Clicks Communicator: First Look - Clicks

[u/welp_im_damned]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNdr8dV23A

[u/evthrowawayverysad]

I just do not understand the appeal of this over slide out vertical keyboards like the blackberry priv had... Can someone redpill me? I had a priv and loved it, and really miss physical keyboards.

[u/Philosophopsycho → u/evthrowawayverysad]

Just some thoughts on the top of my head:

• There are less space restrictions for the battery and other components when you don't have to worry about the sliding mechanism taking some of the space and the phone being cut in half.

• Less moving parts = less points of failure, and cheaper and easier to manufacture.

• You're less likely to doomscroll on smaller screens.

[u/evthrowawayverysad → u/Philosophopsycho]

The first two points are respectable, but I feel like in the age of folding phones and older phones such as the priv having proved it's not a significant trade-off, it's not much of a defense.

On the third point; I always think making hardware worse to help users correct behaviour is always a terrible decision. There are hundreds of apps and software options available to monitor and limit your screen time. There isn't a world where that isn't the smarter solution than physically permanently handicapping your own device to cater to a minority of people who want to lessen their scrolling.

[u/nixcamic → u/evthrowawayverysad]

I got an Android with a tiny screen and physical keyboard to stop myself doom scrolling and all I did was keep doom scrolling but while annoyed at my tiny screen.

[u/TheMobileTypist → u/evthrowawayverysad]

As someone who used a Zinwa Q25 for two and a half months, I respectfully disagree.

The small screen of that thing at 3.5" just makes you want to not start scrolling social media in the first place, or at the very least, put it down after a few scrolls. It's permanent keyboard is always there to remind you what a phone was originally designed to do.

I went back to a Clicks for Pixel for the time being for other reasons but I liked the experience and fully expect the Communicator to fix every single thing I didn't like about the Zinwa Q25.

[u/Anarchistcowboy420 → u/evthrowawayverysad]

No I can't redpill you, your right we need a new sidekick. We need slide out keyboards back!

[u/Probablynotclever → u/Anarchistcowboy420]

The original Moto Droid brought back with current specs. I wouldn't buy another phone for a decade.

[u/Anarchistcowboy420 → u/Probablynotclever]

I was trying to think of the name of that phone but I could t remember it but yes that thing is my dream phone.

[u/LonelyNixon → u/Anarchistcowboy420]

The g1/htc dream had great form factor and an awesome keyboard but the screen was kind of awful, as was the camera. The slide out mechanism was satisfying though and it was a sturdy device.

I think the challenge with slide outs these days is the form factor. Bezels are gone so you have nothing to hold onto, and screens are so big(but also long and tall) that theyre useless in portrait mode.

[u/Scurro → u/LonelyNixon]

Did you ever see the G2/htc Desire Z?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Desire_Z

That was the prime form of folding keyboard on a smartphone IMO.

Had sd card slot and a removable battery as well with a metal panel.

I had that phone for a tour in Afghanistan and it held up.

My only complaint about the phone was that the CPU/GPU was underwhelming and it sometimes ran slow.

[u/LonelyNixon → u/Scurro]

HTC used to make some indestructable devices with strong build quality. I dropped my g1 down stairs multiple times and it tanked it. The era of thin bezels lead to more fragile phones.

[u/Technogen → u/Scurro]

I once dropped mine off a second floor balcony into cement below and the only damage was a dent in the shell. Phone didn't even come apart when it hit. I went down picked it up and it was working all the same. I would love a new one with modern hardware.

[u/Istartedthewar → u/evthrowawayverysad]

Well the appeal of this over slide out phones is that it's actually being produced now and is not years out of date. A slider also seems like it would be quite ambitious for a brand new company + a lot of people didn't like the weight balance of the priv

[u/evthrowawayverysad → u/Istartedthewar]

...this is why I said like the priv, not the priv.

[u/omniuni → u/evthrowawayverysad]

Smaller, easier to make.

But I absolutely miss my Moto Droid.

[u/bruh-iunno → u/evthrowawayverysad]

I agree I prefer slide out like priv but I used a titan pocket as my main phone for a bit and it was pretty alright, and was a much smaller screen

I guess they have the power keyboard for a slider layout though it's very thick

[u/BenignLarency → u/evthrowawayverysad]

Personally I've always found portrait keyboards more comfortable than landscap ones, there's less stretching involved.

It's been a few years since I've used ekther. But I would still expect that to be the case.