ThinkOutside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard Shipping

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31769' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/for...pic.php?t=31769</a><br /><br /></div>Forum member <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31769">elehcdn has informed us</a> that ThinkOutside is starting to ship their <a href="http://www.thinkoutside.com/products/stowaway-bt.html">BT keyboards,</a> which is good news because they've been delayed a few times. You can get one for $149.99. <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040904_btkb.jpg" /> <br /><br />In other news, you can get the <a href="http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=310-5771&amp;c=us&amp;l=en&amp;cs=19&amp;category_id=5896&amp;first=true">exact same keyboard from Dell for $106.51</a> with free shipping. Oh, and they've been shipping it since the beginning of August. ;) Who here has one of these things? What are your thoughts?

[hawkeye]

I don't have one of these but would like to. Anybody know if HP has released their BT keyboard or what the price will be?

[jkendrick]

I heard today from someone who actually got their Stowaway BT keyboard for use with a Socket CF card on the WinXP platform. It doesn't work with the Socket under WinXP and this person is working with both Stowaway and Socket to get it working.

Is anybody using the keyboard with the Socket CF card?

[Berylium]

I've had mine since Thursday, I'm actually using it right now. I've had absolutely no problems using it with my Dell XPS laptop and Windows XP SP2.

-Berylium

[Ninram]

I received mine on Wednesday. It was unfortunatly packaged in that hard plastic that you have to destroy to open.

It came with a zippeded case, 2 AAA's and the usual CD-ROM & flimsy quick start quide.

My goal was to get it to work with my iPAQ 5550, which their site lists as still being "tested"

The included CD-ROM read-me dosn't include the 5000 series iPAQ's and I installed the driver anyway.

It dosn't work. There are many delays in the transmission and pauses along the way.

I had hoped that betweed July and when it shipped they might have gotten it fixed. I'm not even sure, now that I feel the keyboard, that it would ever come in handy the way I use it.

[nuka_t]

looks cool, but is there really a need for a bluetooth keyboard? for a desktop or laptop, ya, its a good idea. but for a pocketpc, id rather have one that holds my ppc up on it too, so it has to be wired. the only possible good thing i can see for this is that you cant put it into landscape mode on a wired one cause its stationary.

[manuelpl]

I hate pecking this post with my X30. In landscape mode the keyboard takes half of my screen. I can't wait for a 5 row BT keyboard. It is to bad I have to wait for belkin or hope that the hp bt keyboard works with all pda's. Although the think outside the box looks tempting I am going to wait for keyboard that's functional.

[jimski]

looks cool, but is there really a need for a bluetooth keyboard? for a desktop or laptop, ya, its a good idea. but for a pocketpc, id rather have one that holds my ppc up on it too, so it has to be wired. the only possible good thing i can see for this is that you cant put it into landscape mode on a wired one cause its stationary.

Well, the keyboard comes with a little stand so you can prop your PPC right up next to it or a few incles/feet away if you like, in portrait or landscape. And, when you purchase your next PPC, you don't need to go out any buy another keyboard.

Actually I can't think of one logical use for a desktop or laptop. Well maybe a laptop, but that's stretching it. There are a lot of other wireless solutions for these platforms that are quite a bit better.

[nuka_t]

but you cant put a full sized keyboard in your pocket.

i know that you can do the same things as a wired one with this, but i dont thinks its worth the extra money, or the extra battery life for the bluetooth.

[Duncan]

Frankly this is one case where Bluetooth seems like overkill when the IR version is cheaper, less battery draining and just as effective...

[Bajan Cherry]

I am very keen to buy this keyboard. I have Microsoft BT mouse solution. Has anyone used this keyboard with MS Bluetooth solution? I know Mauricio of geekzone says this works. But has anyone else used this combination? Considering that I am in India, and in order for me to procure this keyboard, I have to ask my friends to buy it and send across; I want to be very sure before I pull out that credit card.

[surur]

Frankly this is one case where Bluetooth seems like overkill when the IR version is cheaper, less battery draining and just as effective...

Surely this is the poster child for what bluetooth is good for? Device independent, mobile, low power, and affordable (not cheap yet, but will be).

Once the HID profile becomes common, it will mean you can use your large desktop bluetooth keyboard with your desktop, laptop, pocketpc and smartphone. Thats what I call progress.

Surur

[Marcel_Proust]

Frankly this is one case where Bluetooth seems like overkill when the IR version is cheaper, less battery draining and just as effective...

