Belkin SnapNType for X50/X51

callmemoe · 12-12-05, 07:57 PM

Has anyone seen or tried this one? I am tempted. Really tempted.

Belkin SnapNType

BELKIN COMPONENTS
SnapNType Mini Keyboard for Dell Axim X50/X51 Handhelds
$39.99

scorpion9k · 12-12-05, 08:04 PM

I havent tried it but what are you going to use it for. I mean i have the Think outside keyboard and it is great. I mean i have a t-mobile sidekick that i keep in addition to my sprint phone and there is only so much typing i want to do with a small keyboard like that. The Think Outside is a full size, minus the number keys. although it is more expensive. that belkin does look pretty cool for quick emails and task inputing though.

callmemoe · 12-12-05, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by scorpion9k

I havent tried it but what are you going to use it for. I mean i have the Think outside keyboard and it is great. I mean i have a t-mobile sidekick that i keep in addition to my sprint phone and there is only so much typing i want to do with a small keyboard like that. The Think Outside is a full size, minus the number keys. although it is more expensive. that belkin does look pretty cool for quick emails and task inputing though.

Well, pretty much quick emails and appointments/tasks. I have a Palm Universal wireless keyboard that is great for more intense work but this could be great for on-the-go sorts of things. I usually get bombarded by requests while walking around the office. Any time I don't have to use a stylus is a good time.

stevenator65 · 12-12-05, 09:37 PM

I wanted one but I didn't like the idea of carrying another device or making my ax bulky so I got Tengo Thumb (link in my SIP review in my sig) which acts similarly but is far cheaper and takes up less room. But if you get the belkin let us know how you like it.

callmemoe · 12-12-05, 11:00 PM

Well, I decided to go ahead and order it. I thought about full screen software keyboards for portability before but, being female, extra "stuff" isn't a problem since I carry a purse big enough for a three day trip.

It isn't supposed to ship for a little while but I will let you know how it holds up when I get it.

rclarke6 · 12-13-05, 09:32 AM

I ordered one also, hopefully it will work ok .

callmemoe · 12-14-05, 11:39 AM

Well, Dell surprised me and I received the keyboard today. I am going to play with it a little while tonight but so far it is working great.

rclarke6 · 12-14-05, 09:33 PM

I received mine also, so far its really more than i expected, so much faster than the bluetooth dell keyboard i have, of course i am a two finger guy anyway, lol. and you can use your extended battery in your axim with it, it still fits even with the battery.

callmemoe · 12-14-05, 10:56 PM

Well, I have played with it for a while now. Here are my impressions.

The driver software was very easy to install. I put it in main memory as I have found with other keyboard drivers that this works the best. Once install was complete, the software automatically opened on the Axim and was enabled by default. The standard keyboard settings are there including, key repeat rate, key click sounds, etc. I did find that the keyboard did not respond if I put the Axim in while it was turned on. However, once I turned the Axim off and inserted it into the keyboard then turned the Axim back on, it responded well.

The Axim fits very well in the keyboard. When I first opened it, I thought that the mostly open back was going cause problems with supporting the device. I found though that there is enough of a lip to hold it securely. Plus the open back allows you to use an extended battery while using the keyboard. One thing I did really like is that you have to press two buttons, one on each side of the keyboard, to release the Axim from the keyboard. I tried pulling it out without using the buttons (not hard enough to possibly damage the Axim) and it didn't budge. So, no worries about gripping it the wrong way and having the Axim slip out of the keyboard and onto the floor. The other feature that I really liked was that you can charge the Axim without removing the keyboard since it provides a place for a charging cable on the bottom of the keyboard. Overall, the Belkin adds about one and one half inches to the length of the Axim and maybe one half to two thirds of an inch to the width. Obviously, this means that if you normally carry your Axim in your pocket, you are probably going to have to remove the keyboard to carry it comfortably. While holding it, though, I found that it is very comfortable and I can easily reach all of the keys with my thumbs.

I found that the keyboard has excellent key spacing for something so relatively small. The key presses are firm but I have not had any problem with missed letters or inaccuracy. The optional click sound on a key press also helps with making sure that you have pressed firmly enough. The layout is the standard (American?) QWERTY layout. The number keys are not on a dedicated row in order to help with size. However, the number keys, punctuation and navigation keys are easily accessed with the "symbols" button. The symbols button has three options to choose from. Press once and the next key you press will enter the item in orange on the corresponding key which are numbers, punctuation and navigation as mentioned above. Press and hold and all keys pressed while holding the symbols button will again be the orange "secondary buttons". The third option allows you to press the symbols button twice which will lock the symbols key, much like a caps lock button so that you do not have to continue to hold the symbols key. I have found that this is great when you are only navigating around the screen and not entering any data. There are also page up and page down buttons, a tab/space button, an okay button (whose secondary function is to pull up an on-screen keyboard of additional punctuation marks and smileys), a start menu button, a shift/caps lock button and the standard four hard keys found on the front of the Axim. I should mention that while other keyboards seem hardcoded to use the built-in applications on their dedicated keys, this Belkin keyboard will use whatever app or function you have assigned in your button preferences on the Axim. Using the tab key allowed me to move from field to field while entering a new task or appointment. The navigation keys allow me to move up, down, left or right much like the D-pad on the axim using the enter key like the center key on the D-pad.

Obviously, though, like most keyboards, there are still many things that you will have to use your stylus or fingers for as somethings just can't be accessed by using only the keys. However, I found that it wasn't any more difficult to do this than with any other keyboard. I also found that because this keyboard curves up at the top towards the screen, that some of the onscreen buttons on the bottom row were a little difficult to access. Most of the thumboards I have seen or used were either straight across of curved downwards toward the keyboard. Maybe this was to compensate for the open back to give extra support to the Axim.

Battery use was minimal for me. I used it on and off for about two hours and only saw my battery drop maybe 5% which is a lot better than my infrared keyboard. However, I will need to use it for more extended periods of time to be certain, but it seemed like power usage was minimal.

Overall, I would say that it is a pretty darn good keyboard if you can stand the extra bulk. It is great for occasions when you do not have a flat surface to rest a full size foldable keyboard on but I would probably not recommend it for much more than an email or entering tasks or appointments or a short note. But that was all I was looking for.

Tankman · 12-14-05, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by callmemoe

Well, I decided to go ahead and order it. I thought about full screen software keyboards for portability before but, being female, extra "stuff" isn't a problem since I carry a purse big enough for a three day trip.

It isn't supposed to ship for a little while but I will let you know how it holds up when I get it.

Ok Moe! I think it looks great but, bein' a guy, won't carry more. My Ax rides nice in cargo pockets or jacket pocket. No "mailbag."

Belkin has a fine, long standing, quality image.
Let us know how you like the add-on!

12-14-05, 11:48 PM

$39.99? Too rich for my blood. Besides, I already have a bluetooth keyboard so this is no use to me anyway. Thanks for the heads up!