iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
by Think Outside
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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 |
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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: Compact, but awful software
Summary: 2 Stars
Looks and feel nice - would be a great product if not for all the software issues. I was unable to connect to the keyboard in secure mode with my Treo 700p after following the directions to the letter. After much messing around and deleting the bluetooth cache I was finally able to convince it to connect.
Then discovered that the latest driver (v4.1 8/06) does not properly support the 700p so the cursor keys do not map to the 5-way navigator in many contexts, meaning for example that you cannot use the cursor keys to navigate menus, or move around in the Applications list - ThinkOutside customer support said they were aware of the issue and might fix this in a future driver if possible.... Pretty lame. Cursor keys do work properly in Documents to go editting though.
Because the Palm OS doesnt support more than one Bluetooth device active at a time, there appear to be all sorts of issues with switching back and forth between devices - when I try to pair my Jabra headset after installing the keyboard I found I couldnt (even after disconnecting the keyboard), and after wrestling with the Jabra and giving up, I found I couldnt connect to the keyboard again without wiping the bluetooth cache (or maybe it was the soft-reset that fixed it).
So my recommendation would be to stay away from this product - but on the other hand it doesnt appear that any alternative products are any better. Unbelievable, especially when you consider that these are just software issues.
Customer Review: An excellent tool
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been dreaming of getting this, or another, keyboard for my Dell Axim x30 since the first time I wrote a detailed email on it. No matter what, writing 1000 plus characters with the stylus and on-screen keyboard just doesn't work out.
So, the package arrives with my new keyboard, first thing I notice is the batteries ARE included (yippie - my wife had used the last of our 'spare' AAA's in one of the kids games). Next, I was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy the keyboard feels. Despite other reviews that I've read, I noted no loose keys. Finally (just in reference to the look and feel) I am blown away by the nice tactile feel of the keystrokes!
Now it is time to set it up. I activated my PDA, connected (via BlueTooth) to my desktop using ActiveSync. Installing the driver over the connection went fine, though it seems not to function if you install it to the storage card. Downloading and installing an updated driver is a little confusing too. NOTE: Turn bluetooth OFF before activating the software, if your bluetooth is on when you go to activate the software (after resetting your device) the software won't find the bluetooth system.
Once up and running, this keyboard is even better than what I have been expecting, it has nicely laid out hotkeys for openning PDA functions and programs, making the stylus almost obsolete.
Overall, other than a few SMALL snags with setup, the quality and operation of this keyboard are excellent!
Customer Review: cool device, questionably BB compatible
Summary: 3 Stars
I received this device yesterday, and after reading some other reviews, was glad to see that the sticker on the back announced that it was compatible with Blackberry devices. That's the good news. The bad news that none of the drivers on the CD-ROM worked with my BB 8830. And none of the drivers on the iGO website seemed to work with this device. And the 2 portable iGo keyboards on their website had different model numbers than the one Amazon sold me. I loaded drivers from both of the other keyboards on the iGo website, and tried to get one of them to work.
After literally 2 hours, I managed to get one of them to work with the keyboard and the BB. You have to plug in a sequence of 0-0-0-0 on both the BB and on the keyboard (plus ENTER)in order to make them "see" each other. The other problem is that iGo marketing folks decided to place a very sticky label directly on the keyboard, covering a number of the keys, including the 0 key required for pairing the keyboard and the BB. It took another 30 minutes with a sharp knife, several fingernails and some nail polish remover, to get most of the label and the goo underneath it off the keyboard.
The other complication is that the function keys that are printed on the keyboard seem to be more appropriate for Palm and other devices than for BB devices. I wish it worked for all of them.
I suggest that you think long and hard about this keyboard because some of these problems are rather annoying.
Customer Review: Great for the iPad!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this keyboard years ago for use with a WinMo pocket PC. It was pretty sweet but it didn't take long before an entire section of keys stopped working. After having it sitting in a drawer for years I pulled it out to see if I could get the keys working so I could sell it on eBay. After fiddling with the cables inside the keyboard I was able to get the keys working again but not consistently, so back in the drawer it went.
When I picked up an iPad just over a week ago I decided to pull the keyboard out once more, just to see if the iPad would work with it. Lo and behold, the keys were all working! I have to thank the reviewer who posted the tip about the windows key working like the option key on an apple keyboard. That is very handy info!
Honestly what can I add that hasn't been said? The lack of a number row sucks. The keyboard is unstable on a flat surface. Those two faults aside the rest is pure bliss. I am able to touch type on this keyboard better than on most laptops. The keys are perfectly spaced and have just the right spring.
I can't believe how much it's selling for right now. I think I paid $100 for it but I see it goes new for $200 now!? Crazy. I understand that it's not being made so supply is limited, but the going price is a testament to what a great keyboard it is. Clearly it is still very competitive in a market which is much more crowded than when the keyboard was still being made.
Customer Review: Just the thing to multiply the usefulness of my Nokia 770
Summary: 4 Stars
Neither Nokia nor Stowaway will officially state whether one works with the other's product, so I'm adding a short note to confirm that yes, they do! (You need the bluetooth plugin from http://770.fs-security.com/keyboards.html to make it work, no warrants or guarrantees offered or implied though.) And I find that a keyboard increases the usefulness of my Nokia by at least 300%!
But I have had a few problems with this portable keyboard:
1. When I unpacked the keyboard, one of the keys popped off when I pulled off the tape that lay on top of it. While the key easily clicked back onto where it belonged, my heart still missed a beat or two.
1a. An update: I contacted them soon after this, while the keyboard was still under warrantee, and they replaced it without any hassle. Wow -- real customer service!
2. Be warned: bluetooth keyboards eat batteries. If you leave one in the keyboard, it will be dead within a couple of days.
3. After having this attractive device for a couple of weeks now, I've noticed occasional problems getting the "m" key to work -- yet all of the other keys are echoed on the Nokia just fine. I'm not sure what's up with this -- whether I'm struggling with RF interference or a problem with my unit -- but I feel I need to mention this problem.
If it weren't for these 3 issues, I'd give this nifty little device 5 out of 5 stars. But life is never simple out on the cutting edge.