Entourage to offer keyboard?

I was checking out the updated Entourage site and noticed that in the specifications for the edge they have added under 'input' - 'usb keyboard (optional)'. Sounds to me like they will be offering one/some, although they don't have anything in the store, yet. It'll be interesting to see which brands/models they opt for.

I'm quite surprised that the Matias folding keyboard isn't already the "official" eDGe keyboard, as the folded dimensions are perfect and they already sell the iRizer. I wonder if the issue is that at present the 10key doesn't work on the eDGe, they need to tweak a driver or something in order to add that functionality and don't want to sell a product that isn't already 100% compatible?

In that case, I think they should change their wording from 'optional' to 'support'...

The "optional usb keyboard" statement means that you are able to use one with the device. Regarding the Matias folding keyboard, the only issue that I have found is that it doesn't lock open, which is a small problem if you have it resting in your lap. Otherwise, its a great keyboard.

The foldable keyboard should come standard with the edge out of the box, not an optional accessory. The on board keyboard is almost unusable. It can be so frustrating that unless you are aware that its easy to use a foldable USB or bluetooth keyboard I could see people walking away from the product entirely.

I do love my edge, but I am somewhat tech savvy and bought myself a foldable keyboard.


Really, they either need to include full touch support on the e-reader side and turn the entire e-ink side into a full sized and more responsive keyboard that doesnt obstruct your view, and everything is on ONE keyboard not needing to switch back and forth.....or they should have a little qwerty keyboard that pops out.....It doesnt have to be huge. Even something the size of a phone keyboard would not add much to the weight, and even thumb picking would be more responsive than that crappy touch keyboard.


I hate to rag on it. The device is awesome, but this device = fail out of the box when it comes to creating documents, a key feature for students, until you add the foldable keyboard.

With the foldable keyboard, this product = win. A student could feasibly use this INSTEAD of their textbooks or laptop or both with the foldable keyboard....they can NOT write a paper however with the touch screen board that is included. Thats a last resort and its not great. At least you can hand write still, which is cool.


I strongly suggest adding a qwerty keyboard or making the ink side a full touch screen with full feature keyboard. If not, you should add the foldable USB keyboard.


Even if you make 0 profit on the keyboards, it doesnt matter. What you gain is happy customers and good reviews telling people that you can in fact use this as a desktop replacement. The crappy touch screen keyboard is probably the single biggest strike and source of frustration for people who have left bad reviews. Its easy enough to add a foldable keyboard and they are cheap, but a lot of people dont even know those things exists, and if you supplied them it would add to your credibility as a laptop replacement. If you broke even on the foldable keyboards you would come out ahead as far as increased sales and better reviews.

I would have your designer make it an option at checkout, and strongly encourage anyone who wants to write papers with this device to purchase the keyboard.

First, making the eReader into a keyboard isn't technologically possible (which has been discussed in previous threads).

Second, the device isn't intended as anything close to a "desktop replacement." In fact, even with a keyboard, it's barely a netbook (since a full range of applications isn't available on Android OS yet), let alone anything approaching "desktop replacement."

The eDGe comes with two USB ports so anyone who wants to add a keyboard (foldable or standard) is free to do so. That is sufficient out-of-the-box capability. Some people prefer Targus, some people prefer Matias, some people like the $20 rollups, etc. If enTourage were to choose one to pre-package, then at least half of customers would not get their top choice, but would be paying a higher price for the eDGe. In addition, it would push the unit cost above $500, which enTourage has (correctly) identified as a critical price point.

I think that the edge could be a netbook replacement if it had a functional keyboard. No it cant do everything a netbook can do, but it can do a lot of what windows 98 could do, and a lot more that it couldnt.


I dont think I said it could be a desktop replacement. If I did I must have meant laptop replacement. Obviously its not a desktop replacement. What I was saying is that combined with a desktop, many students could use the edge and a desktop and not need an additional laptop. My rationale is that most students only need their laptops for writting papers and surfing the web and taking notes and maybe listening to music or movies.....unless thjey dont have a desktop at home or unless they are media or game junkies, in which case nothing short of an AlienWare laptop for 2 will do, or if they are artists they need a Mac.

Piared with a desktop, the edge can fufill many of the functions of a laptop/netbook (NOT desktop), IF it has a functional keyboard.


And about that $500 ceiling? Make it optional, but make it an option.....or team up with somebody who does sell them and just earn a small commission on every foldable you sell, rather than having to invest.

Think about it. Its really not a problem if the chosen keyboard isnt everyones firswt choice.....most people dont even know that they have a first and second choice. They are cool with whatever. They just need the idea implanted in their mind and the assurance that the device they are buying is in fact compatible. As long as its an optional upgrade then you still have not gone over the 500 mark. I cant imagine that you could possibly lose money on the keyboards even if you dont make a ridiculous profit. I really dont think its the problem you are making it out to be.

There are a small number of people who get frustrated with the product because of the keyboard.....just drop them a line and tell them their problem can be solved with a $11 foldable keyboard (You could sell them or$20). Even if they dont buy them at first, they will want one and you will make money and resolve a minority of bad reviews.


Or dont. Its not my company. Im just offering free feedback for what i would do.

Adding a physical keyboard would have to increase the base price of the edge.
Making the eInk screen touch-capable means adding new, different hardware and likely a higher base price again.

Other than losing the cursor control keys in this last software update, I think the onscreen keyboard works fine. Accuracy is very good. Most others agree.

If you want an external keyboard you can get a nice, inexpensive external usb keyboard. I have a Solidtek mini which is very portable and good enouh for touch typing. When the edge supports bluetooth keyboards this situation will get better.

In the last paragraph:

"What you gain is happy customers and good reviews telling people that you can in fact use this as a desktop replacement"

Originally Posted by borisb

It is, after all, really just a cell phone (sans phone) that's quite large, with a cell phone OS. "Desktop replacement" is a pretty weighty term...

I tend to agree with you, Boris. I still find myself having some impatient moments and having to remind myself that I am, indeed, using phone software...

Originally Posted by borisb

I'm not sure I'd advertise the eDGe as even approaching this. At 0.8 GHz, it's slower even than most netbooks, more and more of which are even dual-core. enTourage advertises it for light email and internet usage. It is, after all, really just a cell phone (sans phone) that's quite large, with a cell phone OS. "Desktop replacement" is a pretty weighty term...

To clarify, I wasn't the one claiming that the eDGe was anything close to being a "desktop replacement." Quite the opposite: see second paragraph of what I wrote in #7 initially in response to Nick's ridiculous claim that it only needed a physical keyboard to be a "desktop replacement" (which he half-assedly disavowed in his subsequent post).

With an iRizer and a foldable keyboard, the eDGe makes a nice little mobile workstation and it's lighter and more compact than my laptop (which is a true "desktop replacement"). Although I'm sure that some undergraduates on a fixed budget will try to stretch the limit's of the eDGe, I wouldn't rely on the eDGe as my primary computing device for schoolwork, as I need something that runs Stata and Matlab effectively. But I'm not even sure that I'd want to write a lengthy paper on it, for no other reason than the screen is too small and I find Docs2Go to be inadequate for doing any extensive spreadsheet work or even word processing.