My experience with the best designed PDA keyboard
Written: Nov 11 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Full sized keys, beautifully engineered folding mechanism, compact size
Cons: Slightly mushy feel, needs more tactile response.
The Bottom Line: This is the best engineered keyboard, and it is available for almost every PDA out there, from Palm to PocketPCs.
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| fhiga's Full Review: Hewlett Packard Targus Stowaway (F1888A#ABA) Keybo... |
I have purchased my Targus Stowaway keyboard a couple of days ago off eBay, found it brand new at $65.00 (retail price is generally $99.99).
I have been using it for about three days to chat, type in notes, and respond to e-mails. It has definitely turned my PDA into a notebook. You would be able to perform anything with your PDA and a keyboard, as your productivity will certainly increase. You will normally be able to input 10 to 20 words per minute using the built in character recognizer, however you might now be able to type in at least three to four times faster than that!!!
The keyboard when unfolded, resembles an IBM Thinkpad notebook keyboard: black keys with white characters. The cursor keys are located at the right side, and their layout is the same as that on regular keyboards. In order to Page Up, Down, Home and End, you must press the blue 'Fn' key located to the left of the spacebar.
Folding and unfolding the keyboard is just wonderful. Measuring 13.8" WIDE when fully deployed, it just folds back to a mere 6". Neatly packed, it would be roughly the same size as your PDA, but a little thicker.
The keyboard folds in a shape that resembles the letter "W". You pull away the two black and red handles to the edges of the keyboard's case, tuck in the middle so as to have it raised. Crunch the end locks and there you go. Your keyboard is now neatly packed.
In order to connect your PDA to it, the keyboard has got a built in docking port that tilts forwards and backwards, so that you can adjust it to have a nice viewing angle for you PDA while typing. Slide a metal and plastic retractable foot, as to have the back of your PDA rest there in a slanted position. This pedestal is made of metal, and it looks quite solid, with the exception of the plastic pedestal.
You also get four dedicated application access keys, from which you can launch Inbox, Contacts, Calendar and Tasks. Press 'Fn' plus these keys, and you will be able to access Notes, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Microsoft Money. The functionality for these keys is hardcoded into the software driver, so you will not be able to change what applications they launch.
The keyboard keys are normal size, and the feel is a little mushy, characteristic of a laptop keyboard. Key travel is identical to that of a laptop keyboard. Touch typists (like me) would sometimes need to punch in the keys a little harder, I think it is just a matter of time.
The right side of the keyboard is somewhat cramped, it is easy at first to confuse the right shift for the right cursor keys, which lie next to each other.
Keyboard driver is very easy to use, and allows you to 'Hot Dock' and play with the keyboard as to just start typing. No need to turn off/turn on your unit to have the keyboard recognized.
The software driver also allows you to configure up to 10 different application/document launch shortcuts, by pressing the 'Fn' and a number (from 1 through 0).
Overall, I am very satisfied with how this keyboard has improved productivity for me, and I think this is still the best engineered PDA keyboard on the market, no wonder why they have won several design awards.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 65.02
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Epinions.com ID:
fhiga
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Member: Fabio Higa
Location: Schaumburg, IL, USA
Reviews written: 37
Trusted by: 2 members
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