Brighthand Reviews the Stowaway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard

[Ed Hardy]

Brighthand's Ed Hardy brings us a hands-on review of the world's first portable keyboard to use Bluetooth. Because it uses this short-range wireless networking technology, a single keyboard can be used with a wide variety of handhelds and smartphones, without having to deal with incompatible hardware connections.

Read the full review at http://www.brighthand.com/article/St...eyboard_Review

[wizeguy]

Editor note: You mention "Still, the Bluetooth Universal Keyboard lacks some advantages over the Infrared version." Then go on to talk about the bluetooth advantages. I think you intended on saying "Still, the Bluetooth Universal Keyboard has some advantages over the Infrared version."

Anyhow its a nit pick thanks for the article

[polarbearucla]

Love how a product titled "universal bluetooth keyboard" doesn't work for palm os. Not that it bothers me but the product name is a litte deceiving.

[Nate]

I wonder if the lack of a BT keyboard driver is indicative of a Palm One exclusive on a Palm compatible unit. Palm's always been the primary retailer of the ThinkOutside keyboards, and it's just incomprehensible to me that the first suported handhelds wouldn't be Palm OS compatible.

One question: does the BT communication with the keyboard prohibit other BT uses? That is to ask, does using the keyboard mean that you can't simultaneously surf the 'net, chat or do SMS over your phone? I assume that it does not allow dual use, but I thought I'd ask anyway...

Thanks for the great review!

[Ed Hardy]

Originally posted by Nate
One question: does the BT communication with the keyboard prohibit other BT uses? That is to ask, does using the keyboard mean that you can't simultaneously surf the 'net, chat or do SMS over your phone?

When I was finishing this review up today, I knew there was something I wanted to add to it, but I couldn't remember what it was. Now I do; yes, you can use this keyboard with other Bluetooth devices, including your mobile phone.

[wshwe]

Is the keyboard compatible with other kinds of Symbian devices such as Series 60 phones?

[R K]

Hey Ed,
If it's not too much of a bother, can you please see how much Storage/Program Memory the drivers take up?
Thanks.

[imported_michaelp]

I am so glad this has finally come out. It's the only keyboard that lets us type in landscape. I just picked up an Ipaq 1945 for $80, and this is going to be great for taking Fall lecture notes on. I also got a battery extender on Ebay, so I'm not worried about battery consumption. Boy, I'm excited. I just need to scrounge up $150.

[robrecht]

"I can't imagine a logical situation in which you wouldn't want to have your keyboard and handheld sitting right next to each other when you are typing."

Personally, I've always hated the ergonomics of clamshell laptops. With the screen attached to the keyboard, the user ends up hunched over the screen.

I wrote my whole thesis with my Compaq SLT-286 keyboard in my lap, my feet up on my desk, and the screen at eye level. I could even sleep and type at the same time.

I look forward to regaining this posture with a handheld. I know, I'm weird.

[Ed Hardy]

Originally posted by wshwe
Is the keyboard compatible with other kinds of Symbian devices such as Series 60 phones?

Yes. There's a list of compatible handhelds and smartphones on the Think Outside web site.