02-21-2002, 12:11 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 135
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The Wonderful HP Pocket Keyboard
I, like just about every other Pocket PC user that follows mobile technology, have seen one thumb style keyboard after another for the past year or so. First on the RIM Blackberry, then on many of the two way pagers that followed the Blackberry; then thumb keyboards were introduced for most of the Palms, and finally we saw these nifty gadgets for Pocket PCs. There are options for all iPAQ models as well as the HP560 series. (affiliate link)
The idea behind the thumb keyboard is that you hold your device in your hands like you would hold a Gameboy while you type with your thumbs (you could use any method that you like, but this seems to be the generally accepted method.) At first I thought that this looked like a fairly stupid and ineffective method for entering data when I have a stowaway portable keyboard that I can type 60+ words a minute on. Why settle for what amounts to hunting and pecking on a small keyboard when you can touch type at a speed that is comfortable for you?
So with out giving it much thought, I had completely dismissed the entire concept of thumb keyboards. Later as, I was reexamining my usage patterns when I upgraded to the Jornada, my conclusions about thumb keyboards began to change. Like I said before, the Stowaway is the best solution for entering a large amount of data on the run, if you spend most of your time in a few locations and you dot move around all that much. Unfortunately, in the real world, full sized keyboards aren't practical for a lot of mobile users: they take too long to set up, they require a flat surface, and for far to many situations they are just far to cumbersome.
Thus enters the thumb keyboard. It's easy to setup, in the case of Jornada, it integrates into the flip cover and is always there when you need it, and the other models are almost equally as easy. It is way faster than any onscreen method (unless you are that guy who can hit 50 wpm on Fitaly) and you can use it in almost any circumstance.
Having said all that, I don't think that thumb keyboards are the perfect input solution for Pocket PCs. Besides having more of a learning curve than you'd think, or I'd like (ok, I'm inpatient, but that's just me), in their current incarnation they limit the usefulness of the device by blocking access to the directional pad, the action button, and the shortcut buttons, which for a lefty who finds the jog toggle awkward to use is a bigger deal than you'd think. In the end though, I think that the thumb keyboard is a great idea that probably fits the usage patterns of many Pocket PC users.
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02-21-2002, 01:05 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 382
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I'm glad you like it. I just found out how illiterate I am today when I finally realized that the backlight key is not for the screen backlight but for the keyboard backlight.  ops: somehow I managed to completely miss that fact.
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02-21-2002, 01:14 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 81
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It needs a control key !
I have one of these pocket keyboards for my Hp Jornada 568, and while it is a great way to type on my jornada, it is missing one very important thing - A CONTROL KEY ! It has shift, caps, numbers and a symbol key, but there is NO way to copy and paste text using only the HP keyboard, I have use the screen keyboard ctl-c and ctl-v or the stylus to copy and paste text. What HP needs to do now is release a driver update to provide a control key on the keyboard, since changing tha actual keyboard now would help the people who already have one, and they are not going to ship replacements to everybody.
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02-21-2002, 01:17 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 226
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I can't believe a thumb keyboard is faster than using Transcriber for text input! For people who've used both, is that really the case?
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02-21-2002, 01:41 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 382
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QYV - for me it is. transcriber slows me down because I have to wait to have the sentence translated from my atrocious scrawl. I've always been a better typer than writer.
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02-21-2002, 04:03 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 212
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I shared with Compaq my desire to see them integrate a backlit thumb type keyboard into the Ipaq. Something along the lines of Sharps newest Zaurus. I know that Sharp has a patent on the way they integrated their keyboard, but I suggested to Compaq that they have the button section on the front of the Ipaq built in such a way, hinged on the bottom, that it can fold down to reveal a keyboard. I know this isnt too much different than Sharps design where the bottom half of the Zaurus slides down to reveal its keyboard, but in terms of a patent, this small design difference may allow Compaq to integrate a keyboard in the way I suggested. But of course, they would know this better than anyone.
Other than this, I couldnt say how else it could be integrated and still remain useable. But this would make such a great addition to the hardware.
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02-21-2002, 04:41 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 95
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I LOVE my Jornada keyboard cover, but it definately specific time for being on my machine. When I'm fairly mobile with day-to-day activities, I hardly enter any text and Fitaly is fast enogh for me. When I'm sitting in extended meetings I'm typing tons of meeting notes and the Stowaway is my input method of choice.
Sometimes though I'm replying to email, writing in my journal, or just taking a few note in a impromptu meeting. For times like that, the keyboard cover rocks. It's small enough that it can live on my Jornada for a couple of days or easily be taken off in a couple of seconds. The only thing I really don't like about it is that it doesn't replicate the fuctions of the diretional pad and application shortcut keys.
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02-21-2002, 04:42 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 53
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The other way
While I think the keyboards are a neat idea. I tend to look the other way. I would like to see more 1 handed operation. You should be able to navigate any menu without the stylus. I seem to remove and replace that thing more then I ever use it. How about removing the shortcut buttons and replacing them with more fuctional navigation buttons. The thing should operate in both modes - kinda like a mouse and all the shortcuts using the keyboard. I think at the very least, 1/2 of your navigation should be one handed.
I do think the thumb keyboards are cool and totaly geeky - which I love
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02-21-2002, 04:53 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 135
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I agree about the on handed operation, and that's my biggest complaint about the keyboard: it really removes the possibility of one handed operation. I'm a lefty and really can't find a use for the toggle in its curent form, so removing the joy pad and buttons really make the stylus a must. In the keyboards defense, I must say that it's easier to use the stylus with the thumb keyboard than it is with the stowaway. I'm going to call it a draw, and suffer through the keyboard most of the time 
Cheers,
Sam
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02-21-2002, 08:59 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 6
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I am a very heavy PPC user. I am constantly travelling and for the past 18 months have not carried a laptop.
For meeting notes, I would either scribble them in notepad (and "reecognise" at a later date) or make an effort with transcriber, but shared the same paroblems as many in that you have to wait to ensure correct recognition before proceeding.
The Stowaway is the best device for inputting, but really not practical to whip out like the cover keyboard, and often it is just not with me when I need it.
While the ocver keyboard adds a fair amount of bulk to the Journada, it is still (just about) pocketable, and for me it lives on the Journada permanently.
I think with a little work in the product design (like the Treo) they could incorporate the keyboard on the Journada (or iPaq et al) with all the other controls from the start. This would avoid the extra bulk of an aftermarket add on, and would be able to consider all the buttons needed (and most importantly, would not block the sync and charging sockets).
In short - I like it alot. Well done HP. 
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Linear Mode
