| |
Sign In or Sign-Up Free!
MobileTrek.Us, , , , Writers, Advertise
Home
|
Sierra Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard by iGo/Think Outside
Review By John Ohnstad | November 19, 2006
Category: stylus and accessories
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
For those that have been around the PDA market, you will remember when a little company known as Think Outside released the Stowaway Keyboard for Palm Handheld Computers. These keyboards compacted up to the size of the PDA you were carrying. This changed the way we saw and used our devices. They were no longer just a little assistant you tuck away in your pocket and use the stylus to check off action items, it could rival the need for a laptop.
As they progressed Think Outside made even smaller keyboards for various device makers with connectors, Infra Red Transmissions, Bluetooth capability to include even a mouse!
Fast Forward to 2006, what do they release next? A Bluetooth keyboard that is nearly the exact design of the original Stowaway. Is it good to go back? Let's see...
Initial Impressions...
The Sierra Keyboard is manufactured out of Stainless steel and ABS plastic, very durable. What is especially attractive is the casing on both ends of the keyboard when in a collapsed position, it gives it an "iPod" look such as the back side of a full sized iPod. Need a mirror, look at your keyboard!
Included with the keyboard is a Smartphone/PDA Stand (much more durable than the previous Bluetooth keyboard stand by the way), a carrying case, and a cloth to polish the sides of your keyboard.
Looks cool, does it work well?
For both Palm and Windows Mobile Devices, you can download from their web site over the air for the latest driver your device needs. To do this, type www.thinkoutside.com in your browser and you will be presented with a link to the driver that best supports your device.
After installing the driver, you then pair the keyboard and device using either a secured or unsecured connection. The instructions that came with my device worked perfectly.
Having a full sized keyboard is a welcome relief to my "Treo Thumbs." Especially when composing emails or writing reviews. This particular keyboard design had Smartphones in mind from a design standpoint. For example, you can answer and hang up phone calls with a simple (I repeat, simple) key combination on the keyboard. You can program shortcuts to other applications, and a 5th row had dedicated entry for numbers instead of having to use a function combination.
Having used this briefly on a Palm OS Treo, it seems to favor more of the Windows Mobile side. You can access the soft menu functions from a key combo/command, and you can use their Bluetooth Mouse with the keyboard.
The Stowaway Sierra Keyboard is powered by one AAA battery and gets 80 hours of typing time (rated at 90, I must be doing something wrong). This keyboard also has a power saving feature built in so the user isn't required to remember to hit a switch or remove something or else the battery dies. It manages that for the user.
All in all, this keyboard is outstanding. Bringing back the original design was especially smart on their standpoint and even if it is a little heavier (just under 11 oz) it is most definitely worth it. If you find yourself with sore thumbs from composing on your Treo, this is a must have for your gear bag.
|
| |
| Related Link |
|
|
|
| Related Content |
|
We removed the following words from the title: / for better matches.
|
|
|
|
© 1997-2009 James McCarthy. All rights reserved.
Pocket Anywhere, pocketanywhere.com, Pocket Anywhere Magazine, GadgetMe!, GadgetMe Magazine, gadgetme.com, "Experiencing Today's Digital LifeStyle", "Because Your Life is Mobile" and "Be Your Own Geek" are trademarks and/or service marks of James McCarthy, P.O. Box 9986, Reno, Nevada 89507, USA, 1-775-815-9726, ISSN 15440397. Duplication and/or distribution of the pocket CD is prohibited without written consent of the publisher and/or distributor of this product. Any use of the word Palm, Microsoft, HotSync, Palm OS, ActiveSync, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Apple, iPod or Pocket PC is for discussion purposes and is a registered trademark of the respective owner.
Designed With Apple® Macintosh® - For Best Viewing Use Firefox, Camino or Safari 2.0
Writer Login
|
|
|
|