peejay

Has anyone used this and compared it with the Stowaways? I know everybody loves the Stowaways, but I don't think they're perfect. I've got the 4 row version, which obviously has only got 4 rows. The 5 row version looks like a better keyboard, but doesn't lock in the middle (as I understand it) so awkward to use on a lap, and the PDA stand doesn't attach to the keyboard so again not possible to use on a lap. That doesn't make it a true "laptop replacement".

The new Freedom Universal Bluetooth keyboard has got 5 rows, has a stand that is attached to the keyboard, and locks open (according to the technical support on their website - I asked a question on their forum).

The website is here:
http://www.freedominput.com/site/ind...d=15&Itemid=32

There's also a YouTube video, I think you search for Freedom keyboard.

Haven't found much on the web about this. This is a new version, I think. It also looks suspiciously like the iGo keyboard for Blackberries, but again, haven't found much info on that.

peejay

Answering my own thread, I've now decided that the Freedom Universal Bluetooth Keyboard is indeed exactly the same keyboard as the iGo/Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard for Blackberries (AKA Shasta). They certainly look exactly the same in pictures, have the same specs etc (apart from one working only with Blackberries, and the other having drivers for everything).

So, I found this set of reviews at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...Fencoding=UTF8

A mixed bunch. Basically it seems to be saying that physically it's a good quality keyboard, although the lock holding the keyboard open (for knee use) is a bit flimsy. The drivers seem to be poor, although by definition that doesn't apply to the Freedom because they'd be different drivers. As it happens, though, I've found a (very) few user reviews of the Freedom which says that its drivers aren't great, either. The Freedom is new (new to Freedom, anyway - clearly someone has been making it for Stowaway for a little while), so perhaps the drivers will improve.

I'll stick with my Stowaway Universal, though I do sometimes miss the number row (literally), and generally think the keyboard is a bit more rickety than I'd like.