 CompUSA
recently had the iConcepts PDA Mini Keyboard on sale for under
$20. I decided to pick one up since it was at such a low price
and came in versions for the iPAQ, Palm devices, Handspring devices,
and Sony devices. A keyboard is a great solution for inputting
your information faster, though with this keyboard, getting faster
input could take some practice.
With
my recent purchase of an iPAQ, I had been considering buying a
keyboard so I could use my device in my college life to take notes
with. I have some friends that use their device with a keyboard,
and it tends to work great for them. iConcepts makes a simple
and small foldable keyboard for a large array of devices (though there
are various models of the
 keyboard for the different device
connections). The PDA Mini Keyboard is a very compact 70-key
keyboard.
One thing many people might not like about this
keyboard is that it uses buttons instead of keys. The can be
hard to get used to because of the different feel, and the keys are
much smaller. The depth of the keyboard is also compressed down
which can cause some problems for people with large hands. The
buttons to press easily and work well, though I do feel that in some
ways, the keyboard was split in a bad place (the H key should be on
the right side).
One nice thing about this keyboard is its
small size. It really isn't much bigger than my iPAQ, and
certainly doesn't weigh as much. This keyboard is very easy to
carry with you in another pocket or in the second pouch of a larger
PDA case. The design of the shell is rounded and sleek to fit with the
design of most PDA's. It only folds once, and there is a lock on
the outside to keep it closed when it isn't in use. This keyboard also
takes no batteries and uses very little of your PDA's battery
life.
 
Your
PDA will fit tight into its connection to the keyboard and is held
upright by support from the back similar to that of other
keyboards. Though the keyboard doesn't put your device right in
the middle, it is only slightly off center and doesn't turn out to be
that big of an user. There is however a connection issue with
the iPAQ (and could happen with other devices as well). The mechanism
the locks the keyboard closed causes the iPAQ to not sit right if the
lock is in the locked position. You can simply push the lock
open slightly to get the device to go in right, but it is surprising
that this would be left to interfere with the device. You also
can't connect your iPAQ if the power cord is plugged in, nor if you
are using a expansion sleeve.
The iConcepts PDA Mini Keyboard is regularly price at $50, though with
recent rebates it has been priced as low as $20. This is a very
good price for this simple keyboard, though many people might consider
it is a little to simple. Your best bet with this keyboard is to
find someone you know that has one and try it, or figure you are taking
a risk with your money. Dave's Score - 6.0
This means, not exactly one of my top
picks or something I will use everyday, but something to at least
consider. There are likely some issues with the product that
make it not as good as it could be and/or not as good as comparable
products. Your best bet it to try it before you buy, otherwise
you might be disappointed.
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