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Targus Keyboard for Sony CLIE

Targus Keyboard for Sony CLIE

List Price: $79.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not for the iPaq 3955
Review: I've owned these keyboards for years and used them with various Palms. I will continue to use and recommend them to others for every handheld EXCEPT the iPaq 3900 series.

The iPaq keyboard interface was designed for the prior iPaq series, so you must use an adapter to use the keyboard with the 3900. The adapter is carried separately and will be easily lost. In addition, the adapter raises the iPaq up about 1/2 inch higher off of the keyboard than the original design. It looks a bit unsafe and feels like the iPaq is going to flip off the back of the keyboard. Remember, the iPaq is a bit taller and heavier than the average bear.

The adapter is also difficult to force into the end of the iPaq to begin with. The adapter has no guides keeping it straight during the delicate journey into the nether regions of the handheld, and it's a tight fit. I had to jiggle the adapter sideways until it settled into place, and I'm sure I would take great care in performing the maneuver in the future, although that won't happen. This is really a shame because one great advantage of the Stowaway is the fact that it can be broken down and put away in seconds -- wonderful when you are doing research in a library and don't want to walk away from your computer. Ruefully, it's not the case for the newer iPaq owners in the crowd.

I had the keyboard for about 30 minutes before I returned it. I think they are great keyboards, and Think Outside is a really good company. However, the company needs to commit to a real interface design for newer iPaq owners. Sadly, I have to say save your money and wait for something better to come from this company. Maybe they'll put out the XT version for the iPaq in the near future. There's always hope.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Can't live without it
Review: I'm always taking notes at meetings or spending time in libraries, and could never figure out how to keep my laptop from being stolen when I wanted to step away for a moment. Now I leave the laptop at home and travel light with a Targus keyboard and a Handspring Prism loaded with "Wordsmith" software that allows me to create word processing documents and print out them out in Word format when I get home. Both the Visor and the keyboard fit in my pocket.
I switched to the Targus keyboard after a stint with the GoType! keyboard. I liked the sturdiness and solid typing surface the GoType! offered with it's hardshell design, but the smaller keyboard was too cramped for my typing style.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing...
Review: I purchased this product for my wife's Ipaq. I was a bit skeptical but having seen it being used by her, I'm sold. It folds up to the size of her Ipaq, making it quite portable. And it works amazingly well.

The setup is easy and its use is just as easy. If you're looking for a better and faster way to do word processing on your PDA, you most definitely want to invest in one of these.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great keyboard, bad directions!
Review: Once we figured this keyboard out and got it installed, it was great! Targus failed to tell us that we needed an adaptor for our iPaq and that we needed different drivers that should be downloaded from the Internet. Their instructions sent with the product are seriously lacking, but it is a good keyboard and very compact.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better than expected...improves capabilities & efficiency
Review: This keyboard enables me to essentially replace many of the reasons for using my laptop on the train to/from home. I can send/respond to email, write memos, even create simple Excel spreadheets...quickly and easily versus using the stylus alone. I am thoroughly impressed with this product. If you really want to fully explore the capabilities of your Clie, I highly recommend this product.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good Product, but has its problems
Review: I used this to take notes in class, and it works perfectly good. It has full size keys and it is very simple to type with. How ever, i always had a problem of it popping open inside my back pack. The latch would never stay securely closed, and eventually it popped opened and one of the hinges broke so i had to cough up [money] for a new keyboard. Still, it is better than anything else, so i would buy it again.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: iPAQ 3800 -3900? Look elsewhere first because....
Review: this fine design requires a small adapter for use with these models of iPAQ. Be aware, as I was not, that the adapter does not fit into the case, and must be carried and kept track of seperately. When you lose it, Targus will sell you another....

But for this glitch, a 5 star design.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: LOVE IT!
Review: I use this to take notes in class.
It is fast, works great, and folds up *almost* as small as my visor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works like a dream -- barely bigger than my Visor...
Review: Great working keyboard. Barely larger than my HS Visor and barely 1" thick when folded. With this setup, you basically have a "laptop" that fits in tha palm of your hand. Only drawback is you cannot actually type with the keyboard on your lap, but any flat surface will do. Keys are much quieter than most PC keyboards.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My experience with the best designed PDA keyboard
Review: I have purchased my Targus Stowaway keyboard a couple of days ago off eBay, ...

I have been using it for about three days to chat, type in notes, and respond to e-mails. It has definitely turned my PDA into a notebook. You would be able to perform anything with your PDA and a keyboard, as your productivity will certainly increase. You will normally be able to input 10 to 20 words per minute using the built in character recognizer, however you might now be able to type in at least three to four times faster than that!!!

The keyboard when unfolded, resembles an IBM Thinkpad notebook keyboard: black keys with white characters. The cursor keys are located at the right side, and their layout is the same as that on regular keyboards. In order to Page Up, Down, Home and End, you must press the blue 'Fn' key located to the left of the spacebar.

Folding and unfolding the keyboard is just wonderful. Measuring 13.8" WIDE when fully deployed, it just folds back to a mere 6". Neatly packed, it would be roughly the same size as your PDA, but a little thicker.

The keyboard folds in a shape that resembles the letter "W". You pull away the two black and red handles to the edges of the keyboard's case, tuck in the middle so as to have it raised. Crunch the end locks and there you go. Your keyboard is now neatly packed.

In order to connect your PDA to it, the keyboard has got a built in docking port that tilts forwards and backwards, so that you can adjust it to have a nice viewing angle for you PDA while typing. Slide a metal and plastic retractable foot, as to have the back of your PDA rest there in a slanted position. This pedestal is made of metal, and it looks quite solid, with the exception of the plastic pedestal.

You also get four dedicated application access keys, from which you can launch Inbox, Contacts, Calendar and Tasks. Press 'Fn' plus these keys, and you will be able to access Notes, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Microsoft Money. The functionality for these keys is hardcoded into the software driver, so you will not be able to change what applications they launch.

The keyboard keys are normal size, and the feel is a little mushy, characteristic of a laptop keyboard. Key travel is identical to that of a laptop keyboard. Touch typists (like me) would sometimes need to punch in the keys a little harder, I think it is just a matter of time.

The right side of the keyboard is somewhat cramped, it is easy at first to confuse the right shift for the right cursor keys, which lie next to each other.

Keyboard driver is very easy to use, and allows you to 'Hot Dock' and play with the keyboard as to just start typing. No need to turn off/turn on your unit to have the keyboard recognized.

The software driver also allows you to configure up to 10 different application/document launch shortcuts, by pressing the 'Fn' and a number (from 1 through 0).

Overall, I am very satisfied with how this keyboard has improved productivity for me, and I think this is still the best engineered PDA keyboard on the market, no wonder why they have won several design awards.


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