Customer Reviews

HP/Compaq PA840U Stowaway Portable Keyboard for HP/Compaq

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Targus Stowaway Keyboard makes it easy when using some of the best features of the iPAQ, such as MSWord. If you think that the excitement stops there, your wrong. This nifty keyboard fits right in your pocket and is as small, if not smaller than the iPAQ. Its built in application buttons, and programable buttons make it 10 times easier to navigate the iPAQ, but don't worry, if you ever get lost in your own little iPAQ world, just hit the TODAY button on your keyboard and your right back home. Although it is a little hard to connect when the CF slot is attached, it can be done, and in no way affects its performance. I would recommend this product to anyone who owns an iPAQ and for its farely low price of ... it's well worth the value.

Finally, relief of stress off the fingers and eyes. It's hard to imagine how I made so far without this keyboard. Without a doubt, this keyboard makes life much, much easier. I used to try to get by using that Transcriber software that came with my iPAQ. It worked fine, but after a while my hand started to really ache. Not only that, it was kind of difficult to concentrate on the notes you are jotting down while at the same time you have to concentrate on writing perfectly so the transcriber can read your writing. And, of course, like any other owner of this product would say, "it's so convenient because you can fold it up and carry it in your pocket." It's almost like carrying a laptop in your pants' pocket.

The "bad" part may be...Well, product reviews say this keyboard is tough and solid. True...when it's folded up. But once you unfold it, it seems kind of flimsy. But what can you expect? Also (it's been mentioned before), there's no locking mechanism to keep the keyboard flat. When you lift it up, it folds down the middle...so you can't really use it on soft surfaces.

Anyway, those aren't the parts that really bother me. What bothers me, and I'm pretty sure it has crossed the minds of the other owners of this product, is the part where the PocketPC docks on to. It has that snappy, thin plastic, metal wire thing going on and kind of gives a feeling of a toothpick holding up an apple when you dock it. I don't know...maybe I'm just paranoid.

Well, none of the "bad" sides of it messed up on me yet so I am not complaining. All I know is that this thing is a savior to my cramping hand. I can jot things down ten times faster.

I've had my PDA for over a year and recently decided to really get into it. I decided that writing, though a cool function within itself, could be irritating if you had to write alot of notes. I decided to buy the keyboard at a local office supply store. I was very impressed. I wrote Targus because I thought the power supply extension wasn't included (it was "hidden" in the fold of one of the edges-look for it!). They immediatly wrote back and asked me for my shipping information. Let's see if I receive it.

Be careful when opening the area that you dock the PDA into. It can be rather fragile and come off. However, it went back into place and still functioned. One more piece of advice. I got this device for less through Amazon.com. I did notice, however, that they like to move the price up and down alot so you may want to keep your eye on things.

I've had this keyboard for over 2.5 years now and it still works great. I used it to take notes on my Ipaq all through law school. It is compact enough to slip into a small pocket in my backpack. It sets up and docks in no time.

The best feature is the keystroke action. The keyboard is full-size and types beautifully. I would prefer it to most laptops I have typed on.

Having hotkeys programmed and programmable to launch individual programs is nice. The only improvement I would like to see would be support for MS Word type hotkeys such as Ctrl-U for underline and Ctrl-I for italics. Cut, Copy, and Paste (Ctrl-x,c,v) hotkeys do work, however.

I had one of these for my first PDA which was an IBM Workpad, and no other keyboards compare. I currently have a Compaq 3955 and was very pleased to see the keyboard already comes with the adapter (the product description says you have to request the adapter separately from Targus)!

I tried a wireless keyboard, but I had to turn off my infrared port, enable the wireless input, then turn my PDA upside down so it could communicate with the keyboard. Other keyboards were shaped funny and didn't feel too natural. I quickly tired of all this and decided to go back to the Targus Stowaway. Amazon has a great deal and I got this at almost half the price it would have cost at the store.

This is still the best keyboard in my opinion.

I was tired of writing notes during meetings on legal pads and then loosing them. I started writing notes on Pocket Word with this keyboard and it's great. I must say I get TOO MUCH ATTENTION from meeting attendees when they see my iPAQ and this keyboard, but once the meeting gets rolling, the speaker can tell whether I'm interested or bored by whether I'm taking any notes. I can also type in newly acquired business card info during lulls in the meeting.

One thing I didn't like is that I would have hoped that pressing TAB would move you from field to field on programs like Contacts or Calendar -- it doesn't. You have to pick up the stylus and tap to the next field. Still, it's faster that writing all the letters in.

Handwriting recognition or the tiny on-screen keyboard is OK when you don't have the time or space to set up a keyboard, but to really get the full use of the iPAQ where you can get set up, you NEED this keyboard.

This keyboard attaches easily and with the IPAQ provides a very lightweight and small (although somewhat limited) alternative to carrying a notebook computer especially when you have to work on a small airplane tray table or in a meeting. The keyboard plus Word works well for correspondence, small documents, etc. This is a must for Excel if a lot of numeric data needs to be entered as both speed and accuracy are greatly enhanced. As with the parallel Palm V keyboard, this one has an excellent touch, attaches easily (although not as easily as that for the Palm V), and is about the size of the PDA when folded. Well worth the money.

While this keyboard is not directly compatible with the IPAQ 3800 Series, Targus will forward a converter to you free of charge.

Call their tech support(correct number available at their web site)and confirm before purchase, but I have received mine and it works wonderfully. It even has a spot for the power cord so that you can charge while you are typing if you like.

The keyboard works well, folds well, impresses friends more than just carrying a hand size computer does. I have had three of these for various palm devices in the past and have found them durable as well as useful. If you are going to do any major data entry on your IPAQ you need one of these.

This nifty little keyboard was a gift, and it's the best gift I've received since...well, we won't go there. Amazing how this little gem clicks open, unfolds, snaps into position. I had no trouble attaching my Compaq to the board. When through, it unsnaps, folds, and fits neatly into my backpack or purse.

The most wonderful thing is that I'm actually using my hand held, and not just for games and calendar events. Great tool for writing notes in class, papers at the library, and additions to the weekly column while having a cuppa at the local coffeeshop. Plus, it's an eye-catcher, and a great way to meet people. Nothing but "Wow!" from local passersby.

well... I have Ipaq 3835. accessing online through activesync. when host computer is occupied by my wife, I use pocket pc to access online. I figure adding this keyboard will make it easier for chatting.
guess what... since pocket pc port is taken by keyboard there isn't way to make connection to host computer. I know it sounds stupid but it really didn't occur to me before I actually going through connections physically. I thought that I'm just adding a keyboard but didn't realize I'm replacing activesync connections for it.

Ideal would be, keyboard to have hook up port for activesync and power on the side that it replaces cradle all together (I might be asking for too much here)

I ended up purchasing compact flash expansion pack and CF modem to accomplish what I initially intended to do (online chatting on pocket pc with full size keyboard)

about hardware... it certainly is the best keyboard available today 1/20/03 for ipaq yet I can't say it's perfect.

keyboard really needs to be on a completely flat SOLID surface. if not, keyboard will bounce on every key stroke that you can't read the screen while you type.

as far as 3800 series adapter goes.. it's pain to carry it extra and it's even more pain trying to plug it into keyboard, but it's got power connector on the side. if you decide to write pages and pages using the keyboard, you don't have to worry about unplugging the keyboard and charging pocket pc.