Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab And Keyboards...?

[chazdraves]

Greetings, all!

Quick history, I'm working on some lengthy writing and wanted a device that would allow me to work anywhere. I decided on the Galaxy tab after seeing the apps and accessories available (had an iPad, still too big for my taste).

Anyhow, I'm looking for a bluetooth keyboard to match and I can't discern whether the Galaxy Tab uses HID or not. Specifically, I have the Sprint Tab. Anyone know? Anyone recommend a portable keyboard? I usually carry the Tab in a jacket pocket, so portability is preferred in a keyboard. Honestly, I had even considered this for on the go:

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Wire...080203&sr=8-10

And the proper Samsung dock for at home.

Thanks for your time!
- Chaz

 

[OBLAMA2009]

it sounds like youd be better off with a netbook or a laptop. youd still need a stand for your tab as well, unless you hold it with one hand and peck with the other

 

[gsaldivar]

I've seen many people try to make a laptop out of a tablet, I haven't seen anyone pull it off "well" yet.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

if you need a tablet that acts like a laptop, just get a laptop

 

[Narmer]

Why buy a $600 tab when you can get a $300 laptop?

 

[chazdraves]

Gone all day and no usable feedback.

Please understand, I have a high-end laptop already and I've tried 3 netbooks now without liking them. I realize why you'd make the suggestion, but I have one, I've been there, and they are not portable enough for me to want to take them everywhere. Meanwhile, a 7" tablet fits in my coat pocket which means it goes all over the place. This is not to replace my laptop but to supplement it when I'm elsewhere (which I believe is mostly the idea behind tablets).

Anyhow, my questions stand. I respect your all trying to help but let's not make the conversation about a decision that's already been made.

Regards,
- Chaz

 

[pm]

It's not going to be as portable as you want, but I use this keyboard with my iPad and it works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Blue.../dp/B004I1AC50

(and yes, the irony of using a Microsoft keyboard on an iPad was not at all lost on me)

But my goal was a good solid full keyboard that I could type 50wpm on but that was still moderately portable, I didn't want anything flimsy so I looked closely at the tiny fold out keyboards and decided against them.

For what you want, that link to the Amazon one for $18 seems pretty good. Reviews like it. I'm not sure that I'd personally like it - but I touch type and haven't looked at the keys on any of my keyboards in decades and I absolutely can't stand typing on a keyboard that's not full-length because I have to look at my finger position all the time.

And for all the "what-on-earth-were-you-thinking" people. I was going to Europe for 2 months, I was going to be travelling nearly every day. I wanted an iPad that I could use to entertain the kids and myself and to read the news, but I occassionally wanted to write emails too. I could have brought a laptop. I could have brought a laptop and an iPad, but instead I bought a keyboard for my iPad. I will admit that it didn't work very well and if I had to do it again, I wouldn't have bought the keyboard at all... touching the screen all the time to change and edit things just doesn't work very well.

 

[gsaldivar]

If I absolutely had to do it, I would probably try to get something that is designed to fit into a case like this:

http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/29/review-efo-ipad-bluetooth-keyboard-with-folding-case/

It's kind of funny to see history repeating itself. And yes, unfortunately I owned one of those back in the day.

Bottom line: 1) Portability, 2) Usability. Pick one.

 

[Narmer]

Gone all day and no usable feedback.

Please understand, I have a high-end laptop already and I've tried 3 netbooks now without liking them. I realize why you'd make the suggestion, but I have one, I've been there, and they are not portable enough for me to want to take them everywhere. Meanwhile, a 7" tablet fits in my coat pocket which means it goes all over the place. This is not to replace my laptop but to supplement it when I'm elsewhere (which I believe is mostly the idea behind tablets).

Anyhow, my questions stand. I respect your all trying to help but let's not make the conversation about a decision that's already been made.

Regards,
- Chaz

So you want the keyboard to magically pop in and out of existence when you want to use it? Otherwise, it'll need to be carried by you, separate from your Tab. That means both devices will not fit in your coat pocket.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I'd think a netbook would be more portable than a Galaxy Tab + keyboard. Not to mention a million times more versatile, and cheaper to boot.

 

[chazdraves]

Well, you'll notice the keyboard I linked to was slightly smaller than the one suggested above. Admittedly, if I were to use something like that iPad case, I'd just bring a netbook with. Listen, I appreciate your guys' opinions on this but let me be clear that I already have a nice laptop and the portability of this simply ensures it's more likely to come with me which is what I'm looking for - for everything else, there's my laptop.

Mostly, I think I'm looking for opinions on existing bluetooth keyboards for mobile devices and I'm also asking (which hasn't yet been answered) whether the Galaxy Tab supports HID or not? That, of course, would make a big difference in what I have the option to buy. That Microsoft combo is really an attractive setup but not quite as small as I'm hoping. In all honesty, I'm fine with the size of the onscreen keyboard and the typing speed, it's merely about having physical buttons so I can more readily identify different letters and avoid all of the touchscreen typos I seem to make.

So, again, I appreciate you taking the time to respond but please put your reservations about how I handle my time and money on a different level and feel free to suggest any ideas you may have relative to my questions.

Thank you,
- Chaz

 

[Narmer]

A quick google search confirms that Samsung does not officially have HID drivers.

 

[chazdraves]

But a further Google search has lead me to blogs and other sources claiming that some Tabs support HID and SPP whilst some support SPP only and others are HID only. That's why I wanted to ask here. e.g. http://community.sprint.com/baw/message/257921

 

[pm]

It doesn't look like HID is supported by the Tab on Verizon. There are reviews on Amazon of people grumpy about it. It seems like you need to buy the Tab dock.

On T-Mobile, HID is listed here:
http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm24256.xml?&A2L.SERVICE=FeatureSummary

Profile list: A2DP Stereo; HID; OBEX; AVRCP; OPP; DUN

Yeah, it looks like HID is enabled on all versions except the Verizon model.
http://forum.androidcentral.com/galaxy-tab/45681-bluetooth-hid-us-tab-seriously.html

 

[chazdraves]

Thank you, that would be very good news. It seems more of the keyboards I'm looking at require HID.

 

[Narmer]

You should also look into foldable keyboards since those are very portable (and very expensive).