Customer Reviews

PalmOne Portable Keyboard for Palm III and VII

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been using a production prototype of this keyboard for almost a month and a half, now, and I find it valuable for a few tasks for which Grafiti (although, I use JOT) hanwriting recognition is not suitable: email, extensive note taking, and other large volumes of text input, and (interestingly) spreadsheet creation.

The new Palm Portable Keyboard is a FULL SIZE keyboard that folds so small and compact that it drops easily into a jacket pocket, a purse, or a briefcase. It has a FULL SIZE look and feel, with a full 3 mm travel.

When I go to a meeting, I can unobtrusively take notes by dropping my Palm III into the docking connector on the Palm Portable Keyboard. When I get back home (or to the office) and synchronize (HotSynch) my Palm with Microsoft Outlook on my PC, all my notes are just a point and click away from my word processor.

Now, if Think Outside (the designers and manufacturers of the Portable Keyboard) can get enough software companies to work with them to include tighter integration to the fantastic potential that Palm computing offers when linked with the additional power and flexibility that the Palm Portable Keyboard adds ...

One more item that i would like to see Think Outside add to their wish list: please put a serial connection on the keyboard so that we can:

1) Connect to a modem while doing email using the keyboard; 2) HotSynch from the keyboard docking connector - a nice capability so you can travel with the keyboard and leave the standard docking station at home.

Maybe this serial connector can be implemented as a choice of connectors that plug into the keyboard (to the right of the docking connector) and provide a selection, including: RS-232 DTE or DCE/ 9 pin or 25 pin; USB; 10-BaseT; etc.

I love my old Palm III. It is reliable, it syncs well with Outlook 2000 now that I've picked up PocketMirror, and the amoritized cost is now down to pennies a day. But after years of use, I still hate that stupid little stylus. My "graffiti" technique never got better than about 90% accuracy, I can never remember how to punctuate, and don't get me started on the little touchpad keyboards. So the Palm III keyboard is a godsend. First off, its very cool. The key action is very good--soft and accurate. I'm still fiddling with the delay settings, as the delay is a bit too slow for my tastes. They keys are also a little too noisy for use in a meeting. On the plus side, typing notes into the Palm is now a breeze. Better still: the keyboard is collapsible, so its folds into a small rectangle not much bigger than a Palm, but is very nearly full sized when unfolded. When unfolded and locked, it is pretty stable (although I agree with those who say you can't really use it on your lap). It looks great. What more can you ask?

I recently took my Palm III and keyboard to a conference. Everybody else was lugging around laptops. I just unfolded my keyboard, snapped on my Palm and rocked. All my Dilbertesque buddies were very jealous. (Palm probably owes me hundreds in finders fees.) The only problem: Carrying my Palm, the keyboard, and my cell phone is a lot of juggling. I need a small case that carries all three. Anybody know one?

I waited over four months to get this hot, back-ordered item, excited about the reviews it received and looking forward to taking notes on my Palm III. During the wait, my boss let me borrow his LandWare GoType keyboard, and I began to get used to its small size and usefulness.

Finally, my Palm Portable Keyboard arrived in the mail and I opened it, marvelling at its sleek design and extreme portability. I installed the driver, unfolded the keyboard and started typing.

The first thing I immediately noticed was that, once unfolded, you can't put this keyboard on your lap; it's just not rigid enough. A bit of an inconvenience (the GoType is sturdy enough to do this), but I figured I'd just use a hard surface when I need to type.

The next thing I noticed was that after installing the keyboard driver, suddenly my entire Palm OS had slowed down to a crawl. I visited Palm's website and sure enough, they said this was a problem with the driver. They had a beta driver that I installed to fix the problem.

But then the biggest problem was obvious: The Palm Portable Keyboard can't catch up with your typing. I type pretty fast (40-60 WPM) and it was painful to watch the Palm lagging a few seconds behind me after I finished a line of text. In comparison, the LandWare GoType enters text instantaneously. As a technical writer, I can't afford to have people slow down during meetings while my keyboard catches up.

I called Palm support on this and they said they were aware of the problem, and would likely release a driver to fix the slowdowns eventually. I've waited long enough, Palm Inc. I'm going out and buying a GoType instead.

To Sum up: If you like nifty technology, need extreme portability, and don't type very fast, the Palm Portable Keyboard is worth getting. If you need a reliable product that is sturdy and useful, get the LandWare GoType instead.

The inventor's of the Palm Portable Keyboard have have developed an incredible accessory to the Palm PDA Platform. You have got to see it and try it out to appreciate its marvel. It literally is a full size keyboard that folds up and is only slightly larger then the Palm PDA itself. It even comes in a nice carrying case. Inputing information into your Palm is a snap and I really appreciate not having to write, using the grafiti tool to add information into my Palm. If you use the Memo feature on your palm to jot down some notes, type a lengthy memo, etc., this this keyboard is for you. Typing is a breeze and feels very natural as if you were typing at your PC. There are specific keys on the board that replace the need to tap on a menu item to be called up. I cannot emphasize the portability and light weight of the keyboard and the uniqueness of how it folds up into compact size. If you are a regular user of your Palm PDA then this keyboard is a must. You will not regret spending the extra bucks in lieu of convenience.

Although I have only had my keyboard for a day or two, I am already thrilled with it and wonder how I ever got along without it. For longer emails, class notes, or even simply entering appointments and to-do items, this device makes data entry a breeze. The fold-up design is ingenious, allowing maximum keyboard size into the minimum space possible. Since the keyboard is barely bigger than my Palm 7, I hardly notice it. I highly recommend this product to anyone who does a lot of "writing" on their Palm organizers.

