Dell Foldable Keyboard Review

Sunami · 03-04-03, 05:57 PM

This little key board is so freakn sweet it works great, looks even better and yes it is small and brutiful this is the only keyboard for the Ax.
POCKET TOP owners eat your heart out. This the only keyboard that totally compliments the Ax. My only complaint is that the key spread out is a bit small but I can get used to that. I am 6"3 and 235 lbs with big hands and it is still not too small actually I am typing on right now and I can get used too easily.
I give it 9.5 because it is priced higher than any of the other alternative key boards but it certainly makes up for that with it great looks, highly managable size and its plethra of hot keys built in just for the Axim plus I have typed this whole review and not missed a key nor has a key missed me. here are some pics. the case is approximately 1 inche longer than the Axim. also as you can see youll have no prob. using this while in a sena case or any other form fitting case even with a belt clip.

ARGGG I have to reconfigure my pics so that they will upload they will be up soon.

Sunami · 03-05-03, 05:08 AM

Hope this loads

fvj48 · 03-05-03, 06:00 AM

I have one and recommend it highly as well. I am a big guy as well and no problem with the keyboard. It is a different as day an night traveling with the Axim and the keyboard, as opposed to the 'ole laptop. Both fit neatly in my jacket pocket making me "good to go". It does everthing I need and more.

Donna · 03-05-03, 07:27 AM

Yes, I like it too.

My only beef with it is that the right hand shift key is too small and in an awkward place for a typist's hands. Any time I go for that shift key I'm hitting something else. But all in all, I love it.

And you're right, to be able to not take the laptop on short trips is worth its weight in gold.

anditae · 03-05-03, 08:34 PM

So what is the best price you've seen for this keyboard? Is Dell the only place to purchase it? Would you recommend going through something like Ebay if one can be found?

Is it durable? I'll be doing a lot of travelling and was debating if I need a laptop or just the Axim? I'm new to the world of PocketPC's but they are sure more attractive than a laptop.

I'm also a big guy with oversized (aka FAT) fingers; so I need something that can take a beating and not produce a bunch of errors?

Also, is the stand for the Axim another add-on or is that part of the keyboard gig?

Cheers!

trekman · 03-05-03, 10:11 PM

The stand is part of the keyboard. Just got mine and looks sweet though have not had a chance to use it as of yet.

Sunami · 03-05-03, 10:54 PM

yes it is only thru Dell they have had deals I got mine fro $89 w/ free shipping they are normally for $99 w/ $8 shp. so of course if you can find one on e-bay go for it. unles it is not considderably cheaper than going thru Dell. Yes it seems durable as any portable Keyboard could be. as for all other Q's I believe I addressed them in the 1st post.

Double-Trinity · 03-06-03, 01:10 AM

Well, I ordered mine with my original axim a while back, I don't remember for how much, btu I konw it was a break from the prices you listed. Anyway, I highly reccomend this one. Before with my iPaq I used the Stowaay keyboard (a $70 keyboard for just about every device except the axim) which had a flimsy wire stand and needed to be on a desk to use. It has fullsized flat laptop keys, and was a four-fold , with the keys pushed in. Unfortunately you needed to be on a desk, and to move it had to close it, and move it separately.

The dell one:

1) has better tactile feedback, something I love in a keyboard and allows me to type faster (around 90 out of my normal 100 WPM, due to the slightly smaller keys)
2) it is one piece even when folded out, as it is based on an internal guide track that causes it to come in and out, it and the unit can be moved with a two-finger grip (with sena case on)
3) It is comportable, longer, but thinner than the axim, which fits nicely into a jacket pocket.
4) It looks downright awesome both when folded or open.
5) the big stand means it can be used on my lap
6) it has an AC adapter in, meaning it can be charged while in the keyboard easily, almost like with a cradle (too bad they don't have a USB in though... that would really kick ass... use it as a mobile cradle, ro even get an extra peripheral like mouse or trackball :))

As for wireless... they are a lot less, but you get what you pay for. by the time you get out the separate stand with multiple mirrors and nonsense, align the IR, find a battery to stick in the thing (by having a battery, that costs you a lot of weight, and a proper number row most of the time... which on the axim offers you a fine list of hotkeys, FN+#, so you can get 10 custom hotkeys, plus the standard word, excel, tasks, calendar, home, contacts, email)

