.KEYWORD pocketop
.FLYINGHEAD PRODUCT REVIEW
.TITLE The Pocketop Keyboard connects to any infrared-enabled handheld
.OTHER
.SUMMARY Vladimir Campos reviews the Pocketop Keyboard, a small and functional solution for data input that integrates nicely with a broad range of handheld devices.
.AUTHOR Vladimir Campos
The Pocketop keyboard (at http://www.pocketop.net) is a very small and functional solution for data input, and it integrates nicely with a broad range of handheld devices. You can get sense of its size in Figure A.
.FIG A You can get a sense of the size of the opened Pocketop keyboard as compared with a one dollar bill.
Like the Stowaway keyboard from Think Outside (at http://www.thinkoutside.com), the Pocketop Keyboard is also a folding keyboard, but instead of folding in three points like the classic Stowaway keyboard, the Pocketop Keyboard folds in just one point, right in the middle of the keyboard as shown in Figure B.
.FIG B Note that the space bar is divided in two parts.
The keys are smaller then the ones present in a desktop keyboard, as you can see in Figure C, but once you get use to it, your typing will be very productive.
.BREAK_EMAIL To learn more about the Pocketop keyboard, click here.
.FIGPAIR C The Pocketop Keyboard keys size are compared with a desktop keyboard.
You’ll also need to get used to a higher number of functions in each key. For example, there is no numeric keyboard; instead, you need to hit the Nunlock Num key and then the specific key with the desired second function (number, for example) in red. The Punct key will give access to the second functions in green, such as symbols and Latin languages accent marks. And finally, the Function key will give access to commands in blue like Page Up, Page Down, Done, New, Cancel, and lots of others. You can even launch the core Palm OS applications and turn the backlight on and off.
But in my opinion, the reduced size is not the most interesting feature of the keyboard. Although it is specifically designed to fit the Palm V, Palm Vx, and Palm m500 series, it is also compatible with almost all the handhelds available in the market, including Pocket PCs.
Best of all, you don’t need a different keyboard for each handheld connector; the same keyboard will work with all the models. How is this possible? Since Bluetooth is not present in all the handhelds–especially in old models–a very popular technology is responsible for the compatibility: the infrared port. You can see the infrared port in Figure D.
.FIG D The Pocketop Keyboard infrared port makes the keyboard infinitely compatible.
A single AAA battery powers the infrared port, as you can see in Figure E.
.FIGPAIR E The Pocketop Keyboard battery compartment is shown here with a battery inside.
A stand for the handheld is equipped with a plastic mirror adapter that will reflect the infrared beams from the keyboard to the handheld infrared port. A driver with versions for Palm OS and Pocket PC needs to be installed in the handheld to enable the connection.
To use the keyboard, all you have to do is activate the driver, place the handheld on the stand, align the keyboard infrared port with the reflective surface in the stand adapter, and start typing. Aligning the keyboard can be a little tricky, so once you find the right position, try to memorize it for the next time you start using the keyboard.
If you don’t want to use the stand, you can use a nice feature (also available in the driver) that will let you invert the handheld screen to the left, to the right, or even reversing it completely (upside-down). You can then lay down the handheld vertically or horizontally in front of the keyboard infrared port as shown in Figure F.
.FIGPAIR F You can type without the stand by aligning both infrared ports on a flat surface.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to rotate the screen of some handhelds, such as on some Clie models, for example. A complete compatibility list is available at: http://www.pocketop.net/comp_list.shtml. I’ve been searching the Internet for an alternative to reverse the Clie screen, but I had no success. I could only find FlipHack (at http://www.byteswapped.com/palm/) from Douglas Anderson, a very nice Hack that was already available in January of 2000, before the Pocketop Keyboard existed. But it looks like the Pocketop software works just like the hack; everything one can do, the other does.
In the beginning, I thought Clie high-resolution was the problem, but I found out that some Palm Doc readers like CspotRun (at http://www.32768.com/bill/palmos/cspotrun/), for example, can revert the Clie high-resolution screen. Unfortunately, CSpotRun is just a reader. So, if you’re a developer or a Clie user that figured out a way to rotate the handheld screen to use it with the Pocketop keyboard, please let me know.
If you use a handheld that is able to rotate the screen, you’ll enjoy integrating your handheld to the keyboard. The first option is to use the stand as a protection for your handheld screen, instead of the original flip cover. If you choose to do this, all you have to do to work with the keyboard is turn the new cover flip to the back of the handheld and open the reflective surface and the base to covert the flip into a stand, as you can see in Figure G.
.FIG G The Pocketop Keyboard stand double function: cover flip and stand.
The second option is to connect the closed keyboard to the handheld by turning the keyboard itself into a new flip cover. Of course, this will add a lot of bulk to the handheld and is recommended for those that use the keyboard all the time. The good news about this option is the fact that you can leave the stand at home. As you can see in Figure H, all you have to do is slide the handheld to the center of the opened keyboard and revert the screen using the driver.
.FIGPAIR H The Pocketop Keyboard connects to the Palm handheld.
A special stylus (also included) can be used to hold the back of the handheld against the table.
If you use anything other than a Palm handheld, you won’t be able to enjoy this kind of integration, but the stand and the keyboard will work very well. I’ve tested it with several handhelds, such as the Palm m505, Palm Vx, Palm III, Clie T-415, Clie NR70V, and an iPaq. In fact, the Clie NR70V rotation feature is perfect for the Pocketop Keyboard. You can open the handheld in such a manner that one part of the handheld will be facing the table, while the screen will be facing you. And since its infrared port will be pointing directly to the keyboard’s infrared port, everything will work fine.
I have also tried it with several applications like WordSmith (at http://www.bluenomad.com), Documents To Go (at http://www.dataviz.com/products/documentstogo/index.html), Palm OS core applications (Memo Pad, Address Book, To Do List, etc.), and also with Pocket PC software like Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Contacts, and others. It worked very nicely!
If you own a Palm V, Palm Vx, or Palm m500 series and are looking for an integrated, light and small keyboard, the Pocketop Keyboard is a very nice solution. But if you own a different model or you’re always upgrading to the newest model, the Pocketop Keyboard is also a very good solution for your typing.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on the Pocketop Keyboard, visit http://www.pocketop.net.
For more information on the Stowaway keyboard from Think Outside, visit http://www.thinkoutside.com.
For more information on CspotRun, visit http://www.32768.com/bill/palmos/cspotrun/.
For more information on FlipHack, visit http://www.byteswapped.com/palm/.
For more information on WordSmith, visit http://www.bluenomad.com.
For more information on Documents To Go, visit http://www.dataviz.com/products/documentstogo/index.html.
For more information on Palm handhelds, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Easy, flexible article reprints
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.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
