What's with the two different virtual keyboards?

[psnative]

I've noticed that the surface has two slightly different virtual keyboards, I like the one over the other for several reasons, one being it has the '@' symbol on the alpha keyboard,...is there a way to default to the one board?

 

[jnjroach]

The Modern UI Keyboard is contextual, meaning if the Text Box announces its purpose for a URL it will add the ".com" key and if it announces it is for email you'll get the @ symbol and ".com" key. But the App or Website needs to handle the API correctly.

 

[mitchellvii]

The last one you have open seems to become the default one. You can add a full keyboard if you want things like a "Del" button in General Settings. You can also lock the keyboard into place or have it free floating.

 

[psnative]

@ jnj...i guess thats the only diff...why dont they just leave the "@" on the keyboard all the time. i mean how big a spacebar do you need. i would also like the "&" on my regular keyboard, use it all the time. also the quote symbols would be nice. using the apostrophe instead can be confusing.

 

[jnjroach]

Sorry, I have no insider knowledge on why they make the decisions they do, but I will say that as a Tablet PC user since 2001, these are the best OSK's I've used.

 

[Sin]

When it's not on the on-screen keyboard you only need to hit the &123 key in the lower left to toggle to the number and symbols screen.