iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
by Think Outside
|
Our Price: $229.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $69.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
Customer Review: Could not get it to work on Dell Axim X30BT
Summary: 1 Stars
Oh how I wanted this to work.
I ended up sending it back after spending seven hours, over two days, trying to get it to activate. Followed the instructions to a "T." Again and again.
Downloaded the new software. The instructions for both the old and new software ARE quite confusing.
Spent time on the web trying to find a support phone number for Think Outside. No such thing. Found an email support address. Emailed for help. Found a support forum. Posted my questions. Didn't hear back for two days and so mailed the unit back to Amazon. Then heard back.
Think I MAY have figured out--from the response they sent--something I could have done to get it going. But, too late. Too frustrating.
Obviously (from reading the reviews) it loads more easily on some other pocket devices. Allow lots of time for experimenting and contacting support by email and awaiting responses if you're loading it onto a Dell Axim. AND read the recent comments from other Dell Axim users here who had difficulties but figured out how to get it working. (Wish I had realized there were new comments from Dell Axim owners.)
I've used a Stowaway keyboard for my Palm for years. Works wonderfully. Never needed any help. Expected this one to be just as easy to install and delightful to use. Or even more so, being bluetooth. Wish that HAD been my experience. Had no idea there is not a support number for Think Outside. Had never had reason for one before.
I ordered the keyboard early in March and at the same time ordered the Bluetooth Travel Mouse. Had planned to install them together. But the Travel Mouse didn't come with the keyboard. I kept waiting. (Turns out the travel mouse is on major -- couple month -- back order.) When I realized that almost 30 days had passed since the keyboard had arrived and the mouse was not here yet, I decided I had better load the keyboard software and try it out. Wish I'd played with it the day it arrived. Would have given me plenty of time to do the slow back-and-forth email thing with Stowaway and, hopefully, get it going.
If you have a Dell Pocket PC, this is probably not going to be plug and play for you. (But if you do get it going, I'll bet you'll love it.)
Best,
kwc
P.S. 10-5-05 UPDATE: In April I ordered the InfraRed Stowaway keyboard. Had the same problems getting it to work with my Dell, using the driver disc and following the instructions supplied. So went back to the emails that I had gotten from Stowaway support after shipping back the Bluetooth keyboard. Per Support's instructions, went online and downloaded NEW driver-loading instructions and a new driver and, following the (let me emphasize this) NEW instructions--not the ones that came with the keyboard--it loaded in a snap. Works beautifully. Bet the bluetooth would have, too. Why, why, why do they ship a product with a driver and instructions that they know won't work? (Maybe they aren't doing that any more. But if you have trouble getting the driver to load, visit the site and download the new driver and new instructions.)
Customer Review: Still among the top folding Bluetooth keyboards available
Summary: 4 Stars
Originally created for use with Palm devices, the iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds is still among the best folding, nearly full-sized Bluetooth keyboards available. Its metal case and relatively simple folding mechanism result in a durable product that has given me years of reliable service. The keyboard feels great; the throw of the keys is nice and tactile feedback is on a par with many laptop keyboards. My fingers are none too slim and they easily fit on to this keyboard. Like many of us, these days, I'm a touch typist and I find using this keyboard as comfortable as any I might find, particularly on most laptop computers. I've owned a couple of these - not because they wear out (I still own and use the first one I purchased, nearly a decade ago) - but because I find it's useful to have one at my bedside and another in my gear bag.
Powered by AAA batteries makes it easy to operate. There's no proprietary power source or charging system required. It sips power, too; I find it lasts and lasts on a pair of NiMH rechargeable batteries.
Pairing with a phone or other device is very simple. However, my Symbian phones do not handle this as they should any authorized peripheral. I have to manually connect; I cannot just turn the keyboard on and start to type, in order to get the keyboard and phone to connect. I suspect this a deficiency with the Symbian OS and not with the keyboard.
The folding stand is very useful and fits a variety of devices of roughly phone-size, in either a portrait or landscape configuration.
