PalmOne Infrared Wireless Keyboard for Palm PDAs Review

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(More customer reviews)Update/Caution: As of early October 2004, PalmOne has a "Universal Wireless Keyboard driver" update on their T3 web page. That is NOT the correct driver for this keyboard - the driver for this keyboard is available from the Palm Accessories page for this keyboard and appears to have last been updated in 12/2003. I experienced system problems after installing that incorrect driver, so be sure you're getting the right one (the pictures show the UWKeyboard with a different key layout).
I've had one of these for a few days now, and it seems to work very nicely. The lack of dedicated number keys is indeed a minor annoyance as is the position of the lower hinge (at the spacebar) but everything else has worked quite well with my Tungsten T3.
There are several things to be aware of when you get one of these:
* The driver software in the package is almost certainly out of date, so you should download the newer version from the Palm website. Be sure you get the drivers for the correct keyboard since there are two different wireless ones.
* On a T3 you'll need to set landscape mode to left-handed orientation because of the position of the IR transmitter.
* While it seems tight, the IR wand is long enough to work with an extended T3 in landscape mode - you'll have it at what seems an odd angle, but it works. If you use the flipover cover that comes with the T3, you'll need to have the T3 sitting a bit further out and further to the right (the base of the T3 won't be down in the holder area), but it still seems stable - you don't have to remove the cover in order to use the keyboard.
* On-screen buttons that don't match the preprogrammed names reachable with the blue Fn key can be selected using Ctrl-Cmd-Letter where Letter is the first letter of the button (or any unique letter in its name).
* The default in the Keyboard driver is to only look for a keyboard signal for a short time after the Palm is powered on - generally 10-30 seconds depending on how you set it. After that it will stop looking in order to save power. That means if you turn on your Palm and use it a bit before dropping it onto the keyboard then it probably won't still be looking. If it finds a keyboard, it'll stay on just fine. Most people can probably set this down to the lowest setting and never notice it.
* The up-arrow key is also the "?" key, so if you need to go up while selecting you have to use the blue Fn key (since Shift-Up will just get you a "?"). This'll be clearer when you look at the keyboard. Otherwise selecting text works as you'd expect (Ctrl-Shift-arrow to select words, etc.)
* There's a quick reference/help area in the Keyboard driver that you install on your Palm. It has some useful tips and is always with you (unlike the PDF manual).
* The keyboard does use power on the Palm since the IR port has to be on, so your battery life will be lower while you're using it - lower still if you're using both the IR keyboard and a BlueTooth cellphone as a modem. It's still good for a day or two depending on how much you use it (and the shorter battery life is something T3 owners should already be aware of).
* The Tab key can be configured to either switch fields or insert a TAB character by default, with the other behavior available by using Fn-Tab.
UPDATE: After using it for a while, all of the above still stands but I have two additional notes:
* When the Palm is looking for a keyboard, it's looking for a keypress - that's what sends a character and makes the Palm realize there's a keyboard present and just being in the keyboard cradle isn't enough. If you miss that window of time you can force it to look again by either powering off and back on or by switching to the Keyboard application and telling it to look again.
* I use a shopping list program and I've found that in some grocery stores the lighting used in refrigerated/frozen foods sections can make the Palm keyboard driver think that a keyboard is present and sending characters (frozen 'p's?). If you run into this, your best alternative is to cover the IR port with your finger.

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One keyboard that works with all current Palm handhelds! Type effortlessly with this foldable, practical keyboard that connects to your handheld wirelessly via infrared. Convenient and practical, it's the ultimate keyboard solution.Palm m500 Series HandheldsPalm m125 HandheldPalm m130 HandheldPalm i705 Handheld

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