imported_EasternCanuck

Just looking for some hints on a good keyboard for my 4700. I've read that the HP ones eat battery life pretty bad.

Also, anyone try out DataArmor for keeping your files and PPC safe?

imported_Chemong

Originally Posted by EasternCanuck

Just looking for some hints on a good keyboard for my 4700. I've read that the HP ones eat battery life pretty bad. Also, anyone try out DataArmor for keeping your files and PPC safe?

I've had the HP Bluetooth Keyboard for about 6 months and I have to agree that it's a real battery consumer. I keep a couple sets of AAA Nimh rechargeables around with me when I need it. Keeping the batteries in the Keyboard drains them even when not in use so I don't store batteries in the keyboard. Since the keyboard battery compartment lid is flimsy I'm concerned that it will break or I will loose it eventually. Bluetooth works OK when it's connected, but it can be inconsistent connecting.

It's useful for my purposes, but not sure it would be appropriate for heavy or regular use.

Accolade

I just purchased the Think Outside Bluetooth keyboard. So far worth every penny. I haven't had it for long so not too sure about battery life. Always a good idea to have a couple of rechargeables around.

GeorgeB

I've had problems with the space bar on the other keyboards. It's a personal thing. But I found the HP bluetooth keyboard fits my needs nicely. I took the battery cover off and put the batteries in when I want to use. No big problem.

Justin Noland

all of those keyboards are the kind that have the nasty fold in the middle. I type extensively on my iPAQ hx for things like my novel and notes in class. I have used theThe HP keyboards for the 37xx/38xx/39xx/5xxx which plug into the sync port of the iPAQ for two years and through 3 different iPAQs. They do a funky spring-loaded trifold thing that I'm not even going to try to explain, but the point is that, when open, the keyboard is flush, no breaks ANYWHERE. Standard keyboard layout, looks EXACTLY like a laptop keyboard.The driver is available off the included CD and HP.com, and is compatible fully with the hx4700, even though hp doesn't say so. Unfortunately, the HP keyboard isn't compatible itself with the hx out-of-the-box. A VERY SIMPLE modification is needed to make it work properly. The keyboard's sync plug (which connects to the ipaq's sync port) has two raised black bumps on either side of it to stabilize the rounded bottom of the older ipaqs. Unfortunately, the nubs make it so the hx 4700 (flat bottom) won't fit properly. I took my dremel and a sanding bit and took the nubs off of the keybord in all of about 20 seconds. Now it fits flush and works wonderfully. The keyboard will pull very little power from the ipaq, as it doesn't require battery sucking Bluetooth, and you won't have to worry about replacing any batteries on the keyboard every month or so.

imported_EasternCanuck

Thanks much for the input. I'm still undecided on which one to purchase but at least now I know some of the gripes and good points.

Anyone have any problems with the PPC being stable in the cradle while typing?

sugar_cube

Just to open up the topic again, I use the Think Outside Stowaway keyboard; admittedly I don't use it extensively, but I'm on the same batteries as when I bought it in December last year (I don't remove the batteries when I'm not using it, so the battery life is pretty impressive). It also switches off automatically when you close it.

It has a spring loaded cradle (that can be removed if you wish); the PPC is not secured in the cradle, so it's possible to knock it over, but to be honest I don't use the cradle - I just lay the PPC down flat (less chance of claiming on my insurance that way! )

The keyboard is seamless, and it's impossible to see any join when it's open.

The down side is that the top row of the keyboard is used for the QWERTY line of keys, the number keys (using the blue Fn key) & the special characters such as !@# (using the green Fn key). It doesn't bother me, but apparently some other users aren't happy with it.