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Logitech, the main challenger to Microsoft in sales of input devices, is stoking its reputation for innovation, announcing two new keyboards for handhelds as well as a combination optical-mouse/cordless-presentation device.

Logitech also announced a new partnership with Anoto to produce a digital pen-input system by the end of the year. The products are making their debut at the CeBit Show in Hanover, Germany.

One of the keyboards for personal digital assistants is more or less normal, a folding aluminum keyboard for Palm devices called the TypeAway. The other, however, is something more unusual: It's an electrically sensitive keyboard made of a cloth that can wrap around a Palm device and double as a carrying case to protect the PDA. The KeyCase, as Logitech calls it, consists of pressure- and motion-sensitive fabric called ElekTex.

Flexible Keyboards

Logitech representatives say the KeyCase is fully compatible with Palm OS 4 and 4.1, and makes use of a special cradle. You put the Palm device into the cradle, which is attached to the unrolled fabric keyboard, and prop the cradle into typing position. The fabric keyboard works by sensing changes in pressure and motion in three directions.

The fabric also includes a pressure-sensitive scrolling device, and is water-resistant. Logitech expects the KeyCase to be available in April for $99. It will include a free trial version of the Palm OS word processor WordSmith.

Despite its unusual nature, the device is more like a keyboard than some other keyboard alternatives crafted for handhelds, such as gloves equipped with sensors and virtual keyboards.

The aluminum keyboard, the TypeAway, is a more-conventional, hard, folding unit. Logitech claims it is significantly lighter than competing models but still has a full typing layout and good tactile feedback. It also ships with a trial of WordSmith and works with Palm OS 4 and 4.1. The TypeAway is about half an inch thick when unfolded and has a built-in cradle. It will be available in April for about $80.

Portable Presentations

Logitech's cordless mouse/presentation controller is an all-in-one device intended for notebook users, and is also Logitech's first Bluetooth device. For users without Bluetooth, it ships with a USB converter that is about the size of a car key and plugs into a USB port.

The device, called the Cordless Presenter, includes a built-in laser pointer and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. A simple switch flips it between presentation and cordless mouse modes. The Cordless Presenter has a range of about 30 feet and is scheduled to be available in April for about $200.

Logitech's partnership with Anoto and a number of paper and time-management companies--including 3M, Franklin Covey, and Meade--is designed to promote the adoption of digital pen-input systems for PDAs, mobile phones, and notebook PCs.

Digital pens are well suited for simultaneous digital and paper entry using forms, note-taking, and an easy input mechanism for small devices like PDAs and mobile phones, says David Henry, senior vice president and general manager for control devices at Logitech. The partners would not elaborate further on the technology they are developing.

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