Think Outside & Fellowes Team Up for Pocket PC Keyboards

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=NEWS_VIEW_POPUP_TYPE&newsId=20030507005080&newsLang=en&beanID=2133606841&viewID=news_view_popup' target='_blank'>http://home.businesswire.com/portal...news_view_popup</a><br /><br /></div>"Fellowes, Inc., a worldwide leader in mobile, computer and consumer electronics accessories, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Think Outside, the designers of the popular Stowaway keyboards for PDAs, for all Stowaway keyboard products not sold under the Palm brand. As part of this new relationship, Fellowes is introducing the next-generation Stowaway XT keyboard into its retail channels. The Stowaway XT, an extra-thin mobile keyboard designed to provide a smart typing solution for Hewlett Packard and Sony PDA users on-the-go, will be on store shelves in May 2003. The original Stowaway Portable Keyboard also is available through Fellowes for HP and Sony PDA users.<br /><br />"We are really excited about our partnership with Think Outside and the introduction of the Fellowes Stowaway XT," said Nancy Heaton, senior product manager for Fellowes Mobile Accessories Group. 'We think it will be a hit for two reasons, first because of the comfort and ease of use of the full-size keyboard and also because of its sleek design.' "<br /><br />Finally! The slick new XT keyboards are going to be made available for Pocket PCs! This is great news, although I wish they would have supported more than just the HP Pocket PCs out of the gate. The keyboards are going to be available this month (May) for a price of $99.

[Kaber]

What, no pictures?

[Jason Dunn]

What, no pictures?

It's no different than the Palm keyboard that has been out for months. Click here (http://www.thinkoutside.com/images/xt_ani.gif) if you want to see an animated GIF.

[bdegroodt]

Cool! Finally. That's the only fold up keyboard I've ever been interested in. Now if HP could just ship that thumboard, I'd be a happy clam.

[rlobrecht]

The gif says you can use it on your lap. That's been my biggest complaint about the previous stowaways, is that you needed a table to use them.

[bdegroodt]

Hey Jason! How come Steve doesn't come yell at you for not shortening your URLs :D

[David C]

How about think outside of PDA brand specific keyboard, and team up with some one to make a bluetooth universal keyboard.

[Jason Dunn]

Hey Jason! How come Steve doesn't come yell at you for not shortening your URLs :D

Because, unfortunately, our posting system doesn't allow it. What we really need is phpBB to support automatic URL shortening... :evil:

[anthonymoody]

where's the one for the XDA!!! :?

[Gator5000e]

And the Axim? :?:

[Perry Reed]

No Jornada model, either. I guess that's no surprise. :(

[Jason Dunn]

Sadly, Think Outside never seems to come out with full device support at once - or even ever. It's very hard to predict which devices they'll support and in what order. All I can suggest is contacting them and expressing your interest in their product for your particular device.

[Perry Reed]

Sadly, Think Outside never seems to come out with full device support at once - or even ever. It's very hard to predict which devices they'll support and in what order. All I can suggest is contacting them and expressing your interest in their product for your particular device.

True, although since the Jornadas are discontinued it's somewhat unlikely to expect them to support them, at least not at first. Although there still are lot of them out there in the wild.

I could use a new one, too. My keyboard is banged up from overuse, and the "D" key now has to be smashed in hard to register... :)

[Don Tolson]

Actually, I did contact them shortly after the announcement of the Palm version. The only response was the typical marketing verbage "We can't discuss possible future products, blah, blah. We've passed along your comments to our product development team".

I'm afraid I have to agree about the support for the Jornada. It's highly unlikely -- even more so, since I hear that even the IPAQ 1910 has a 'reversed' connector on the bottom.

Oh well, maybe I can sell the whole thing as a package.

[bljarv]

I think this is the nicest keyboard available. I've been watching the prices fall on others for a while now and was about to spring for one. This makes me want one of these, but $100 seems like a lot for a keyboard.

Am I alone here???

[kfluet]

Actually, I did contact them shortly after the announcement of the Palm version. The only response was the typical marketing verbage "We can't discuss possible future products, blah, blah. We've passed along your comments to our product development team".


I wrote them a few weeks ago and got an informative response about the XT. See this (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12046) thread.

From what I have heard, the 1910 doesn't have serial capabilities in it's sync connector--only for USB client. That's why they turned it around--so you wouldn't try keyboards, etc., and then call HP when the accessory didn't work.

[Janak Parekh]

From what I have heard, the 1910 doesn't have serial capabilities in it's sync connector--only for USB client. That's why they turned it around--so you wouldn't try keyboards, etc., and then call HP when the accessory didn't work.
Correct; only IR keyboards will work on the 1910 for the foreseeable future.

--janak

[Abba Zabba]

Ahhhhhh...I've been druling over this keyboard ever since it came out for the Palms :evil: Now that it has support for hp I'm gonna get me one.... as soon as the 55xx comes out :mrgreen:

[Stephen Beesley]

Now this is a pretty sexy looking keyboard. I have been thinking of getting one of the Pocketop IR keyboards - I just wish it had the same key layout and form factor as the XT. Oh well...

Goldtee

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

How come Steve doesn't come yell at you for not shortening your URLs :D
:rofl:

Killer-looking keyboard! I still wish they would have included a dedicated number row similar to the "legacy" Stowaways, but I suspect I'm probably in the minority as that would sacrifice the size somewhat.

[bdegroodt]

Is it just me or is this keyboard available somewhere on the Fellowes web site? I can't seem to find it.