HP Pocket Keyboard review

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://www.compu2go.com/hpkeyboard.html">http://www.compu2go.com/hpkeyboard.html</a><br /><br />compu2go.com has just published a review of the HP Pocket Keyboard. I am anxiously waiting for my own HP Pocket Keyboard and read the review with great interest. Unfortunately, John Mierau (the reviewer) gave the keyboard his thumbs down and decided to return his unit.<br /><br />Although John says he likes the design he concludes: "For quick notes & short emails, the pocketkeyboard does the job. Input is relatively quick & easy if you're not worried about punctuation or extended symbols (for which there's a symbol pattern popup screen). However -& for me, this is a big however- the lack of control key/hotkey mappings, as well as the lack of home & end keys, make the keyboard unusable for anything requiring quotes & actual sentence structure. Great design aside, there's a flimsy feel to the thing & added bulk. Both of this would be forgiveable if I felt comfortable using the pocket keyboard for more than a grocery list of quick thought. Bottom line: I'm returning my Pocket Keyboard. Unless you truly hate using a Soft input method, I'd recommend a Stowaway or wait for a 3rd party thumboard... Despite being a big hp junky, the pocket keyboard gets a disappointed thumbs down."<br /><br />What do the rest of you HP Pocket Keyboard users feel? Should I expect good or not-so-good when my unit arrives?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hppocketkeyboard_1.jpg" />

[vetteguy]

Punctuation and numeric entry are a pain, and since a lot of data I enter on my PPC are numeric, it makes it difficult. Also a few of the keys are less responsive that the others, so unless you pay close attention to the screen you can end up with some incomplete words.

[fgarcia10]

I do apartments inspections, and I really like to be able to walk and type at the same time. I use a template for my inspections and it is easy for me to navigate. And Stellarmetrics HPHotKey do the mapping and hoykey functions for me. Plus it match perfectly my Jornada. :D

[ledowning]

I have had the HP keyboard for awhile now and I have found it very useful to jot down notes in meetings, etc. It takes quite a bit of practice to use the keyboard effectively. After years of typing on a normal keyboard, just using your thumbs for typing can be tricky, I am constantly looking at the keyboard to see what I am typing.

I don't have the keyboard attached all the time, only when I think I will use it for a meeting, etc. Also the HPHotKey software works well as mentioned in another post.

Good Luck with your keyboard.

[Perry Reed]

Punctuation and numbers are indeed a pain, and the keys are so close together that my fat thumbs often miss. It'll never replace my Stowaway, but despite all that, I do like it. It doesn't add a lot of heft to the Jornada, and it's faster than the soft input methods.

[entropy1980]

One thing I really appreciate about it was the way HP was able to integrate it to fit the design of the device, when it's on it doesn't look hideous or,like it shouldn't be there, it just fits and works.

[brntcrsp]

I will voice my support with all the previous thoughts. It's a great device for the short notes, and emails, terrific form factor, and decent easy of use. HPHotkey though is essential for the keyboard. It fills the gaps that HP left.

[JonnoB]

What do the rest of you HP Pocket Keyboard users feel? Should I expect good or not-so-good when my unit arrives?


Take your time learning the device and don't judge it too soon. After using it for a while, you will realize that it is very beneficial. I had some sticky buttons, but after using it for a while, they got better.

[Andy Sjostrom]

Thank you all! I am even more eager... :D

[Jorgen]

I have the Palm Portable keyboard for my 505 and though I love folding it out and typing on it, I never carry it around (except once in a while to show off :) - the same was the case with the keyboard I had for the Palm V.

The HP Pocket keyboard, I actually carry around (though not constantly) and I use it! I have no problems with navigation as the keyboard is so narrow that I can hold the stylus while typing - and, no, you cannot hold a stylus while typing on a full-sized keyboard like the Stoveaway.

I bought the HPhotkey from Stellarmetrics on recommendation from a number of users at PDA Buzz. Both are very much recommended!

