iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
by Think Outside
Our Price: $219.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $108.95 (click here)
Category: CE
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Think OutsideAudio: English (Original Language)
Model: XTBTUEI
Product features:
- Foldable, full-size QWERTY keyboard wirelessly connects to Bluetooth-enabled smartphones and PDAs
- Weighs less than 6 ounces; folds to 5.5 x 3.9 x 0.5 inches
- User-programmable shortcut and command keys for fast access to other applications
- Download drivers automatically from your smartphone/PDA--no PC needed
- Includes carrying case and detachable PDA/phone stand
- Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 2.5 Inch, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM SATA II WD5000BEVT
- Kensington In-line Copyholder Underdesk Keyboard Drawer with Wrist Rest and Mouse Pad (K60068A)
- Logitech Cordless Number Pad for Notebooks
- Western Digital 250GB SATA Notebook Hard Drive (Retail package)
- Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks (Dark Silver)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
Customer Review: Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard paired to Nokia N70
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using the Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard daily for 9 months now paired to a Nokia N70 phone. It is a fantastic tool that transforms your cell phone into a lite notebook PC and Email client. I travel extensively and the keyboard slips easily into my suit pocket. The keyboard has a WOW factor and attracts a lot of comment in coffee shops, airport lounges. It is much easier to use on the road or in a train than a notebook PC, as it takes a lot less space and with the N70 weighs a fraction of a notebook. The key spacing is identical to my notebook, save for the number keys which require the SHIFT key and take a little time to get used to. My Nokia N70 requests me to select the keyboard layout, and I have chosen "Int. US" which seems to give the best functionality, although I haven't managed to get a key to activate the N70 top right hand button or the N70 navigation control as yet. No problem though as I can simply reach over to the phone and use the N70 navigation control button.
Once you get the hang of it, connecting takes between 5 to 60 seconds (60 secs should need to re-activate Bluetooth and re-"Pair" the devices. - further comments below) Generally no pairing needed, and connection is typically established in 5 secs.
Re-"Pairing" involves activating Bluetooth on N70, searching for keyboards on N70, making sure the keyboard is on by holding CRTL+FN+FN for several seconds, selecting the Think Outside on N70, entering a pairing code "0000" on the N70 phone and then on the keyboard "0000" FOLLOWED BY ENTER. Infrequently I need to reboot the phone which takes a while longer.
I have really used and abused the keyboard for 9 months - had it rummaging around in my PC bag, Ive taken it to the beach*, mountain biking in my cycle shirt pocket* (* in a waterproof Ziploc bag).
I was initially a little confused by the instructions which require the user to press CRTL+FN+FN keys simultaneously to make the keyboard visible to other Bluetooth applications. If any one else is having this problem, you need to hold down the CRTL and both Function keys for several seconds before the keyboard is activated. A flashing green LED between the "T" and "Y" keys indicates that the keyboard is active, and can be detected by other Bluetooth devices.
I have recently had an intermittent problem with the auto-detect and auto-pairing. The N70 automatically detects and re-establishes the Bluetooth pairing to the keyboard 5 secs after you start typing. Sometimes when automatically re-connecting I have trouble using certain keys on the right hand side of the keyboard. I can't work out what is causing the problem, but I don't think that it is a mechanical problem with the keyboard or key connections, as when I re-boot the phone, the problem tends to go away. I think that the problem may be caused by other Bluetooth device interference, or some sort of driver malfunction when the keyboard auto-reconnects. I also infrequently need to reboot the N70 phone to get my Nokia Bluetooth earpiece to reconnect - so the keyboard problem may be linked to the phone but Im not sure. I don't remember having this problem initially.
Notwithstanding all of these small Bluetooth niggles, the keyboard is multiple times faster than trying to type with cell phone predictive text or a Palm Treo micro keyboard. I get hundreds of Emails each day, and my phone can quickly retrieve headers plus the first 10kb of text on the fly, and using the keyboard, I can shoot off a quick (or comprehensive) Email or SMS response to the majority of mails in a fraction of the time that would be needed to boot my PC, access Outlook, and download mails - and I can do all this while reading the paper and sipping a cappuccino.
For advanced users: Although the following setting are not directly related to the Think Outside keyboard, the keyboard turns your phone into a powerful lite PC and Email client, and it therefore becomes important to have the ability to access a copy of you recent Emails on your phone whilst ensuring that a complete set of Emails is retained on your PC. Palm Treo and MS Mobile software have got this syncing sorted, but Symbian 6.0 (operating system for Nokia N70) cant sync mobile to PC successfully as yet and the following work-around is required.
Phone Email settings: I leave a copy of the incoming Emails on the POP3 server for later download to my notebook PC. Send a copy of yr Sent mobile Emails to your POP3 Inbox Email address - that way you will always have a copy of all your Sent Mail sent from your mobile on your PC.
Notebook Email Settings: Leave a copy of the Emails on the POP3 server for - say - 5 days so that you always have the last 5 days Emails available for download to yr phone if needs be.
Incidentially this "pull" solution costs a fraction in download costs of the Blackberry "push" solution and gives similar functionality, but you only "pull" the Eamils onto yr phone when you want them.
Conclusion: Buy one - you won't regret it. It will unshackle you from your desk and notebook and save you hours. I am going to buy a second as I can no longer afford to be without one should my first fail or get lost.
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