Wireless Keyboards (Bluetooth)

[kevhead]

Im in the market for a keyboard... I have used some of the folding keyboards, which seem to work nice, but I am very interested in some of these "NEW" bluetooth keyboards.

Nice BT Keyboard for PPC's: (Soon to be released)
http://www.flexis.co.kr/web/fxcubebt.htm

I guess the only issue I would have is where to put the PPC.

What are your thoughts... And which folding keyboard has worked for you?

Thanks,

Kevin

[kfluet]

I recently did the keyboard shopping thing and ended up with the old standard Targus/ThinkOutside Stowaway.

I tried the Flexis FX100 and HP iPAQ Foldable Keyboard in the store. The FX100 is too small and the rubber keys fell weird. The HP keyboard designers moved the shift key over one for no apparent reason, meaning a touch-typer like me would have to adjust.

I took the PockeTop infra-red keyboard home for a couple of days. They, too, moved a few keys which I might have been able to live with. Unfortunately, I found the whole "line up the keyboard and the mirror and the iPAQ just so" thing totally eliminated any advantage to it being wireless. I couldn't get it all lined up to work in landscape mode, either.

The Stowaway (I got it used on eBay for $45) might be a little larger when folded up, but all its keys are full size and nothing has been moved around. I can type at my typical 80 wpm right away. I'm really happy with it.

Having played with the PocketTop keyboard, wireless doesn't appeal any more, so I doubt I would be tempted by a Bluetooth keyboard. Since it doesn't have a built in stand for the PocketPC, you would have to carry around an additional piece of gear just to prop up your PDA so you can type. Too clumsy for me.

If I were you I would either pick up a Stowaway or wait a little while until the Stowaway XT keyboard comes out. It will have full size keys, but they moved the number row so you use an alternate function key to type numbers. It smaller when packed and folds in half like the more recent keyboards do. The iPAQ version of the Stowaya XT will be coming from Fellowes according to the reply I got back from ThinkOutside.

[jimski]

Im in the market for a keyboard... I have used some of the folding keyboards, which seem to work nice, but I am very interested in some of these "NEW" bluetooth keyboards.

Nice BT Keyboard for PPC's: (Soon to be released)
http://www.flexis.co.kr/web/fxcubebt.htm

I guess the only issue I would have is where to put the PPC.

What are your thoughts... And which folding keyboard has worked for you?


If I were you I would either pick up a Stowaway or wait a little while until the Stowaway XT keyboard comes out. It will have full size keys, but they moved the number row so you use an alternate function key to type numbers. It smaller when packed and folds in half like the more recent keyboards do. The iPAQ version of the Stowaya XT will be coming from Fellowes according to the reply I got back from ThinkOutside.

Wouldn't you like your next keyboard to be the last keyboard you ever ne4ed to buy. That's what Bluetooth could do for you.

[Pony99CA]

Having played with the PocketTop keyboard, wireless doesn't appeal any more, so I doubt I would be tempted by a Bluetooth keyboard. Since it doesn't have a built in stand for the PocketPC, you would have to carry around an additional piece of gear just to prop up your PDA so you can type. Too clumsy for me.
I can understand the point about not having a stand, but comparing the Pocketop infrared keyboard with a Bluetooth keyboard seems wrong. With Bluetooth, there won't be the alignment problems you complained of, and the range will be much better (not that you'll be typing 30 feet from the Pocket PC :-D).

Steve

[FredMurphy]

Is it just me that thinks it looks like a ZX Spectrum (http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pics/spectrum.jpg)? :|

[kevhead]

Im thinking bluetooth would be nice for presentations. Hook up my PPC and be able to be somewhere else controlling without wires (Depending on range of the BT keyboard). But for most use, I would need a stand of some sort.

DUH! I forgot the main reason I wanted the BT Keyboard... In order to use my cellphone (Nextel does'nt have BT) I use a cord that occupies the data port. Kinda hard to reply to emails while online (The online shuffle would be a pain).

Any keyboards that also have a dataport?


Thanks for the great advise...

Kevin[/b]

[Jorgen]

BT for presentations can be found here http://www.netprofile.fi/en/news_releases/196.html

Jorgen

[Pony99CA]

Is it just me that thinks it looks like a ZX Spectrum (http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pics/spectrum.jpg)? :|
Maybe it's just because my eyes are bad, but it's hard to tell from that 1x1 pixel image your link takes me to. :lol: (Many of the images on that site seem to not display properly.)

Steve

[FredMurphy]

You're right - the image doesn't display properly :? but does if you go to http://www.worldofspectrum.org and then click on "Sinclair ZX Spectrum" you'll see what I mean.

Wasn't that funny anyway! :)

[Pony99CA]

You're right - the image doesn't display properly :? but does if you go to http://www.worldofspectrum.org and then click on "Sinclair ZX Spectrum" you'll see what I mean.

I tried that, and that's why I said images didn't seem to be working. I just tried it again, and that worked, though.

Steve

[wirelessgeek]

Found this interesting link on the internet.

Various Bluetooth Wireless Keyboards
http://bluetooth.weblogs.com/discuss/msgReader$513?mode=day

[kevhead]

OK... Is there ANY Keyboards that also have a Dataport?

Need the ability to still hook to my Cell Phone via. the Dataport while using a Keyboard.

Would be perfect if those Stowaway Boards just had a dataport on the side. I wonder if the PPC can have multiple devices using the dataport at the same time?


Kevin

[kfluet]

OK... Is there ANY Keyboards that also have a Dataport?

Need the ability to still hook to my Cell Phone via. the Dataport while using a Keyboard.

Would be perfect if those Stowaway Boards just had a dataport on the side. I wonder if the PPC can have multiple devices using the dataport at the same time?

I haven't seen any keyboards with a passthrough port, but the PockeTop (http://www.pocketop.net/) infra-red keyboard might work for you.