HP's Bluetooth Keyboard Reviewed

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://davesipaq.com/articles/iPAQ_Pocket%20PC_HP_Bluetooth%20Keyboard.html' target='_blank'>http://davesipaq.com/articles/iPAQ_...20Keyboard.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I love technology, especially when it makes my life easier! The HP Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard is designed just to do that. A simple easy to install program allows you to be up and typing in seconds. Without question, this was the easiest Bluetooth install I have ever had…well, not quite, HP’s new Bluetooth headphones were just as easy, but that is for a later review. When I received my keyboard, I was really impressed with the look. A compact design, just slightly longer than my 4700 when it is closed (5.72 x 3.9 x 0.8 in), opens up into a keyboard about the same size as my laptop keyboard (11.25 x 3.8 x 0.5 in). Surrounded by a silver metal case with the edges in a black plastic, the case is hinged on one side and “locked” on the other with a double clip type holding mechanism."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/m_BT-Keyboard1.JPG" /> <br /><br />Jack from Dave's iPAQ.com reviews the iPAQ, and he's got nothing but great things to say about it. Interested in buying one? They're <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=3715&pf%5Fid=MP965651&listing=1">only $99 from Mobile Planet</a>. [Affiliate]

[outdoor]

the folding area doesnt seem to allow the hx4700 to be placed horizontally (securely)...

i would've bought one if i hadn't sold my 4150 :(

[Phillip Dyson]

I would like to see how this compares to the ThinkOutside bluetooth keyboard.

[Sven Johannsen]

I would like to see how this compares to the ThinkOutside bluetooth keyboard.

Biggest difference here is the size due to the number row on the HP keyboard. The TO one has the top row of letters, the numbers and special characters on the same key, requiring function1 for numbers and Fiunction2 for characters (@, #, etc.).

Second minor difference is that the TO PDA stand is removable so you can put the PDA a bit away from the keyboard itself. Doesn't seem that the HP allows this, though you could find/create a stand.

[OSUKid7]

the folding area doesnt seem to allow the hx4700 to be placed horizontally (securely)...Yeah...that's interesting. The first news item about the HP Bluetooth Keyboard (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,33749) does loook like you can place the Pocket PC horizontally though.
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hpbtkeyboard.jpg

[lkawamot]

From the review:
"The upper left side has a slide-switch for “locking” the keyboard and a “pull out” drawer that flips up allowing for the balancing of your iPAQ in either landscape or portrait positions."

So it DOES allow one to place the iPAQ in either positions.

[24va]

can it be used with other bt enabled ppc?

[tnelson2000]

Does anyone know why the IPAQ 3900 is not listed as a supported Bluetooth PPC for this keyboard? Also, should it work with CF Bluetooth cards in non-HP PPCs?

[axe]

how about BT Phones?

[fmcpherson]

I would be interested to hear whether this works properly with the iPAQ H6315. Since the 63XX has an older version of the Bluetooth software, I have found that it doesn't work properly with ThinkOutside's Bluetooth keyboard. The problem is that when you turn off the iPAQ and then turn the iPAQ back on the Bluetooth connection is not re-established with the keyboard. You basically have to force the re-connect manually.

[ricksfiona]

I SO want this keyboard... A Number row!!!

[Prevost]

Wouldn't an IR keyboard be easier on the PDA's battery?

I think this keyboard and the Palm Universal IR Keyboard make together a good comparison.

[fmcpherson]

Wouldn't an IR keyboard be easier on the PDA's battery?

I think this keyboard and the Palm Universal IR Keyboard make together a good comparison.

Well, the problem with IR keyboards is that you need to align the IR ports on both the Pocket PC and keyboard and often that is not convenient. With Bluetooth you don't need to worry about aligning anything. You are right though that there is a power trade off.

[fmcpherson]

I would be interested to hear whether this works properly with the iPAQ H6315. Since the 63XX has an older version of the Bluetooth software, I have found that it doesn't work properly with ThinkOutside's Bluetooth keyboard. The problem is that when you turn off the iPAQ and then turn the iPAQ back on the Bluetooth connection is not re-established with the keyboard. You basically have to force the re-connect manually.

Ignore this comment about Think Outside's keyboard. After I posted this I thought I would check their web site and found they have a newer version of the Bluetooth keyboard driver. I installed this version and it appears to fix the problem that I was experiencing.

[ch_thom]

The problem I see with this setup is that the Pocket PC is still attached to the keyboard, becasue the stand doesn't appear to seperate from the keyboard as it does on the stowaway. Surely this is the whole point of bluetooth - the ability to seperate devices. Basically all HP have done is supply a keyboard that can type in landscape without having to line up IR ports.

