If you do any serious writing on your handheld PDA, you need an add-on keyboard. Period.
Sure, the "Graffiti" input of the PalmOS is a handy, intuitive way of handwriting on your Clie. Using your stylus, you write one letter at a time using a shorthand system of swipes and jabs that mimics the way you already write real, regular script by hand with a pen. But writing one letter at a time is difficult for those of us who think in SENTENCES -- those of us who can hardly keep our thoughts held patiently in place while our pens catch up to them. Graffiti is fine for short blurbs, but it slows your thinking down, it can lead to sloppy abbreviated input and typos galore. Sure, you can download some shortcut software and alternative scripting software (like Fitaly) that might speed things up a bit. But it's still limited to a sort of shorthand stenography. And yes -- you COULD do just fine scratching letter by letter into the "graffiti" box on your screen -- but if you've got a Clie, then you've got a precious hi-res color screen and you probably want to scratch it up as little as possible.
You need a keyboard for speed (if you know how to type), accuracy, and length. It will help you compose better on the PDA. It will help you be more productive. And -- armed with the right programs -- it will turn your handheld into a VIRTUAL LAPTOP, since you can do just about anything with it and upload the results to your computer.
What are those programs? Wordsmith is a fantastic word processor that breaks the limited space of the Memo program that comes with PalmOS. Get it at bluenomad.com. It blends seamlessly with Microsoft Word. Another add-on that will allow you to access every single button and menu choice in almost any program via the keyboard (e.g., no need for a stylus to change programs whatsoever!) is the wonderful LapTopHack. Get that at paulcomputing.com.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. There are many input devices for the Clie -- and Sony even sells a "minikeyboard" model. So what's so good about this keyboard in particular?
The PEGA-KB11 is a slick natural keyboard that folds up accordian style and fits in your jeans' back pocket. (If you don't have a pocket, it comes with a really sweet suede carrying case). Folded, it fits in your hand like one of those cases you might have held for a double-CD...maybe a little smaller than that. It's compact. And yet, when you unfold it -- to all the oooh's and aaah's of anyone standing nearby -- you've got a full length, natural sized keyboard that your hands will quickly navigate with ease. You'll squint at the tiny screen of your PDA more than you'll spend time looking for the right key to press. It's a mind-blowing design. And everything you WANT in a keyboard!
What does it require to use? Not much! Simply install a driver that comes on a CD with the keyboard (or available online). The PEGA-KB11 -- is that it's custom built for the more recent models of Sony Clie. It's only compatible with PEG-NR70V, NR70, TG50, T665C, T615C, T415, SJ33, SJ30, SJ22, SJ20, SL10. But these are all the current rave right now, so if you've bought a Clie within a year of this writing, you should be good to go. Still: check your specs before buying it. Will it work with all your software? Yes! Once you enable the keyboard through the driver, it will work in just about all programs. It has special keys corresponding to all the buttons on your device, and has arrow keys and even function keys you can assign to macros. And once you master its shortcuts, you'll rarely pick up your stylus at all. Of course, if you install the forementioned program, LapTopHack (paulcomputing.com), you'll never need to touch that stylus at all. The only thing the keyboard lacks is an "escape" key (though it has an "apps" key which works the same way... still, on my PC I hit "esc" quite habitually and so this throws me off whenever I try to use it on the Clie).
QWERTY layout is standard for this touch-type device. You can also install various layouts -- like the alternate Dvorak keyboard, which supposedly speeds up input.
No batteries are required!
You should know: this keyboard is essentially the Targus Stowaway, repackaged by Sony. It looks, feels, and is contoured exactly like the Targus and though I haven't verified it, I'm pretty certain that Targus makes these for Sony. I know because I recently upgraded my devices and bought the new keyboard because of the similarities. And they're IDENTICAL except for the receptacle where you actually attach the Clie.
Speaking of that receptacle (a docking station which is just like what you find on the end of any "hotsync" plug): be careful with it. The "jack" is very delicate and if you jam your Clie onto its holster on the keyboard, you very well may break it... it's the soft spot of the whole keyboard. I notice, too, that the Clie rests on top of this jack very precariously -- it doesn't "snap on" or snugly squeeze on to the jack, but simplie balances on it. Sometimes this wobbles if I slide the keyboard around. This lack of fixed holding is the biggest weakness of the keyboard. But it's not enough to prevent me from shouting out to you now: if you have a Clie buy this keyboard!
It's worth the price (about $80).
Compact design folds to fit in a small pocket Touch-typeable keys and QWERTY layout for faster and easier typing Sturdy built-in docking station Requi...More at Amazon Marketplace
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