Customer Reviews

Bluetooth Folding KeyBoard for PDA's Apple iPad iPad 2 / PC's / Smart Phones / BlackBerry / Android OS

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I use my Motorola Droid all day to send emails (not allowed to have personal laptops at my job and most websites are blocked on my work computer-even those relevant to my job). The Freedom Pro worked wonderfully with my Droid. I had no problems connecting it. The website gave clear directions for how to connect. I would say it's a very practical keyboard. It folds up small and fits perfectly in my small purse. The keyboard runs on AAA batteries and I haven't had a problem with battery life at all. It types well. You can personalize the F-keys for the applications you want. Overall, it was well worth the money.

Before the Android 2.2 update came out, I was very disappointed that my high end smartphone (HTC Droid Incredible) did not have the bluetooth capability for keyboards. However, as soon as the 2.2 Froyo system update for the Incredible came out and was installed on my phone, I checked and found that they were now supported.
I purchased this keyboard, downloaded the official android driver from Freedom Input's website, and the keyboard works like a charm. I am now using it for class to take notes instead of my laptop.
The link to the driver page is the following:
"otadrivers.com/pronew/notonthelist.php"
For some reason, Amazon keeps on deleting my link. So it can be found in the comments too.
The driver is at the bottom under Android 2.2

*Update, October 18, 2010 a month and a half of using it to take notes in class*
NOTE* not all FN functions on the keyboard work with Android; however, others do work, such as volume up, down, etc.
- You can also configure button shortcuts at the top in the driver settings
- If you accidentally type "shift + space" at the same time, it will toggle the language output to Korean (I did a few times getting used to the keyboard); to switch back, simply press "Shift + Space" again to switch back to English. The language toggle is an option to turn off in the driver settings, but for some reason, it does not work.

I use this keyboard with my Blackberry Tour and the it connects easily via Bluetooth every time I pair them. When open, the keyboard is large enough to include number keys on the top row. I'm a guy with average-sized hands and the keyboard is manageable. There is the slightest of slight lags sometimes when typing, mostly when they first pair. Overall, it keeps up with my above-average typing speed.

The keyboard snaps closed to the size of two Blackberrys side-to-side. It comes with a case to prevent scratching and other damage.

A little stand pulls out, as illustrated in the product pictures, and is great to use to support my phone.

I have trouble customizing the function keys. I don't know if its my own ineptitude or the keyboard, but I admit I haven't tried VERY hard to program it. The customized function keys would be great to use, though.

I am satisfied with this wireless keyboard and would recommend it to those who take notes during meetings, classes, or are frequently on the road but need a way to type out ideas, letters, or correspondence.

I've own this keyboard for a few days and my first impression was that for the price, it looks very cheaply made. cheap plastic, design is poor, the keys are aligned pretty much straight on top of each other which is not the key layout of any other keyboard, some keys are smaller and narrower than others to make them fit, and gives you a totally different feeling on your fingers if you are used to typing on any other computer or laptop keyboard. If you are a good typist the layout of the keys makes it uncomfortable and inaccurate to your fingers and you have to retrain your fingers to find the keys. I own the iGo keyboard that is really well designed and it feels exactly as if you are typing on a laptop, unfortunately the iGo is not compatible with my Android Evo 4G, the freedom keyboard is compatible, but some of the special function keys don't work with it such as the key to go to email, etc., I guess the drivers have to be updated to be fully compatible with Android phones. For the price of this keyboard they could have done a better job designing it and building it with better plastic at least.

I'm on the road for work a lot and when I have to type a long email, I use this keyboard. It paired easily with my Droid X using the HID profile. I'm curious to also try attaching a monitor to the phone's hdmi port to replicate a PC experience with my phone. Amazing how smartphones have progressed since my blackberry curve of a few years back.

PROS: Size, easy to pair (with Droid X), clicky keys, direction arrows

CONS: The "B" letter is on the wrong side of the folding seam for the left hand, I haven't gotten used to this. The locking mechanism to keep the board from folding isn't very strong and the keyboard still flexes if you are trying to use it in your lap while in the car (parked of course!). Also, I wish that the phone stand that tucks away in the keyboard could actually attach to the keyboard to hold the phone over it while you type. It doesn't so you have to find a table or flat surface to set your phone on. The picture the shows the phone tray coming out of the keyboard is misleading in that it looked to me like you could pull it out and leave it attached to the keyboard while you type. You can't.

The three cons are pretty minor, the "B" issue being the biggest pain. I hope they improve it for whenever I wear this one out.

I'd like to see a premium version where the keys glow. At least they could have painted the letters with glow in the dark paint.