Jorgen
:D

[JayLagorio]

I've written an add-on program for Pocket Word that will intercept keyboard commands from the Pocket Keyboard or a Stowaway or any other input method (including SIP) and allow you to use shortcuts such as Ctrl+B and Ctrl+I. See this page:

http://members.tripod.ca/~paragon1/wordcommands/
(http://members.tripod.ca/~paragon1/wordcommands/)

[TechJosh]

I've had the HP keyboard for a few months now and have been very dissappointed with it. My main gripe is with the flimsiness of the unit. It doesnt seem that well planned out to me. Heres what I've noticed:

1. You cannot use the directional buttons or the five buttons around it while using it. Even if you unlatch the thing and flip it up it wont stay... which brings me to point #2

2. The nubs that hold the unit to the Jornada are very cheap and become rounded very easily. Compare them to the nubs of the original cover to see what I mean. This prevents the unit from staying open (unless the jornada is on a flat surface... then i MIGHT stay up.) Also, the unit does not open as wide as the original cover (it only opens about 85 degrees while the original would open 120 degrees)

3. The drivers suck. you have to manually start a program to get them to work and then you have to minimize that program so its not in the way. Not to mention that I have found that program to be very unstable and often causes me to do a soft boot. I am aware that there is a program out there that is supposed to fix many of these issues but it costs money that I am not willing to invest.

4. The screen door on the unit opens fine, but is not easy to close when the rest of the unit is open. Not to mention that unlatching the entire unit while the screen door is unlatched caused me to pop a spring on the screen door. (I had thought it was latched when i opened it)

5. You cannot sync/charge the Jornada with the keyboard unit in place, nor can you use any other accessory which makes use of the serial port at the bottom of the Jornada. It is a minor issue, but one that I think shows the lack of planning that went into these units. A passthrough serial connection/power connection would have allowed people to almost never unlatch the unit and would reduce the wear & tear on the unit (and the jornada)

6. The cover makes it much more difficult to use the side scroll buttons and the record buttons. (this might depend on which hand you use to hold the device...)


Now that i've give nou the negatives there are some positives I can think of:

1. This unit does not cover the IRDA port (unlike the original cover)

2. The keyboard is backlit

3. The unit makes the jornada look much cooler... (matter of opinion but I think it does)


Having given you what I feel is a very reasonable summery of pro's and con's, let me tell you how/when/why I (dont) use keyboard:

1. I use it to write down homework assignments

2. I dont use it to do my homework

3. I use it to take down email addresses

4. I dont use it to write emails

5. I use it to take down contact information

6. I dont use it to locate addresses in Pocket streets & maps (i hate having to type numbers on this thing. its just easier on the software keyboard.)


All in all I've found that I dont use my keyboard all that much and I rely more on the soft keyboard & transcriber. Consequently I have removed my keyboard and generally leave the original cover on.

[keduprey]

Overall, I agree with most of the posters here. I like the keyboard for quick notes and e-mail, and it is faster than the SIPs when its on my device. The problem is that it is currently never on my device since the cover is broken. The flip up screen cover is attached by only two VERY small plastic nubs which can break very easily. One of mine did. I am currently waiting for an HP CS supervisor to contact me as to what can be done since the keyboard is still (barely) under warranty. I've been waiting 1 1/2 weeks so far.... I've read on Brighthand of others experiencing this difficulty and had HP Canada ship them out new covers immediately. However, HP US customer support for this product has been less than stellar to now.

[gamboagarcia]

Overall, I agree with most of the posters here. I like the keyboard for quick notes and e-mail, and it is faster than the SIPs when its on my device. The problem is that it is currently never on my device since the cover is broken. The flip up screen cover is attached by only two VERY small plastic nubs which can break very easily. One of mine did. I am currently waiting for an HP CS supervisor to contact me as to what can be done since the keyboard is still (barely) under warranty. I've been waiting 1 1/2 weeks so far.... I've read on Brighthand of others experiencing this difficulty and had HP Canada ship them out new covers immediately. However, HP US customer support for this product has been less than stellar to now.


I agree with Keduprey's opinion and some of others opinion.

I just break one nub from my screen cover. And don't know what to do, I can't find the receipts. :x :x

The drivers are a pain. I just had to hard reset my unit, just because active sync "lock" the serial port. Not kidding. I tried severel soft resets and nothing, the port was lock so, had to hard reset and restore the back up.

But not everything is bad. I just can't live withou it, you get used to it so fast.

[Will T Smith]

Comparing use of a thumboard to that of a full-sized keyboard is raising expectations WAY too high.

A better evaluation would look at various thumboard solutions like Compaq, Targus, and the new Sharp Zaurus devic, etc...

Having said that, the HP form-factor is best of breed for an add-on (Zaurus' integrated keyboard with slide down access).

Hopefully the next generation clip-on thumboards will make some improvements.