Via Pocketnow.com

 

For many, text input methods on PDA’s and Smartphones has been problematic at best. Several options have been developed to help alleviate this issue, but for many, the most welcome and trusted method is still the keyboard. Some devices are integrating keyboards directly, others are offering connectivity to wireless keyboards, such as the foldable keyboards from Freedom Input and Think Outside. There are issues with both approaches, the integrated keyboards make devices larger. The external keyboards add to your device clutter and create yet another item to keep in your pocket or gadget bag. These foldable keyboards offer fast text input, and while small enough to fit in a pocket, they are still large enough to hinder carrying them with you all the time. If you don’t have it with you, it doesn’t help all that much does it. Size does matter. I personally use an i-mate PDA2K Pocket PC Phone Edition, which includes a slide down keyboard and I have to admit, I almost never use it. I find it slow and awkward, and can enter text more rapidly using the built in handwriting recognition using the stylus. I’d rather have a smaller device and lose the keyboard. For serious text entry and editing, I use my well traveled Think Outside Stowaway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard (they really should find a shorter name), but as I mention above don’t always have it with me. Perhaps someone might want to build something in between the two, larger and more usable than the internal keyboards, but smaller than the foldable keyboards currently available. Something that is easily portable, but doesn’t make my phone any larger. Who would offer such freedom? Funny you should ask….

Read the full review here.