Worth Buying...Thumboard?

11-05-04, 08:17 PM

Is the thumboard that is available for the x30 worth buying? Does anybody have it? How are the keys, ect? I guess I'm actually looking for a mini review or comments. Anybody want to share their $.02 on it?

Thanks,
jcll20002

lalisb · 11-06-04, 03:53 AM

nope, weve all ordered waitin on someone to get it and make a review..id say for that price u cant really go wrong.

btw theres already like 3 topics on this, check those for more info :)

11-08-04, 12:54 PM

I got mine, give me an hour to fiddle and review. I'll write a full review for Aximsite, if the moderators would like

EDIT: REVIEW TO FOLLOW

Item: Axim X30/X3i/X3 Snap on mini keyboard (Thumb Keyboard) from Belkin.
Price: $17.21 USD with 10% discount. Regular price $19.12 USD, Shipping: $5.50 DHL ground, tax $1.38
Stars: 4 out of 5 Stars

Out of the box: The item came in a very small box, it includes a driver CD labeled X30 Thumb keyboard driver. (I found this a little confusing because I bought it for the X3i and dell's site lists it as working for the X3i) I synced the Axim inserted the CD and followed the wizard. The wizard had me install a small 100K cab.

My first install was a little funny. The x3i said that the file was not a valid windows cab file. I figure this was a mistake and reinstalled again. Success!

With the keyboard on I started testing it. The key response times are great. The keys are a hard rubber. I would have preferred a plastic key that feels more like a real keyboard. If you've ever used the snap on keyboard for the X5 you would understand what I mean. That being said other than the feel of the keys the X3 keyboard is great. It includes a symbol button marked in orange and symbols are listed on the keys. It also includes a shift key for capitalization. Unlike the X5 thumb board the X3 keyboard includes a key that has a :-) face on it. I was unsure what this key would do so I tried it. It brings up an on screen keyboard with even more symbols. The keys are laid out like the keys are on the keyboard and pushing say an F key would give you a symbol matching the on screen symbol guide. I personally doubt I would use this feature much but it’s nice to have.

Also across the bottom of the keyboard are buttons for calendar, contacts, inbox and home exactly like the hardware keys on the X3. This is good because the keyboard covers those keys. That brings me to a grip I have with the keyboard. It covers ALL the hardware keys across the bottom. You must remap the wireless power function to a different key like "home" if you wish to disable/enable power while using the keyboard. I found this frustrating. Personally I disable and enable wireless fairly often. Also across the bottom of the keyboard is a "windows" key. This key opens the start menu. I thought at first this would be great. I thought I would open the start menu and use the keyboard to scroll up and down with the arrow keys found on the keyboard, but when I tried using the arrows they scroll 2 or 4 programs at a time. When I hit down for example it scrolls past several items. Try as I might I can’t get it to scroll single items. I haven't found a way to change this yet but I've only had it about an hour.

I'm sure someone will ask me about using arrow keys in a game since the d-pad is crappy and it’s covered. Unfortunately I don’t have a game to test it with. If someone has a suggestion for a game to test it with I'll be glad to test it for you.

The keyboard's size is nice. It’s slightly thicker than the x3 by about a quarter inch. Reasonable I think. It is nearly flush with the bottom of the unit so the unit will sit flat on a desk. Also a bonus for some is there is a spot to plug the power cord directly into the bottom of the keyboard to charge it while in use. You don’t even need the adapter, the keyboard accepts the plug on the end of the power cord. I haven't tried using this feature yet but I think it would be helpful to some.

Pros:
Great for people who need to enter large amounts of data or emails.
Small, lightweight.
Huge amount of symbols that are relatively easy to get at.
Ability to charge while using the keyboard.

Cons:
The keyboard covers ALL hardware buttons. Because of this you must remap the wireless power to another button like "home" but then you must use home when the keyboard isn't attached.
Funny issue with the arrow keys and the start menu.
Softer rubber keys rather than hard plastic (everones preference will vary with this)

Overall: I recommend this to anyone who needs to enter larger amounts of data or text.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask any questions.

11-08-04, 02:10 PM

Thanks a lot for the hard work tange1
We appreciate it.

Karenmb · 11-08-04, 05:49 PM

Here is what I do...I hardly ever use my hardware buttons to enable/disable wireless. Enable it one, but when you don't want to use it, disable it from the menu in Wireless Utility. Once you have it enabled via hardware, your wireless will display a little graph in your toolbar. Click on that, and then under "Tools" is where you can able and disable the wireless! Works great!

I should be getting my thumbboard this week...thanks for the review.

Quote:

Also across the bottom of the keyboard are buttons for calendar, contacts, inbox and home exactly like the hardware keys on the X3. This is good because the keyboard covers those keys. That brings me to a grip I have with the keyboard. It covers ALL the hardware keys across the bottom. You must remap the wireless power function to a different key like "home" if you wish to disable/enable power while using the keyboard. I found this frustrating. Personally I disable and enable wireless fairly often.

Cons:
The keyboard covers ALL hardware buttons. Because of this you must remap the wireless power to another button like "home" but then you must use home when the keyboard isn't attached.
Funny issue with the arrow keys and the start menu.
Softer rubber keys rather than hard plastic (everones preference will vary with this)

Overall: I recommend this to anyone who needs to enter larger amounts of data or text.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask any questions.

GJCrawford · 11-08-04, 06:19 PM

Any idea if this can be used with the extended battery?

11-08-04, 07:27 PM

Looks like it would fit fine w/ an extended battery

11-08-04, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Karenmb

Here is what I do...I hardly ever use my hardware buttons to enable/disable wireless. Enable it one, but when you don't want to use it, disable it from the menu in Wireless Utility. Once you have it enabled via hardware, your wireless will display a little graph in your toolbar. Click on that, and then under "Tools" is where you can able and disable the wireless! Works great!

I should be getting my thumbboard this week...thanks for the review.

But does that do as good a job saving battery as turning it off entierly does?

Karenmb · 11-08-04, 08:24 PM

I believe so...my battery life seems to be great! Off is off. It's nice because I don't have to keep disabling Bluetooth also.

Originally Posted by tange1

But does that do as good a job saving battery as turning it off entierly does?

Logman02 · 11-08-04, 08:54 PM

I want one baddddddddddd.

11-08-04, 09:28 PM

well logman there only 17 dollars, I'm a poor college student I just skipped going out to eat at all for the next few times and I'll be set

jsjohnson · 11-08-04, 09:32 PM

sounds very cool, but where can I buy it? Belkin's site has only one thumbboard advertised, and it is for iPaqs. Also, is it usable for use with games? my belkin wireless keyboard has too much of a delay to be used w/ games.

11-08-04, 09:46 PM

Its avaible through dells site, http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/P...ctlisting.aspx

As for testing it with a game, as I said in my review I have no games to test it on if you have a free game I can try it on I would be glad to test it but my experience with the key response time was very good. As for if the buttons would map and everything for the game, I would have to test it but I would think if it works w/ a wireless keyboard it would work with this thumb keyboard.

11-09-04, 03:25 PM

where is the enter key?????

deftech · 11-09-04, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by mikeyp

where is the enter key?????

Looks like it's the farthest right key on the next-to-bottom row of keys. The Arrow. <--