GADGETotW: Proporta BlueTooth Keyboard

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

GADGETotW: Proporta Bluetooth Keyboard

Welcome to Gadget of the Week!

In a recent 'Talking Point' I talked about all the stuff I carry around with me... but I forgot to mention one gadget... my trusty Bluetooth Keyboard!

What is it?

It's a wireless keyboard, using Bluetooth, that is compatible with both Smartphone and Pocket PC (and in fact Palm and a whole host of other phones too I believe!)

I think i'm a bit of a T9 god, but there's some occasions (on the train for example), where it's just handy to have a QWERTY keyboard to hand for that important e-mail!

The Proporta blurb...

A compact, lightweight folding keyboard offering the convenience of either a QWERTY, AZERTY or QWERTZ keyboard anywhere: please just choose your variant above.

Folds down to fit easily in your pocket and opens out to give a five row keyboard complete with numbers and navigation buttons - allowing you to quickly navigate around your PDA or phone applications without having to use the touch screen.

Comes complete with all you need to get typing:

- drivers for all leading PDA's including Palm OS 5, Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003

- drivers for leading phones including Nokia, Sendo, Siemens and Sony Ericsson

- 2 x alkaline AAA batteries

- protective storage case

Where can I get it?

I got mine from Proporta in the UK, a link to which you can find here.

Coming in at a cool £69.95 inc. VAT it sure isn't cheap, but it is a great tool. A friend of mine has the laser-projecting keyboard a lot of people have raved about, but you just can't beat the tactile feedback of a real keyboard!

Why do I want it?

If you use your Smartphone or Pocket PC for data input of any sort of volume in a scenario where you have a flat surface, then you totally need a keyboard... and this is the cream of the crop.

I like the compactness, the great performance, and the sheer amount of supported device. I feel confident that going forward the device manufacturers will continue to support new devices so, for once, it's a peripheral you won't have to bin when you change your handset ;)

I have a question...

Something else you want to know? Just reply to this post with any questions... or check out the Freedom Input webpage!

P

[Guest unicron]

which is better this or the think out side the box bluetooth keyboard? (the grey one)

It would be nice if you could review the two side by side ;)

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

Do you have a link to the other one?

P

[Guest moosery]

is it me or is this the same as the freedom keyboard?

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=FREEDOM_KEYBOARD_US

(read again..yes it is.)

I agree - I wouldn't be without mine. The small keys take a while to get used to, and the drivers can be a bit flaky if you're using bluetooth for msn/the web aswell as the keyboard, but 99% of the time it's a great and handy tool to have your mits on. Well worth the £70!

Edited May 19, 2005 by moosery

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

Make sure you've updated to the latest drivers from http://www.freedominput.com too!

P

[Guest tony_man]

The UK version is here!

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=F...KEYBOARD_QWERTY

[Guest squall]

yes it is the same as the freedom input one, its branded under a few different names

[Guest Confucious]

With my typing? T9 is quicker and hopefully less spelling mistakes ;)

;)

[Guest moosery]

The UK version is here!

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=F...KEYBOARD_QWERTY

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

oh yeah..knew something wasn't quite right! ;)

[Guest mavisdavis]

Only £54 inc. P+P from FoneJunkie .com ;)

I might get one at this price ;)

[Guest Brody]

See my review of the keyboard here: http://www.msmobilenews.com/?cid=812

[Guest JRC]

See my french review here : http://www.mobismart.net/articles/article.asp?article=10

[Guest unicron]

hey paul here is the link, sorry it took so long http://www.expansys.com/zoompic.asp?type=item&code=113674

[Guest hrb]

Anyone tried it with a Motorola MPX220 ?

EDIT: answer it myself: it does NOT work on a MPX220 (input from Proporta)

Edited July 12, 2005 by hrb