Mobile Computing: PDA Keyboards

Feature: PDA Keyboards

Last week I extolled the virtues of leaving your laptop at home and traveling instead with a notebook alternative. One suggestion I offered is to use a Pocket PC or Palm OS PDA equipped with wireless or land-line Internet access, e-mail capabilities, and a full-size keyboard.

For this week's newsletter I've put together a guide to some of the coolest and most useful full-size PDA keyboards. When used with a Pocket PC or Palm OS handheld, these keyboards enable you to type nearly as comfortably as you could at your desk. Most fold up for easy portability, and nearly all are priced at $80 or less, so they're reasonably affordable.

Belkin Wireless PDA Keyboard

This slim, fold-out keyboard connects to a PDA via a wireless infrared connection. You can use it with most Pocket PCs and Palm OS PDAs, which is an advantage if you have more than one device or plan to switch to another later. In my informal tests, Belkin's keyboard worked easily and consistently with my Pocket PC and Palm devices, though it wasn't quite as comfortable to use as my favorite PDA keyboard, the Targus Stowaway.

It's worth mentioning that other vendors such as Pocketop and Targus offer wireless IR keyboards at slightly higher prices. Also, I've heard that BenQ will be coming out with a wireless keyboard that connects with PDAs via Bluetooth later this year, though I was unable to find mention of it at the company's Web site.

Vital Stats: Belkin Wireless PDA Keyboard

• Compatible with: Many Pocket PCs and Palm OS handhelds
  
  
• Buying info: Belkin
  
  
• List price: $60
  
  
• Latest prices: $42-$50
  
  

Targus Stowaway

The Targus Stowaway is the most comfortable and well-designed PDA keyboard I've used so far. When folded up, the keyboard is just a bit thicker and larger than a standard PDA. Unfolded, its keys--which are nearly as large as those on a desktop keyboard--make touch typing easy. Dedicated keys let you quickly launch PDA applications, and function keys help you scroll through a document.

Targus currently sells its keyboard online, and Palm.com sells the same device for $79 as the Palm Portable Keyboard, for use with select Palm models.

Vital Stats: Targus Stowaway

• Compatible with: Hewlett-Packard IPaq and Jornada, Sony Clie
  
  
• Buying info: Palm Store, Targus
  
  
• List price: $70
  
  
• Latest prices: $53-$100, depending on model
  
  

Logitech KeyCase

Though it's been out for more than a year, I still think Logitech's KeyCase is one of the coolest PDA keyboards available. Made of lightweight spill-resistant material, the KeyCase wraps around a Palm device to protect it during travel, and unfolds for typing. It takes a while to get used to typing on what is, in essence, a piece of fabric. And I've never been able to type as fast on the KeyCase as I can on the Targus Stowaway. But input on the KeyCase is a big improvement over Palm's Graffiti and on-screen keyboard, and its dual purpose as a PDA case makes this keyboard both cool and practical.

Vital Stats: Logitech KeyCase

• Compatible with: Palm m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705
  
  
• Buying info: Logitech
  
  
• List price: $80
  
  
• Latest prices: $59-$77