Even without its zippered case, this keyboard travels very nicely and has a durable aluminum shell.
Why didn't I give this a perfect 5-star rating? The keypad is available, I think, only with the functions of the old Palm OS mapped on to the keys. It doesn't undermine the use of the keyboard with other operating systems, but can sometimes be distracting that the keys are printed with functions either not available on your phone's operating system or the keys cannot actually perform that function.
I find it very unfortunate that most so-called "smart phones" do not support mapping special functions on to Bluetooth keyboards. Admittedly, this is not a shortcoming of the keyboard itself. Phone manufacturers are simply more interested in equipping their systems with eye-candy and games, rather than the kinds of productivity enhancements which might make their devices more useful to those of us who try to rely upon them to aid is in our work and home lives.
It is astonishing to me that this keyboard isn't more popular and being emulated by other manufacturers. It would be terrific if it were to ship with software that could enable iOS, Android, and Symbian devices to map functions to its keys.
I highly recommend this keyboard, if you are looking for a durable, reliable, and comfortable folding Bluetooth keyboard for your handheld device.
Customer Review: Adequate, with limitations
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased this keyboard for my daughter, who has a Treo 680. I was attracted by it's bluetooth connectivity and small size. I'm not usually one to write a negative review, but this product 'pushed my buttons!" (When I intended to push ITS buttons!!!)
First, and most unfortunately in our case, this keyboard is NOT compatible with the Treo 680, although it is supposed to be compatible with most of the other Treos. (Check to make sure!!) The driver for this product caused her Treo to go into the endless reboot loop, and after many vain attempts, including soft resets, it was necessary to do a HARD reset, which required the re-installation of all of her programs, (thank heaven for backups, so her personal data was restored!!)
This keyboard is compatible with the Palm TX, though, which is what I have, so I kept it. However, turning it on is fussy, and it often takes 2-3 attempts to link them up via Bluetooth. Once linked up, it is adaquate as a keyboard, although there is often a small lag (maybe a second or so) in when I type a character and it appears onscreen, which can be annoying, when trying to verify spellings, etc.
The keyboard does lock open, which is great. However the support arm for the PDA needs some sort of locking device for the PDA, the least little jiggle can cause your PDA to fall over or off the arm. Not much of a problem on a table, but if you are counting on the "lock open" feature to help you while "on the road" (car, plane, train, etc.), the instability of your device will be a great impediment making it nigh on to impossible to do any significant work.
Summary: Adequate keyboard, but with several negatives. Wouldn't purchase it if I knew then what I know now: The Stowaway Ultra Slim Bluetooth Keyboard:
* is NOT compatible with the Treo 680
* has Bluetooth linking that usually takes a few attempts
* also takes a few attempts to turn it on and have it stay on
* Poor setup for physically supporting mobile device , the device will slip off the support arm with the tiniest amount of movement...therefore not suitable for use on lap or during travel, inspite of it's nifty "lock open" feature (Satisfactory at a stationary table or desk, though)
On the positive side:
*If you just want to enter data at your desk, and your device is compatible, this would be a nice item to have.
*It is definitely faster than grafitti or the thumbpad (with a smartphone) or tapping it it (with an old-school PDA)
*And, true to its name, it is very slim and compact; it easily slips into a purse or briefcase.
iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for Blackberry and other PDA/ Handhelds
Customer Review: Slim Keyboard
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the third keyboard I've purchased, and it's the one most comfortable to use out of the packaging. The first two I purchased were the HP and Nokia BT keyboards, and this is the first one of the three that has worked perfectly with both PDA and smartphone.
I'll focus on the aspects that mattered most to me, as most of the other reviews here already say what convinced me to buy this keyboard initially. So this is from my perspective, if you want more general reviews there are plenty of good ones, especially those labeled most useful:
As you open this keyboard up, the "crease" of the keyboard is supported by a back panel, so the keyboard is held quite firm down the center. Also, packed up, this keyboard can fit into a large pocket, and can be carried around effortlessly. Finally, this is a 4 row keyboard (there is a 5 row version that I didn't know about) so all the numbers overlap the top row (qwert-) and a function (fn) key is needed to put in numbers, with numlock available, and a second function key for symbols. It takes some getting used to, but once you have the hang of the two function keys they are indispensable and used as often as shift is.
