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authoralex <alex@pdp7.net>2026-02-21 19:42:28 +0100
committeralex <alex@pdp7.net>2026-02-21 19:42:28 +0100
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+# Pocket computers
+
+In 2011, I started using a Blackberry Bold 9780, until 2014. The usable keyboard made me think that a device like this could replace laptops and desktop computers. Together with a functional browser and the trackpad (which allowed using mobile-unfriendly websites), the Bold was a great device for me.
+
+The Blackberry Classic I used 2015-2017 was the pinnacle of this idea, together with a prescient gesture interface and many great UI innovations which have been since lost.
+
+The Blackberry KeyONE I used 2017-2021 was the last device I used that had this greatness.
+
+Since then, I believe the loss of physical keyboard phones means that some uses of the smartphone have disappeared.
+
+=> https://www.bringbackblackberry.com/
+
+## Current devices
+
+=> https://www.unihertz.com/products/titan-pocket Titan Pocket (owned)
+
+* The keyboard feels worse than a Blackberry
+* The keyboard has deteriorated with age (some keys require extra pressure to activate, meaning typing is painful)
+* The keyboard software is insufficient for writing in Spanish and Catalan
+
+=> https://www.clicksphone.com/communicator Clicks Communicator
+=> https://www.clicksphone.com/powerkeyboard Clicks Power Keyboard
+=> https://keyphone.tech Keyphone
+=> https://www.lilygo.cc/products/t-deck T-Deck
+=> https://www.lilygo.cc/products/t-keyboard T-Keyboard
+=> https://beepy.sqfmi.com Beepy
+=> https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5stack-cardputer-kit-w-m5stamps3 Cardputer
+=> https://mecha.so/comet Mecha Comet
+=> https://www.tindie.com/stores/zitaotech ZitaoTech refurbs keyboards, but they seem to be permanently out of stock.
+=> https://linkapus.com/ The Q25 project is a project to put an Android phone inside a Blackberry Classic shell.
+
+## Obstacles
+
+### Communication platforms without an open API
+
+The main use of a pocket computer with a physical keyboard would be communication. Unfortunately, many communication platforms I use are closed, so I can only use them with an Android (or similar) device. If this was not the case, using devices with other operating systems would be more feasible.
+
+Although I do not use WhatsApp a lot (I use mostly Telegram), living in Spain it is unavoidable. I hope that the DMA will allow me to send messages to WhatsApp users through something that has an API, the DMA does not seem to be effective as of now.