I bought two of these for use with some HTC EVO Android-based phones. Most people know that right now, most android phones have bluetooth, but they do not support most modern bluetooth keyboards. That is what brought me to get the Freedome Pro keyboard, as it supported both the current (HID-Human Interface Device) and old (SPP-Serial Port Protocol) bluetooth protocols. When I bought mine, the drivers were beta, but worked just fine--use SPP mode. The directions for setup on the website were great, very detailed with screen-shots, and following them was quite straight-forward. The keyboard (folded is about the size of my hand) works well, and batterylife seems pretty good. It makes typing a breeze, and I have also used the keyboard in HID mode (with my iPad) and netbook with good results.

The keyboard quality is superior. It takes a few minutes to get use to some of the key positions but you quickly can master it. I understand it was initially made for use with the Blackberry. I don't have one. I have an HTC Evo. It was stated that they had recently released a driver for the android platform so I decided to give it a try. It works well but the only negative are the dedicated keys for email, calender, phone call start & stop, etc. don't work but hopefully they will be able to improve the driver so that it will be possible in the future. Also, as I am using it for an Android phone there are additional steps to have it connect to the phone. You can't just turn it on and it automatically pair and start using it. But even with these negatives in mind I would still recommend it as a quality product. The only reason I don't give it a 5 rating is for the issues I've stated above. Even knowing the drawbacks I would purchase it again.

This is my second keyboard and the only one that I could find that works with my HTC Evo. I followed some simple directions that I found by googling HTC Evo and Freedom Pro and it worked perfect.... Hope this helps other HTC Evo users.

I purchased this keyboard to use with a Droid X. I find that it's a bit tricky to pair and connect, but it does work. I have to use a combination of the instructions on the site where one downloads the driver, and the Symbian instructions that came with the keyboard.

That said, once it is up and going, I like it a lot. For emails or other extended typing, it is much easier to use than the virtual keyboard even using Swype. I have small hands, but it seems large enough for me. The right shift key does take some getting used to, as it's a farther reach than on most keyboards. If your cursor seems to be jumping around crazily, check where you're really hitting when you reach for that right shift key! ;-) The Backspace key is a bit awkwardly placed too.

None of these glitches are dealbreakers, though. It does what it claims to do, and it does it well. After getting it and using it, I thought long and hard about the cost vs. the time I use it, and even though I don't use it constantly, I decided it was well worth keeping. It helps turn a smart phone into a true pocket computer.

I got this keyboard to use with my iPhone 4, and possibly also my Nook Color (which is an Android tablet without Bluetooth enabled). After some trouble, I finally got it up and running with my iPhone. So far, no luck with either my Nook or my Windows laptop, perhaps because I need to use Bluetooth dongles with those.

The tiny documentation brochure provided with the keyboard did not explain how to set up with the iPhone. Neither did the manufacturer's web site, [...]

I emailed the manufacturer and got the following instructions for pairing the Freedom Pro with an iPhone 4:

1) Switch on the keyboard and ensure it is in HID mode. (The switch to the right underneath the pairing button, on the left hand side of the keyboard).

2) Hold down the recessed pairing button (situated above the SPP and HID switch) with a pen/pencil on the keyboard for a few seconds, until the LED is flashing in an On/Off like fashion.

3) iPhone go to Settings, General and then Bluetooth. Ensure that the Bluetooth is turned on.

4) Once you have done this, your Freedom Pro keyboard will show up under Devices and say Not Paired.

5) Tap on it and you will then be prompted with a message to type a 4 digit passkey. After you have entered the passkey on the Freedom Pro, press Enter on the keyboard.

Optional: You can also add additional keyboard layouts for other language inputs. Select "International Keyboards" button again and then select the "Add New keyboard" option.

6) The keyboard should appear under Devices and say Connected.

See YouTube for a video demonstration on how to connect a Freedom Pro keyboard with an iPad (Same process as an iPhone): [...]

A few quibbles. Following the instructions in step 2 above, I used a pencil to depress the pairing button; this didn't work, but a metal push pin did work. The "device stand" that comes with the Freedom Pro is kind of flimsy and only allows you to set your phone at fairly low angles. Also, the included batteries were dead. More important for long-term use, it is difficult to move the slider that locks and unlocks the keyboard in the flat position; use a pen or something to avoid tearing your fingernail.

Despite the keyboard's small size, the keys were large enough to use comfortably. At last I can write on the iPhone without using the soft keyboard! And folded, the keyboard stays closed and seems so well protected that I probably won't bother using the included case unless I'm taking the stand along.

I'm pleased with this purchase -- especially because the Amazon price was $30 lower than the price on the manufacturer's site.