Hack52.Find the Perfect Keyboard


Hack 52. Find the Perfect Keyboard

Entering significant amounts of text with the stylus is a painthat's why external keyboards were invented.

As usual, what kind of keyboard you should get depends on what your needs are. Do you need a full-size (laptop-style) keyboard? Do you want a mini-keyboard for portability and space?

8.4.1. Stowaway Keyboard

The Stowaway Keyboard (http://www.thinkoutside.com) comes in three models: infrared, Bluetooth (Figure 8-3), and a direct connect version (Figure 8-4). These keyboards are similar in feel to a laptop. You do need a stable place to rest the keyboard while using ityour lap won't be sufficiently stable.

Figure 8-3. Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard being folded


8.4.2. Happy Hacking Cradle

If you have a Palm III series device or are willing to pick one up [Hack #50], then you might be able to locate a Happy Hacking Cradle by searching the Web. The Happy Hacking Cradle is a cradle for a Palm III series device that lets you use any PS/2 keyboard.

8.4.3. Micro Datapad

The Micro Datapad (http://www.mic-innovations.com) is a mini-keyboard for the Palm m100 and related models. The keyboard is only slightly wider than a PDA. It plugs into the bottom of an m100.

Figure 8-4. Tungsten connected to Stowaway direct-connect keyboard


8.4.4. Twiddler

The Twiddler (http://www.handykey.com) is a one-handed chording keyboard. A chording keyboard is one in which multiple keys are pressed simultaneously to enter a character. The Twiddler has a strap that fits over your hand, and then you use the fingers of that hand to hit the keys. The original Twiddler worked with the Palm devices through the use of a Hackmaster [Hack #47] extension called twiddleHack. It is unclear whether the current Twiddler 2 still works with Palm devices or not.

Any of these keyboards will make it easier to enter text and more practical to edit large documents on a Palm device. The Twiddler requires practice to become proficient.




Palm and Treo Hacks
Palm and Treo Hacks: Tips & Tools for Mastering Your Handheld
ISBN: 059610054X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 115

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