I received mine last week. Being a verteran of IR keyboards, I have to say, this is well worth it. With the IR keyboards, you always have to worry about alignment. Not with this one. IR washes out in direct sunlight too.
The response time is much better on this one, and there are no skipped characters. Partnership is always available, even if another SIP is present. The software works very well (if compatible.)
The only thing is, I feel cheated - I bought mine for 150 from the source, and now I find out I could have it sooner for cheaper....

[dochall]

&lt;snip>My goal was to get it to work with my iPAQ 5550, which their site lists as still being "tested"

&lt;snip>
It dosn't work. There are many delays in the transmission and pauses along the way.

&lt;snip>



I posted in the wireless forum on this.

it doesn't work properly with the driver that ships with the keyboard. I mailed the think outside support people and they sent me a new driver (which is currently a release candidate) which works perfectly.

[echernosky]

Does anybody know when HP's 5 row BT keyboard is coming out? Will it support the HP2200?

[Underwater Mike]

I have the Dell folding keyboard and would prefer this since you can use it with landscape orientation -- aside from not having to buy something else if I change PPC manufacturers. But, I would not pay more than $100 for a keyboard, period.

RE: the Socket CF problem, I wonder if that is the Socket BT drivers at work (or failing to)? I bought the Socket BT card but returned it and got a Belkin card. The Widcomm drivers that ship with the Belkin are much better than Socket's drivers, which turned a great hardware implementation into a piece of junk, IMO.

[Verdagon]

Does anybody know when HP's 5 row BT keyboard is coming out? Will it support the HP2200?

Coming out in a few months, I think. It's supporting all the iPaqs but not any other brand.

[Sven Johannsen]

Frankly this is one case where Bluetooth seems like overkill when the IR version is cheaper, less battery draining and just as effective...

Obviously you don't have a 4155, with the IR port on the bottom ;) What were they thinking. It would be great if you could turn it sideways, then it would be at the side/top, but that takes Nyditot (or something) and a soft reset, because we're not getting SE.

I just ordered mine and hope to use it with two to three PPC, a smartphone (which I don't have yet, but just need to make sure it's compatible) and a tablet (occasionally). Seems a great option to me.

[uzi74]

I still think the IR version is more flexible as you can't use the BT version onboard a plane... This is the major drawback of that for me.

[xoiph]

I still think the IR version is more flexible as you can't use the BT version onboard a plane... This is the major drawback of that for me.

Well I doubt any flight attendant would actually stop you; they'd have to know what BT is first...

[uzi74]

I still think the IR version is more flexible as you can't use the BT version onboard a plane... This is the major drawback of that for me.

Well I doubt any flight attendant would actually stop you; they'd have to know what BT is first...
I'm not that concerned about the flight attendant :lol: but more about interfering with aircraft systems 8O
Ok I know there is not too much chance for it with 1mW, but who knows...

[Sven Johannsen]

Thought this was somehow appropriate.

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/163/BT%20Airbus.jpg

[gmusser]

I still think the IR version is more flexible as you can't use the BT version onboard a plane... This is the major drawback of that for me.

The IR keyboard does indeed have advantages. There's just one little problem: it doesn't work. The Targus "Universal" Keyboard driver doesn't support the 6315.

Part of me thinks it's a ploy to get us to shell out for yet another "universal" keyboard....

George

[Marcel_Proust]

I still think the IR version is more flexible as you can't use the BT version onboard a plane... This is the major drawback of that for me.

The IR keyboard does indeed have advantages. There's just one little problem: it doesn't work. The Targus "Universal" Keyboard driver doesn't support the 6315.

Part of me thinks it's a ploy to get us to shell out for yet another "universal" keyboard....

George

Maybe ..... but it works much better than the IR.
Plugs are fine, except they aren't universa.
Someone else posted a concern about forming partnerships each time. This is not a problem - it does it automatically - it works in the background and the keyboard seems always available. I was concerned that this would be case as well, but it wasn't.

[Sven Johannsen]

For those that have one, does the BT keyboard attach via a serial profile or did you have to load a HID profile onto the PPC? This keyboard is only as universal as the support exists in, or for, the particular device you want to use it with.

I would think that if folks hassle Belkin about the Universal IR one, they'll come up with 6315 drivers. That PPC didn't exist when the keyboard came out. Somewhat understandable it might not work...yet.

