Portable Keyboards for the iPAQ Pocket PC

Pocket PC users love portability. But many mobile users still lug notebook PCs around to write reports, to compose and respond to e-mail, and, in general, to do work that can be done more efficiently with a keyboard. Third-party developers saw an opportunity in this a long time ago with the release of the Palm-size PC and the original Palm Pilot. They quickly came out with external keyboard solutions for these devices. We wrote about some of them in a review titled " Portable Keyboards for the Pocket PC" in the November 2000 issue of Pocket PC magazine.

No keyboards compatible with the Compaq iPAQ were covered in that review. But recently two keyboards, one from Targus and one from iBIZ, have arrived to fill that gap. (Note: The iBIZ keyboard also works with the Casio and HP Pocket PCs, using different software drivers. There is an HP Jornada version of the Targus keyboard. Finally, see page 22 for a quick look at the LandWare keyboard for Casio Pocket PCs.)

Targus Stowaway: a full-size, fold-out keyboard

The Targus Stowaway ($99.99; www.targus.com/accessories_io.asp) is a fold-out keyboard that stores in a package just a little larger than a Pocket PC, but folds out into a very useable, full-size keyboard with the standard five rows of keys and also four dual-function quick-launch keys. It was originally developed by Think Outside (www.thinkoutside.com/pocketpc.html) for Palm OS PDAs and is now available for the Compaq iPAQ as well as the HP Jornada Pocket PC.

To use the Stowaway with the iPAQ (or HP Jornada) you first have to install a small "driver" program on the Pocket PC. This driver allows the iPAQ to communicate with the keyboard. After this driver, which ships with the Stowaway, is installed on the iPAQ, all you do is unfold the Stowaway, pull out a support bracket, and slip the iPAQ into the "dock connector" until you hear a click. Then you open your application and start typing (see Screen 1).

Screen 1: The Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC connected to the Targus Stowaway portable keyboard and resting in the Stowaway's support bracket.

The Stowaway connects to the iPAQ's serial port. This connection is possible even when the iPAQ is using an Expansion Pack, which means that an iPAQ user can access a PC Card or CompactFlash storage card while he or she is connected to the Stowaway.

The Stowaway is flexible when folded out and seems like it might be a little fragile. But I had no problems using it as long as it was on a flat surface. It worked well resting on a table or on a briefcase in my lap. The keys are about the same size and spacing as on a desktop keyboard, but the pitch of the keys (the distance the keys travel when you strike them) is less. I adapted to the pitch difference quickly.

The Stowaway has five rows of full-sized keys, including Home, End, PageUp and PageDown keys. There are no Function keys (F1, F2, etc.) but the Stowaway lets you program 10 hot keys to launch any built-in or installed application. There is no Esc key, but Fn-Tab duplicates its function. In addition, there are four dual-function, quick-launch keys that activate the built-in applications (Inbox, Notes, Contacts, Word, Calendar, Excel, Tasks, and Money). These cannot be re-programmed. The Stowaway also lets you set the key repeat rate. I found the default setting too slow and set it a little faster.

The Targus Stowaway portable keyboard for the iPAQ Pocket PC.