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Sometimes it isn't practical or desirable to bring a laptop on the road; and in most cases you're going to be just fine with your Treo. You're on vacation, and don't expect to write any editorials or proposals...you're on a road-trip, where you don't have the time or desire to scrounge around for a WiFi hotspot. Yet, the occasional need for some serious typing may still arise.
You may have to edit a WORD doc (using DocsToGo or QuickOffice), or you may have to write a lengthy letter to your boss, explaining the $200 bottle of champagne you submitted with your 'Entertainment' expenses.
For moments like these, having to rely on the Treo's QWERTY thumb board can become a chore; and so, Palm, Inc. has released the Palm® Wireless Keyboard with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Palm, Inc. was kind enough to loan me one for a Palm Addict review, and here's my take:
IN THE PACKAGE
The blister case contains everything you need to get started:
* The Keyboard itself, which is hinged, and folds neatly in half (forming its own case)
* 2 AAA batteries
* A CD-ROM with drivers for your device, and a virtual User's Manual
* A User's Manual
FEATURES/ SPECS
* Features a QWERTY keyboard with five rows of full-size keys (including numbers)
* Pull-out easel provides adjustable viewing angle and a steady platform for your Treo smartphone
* Enter or edit data even while your device is charging nearby
* Encrypted link connects your keyboard and smartphone for secure Bluetooth connection
* Get up to five months of keyboard usage from 2 AAA alkaline batteries(included)
The Keyboard is compatible with
* Treo 650
* Treo 680
* Treo 700p
* Treo 700w
* Treo 700wx
* Treo 750
* Tungsten E2
* T|X
USER EXPERIENCE
I tested this keyboard with both my Treo 700p, and with the 'review' Treo 755p that Palm had loaned to me. My experiences with both devices were identical.
Those who have used folding keyboards in the past, will have a pleasant surprise when they open up this Keyboard: they don't have to slide rows of keys around before using the Keyboard. Everything is locked into place, and ready to go. On the other hand, there is no way to lock the hinge, and make the entire keyboard rigid...necessitating a table, book or other flat, hard object underneath. This makes the keyboard problematical when used in a train or airplane seat.
After HotSync'g the driver into the Treo, I turned on Bluetooth, and then the Keyboard (1 easy-to-find button does it). The Keyboard was immediately recognized, and exhibited no lag between typing characters and having them appear on the Treo screen.
The tactile feedback from the keys is very nice, and the overall construction feels very solid. The keyboard also was much better then older models on allowing travel throughout fields and menus, sans stylus or D-pad. As a result, you have a truly integrated typing experience.
The Keyboard allows for a broad range of customizations around hot-keys, etc., and should please the most finicky member of the technorati.
Your device is held in-place in a nicely angled cradle, that collapses, and slides into the body of the Keyboard, when finished. This is really the only aspect of this device that I found fault with; and it may have been a defect with the particular unit I had. In any case, I found that there was a lot of 'play' between the sides of the cradle, and the slides they ran on to get in and out of the Keyboard. As a result, the cradle was constantly sticking on one side or another; and, getting jammed at an angle.
BOTTOM LINE
At $99.00 (USD), this isn't an impulse buy...but, it really delivers what it promises:
A fully integrated full-QWERTY keyboard experience for your Treo or Palm. If you are a Road Warrior who has need of such functionality from time-to-time, this is an outstanding keyboard.