This means using ti on a lap is totally out of the question, nad it make teardown and setup time a nuisance, rather than a simple two-finger grip, or a 5 second (no exaggeration) closing of the axim, and the keyboard and insertion into pockets.

wmm · 03-06-03, 07:41 AM

I'll join the chorus of praise for this keyboard -- it's very solid feeling. I had and liked the Stowaway for my Jornada 548, but it always felt like a compromise. It was great to have a full-sized keyboard that folded up into such a small footprint, but it gave the impression of being flimsy, the keys were unevenly responsive, etc. I have none of that with the Axim keyboard: when it's folded out, it's rock-steady and feels like you could pound on it all day. The case is much more protective than the Stowaway, too.

I only have two complaints. As others have noted, the right shift key is awkwardly placed. (The Palm driver for this keyboard, I read somewhere, allows exchanging the up-arrow and shift keys. I wish the PPC driver did, too, but I haven't found a way to do it.) The second is that it's kind of hard to mate the Axim with the keyboard connector. It's a tight fit, and the keyboard connector is movable (for folding purposes), so I find it a little dicey to get the Axim plugged in. Other than that, though, I'm really pleased with this keyboard and don't regret purchasing it one bit.

FEichinger · 03-06-03, 08:44 AM

Got mine last night and am doing a tech manual in word and some coding with FrontPass, this keyboard is sweet!

I love the additional functions that the keys have and I love that I can move all around the screen without having to touch my stylus (a nice improvement over my stowaway on my Visor).

The only thing I can see is the right shift key, I'm a habitual left shift user so I have no problem but the right shift is small and might take getting use to for someone use to using that one.

Double-Trinity · 03-06-03, 09:34 AM

I've gotten used to the right shift key, and I'm a general right-shift user myself anyway, however, once oyu get used to it, you don't even notice the problem, that is one disadvantage and the slightly small keys is another, but in another way that isn't a disadvantage-- it allows it to fold up into a small, and nice-to-carry form factor and shape.

ux4484 · 03-06-03, 10:29 AM

I ordered one yesterday as Dell has free shipping until today.

I was going to go for the micro-innovations keyboard, but I don't want to install a secondary "apparatus" with a keyboard to get one to work.

can't wait :D

Cynthia Blue · 03-06-03, 10:32 AM

I ordered this keyboard last week, should come soon I hope. I have some questions before it gets here ('cause I'm excited).

Do I need to get a sync cable and an AC adapter, or do they come with the keyboard? I'm assuming I'd have to buy them separately. I plan on having my Axim set up on my desk at work in the keyboard most of the day, next to my PC, and would like it to sync and have external power.

I wasn't sure about this, from the other posts.
Thanks.

Oh, and good to know I can still have my Sena case on my Axim whilst in the keyboard. :)

wmm · 03-06-03, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthia Blue
Do I need to get a sync cable and an AC adapter, or do they come with the keyboard? I'm assuming I'd have to buy them separately. I plan on having my Axim set up on my desk at work in the keyboard most of the day, next to my PC, and would like it to sync and have external power.

The keyboard comes only with a very small manual and a CD with the driver on it, nothing else. If you don't want to unplug the AC adapter from the cradle to use it with the keyboard, you'll need to buy another AC adapter.

I'm a little confused by your question about the sync cable, though. You can't have the sync cable attached while the Axim is attached to the keyboard -- they use the same connector on the Axim, and the keyboard does not pass that connector through, unlike the power supply. If what you're saying is that you have the cradle and want to leave it at home, while still being able to sync at the office, then yes, you'll need to buy that, too (but you'll have to remove the Axim from the keyboard before using it). If you'll be using the keyboard in the same place you have the cradle, then there's no reason to buy the extra cable.

ux4484 · 03-06-03, 10:55 AM

ya know, a sync cable pass through would be a great idea though, then you could get one of the third party USB charging cables and use it through the keyboard......viola, keyboard cradle!

somebody call Dell ;)