” – the one that would work like the Asus Padfone, offering the big-screen, tablet-like experience. However, instead of an all-touchscreen smartphone, such a device should have a BlackBerry-like phone part with a QWERTY keyboard and smaller (most likely HVGA) touchscreen above. In that sense, that would be the perfect smartphone-tablet combo for BlackBerry users looking to change platforms.

I can understand BlackBerry users’ love for physical keyboards despite the fast on-screen typing apps like Swype offer. At the same time, all of us need more screen estate to consume all of the content out there. All said, the device I’m talking about here would work for different user groups, whether they just consume content or use their phone to keep up with their buddies across social networks while on the go. Heck I would be interested in buying it, as long as the phone component is powerful enough (i.e. it rocks a dual-core processor).

Now I’m eager to hear what you think about it? Would you consider getting a BlackBerry like device running Android that also has a tablet “component” like the Asus Padfone? What do say?

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

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  • Anonymous

    Even better…make the keyboard detachable so that it can be connected to the pad or the phone and it gets housed in the tab for portability just like the phone :)

  • Dpwhittaker

    Or… A slider pad that holds a slider phone – a true do it all device!

  • Guest

    You would only realistically use a physical keyboard for documents or emails, which I would hate to do on a blackberry-like keyboard.  A touch screen is fine for short texts and quick entries.

    My dreamphone = Padfone w/ tablet + Transformer keyboard.

    • Zarma53

      that’s my dreamphone too !!
      for now i have both phone /w keyboard and transformer but i would definitely buy a padfone if i could plug my transformer keyboard in

    • Zarma53

      that’s my dreamphone too !!
      for now i have both phone /w keyboard and transformer but i would definitely buy a padfone if i could plug my transformer keyboard in

    • Zarma53

      that’s my dreamphone too !!
      for now i have both phone /w keyboard and transformer but i would definitely buy a padfone if i could plug my transformer keyboard in

    • Zarma53

      that’s my dreamphone too !!
      for now i have both phone /w keyboard and transformer but i would definitely buy a padfone if i could plug my transformer keyboard in

  • Gphagos

    I’d MUCH RATHER have a side-sliding screen/ keyboard so tht screen can be 4.3-inches+ together with a properly-usable keyboard UNLIKE most Blackberries/Nokia e71/71/e6. Amazing how Blackberry has *finally* thought of releasing a proper touchscreen-ed handset BUT has limited it to 3.7-inches diagonal and doesn’t offer  a slide-out keyboard in a *messaging-centric* phone!!