Also having your iPaq offset to one side like that just makes me feel uncomfortable when typing.

It would have been so much better to have had a detachable stand like the stowaway - then it would have been perfect.

On balance then I think that the offset typing position and lack of a detachable stand do enough to make me go for the stowaway instead. I'll just have to live with the lack of a number row :(

[logo20heli]

I want to know if this works with the new Dell Axim X50v.
Has anyone tried this keyboard with anything other than an iPAQ?

[ctmagnus]

The problem I see with this setup is that the Pocket PC is still attached to the keyboard, becasue the stand doesn't appear to seperate from the keyboard as it does on the stowaway. Surely this is the whole point of bluetooth - the ability to seperate devices.

But you don't need to put the Pocket PC on the stand. You can put it anywhere within 10 metres of the keyboard ;)

[CESkins]

ctmagnus I think without the detachable stand, you would have to find some other form of stand to prop the PocPC up so that you could view the screen if not using the built-in stand. The TO stand is detachable and I use it all the time to place my PDA anywhere I want while I work...it doesn't have to be right at the keyboard. :D

[jeisner]

I went with the IR keyboard from Brando, I thought about one of these Bluetooth keyboards but I didn't think my use of it would justify the cost. The unit from Brando works great for me with my XDA II and was only $42

http://shop.brando.com.hk/universalwirelesskeyboard.php

It would be interesting if one of the reviewers could compare the battery life effect on the actual PDA, you would imagine receiving an IR signal would use far less battery than BT?

[delfuhd]

Well the whole point of a bluetooth keyboard is that you are not restricted to the positions of the hardware. I have a PockeTop IR Keyboard, which works wonderfully! but I do not enjoy the chrome extension to bounce the IR to the port on the pocket pc. Bluetooth will make my typing notes and such much easier.

Also, with battery, yes bluetooth takes up more battery than recieving an IR beam. But, most keyboards now require a power source for themselves, usually one or two AAA batteries, which takes a lot of heat off of a pocket pc's battery. Just like using a CF LAN adapter with the pocket pc over WiFi. WiFi is easier to find and use (maybe the "use" part doesnt compare well to bluetooth), but it just offers more than using a wired LAN adapter, even though we know it takes up much more battery life.

I hope I didnt confuse anyone with that analogy...

[gibson042]

Let's not forget that one of the most significant considerations in the development of Bluetooth was power consumption. Bluetooth was designed to be low power. Although IrDA has a slight edge, both technologies typically consume power in the range of 10 to 50 mW (SIR and Class 3 Bluetooth) or 100 to 200 mW (MIR/SIR and Class 2 Bluetooth).

[phs]

On balance then I think that the offset typing position and lack of a detachable stand do enough to make me go for the stowaway instead. I'll just have to live with the lack of a number row :(

I suppose that with a BT keyboard I can just prop up my PDA against a book or something. No need for a stand. When I was still using a Pocketop IR Keyboard, I just flip orientation and lay my 2210 flat on the table. That was good enough. But the lack of number keys was a pain. After four months of using the Pocketop IR, I still couldn't get used to the lack of number keys.

In fact, my old and cheap "ER"Go serial keyboard, which had smaller keys but had a number row, was a lot easier to work with than a keyboard with full-size keys but no number row.

[phs]

I went with the IR keyboard from Brando, I thought about one of these Bluetooth keyboards but I didn't think my use of it would justify the cost. The unit from Brando works great for me with my XDA II and was only $42

http://shop.brando.com.hk/universalwirelesskeyboard.php

It would be interesting if one of the reviewers could compare the battery life effect on the actual PDA, you would imagine receiving an IR signal would use far less battery than BT?

I used to have an IR keyboard that looked like that. I forgot the brand, but its driver was called "Citipack". It worked well with PocketPC built-in apps, but won't work with Textmaker. Would be interesting to know if yours work with Textmaker.

If you plan on using a PocketPC for extended periods, you'll need extra or external power anyway. So Bluetooth, IR, or Serial doesn't matter, so long as the orientation allows charging. I got a portable USB power pack for US$15.

[cslaughtermd]

I'm trying the HP bluetooth keyboard with my XDA II and it keeps saying that it can't find the "DKBdriver"(or one of it's components). I've installed Bluetooth Tools because I know the XDA II has an issue with serial protocol and reinstalled the keyboard driver again and it won't work. Anyone have any solutions?
BTW - the keyboard worked great with an iPaq rx3117!