The techno-idiot is back with another review of a Palm product, the Palm Portable Keyboard (OK, OK, so it was really made by Think Outside). Anyone who has read my previous reviews knows that I'm completely infatuated with my Palm m100. Of course, it doesn’t take much to get me excited.

When I saw a colleague whip out this itsy-bitsy keyboard and open it up, my jaw dropped down to the floor. I had to give it a try. Sadly, her keyboard didn't work with my Palm so I decided to bite the bullet and order my own Palm Keyboard for the Palm m100 (also works with the Palm III and VII series) from my favorite on-line store, Outpost.com (free overnight shipping - hard to beat that!).

What's In the Box?

The outside of the box says "Manual en Español, Manuel en Francais, Manuale in Italiano". "Uh oh", my husband said, "you're in big trouble. Nothing in English." Never fear, the first manual is in English - not that it did me a heck of a lot of good. Besides the rather slim manual, the box included a CD with the Palm keyboard software, and of course the keyboard itself. The keyboard comes snugly zipped up in a thin neoprene case.

Description of the Keyboard

This keyboard comes folded into fourths. Once unfolded, and the two sides are slid together, you have essentially a full-size keyboard (with a smaller than normal space bar and minus the extended numeric keys). There are two holes in the top corners of the keyboard for holding the stylus.

Some basic specifications on this keyboard:

o Weight: 224 grams
o Dimensions (closed): 93mm x 130mm x 20mm
o Dimensions (open): 352mm x 130mm x 9mm
o Key spacing: 19 mm vertical and horizontal
o Key travel: 3mm
o Power source: Derives power from the Palm handheld when docked, no additional batteries or power cords needed

By the way, I had to do quite a bit of searching for the above size specifications because they weren't available in the manual or the Read Me file with the software. Just seemed odd to me…

How is the Set-Up?

Keep in mind that I'm not at all a technologically savvy individual. Therefore, I approached this keyboard with complete and utter ignorance.

1st step: Put the Palm keyboard CD into your desktop computer and drag the Keyboard.prc file into the Add-On folder in your Palm folder (these are the directions for the Macintosh). This wasn't too tricky since I followed the directions in the manual, though it did take me a few more minutes to figure out how to actually command the HotSync Manager to install the software. Next, just HotSync your Palm with the desktop - piece of cake, I've done this MANY times. Voila! There is the keyboard icon on the Palm's application launcher.

2nd step: Unzip the nylon coated neoprene case, remove the keyboard, and open it up. OK, I did fine with this. There is an obvious little button to bush on the side that causes the keyboard to spring open from its accordion shape.

3rd step: Lay the open keyboard on a hard, flat surface (won't work on your lap). Push the two red trimmed side-grips in towards the center to push the keys into position. I'll admit, I didn't figure this step out right away until I read the manual. I thought "Man, this sure would be awkward to use with the keys separated so far apart!" Duh.

4th step: The docking connector support bracket is tucked neatly into the top right side of the keyboard. Pull it out until the flat support springs open and up (note that this is slightly different than the support for the Palm V keyboard). The docking connector (which looks identical to the end of the HotSync cable) tilts upward. Hey - I figured this step out all by myself! Pretty intuitive design, if you ask me.

5th step: Line the Palm with the angle of the upright support and then slide the Palm onto the docking connector. So far, so good.

6th step: Uh…now what? The manual says I should be able to start typing. Type, type. Nothing. Rats! I knew it couldn't be that easy. After re-reading the manual several times, I still couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Finally I pulled my Palm m100 away from the slim leather case (Rrriiiipppp!!!) and tried again. AH! Now we're talking!

Set-up officially complete. Elapsed time for the basic idiot = About 10 minutes. Not too bad at all.

Easy to Use?

Yes and no. Everyone seems to rave about how easy this Palm Portable Keyboard is to use. The actual typing is pretty easy, especially for a hunt-and-peck typist like me. Others apparently have had some difficulty adjusting to the small space bar. The keys feel nice and responsive. I enabled the "key clicks" so I could hear the clicking sound that I associate with typing. I did notice the slight delay in the appearance of characters when I typed but it wasn't that much of a problem for me.

The programming of the command keys to open applications was not too difficult, though remembering HOW I programmed them was. I mostly stuck to opening the main Palm applications (Date Book, Address Book, Memo Pad, and To-Do-List) by using the four preprogrammed keys on the far right of the keyboard. One thing that confused me at first was that clicking on the Memo Pad key on the keyboard opened the Note Pad application instead. I tried this over and over again and finally, frustrated and annoyed, I went back and read the "Read Me" file that comes with the software (hint: read this file FIRST). Apparently this is a bug in the program. The "Read Me" file says that you can make a CMD key shortcut to the Memo Pad. Personally, I would just rather it work right.

The keyboard comes with a number of convenient shortcuts for moving the cursor and selecting text so that they use of the stylus is minimized. This is where I had the most difficulty. I haven't learned all the shortcuts on my Mac and I know I'm not going to learn the ones on the keyboard. Must be "TOBS" (Tired Old Brain Syndrome). I guess I wanted something easier and more intuitive.

Why Am I Sending it Back?

This keyboard is an amazing work of art. I have no doubt that it's worth the $99 price tag - for someone who will actually use it. After carrying this around with me for awhile and trying to use it as often as possible, I found that I just didn't need it.

My main reason for getting the smallest and most inexpensive Palm, the Palm m100, was to have quick and easy access to my calendar, date book, and to-do-list. Other than jotting down an appointment here or there or items for my to-do-list, I don't use the Palm to input much data. Whenever I have large amounts of data to input (address book, setting up the calendar for next quarter) I just type it in on my desktop computer and HotSync it to the Palm.

I didn't like carrying around the extra item, either. The Palm m100 will fit nicely in my coat pocket but the Palm combined with the keyboard (as sleek as it is) is more bulk than I want. Finally, the keyboard will not connect to my Palm m100 when it is in the slim leather case (even though the HotSync port is exposed). No way am I going to take my Palm out of the case every time I want to type.

Overall Recommendation?

If you plan on using your Palm for inputting large amounts of data when you are away from your desktop computer, then nothing beats the Palm Portable Keyboard. I find the Graffiti writing pretty simple but it's not practical for doing LOTS of writing. My colleague who first introduced me to this keyboard says that she uses her keyboard all the time in place of a laptop. Of course, she's one of those goodie-goodie sorts who actually takes notes at meetings and conferences rather than playing SubHunt, beaming jokes to her colleagues or generally goofing off. Maybe when (or if) I grow up some day I'll be able to put this keyboard to better use.

It also seems a bit silly to me purchase an inexpensive Palm and then almost double the cost by buying a keyboard. Also, be aware that the slim leather case for the Palm m100 can get in the way of a good connection with the keyboard. I don't know about the hard plastic flip case that comes with the Palm m100 since I ditched mine awhile ago. My recommendation is to think carefully about how and when you will use a portable keyboard. If the potential benefits to you outweigh the costs, then go for it. In the meantime, I have a submarine to sink…

For anyone interested in reviews on other Palm products, feel free to check these out:

Palm m100:
http://dr-steph.epinions.com/cmd-review-568C-423BDA4-39D1805D-prod1

Palm m100 slim leather case:
http://dr-steph.epinions.com/cmd-review-C42-1ABD6F37-39DE8250-prod3

Palm m100 colored faceplate cover:
http://dr-steph.epinions.com/cmd-review-1236-BAA8714-39E4C520-prod1

3Com PalmConnect(tm) USB Kit:
http://dr-steph.epinions.com/cmd-review-ED1-A4289C7-39D7A942-prod5



Recommended: No