Proporta Roll-up Keyboard

Available here.

 

It seems to be tradition to write a review of a keyboard actually using the device, so I shall do just that. As usual, I shall try to take things as thoroughly as possible, so that you can make the most informed choice about it!

 

Unlike a lot of PDA accessories at the moment, this keyboard did not come in a heat-sealed plastic box, meaning that it was actually possible to get at it without slicing your fingers in the process. However, the keyboard is washable anyway, should you be unlucky ;)

 

The first thing which will strike you about the device is its size- unlike other so-called "pocket" keyboards, this one really will fit in your pocket- when rolled up, it takes little more space than a couple of boxes of matches. Perhaps a rather weird analogy, but it was the first one which sprang to mind. The picture below shows the size of the keyboard, compared with a standard-size PC keyboard.

 

 

 

Despite being small, it has a dedicated number row, and a generous complement of keys. The layout is, obviously, QWERTY, but, for the other symbols, the layout is, I believe, American- some of the symbols are not in the places that I would really expect them to be. For me, this is not a huge problem, as I can cope with having to stop and think where the quote marks are, for example, but it may affect you more. The keyboard is not reprogrammable, so you cannot change the buttons to how you would prefer to have them. This is also apparent when it comes to launching applications via the device- there are four shared buttons for this job, but, they will only launch the basic four PIM Palm applications. Even though I have the hardware button for "Notes" on my T3 remapped to DocsToGo, I am not able to do this on the keyboard. Again, not a major niggle, but a bit of a nuisance nonetheless. The inclusion of an arrow-pad is very useful, as it means you do not have to keep reaching for your stylus, as does the “Menu” button. You can also run “Find” from the keyboard, and “Ok” things.

 

The driver which handles the interface between the keyboard and the PDA is basic, to say the least. Because the keyboard uses the Universal Connector, which is shared with the hotsync cradle / cable, you have to manually switch on the drivers before typing, and remember to switch them off again afterwards, before you can perform a cradle hotsync This is, it has to be said, a mere two-second activity, but, again, is a nuisance- I would prefer to just plug in the keyboard, and use it. However, I believe that this has more to do with the PalmOS than the keyboard, so it is something I will have to live with. It is, of course, still possible to hotsync over a Bluetooth connection without having to switch off the driver, but, not everyone has the luxury of being able to do so.

 

 

So, how does the device actually feel to type on? The initial answer to this question is the one which still crosses my mind- it is small! Whilst this may be a benefit when it comes to portability, it is not such a blessing for usage. I think my fingers are about the average size for a man, and, I am only just able to hit the keys with confidence If you have larger fingers, or are concerned as to whether you will be able to hit the keys accurately, this is probably not the keyboard for you.

 

The keys feel like what they are: coverings for buttons. For this reason, it can sometimes seem as if you have actually missed triggering the button, even if you have pressed the key. Your typing action will need to be firm and confident if you want to achieve a high speed with this keyboard- although I can touch-type on a normal keyboard, with a little practice I was able to obtain a very satisfactory speed on this. Sure, it was not as fast as my office keyboard, but, it is considerably better than Graffiti. Also,  it is a lot more comfortable over a prolonged period of time- having written a good deal of my dissertation using Graffiti, I can honestly say how much better it would have been to purchase one of these earlier- it does make things a lot easier.

 

Battery life is not significantly affected through use of the keyboard. Unlike a wireless one, the connection via cable uses less power, but obviously means that you cannot have the PDA on charge at the same time. It is a bit of a trade-off as to which is more important to you. If, like me, the main purpose of using a keyboard is so you can enter text whilst you are away from your computer, then you will probably find that this is fine- I can write whilst waiting for a meeting, and then just put the PDA into its cradle afterwards. If you wanted to use it for several hours (a train journey, for example), you should probably look at an option which does not take up the Universal connector. In conclusion, therefore, the battery life will remain very similar to the device without the keyboard - if I use my T3 in full screen landscape mode, I will be struggling for much over 2.5 hours. This is reduced by having the mp3 player in the background, but, it does make the whole experience that much more pleasant- which is arguably what a PDA should do.

 

Unlike some of the larger, plastic keyboards, there is no method of supporting your PDA. However, rather than just leaving it flat on the surface, I prop it up on the keyboard's carrying pouch- I can get the screen to just the right angle to make typing over a prolonged period comfortable. It may be a bit of a home-spun solution, but, it works for me- guess everyone will find their own way of using it to their satisfaction.

 

Overall, I rate this keyboard highly. I may have a few problems with some of the aspects of it, but, I am very pleased with it, and am certainly planning on using it a lot. It makes text entry faster, and more comfortable, which is what I wanted, and fits into a tiny space. Proporta are an excellent company, with very friendly, helpful staff, and excellent customer service. Also, if you are a PDA247 Club member, you get a 20% discount on it!

 

Pro

Small

Well priced

Sensible key arrangement and combination

Low power consumption

 

Con

Needs time to get used to

Cannot charge at same time

Need to start and stop driver each time