Writing/Typing on the Vox

TrudyJ65 · 11-15-2011, 03:25 PM

Hi all... longtime (e)reader, first-time poster here.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to ask for a Vox for Christmas to replace my beloved, now-dead Sony PRS505. I don't have a tablet and don't want the full-on iPad or other tablet, mostly because of cost but also because it's not a real need. I actually enjoy the e-ink readers just fine, but some of the added bells and whistles on the Kobo Vox look attractive.

The main thing I'm wondering about is the one feature I'd like in a tablet if I got one is something that might not be do-able on the Vox. I'd like to be able to use it for writing -- not a complete word processor functionality, but something where if I were at a coffee shop or waiting in a doctor's office I could whip it out and type 500 or 1000 words and email it to myself for later use on my home computer.

So, two questions:

1. Is there an app I can get for the Vox that will allow me to write on it?

2. I've heard that you can't hook up an external keyboard because there's no Bluetooth? Is that correct? There's no type of keyboard I could hook up to it any other way, is there? Not sure how much writing I could get done with the little onscreen keyboard (I'm a very fast touch typist, so tiny keyboards throw me off).

BTW I'm the sort of person who uses a lot of technology without understanding it very well, so some of what I read here on the forums is well out of my depth, but I do have more techie friends who can help me puzzle out the mysteries if I do get a Vox.

Anjohl · 11-15-2011, 10:43 PM

The processor is slow, and typing more than a few lines is a pain.

hieronymos · 11-15-2011, 11:02 PM

For the time being the UI is sluggish and the touchscreen isn't really responsive enough. Overall, it excels with it's screen.

taming · 11-15-2011, 11:20 PM

I like how it responds with the keyboard I use--swiftkey x for tablets. It's a paid app available in various somewhat sketchy places for free. Or purchasable from Android Market, if you can do that on one device and then move it to your Vox. Great predictive text and a neat split key layout in landscape mode. You can use google docs to do long form writing. Save the file and attach it to an email, or download it it your computer.

jefftheworld · 11-15-2011, 11:22 PM

The Vox can play HD movies without issue. It's not the processor that's slowing it down with typing, it's other software factors.

TrudyJ65 · 11-16-2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks for the answers. I don't know how well Google Docs would work for me to write in because a lot of the time the Vox would be offline when I was using it, and that seems a little complicated (at my level) to set up. Any other suggestions for an app that would allow me to type pages of manuscript I could email to myself later and easily drop into Word on my home computer?

As for the keyboard, I gather from what people are saying there's no hopes of an external keyboard, but there's a better onboard one that could be downloaded?

PeterT · 11-16-2011, 02:54 PM

http://www.androidwordprocessor.com/ looks to have some reviews.

hieronymos · 11-16-2011, 03:26 PM

There are Office Applications. QuickOffice and OfficeSuite (both at 15$) are two that I know. You can type in them, alright, but you can also just type in a Text Editor (many many free), as you won't do much formatting on the tablet (at least I don't).
Btw, QuickOffice won't install on the Vox.

For typing it might just be best to go to a store and play around with the touchscreen.

Jesslynne · 11-16-2011, 06:59 PM

Quickoffice Pro is quite nice to deal with, I just installed it.. and there are other keyboard to use. I just installed myself a few to see what I like best. And actually for typing a lot I really seem to like the thumb keyboard.. it splits the keyboard up so everything's fairly easily reached just by thumb including symbols on the same screen as the abc characters.

PeterT · 11-16-2011, 08:20 PM

I'm sure I used to use QuickOffice on my PalmTX and loved it there.

11-15-2011, 03:25 PM	#1
TrudyJ65 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: St. John's NL Device: Sony Reader	Writing/Typing on the Vox Hi all... longtime (e)reader, first-time poster here. I'm trying to decide whether or not to ask for a Vox for Christmas to replace my beloved, now-dead Sony PRS505. I don't have a tablet and don't want the full-on iPad or other tablet, mostly because of cost but also because it's not a real need. I actually enjoy the e-ink readers just fine, but some of the added bells and whistles on the Kobo Vox look attractive. The main thing I'm wondering about is the one feature I'd like in a tablet if I got one is something that might not be do-able on the Vox. I'd like to be able to use it for writing -- not a complete word processor functionality, but something where if I were at a coffee shop or waiting in a doctor's office I could whip it out and type 500 or 1000 words and email it to myself for later use on my home computer. So, two questions: 1. Is there an app I can get for the Vox that will allow me to write on it? 2. I've heard that you can't hook up an external keyboard because there's no Bluetooth? Is that correct? There's no type of keyboard I could hook up to it any other way, is there? Not sure how much writing I could get done with the little onscreen keyboard (I'm a very fast touch typist, so tiny keyboards throw me off). BTW I'm the sort of person who uses a lot of technology without understanding it very well, so some of what I read here on the forums is well out of my depth, but I do have more techie friends who can help me puzzle out the mysteries if I do get a Vox.

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11-15-2011, 10:43 PM	#2
Anjohl Zealot Posts: 105 Karma: 559568 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	The processor is slow, and typing more than a few lines is a pain.

11-15-2011, 11:02 PM	#3
hieronymos Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 45172 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Vox	For the time being the UI is sluggish and the touchscreen isn't really responsive enough. Overall, it excels with it's screen.

11-15-2011, 11:20 PM	#4
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	I like how it responds with the keyboard I use--swiftkey x for tablets. It's a paid app available in various somewhat sketchy places for free. Or purchasable from Android Market, if you can do that on one device and then move it to your Vox. Great predictive text and a neat split key layout in landscape mode. You can use google docs to do long form writing. Save the file and attach it to an email, or download it it your computer.

11-15-2011, 11:22 PM	#5
jefftheworld Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 157090 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo, Kobo Vox	The Vox can play HD movies without issue. It's not the processor that's slowing it down with typing, it's other software factors.

11-16-2011, 02:30 PM	#6
TrudyJ65 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: St. John's NL Device: Sony Reader	Thanks for the answers. I don't know how well Google Docs would work for me to write in because a lot of the time the Vox would be offline when I was using it, and that seems a little complicated (at my level) to set up. Any other suggestions for an app that would allow me to type pages of manuscript I could email to myself later and easily drop into Word on my home computer? As for the keyboard, I gather from what people are saying there's no hopes of an external keyboard, but there's a better onboard one that could be downloaded?

11-16-2011, 02:54 PM	#7
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,167 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	http://www.androidwordprocessor.com/ looks to have some reviews.

11-16-2011, 03:26 PM	#8
hieronymos Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 45172 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Vox	There are Office Applications. QuickOffice and OfficeSuite (both at 15$) are two that I know. You can type in them, alright, but you can also just type in a Text Editor (many many free), as you won't do much formatting on the tablet (at least I don't). Btw, QuickOffice won't install on the Vox. For typing it might just be best to go to a store and play around with the touchscreen.

11-16-2011, 06:59 PM	#9
Jesslynne Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manitoba, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Kobo Mini	Quickoffice Pro is quite nice to deal with, I just installed it.. and there are other keyboard to use. I just installed myself a few to see what I like best. And actually for typing a lot I really seem to like the thumb keyboard.. it splits the keyboard up so everything's fairly easily reached just by thumb including symbols on the same screen as the abc characters.

11-16-2011, 08:20 PM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,167 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	I'm sure I used to use QuickOffice on my PalmTX and loved it there.

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