New full sized keyboard that doubles as a case

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.ibizpda.com/xela.html">http://www.ibizpda.com/xela.html</a><br /><br />This is a unique product. I ran across this while browsing <a href="http://www.infosync.no">InfoSync</a> early this morning. I am a big fan of full sized keyboards and this one doubles as a protective case.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20021003-xelakeyboard.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20021003-xelakeyboard2.jpg" /><br /><br />As you can see, folded it is just a bit thicker than one inch. Not small, but smaller than a separate PDA and foldable keyboard. It is available for the Palm i705 soon but an iPAQ version is due in early 2003 for about $59. My only concern is some of the keys have been moved to allow for the hinges and are not quite where a touch typest would expect.

[Dave Conger]

...My only concern is some of the keys have been moved to allow for the hinges and are not quite where a touch typest would expect.

And they are buttons. Maybe it is just me, but buttons are rather difficult to type on.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Yeah, this doesn't look like a "typing" keyboard.

I'm definitely not a fan of the thumb keyboards, but I think the benefit to those who use it is that it has a key layout that everyone is familiar with in a portable form factor that can be used anywhere.

I'm looking at this keyboard and definitely the familiarity of where the keys could be a benefit to some, but I wonder how much benefit if it's neither the portable form factor of a thumb board or the speed of input of a touch keyboard such as the Stowaway.

[MultiMatt]

:?
I thought the PockeTop keyboard was bad because of the small keys and the fact that the hinge of the keyboard did not split the keyboard in half (which totally screws up touch-typists).
This thing looks like a typing nightmare. By the time I would be done correcting all of my typing errors (like I was when I tested the PockeTop), I could have entered it all in with the stylus!

I'm not even a big fan of the thumboard either - if I plan on doing a lot of data entry, it's the stowaway for me. If I'm going to carry something extra around, then I might as well enjoy a full-size keyboard!

Matt

[Marcel_Proust]

:?
I thought the PockeTop keyboard was bad because of the small keys and the fact that the hinge of the keyboard did not split the keyboard in half (which totally screws up touch-typists).
This thing looks like a typing nightmare. By the time I would be done correcting all of my typing errors (like I was when I tested the PockeTop), I could have entered it all in with the stylus!

I'm not even a big fan of the thumboard either - if I plan on doing a lot of data entry, it's the stowaway for me. If I'm going to carry something extra around, then I might as well enjoy a full-size keyboard!

Matt
it's amazing though what the brain can adjust to.
i don't the think the pocketop is bad. i've only used it for a week, and while it's not quite a full typewriter as the stowaway, it's extremely usable. there is also a new driver which is much more responsive and comes with a landscape program for those that don't already have one. when i really want to type a lot i take my ibm laptop!
i would advise people to try to see what fits - there are always compromises.

[Dave Beauvais]

...I am a big fan of full sized keyboards and this one doubles as a protective case. ... an iPAQ version is due in early 2003 for about $59. ...
Ed, your definition of "full sized" must be vastly different from mine. :)

On a side note, is anyone else becoming increasingly annoyed that almost every new add-on device is being released only for the iPAQs? There are other successful Pocket PCs on the market, ya know. :?

--Dave

[Pony99CA]

On a side note, is anyone else becoming increasingly annoyed that almost every new add-on device is being released only for the iPAQs? There are other successful Pocket PCs on the market, ya know. :?

Well, I'm not annoyed by it. Of course, I own an iPAQ 3870. :-)

Seriously, though, what other successful Pocket PCs are out there? I suppose it depends on your definition of "successful", but the market research reports posted here from time to time appear to have HP/Compaq far and away the market leader.

I certainly can understand why a company would produce a product first for the iPAQ. If it takes off, maybe they'll produce a version for other platforms; if it doesn't, they haven't wasted extra engineering resources. It's similar to companies that introduce products first for Palms, and not for Pocket PCs.

Steve

[Mark from Canada]

How about finally someone coming out with keyboards that use different adapters for different PPC and even some cell-phones so you don't always have to buy a new keyboard for a new device, only a new adapter?

Or would that cut too much into profits? I think they might sell quite a bunch when people know they still can use it in a year or two.

Mark

[Dave Beauvais]

I certainly can understand why a company would produce a product first for the iPAQ. ...
Of course I understand that, too. Make a product that will get you the biggest return on your development and production investment. Most iPAQ accessories with work with at least a couple generations of iPAQ. Collectively, the iPAQ has sold millions of units more than any other Pocket PC, so the market is naturally larger. I understand all that. But it still annoys me. :) I can't count the number of times I've seen a new product described or shown and thought, "hey, I'd use on of those!" only to read another line down where it says "sorry, dude, this is only for iPAQs!"

I guess I'm a little bitter because my last Pocket PC, a Casio E-200 had virtually no accessories available for it -- heck, even the Casio accessories were almost impossible to find even months after its release. In the accessories brochure in every E-200 box, a Stowaway keyboard is shown. Well, ThinkOutside decided to stop development of the Stowaway for the E-200, despite the demand for the product by the E-200 community.

Now I have a Toshiba e740. It shares a connector with the e310, and most likely the new e330. For the most part, making a device for one means you've just made a device for all three. Next to the iPAQ, I think the e310 and e740 are selling better than any other current Pocket PC. The market is there.

--Dave

[Marcel_Proust]

How about finally someone coming out with keyboards that use different adapters for different PPC and even some cell-phones so you don't always have to buy a new keyboard for a new device, only a new adapter?

Or would that cut too much into profits? I think they might sell quite a bunch when people know they still can use it in a year or two.

Mark

i agree with you on that mark.
i think microsoft would be smart to insist on more universal standards for more pocketpcs. propriety connectors suck.
you might be interested in the Pockettop keyboard - it's fairly universal for arm devices irda and should last you a while - until a better bluetooth model comes along anyways.