Portable keyboards and phones: does it really work?

[BadOmen]

Hi
I type damn fast in regular keyboards since 1987, and that helps me a lot to write my articles. So I would like a phone that would allow me to type my ideas in places like the subway or a bus, but without doing it with one thumb in a tiny phone keyboard. So:

- I`ve seen some online stores selling something like a portable bluetooth keyboard for PDAs (I think it`s even foldable). Is that reliable? Can it be used on Bluetooth-enabled phones as well, or only in PDAs? Does it work fine, or would it be completely insane and clumsy to assemble and use it in a subway? Does the keyboard have to touch the phone/PDA to work, or can it be from a little distance (say: from my pocket to my lap)?

- If this keyboard works and is a good idea, should I use it with a PDA or is there a phone that would answer well to the gadget?

It would be wonderful if I could sit down on a subway, put a keyboard on my lap, press a key on the phone on my pocket and start typing. I bought my last phone in 2003, so I don`t know a thing about recent models, that's why I'm bringing such a stupid question to you guys.

I would really appreciate any tip you could give me.

Thanks a million in advance

OOPS, I forgot to mention: I use Rogers Canada (GSM) as service provider. Also, in case the solution to my problem lies on a phone, if it's a quad-band I would be extremely happy.
Thank you all!!:beer:

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I use a Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard. Been using it for 3 years on my bluetooth PDA and then my bluetooth PDA phone (Sprint Mogul / HTC 6800). Works great, I can type fast. Should work with any phone with bluetooth. And yeah, it's wireless so it doesn't have to touch. I'm not sure what the range is.

Cons:
1. You have to hold down a Function key for any of the numbers, and also for any of the symbols above the numbers (!@#$%^&*()).
2. Fn + Backspace = Off. Sometimes you hit backspace while you still have your finger on the Fn key. This turns off your phone.
3. My first Stowaway died due to sand and grit exposure. Always using the included keyboard pouch is recommended.
4. The plastic stand that the PDA can rest on is cheaply built and can break. Call Stowaway and they will send you two replacements free of charge.
5. The low battery indicator turns on like 2 minutes before the entire keyboard goes dead, but it has a long battery life... I have on average 3-4 hours of classes a day in which I type, so 20 hours a week. Batteries can last over two weeks.

 

[BadOmen]

About the keyboard, that sounds awesome and I`m already checking for its price around here. The problem is the phone, as my service provider only works with GSM phones. I tried googling HTC Mogul but only found it as a CDMA phone.

Maybe HTC has something different for GSM. Overall, do you think it's a good brand? Better than, say, RIM?

And I think Windows Mobile would be something pretty important in my case, did I get that right?

You say you had that keyboard in a PDA and then on a PDA phone. Did you think gathering phone and PDA in one device was a great deal?

Thanks a lot, it's really good to hear some honest opinions. I've been suffering a lot with Rogers' telemarketers pushing me their expensive phones and extensive contracts without answering to my questions.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: BadOmen
About the keyboard, that sounds awesome and I`m already checking for its price around here. The problem is the phone, as my service provider only works with GSM phones. I tried googling HTC Mogul but only found it as a CDMA phone.

Maybe HTC has something different for GSM. Overall, do you think it's a good brand? Better than, say, RIM?

And I think Windows Mobile would be something pretty important in my case, did I get that right?

You say you had that keyboard in a PDA and then on a PDA phone. Did you think gathering phone and PDA in one device was a great deal?

Thanks a lot, it's really good to hear some honest opinions. I've been suffering a lot with Rogers' telemarketers pushing me their expensive phones and extensive contracts without answering to my questions.

As long as the phone has bluetooth, the keyboard should work. GSM, CDMA, it doesn't matter. It just needs bluetooth, which has nothing to do with cell phone carrier.

HTC is alright. The Mogul definitely has issues; it's hardly perfect, but it does have a lot of functionality. It's just not as polished as I would like it. A lot of it has to do with HTC, and a lot of it also has to do with the fact that MS just can't get PDA functionality completely right. I have no idea on RIM. A lot of people enjoy the Blackberries though, but I don't think BBs have touchscreens?