I've had the Palm Portable Keyboard for not quite 24 hours. It's great for text writing, entering data in Quicksheet, and using shortcuts and function keys. Well made--it does wow my tech friends.

Some problems mentioned by others... * The need for a solid, flat surface instead of your knees. I've cut out a piece of masonite to rest the keyboard while in my car. Works fine. Since it doesn't weigh much, I can even slip the board into a tote bag or set it on top of a soft sided briefcase. If the features of the Palm Portable are the ones you want, this is a work around. * Slow response to key input. I noticed that but there is a buffer which catches up when I stop to think. That's not a bad habit for my type of writing.

A problem not yet mentioned by others... * Need to increase the P3 memory from 2 to 8. Maybe it's the SmartDoc text editor I'm using or maybe I'm just writing more that I did before, but I can see a memory problem coming fast.

Though I have the Go Type! keyboard already and think it's great, I decided to get this when I walked into a coffee shop and wanted to pull out my Palm to do some creative writing, only to face the problem of no easy way to input. (I have the Go Type! board and like it, but one usually wouldn't carry the Go Type board around, even though it is small -- it ain't really for pockets!) This is THE solution to that kind of writer's or user's needs! I agree with and would merely second most of the comments of the other reviewers, with manye one or two additions. This keyboard is slick, and well worth the not too expensive outlay of cash. I'd disagree with one writer, though, in this point: the folded up keyboard IS bigger than the Palm itself; it will NOT fit in most shirt pockets, for instance (unless you have big cargo pockets). And it is again worth highlighting that you DO definitely need a solid surface for this, which for certain folks (e.g. "field workers" like a friend of mine, who is helping outfit a bunch of social workers with Palm stuff for home visits to clients) might make it less useful than the Go Type! keyboard if the only solid surface you'll have to work on is your lap (often the case in a car, for instance. A not-TOO soft briefcase will work fine, though.) One slick feature missing on Go Type! (( think) is that this turns on your Palm by touching any key, much like waking up my Mac Powerbook from its "sleep" mode (this also has the same black keys, which is cool... actually the keys of this are BIGGER than my Powerbook's, creating the unusual adjustment problem of having a portable keyboard that is for once bigger than my computer's!) You don't have the problem that Go Type! has, of the right shift key being easily missed in favor of the "up" arrow, and the layout and function keys are great. Basically this keyboard and any Palm make a system that far exceeds my first, old Apple IIc computer in memory, practicality, and overall coolness (not to mention the really old days when we had to walk barefoot in the snowdrifts with our stacks of punch cards to the computer labs!) We've come a long way!

After having my Palm Portable Keyboard for one day, I am already a loyal fan. This thing is highly impressive. I own a Palm IIIx, and as of yet, I would have to really stretch to think of anything negative about this product. The design itself is ingenious... it folds up just like the pictures demonstrate. I have to say that before it came I was worried about it being a little flimsy; afterall, how sturdy can a foldable keyboard be? Forget it though- folded or unfolded, this is a rugged little product, and a marvel to the eyes. The keys have a nice, bouncy feel, just like a normal keyboard (another thing I was worried about, but no problems there), and there is no noticeable key delay for my typing speed, around 45 wpm. Having programmable keys is great- you can easily switch from applicaiton to application, and with a little bit of practice, it is easy enough to scroll and switch between applications without having to mess with the stylus. As I am a college student, I expect this to almost completely replace my use of a laptop, whether for notes in class, or typing a paper in the student lounge. It is extraordinarily easy to transfer text to a Word Document after performing a Hotsync, and I can set this up in 15 seconds, without having the bother of carrying around a heavy and sizeable laptop as well as books. Really am amazed with this product, and after quite a bit of research, Amazon currently offers the best price on this item, even after postage, whether online or in stores. In my opinion, this keyboard more than doubles the functionality of my Palm IIIx; it's the best buy I've made in a long time.

This thing is SMALL, folded. It is an accordian of four parts. It comes with a polyester zippered case, reminding me of scuba diving skins.

Slide one catch, and it unfolds. Slide two sliders on either side in, and you have a just about full size keyboard. Key feel is pretty good, does not feel cheap. It's construction looks well made, not cheesy. You fold out a little shelf on top for the Palm computer device. The Palm is offset to the left a little on the Palm III keyboard model. Can be a bit confusing at first...not much though, just watch where you initially place your fingers for touch typing. When done, slide the little shelf back in, slide out two slides on either side of the keys, and fold up the keyboard. To a size a little wider than the Palm computer and about 1" thick or so. Very handy.

Not much more you can say about it. It's a keyboard! The manual comes with good instructions. I wish it came with a small card with a list of special keystrokes for it. But I can make one of those.

Nice!

I don't see any need to repeat at length what the other positive reviewers have said--I agree totally that this incredible folding keyboard A) unfolds into a *full-size* keyboard with most keys the exact same size as those of your desktop keyboard, B) folds up into a size no bigger than the Palm itself, and C) works cleanly and smoothly with Palm programs as well as third-party add-on software (a definite plus in today's age where adding a peripheral to your computer often means hours spend hooking it up and fiddling with installation programs). What I *will* add that no one yet seems to have commented on yet is the ultimate COOLNESS factor...take this keyboard out, pop it open, and I guarantee your tech-head friends will be oohing and ahhing over its elegant and innovative design, compact size, and sleek shape...and when they see it *work* as smoothly and easily as it does, they'll want one too! ADMIT it, after all...isn't that at least ONE of the reasons you got a Palm...because it *looks* cool? Like the Palm, this looks cool, works great, and after a week you'll wonder how you ever did without it. (One addition not mentioned in the other reviews: don't expect to use this sitting on your lap, as the keyboard folds up in the middle. You have to set it down on a table.)