[fmcpherson]

I got my keyboard today, and I have written up a review that one can find here: http://myppc.blogs.com/frank/2004/09/blue_keyboard.html

Sven, oddly enough the keyboard doesn't even appear in my H6315's Bluetooth Manager. I can only conclude that the software you install includes everything that one needs to make a connection, so it doesn't depend on what profiles are supported by the Pocket PC.

[fmcpherson]

Well, upon further review...

I think there is a compatability problem between the keyboard and the IPAQ 6315. The main problem is that I can't get the keyboard to reliably reconnect to the Pocket PC after the Pocket PC has been shut off.

When this happens I go in to the keyboard software, check the BT it says the Bluetooth software is not ready. It says to wait, but I wait several minutes with no change. I do a soft reset, and then it will say that the connection is not set up. Usually I can force a New Connection rather quickly, but from what I can tell I shouldn't have to do that particularly if I am not using a secure connection.

I suspect the problem is with the version of the Widcomm BT drivers on 6315, which appears to be older than what I have on my 4155 or my Dell Axim X30. The 6315 has BT-PPC/PE Version 1.0.0 Build 1400; The X30 has BT-PPC Version 1.5.0 Build 08. The doco with the keyboard says it works with Versions 1.4.x or greater. It will be interesting to see whether HP releases a Bluetooth update for the 6315 before they release a Second Edition upgrade. I've sent an email to Thinkoutside's tech support to see what they say. My guess is they will simply say it's not compatible with the 6315.

A couple of other things I learned along the way while troubleshooting my problems. According to the doco when the keyboard is enabled you cannot turn off the radio. If you go into the Bluetooth menu on the Pocket PC and turn off Bluetooth it will come back on after a period of time. You are supposed to Disable the keyboard before turning off the Bluetooth radio. This seems to be a pain to me. (BTW, this doesn't happen on my 6315 right now, furthering my suspicion that there is a compatibility problem.)

Another thing that is not clear is whether automatic reconnect is supposed to happen in secure mode. There is a paragraph is the users manual that suggests to me that if you use secure mode you have to put the keyboard into discovery every time you have to reconnect, which would be every time you turn off your Pocket PC. I'll check this with my X30 tomorrow, but if my understanding is correct that is a horrible mistake on Thinkoutside's part. I may be wrong though because the user manual isn't exactly written the best.

And finally, somehow between all this my 6315 is no longer connecting to my Jabra Freespeak headset, so I'll probably have to repair it with the 6315. Not sure how that happened.

[racerx]

Would someone who has the updated driver that works with the 5555 please PM me so I can get this? The latest on the web site doesn't help the lag...

Thanks.

&lt;/RacerX>


&lt;snip>My goal was to get it to work with my iPAQ 5550, which their site lists as still being "tested"

&lt;snip>
It dosn't work. There are many delays in the transmission and pauses along the way.

&lt;snip>



I posted in the wireless forum on this.

it doesn't work properly with the driver that ships with the keyboard. I mailed the think outside support people and they sent me a new driver (which is currently a release candidate) which works perfectly.

[Steven Cedrone]

Would someone who has the updated driver that works with the 5555 please PM me so I can get this? The latest on the web site doesn't help the lag...

Did you try to email Think Outside for a copy of the driver that dochall wrote about?

Steve

[racerx]

Did you try to email Think Outside for a copy of the driver that dochall wrote about?

Steve

Yes I did, but so far, all I've gotten was the automated response. Anxious to start using my new toy!

[chrisdolphin]

I could do with the HP5550 driver also - can anyone help ?

Regards,
Chris

[racerx]

I could do with the HP5550 driver also - can anyone help ?

Regards,
Chris
PM me with your email and I'll send you the link.

[fmcpherson]

Well, upon further review...

I think there is a compatability problem between the keyboard and the IPAQ 6315. The main problem is that I can't get the keyboard to reliably reconnect to the Pocket PC after the Pocket PC has been shut off.


Today I checked out Think Outside's web site and noticed that they have Version 4.0 of their Bluetooth keyboard and mouse driver on their web site. I downloaded and installed this driver on my H6315 and it appears to have fixed the problem I was having with reconnecting the keyboard. This fix makes the keyboard much more useful to me.

BTW, from what I can tell you get the Bluetooth driver for both their keyboard and mouse with this version of the software.

[jkendrick]

I had just the opposite problem. The driver that came with the keyboard worked fine on my Toshiba e800 but after I updated the driver to 4.0 it won't work. I had to remove the driver and go back to the older one. Maybe it's an either/or thing with the driver.