With my other two keyboards, I had to "retrain" my hand positions along the keyboard to type "normally". That is, without accidentally hitting some of the oddly placed keys (shift, /, ', \, etc.) While this keyboard does not eliminate that problem, it does feel most closely to the layout and size of a full keyboard.
Overall, it's a great keyboard, I can't comment on the battery life as I've had it for just over a month, and I haven't had to change the batteries yet. And I've been expecting them to day any day now at 15-32 hours/week use.
If I had to change something I would: 1) Add a USB rechargeable built-in lithium battery. 2) Make the tray removable, as often I use the keyboard without the tray holding either phone or PDA. 3) Make the tray size changeable, currently, it can't hold my phone (Nokia E51) very stable, and not at all if I have the phone "portrait".
In the design of the keyboard, once the keyboard is closed, the tray clasps onto the back of the keyboard. When open, the tray stays sticking out. It's really this issue, as well as my hopes of a rechargeable bt keyboard, that make me give this a four star. Really, though, it deserves a 5 or a 4.5.
If you're looking for a BT keyboard and are constantly on the move or travelling, this is probably the best bet out there. I use it in my office at work, when traveling, in the car/subway, and anywhere else I have it with me that I have to wait for someone or something.
I use it to send emails, text messages, browse the internet, make calendar appointments, for IM chatting, and writing notes. On both HP Ipaq Hx4700 and Nokia E51, but mostly on my phone.
Customer Review: great for portability, not that great as keyboard replacement.
Summary: 4 Stars
So far, I have only used this on my ps3, which I am typing on right now. I am a little depressed with the speed being that I have to type slower than normal. I am a pretty fast typer so i guess most people wouldn't notice a difference. I also find it frustrating that i have to hit the fn key to type in any numbers. So far, the right fn button doesnt work properly as it does the same things as the left one (they are supposed to have different functions, so i can't make the 'at' symbol or most of the other common symbols like that). They also package it with a sticker stretching from the back to the front on the keys. This sticker is very hard to get off without it tearing and leaving goo everywhere. I also keep hitting the up arrow when i go to hit the right shift key, so if there are any typos in this review, that is probably why. It does seem a little fragile when open and close it. I was scared to close it the first time because it seems like it would have broken.now for the postives. It is a sound, portable keyboard. It seems like it can withstand a fair amount of abuse. It also comes with a padded carrying case that is pretty nice. It is also really nice to be able to have a keyboard instead of using the ps3 controller to type in text. For the range, I walked about 30 feet away and the signal had to pass through some walls and it still worked fine. It seems to be compatable with many devices, and their customer support takes suggestions for other devices to make drivers for. For the ps3 and windows xp and vista, you do not have to download any drivers. For connecting it to the ps3, look to the bottom of this review. The keys are slightly smaller than a real keyboard, but it is pretty close and seems to fit my hands quite nice. The keys are also nice and springy. It comes with a removeable stand that you can rest your pda/phone on while you are typing. Since i am using this for the ps3 right now, i went ahead and took it off.
Overall, I find this to be a great buy. I got it for 28 dollars and would buy another without thining about it. It seems like it is great for on the go, but for a fully functional keyboard it is not that great. For portability, I give it a 5/5 and overall a 4/5 because of the few negatives listed above. For the price, this bluetooth keyboard is definitely a steal.
To connect to the ps3:
-go to the accessories under the ps3 menu
- select bluetooth accesories then register bluetooth device
- select keyboard/mouse then hit scan
- press Ctrl + Left fn + Right fn and wait for a green light to blink
- type in the number that comes up on the ps3 to register the device and hit enter
- it is now paired with the ps3 and will work whenever you have it opened.