Not sure if the Think Outside keyboard is only Windows Mobile compatible.

Gathering PDA + Phone is absolutely excellent. Pair this with something like Sprint's cellular DATA network and you truly have a powerful device. Voice, internet practically anywhere, media player, note taker, etc. The only problem I have is if, for example:

I'm browsing the web on the phone for a hotel near me. I find the phone number for the hotel and want to call them to check rates. I have to memorize this number, switch to phone mode, and type in the number. Or jot the number down on a piece of paper so that I can look at it while typing in the number. If I forget the number halfway through dialing it, I have to switch out of phone mode to re-check the number in the browser, which clears the numbers I have dialed in so far.

 

[BadOmen]

Hm, it seems that HTC only provides the Mogul as CDMA. I would need to find another option. Is the Touch similar to it somehow?

Well, it seems that a phone with MSWord and Bluetooth will do, anyway. But as that won't be cheap, I'm trying to narrow my search down to a few nice models.

 

[uli2000]

the equivilent (not really as it's better than the Mogul) would be the HTC Kaiser/TYTN2/ATT tilt (pretty much all the same phone).

 

[BadOmen]

I've seen this one around. Good to know it's a good model.

There is a carrier in Canada offering for free (although you gotta sign one of those ridiculous 3-year contracts) the HTC S720. Would that be a good one, or far worse than the Tnty?

 

[DivideBYZero]

I have an Eval version of this BlueTooth keyboard which I'm going to hook up to my BlackBerry 8120.

Problem I have right now is the thing needs unlocking via software installed on the BlackBerry. Why a KB manufacturer would do this is mind blowing, but yeah, it's not working yet. I'll update when I get a response from their support people.

 

[DivideBYZero]

OK, I got it hooked up. The keyboard in my previous link works with all devices; lappies, WinMo, BlackBerry, Symbian, etc.

Quick note: The tech support was astoundingly quick and accurate, all via email. This is always worth paying a little more for, IMHO.

Works great is all I can say!! Works in every app and you can navigate the BB OS from it, with emulation for all major controls and custom shortcuts for the BB. Funny part is the BB key is the 'Windows' key on the Keyboard! There is a driver app that runs on the device and allows you to set options, like auto-connect, key repeat rate, test and so on.

There is a pop up cradle for your device, so when you use it the screen is presented toward you. This will be great on the train or similar where you have a table in front of you.

All in all I'm very impressed and would advise it if you want to have a laptop quality keyboard for your mobile device. This unit has an RRP of $100, but you may be able to get it for less. The one I have is an eval unit, so it was free, but I would consider buying it.

/0

 

[BadOmen]

The idea of a cradle attached to the keyboard sounds really interesting... I was wondering how clumsy my idea of typing on a subway could be, and I could already see myself crawling around the train, trying to grab my rolling PDA.

The Stowaway also looks interesting. Do they usually have the same size? All foldable?

And I still need to decide about which phone/PDA to use. As I deliver my articles in MSWord format, perhaps I should look for something that would already create documents in .DOC format. Do all of them all-in-ones do that?

 

[DivideBYZero]

BlackBerry can edit and view documents with 'Documents to Go'. All Win Mo should have word on them, but not sure, you need to check. In all honesty the cradle part will not hold your PDA in place on a Subway. I don't think any would. Your best bet may be an ASUS eee PC and Open Office.

 

[BadOmen]

Maybe I could keep the phone in the pocket. Do you know what's the maximum range the keyboard can be kept from the device?

The most basic eee (2g) sells in Canada for 300 bucks. Looks like it could solve my problem. The only thing is that I`ll have to buy myself a new cellphone anyway, because mine is beginning to fail.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You could, but don't you need to see the screen?!

 

[BadOmen]

It's better if I can see the screen, but I can go without it too.

But I'm really stuck now with this new option. A basic phone and an eee.... that wouldn't be bad. Do they really start-up as fast as Asus claims? I never touched one.