Accessories Best portable keyboard for the eDGe

Does this one work well with the EDGE?

Ok...stupid question time and I think I know the answer.

In the journal app on the eInk side, can you use a keyboard there? I'm thinking of a scenario where you are taking meeting minutes and then want to use the pen to annotate or draw something like a quick diagram.

Thanks

Craig

Nah...no problem. Figured it was something like that. Its the price you pay for being on the bleeding "eDGe" of technology

I think I'll pick up the foldy keyboard suggested by the staff and see how it goes.

BTW, I bought something similar to this keyboard http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/478 for a different project some time ago (a CE tablet). While it is no ergonomic marvel, I still type on it faster than the silly on-screen default keyboard. I am going to try it with the edge now too to see how it does - some velcro tape should take care of attachment pretty well I am thinking. The price on the above link is kind of high - I was able to find it on Ebay for ~15 USD.

Basically, my hangup with the on-screen keyboard is the silly iphone-like look and feel, which is totally irrelevant for our large-screen device. I think the numerical/special characters should be easily accessible - the default keyboard takes a second to switch between the alpha and the numeric view making text entry for me an utter pain (esp. passwords and punctuation). I looked at BetterKeyboard, which meets my requirements very well, but they have it locked up good in the blasted Android Marketplace. I have started looking an the Android SDK and one of the first "hello world" apps is a keyboard - I will give it a whirl too to see if I can build a less brain-dead on-screen keyboard and make it available on the alternate marketplaces with available source code.

I am kind of up in arms about this topic since I made myself spend an entire weekend using the edge as a netbook replacement/reader. The experience was pretty good but was totally ruined by the sucktacular default Android keyboard. I even tried the Slide keyboard and while it is interesting, it didn't do it for me.

BTW, I tried the MiniKey keyboard (http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/478) on the Edge tonight and it worked like a charm. When this device was plugged in, the obnoxious Android onscreen keyboard disappeared altogether, giving me the full screen as I was typing. I guess I am carrying this keyboard around with me from now on . The dimensions on this thing are about 5"x2"x0.25" so it is tiny but very usable. I am a pretty happy camper now.

Is there a recommended keyboard to purchase?

Originally Posted by 10tklz

Is there a recommended keyboard to purchase?

"Recommended"? Specifically by Entourage? Don't think so. Almost any USB keyboard should work. Go through the earlier posts for a various sized external keyboards that work. I'm using the SolidTek Mini USB keyboard which is about the perfect size for me. Any smaller would be annoying. When the edge supports bluetooth keyboards I'll get the equivalent model in bluetooth for additional convenience.

From OP:

- Targus (USB, recommended by enTourage staff, folds: http://www.amazon.com/Targus-PA875U0...4&sr=1-3-spell)

Personal opinion: I bought this keyboard and it's definitely compatible, but I find it cumbersome to fold/unfold/lock. Also, even when unfolded, the keyboard feels like it's about to snap in the middle if you happen to rest it on your knees. Another big gripe is in an inconvenient spacebar and backspace key.

I am looking to buy something a bit more solid and ergonomic but still portable...fortunately reports are that almost any usb keyboard works.

After some frustration with the Targus USB foldable keyboard, I decided to swap it for an ADESSO SLIMTOUCH MINI AKB-410UB USB Keyboard. It's definitely bigger (actually close to the dimensions of the eDGe itself, though much lighter obviously), but I LOVE IT.

The keys are a joy to type on - better than most full size keyboards I have seen. Definitely beats the Targus foldable USB hands down. All the shortcut keys work, as described in this thread. The arrow keys are super-useful for scrolling, shift-Arrow selects text in Word2Go just like in MS Word.

The best thing about the keyboard is that it it has a space to rest your wrists, so it's super-comfortable to type for extended periods, even when it's resting on your knees. This may seem like a little thing, but unless you're seated at a desk in an upright chair - the wrist rest is essential - there's a reason almost all laptop keyboards are set up that way. It also has little foldable legs in the back for a slight tilt if you need it.

The keyboard also includes a touchpad, which, surprisingly, is pretty handy on the eDGe, although takes some getting used to. The first surprising thing about the touchpad is that it works at all. It can be used to scroll a page comfortably in the browser, in PDF2GO or in virtually any other LCD app. Now I don't know how I did without the touchpad! It's also pretty useful in the VNC application to remotely control your PC, although mouse pointer control is by no means perfect. The pointer tends to disappear after you move it around a bit (it's still there if you are looking at the actual screen on the server, but not in the client session), and also it is super-sensitive so a slight touch will take the pointer all way across the screen.

As I mentioned, the biggest con about the keyboard is its size, but for me it's worth it. Also, it's not wireless (yes, there are wireless keyboards that work with the eDGe - if they come with a USB bluetooth transmitter).

The one I have is black, but if you want something to match the eDGe more closely, you can buy the silver one, though personally I am not such a huge fan of that color scheme. There is also a bluetooth version of this for whenever eDGe actually enables bluetooth support.

@devseev

The url has the word 'keyboard' before the http:/

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=adesso+touchpad+keyb oard&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16308419124654406720&ei=IT3cS97xMYvW9AS534WS Bw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum= 4&ved=0CB0Q8gIwAw

fixed, thank you!

I've got the Targus and I use it on my lap, I just put a book under it. Works no problems

I have an Adesso Model WKB-4000US (USB Wireless) I had used previously and after reading some of these posts tried on my eDGe.

It actually works great and since it has a touch pad does scroll pages well.
Using the touchpad for 'mouse function' takes getting used to as it mimics the onboard scrolling ball, but I think with practice I could get good at it.

Originally Posted by DavidC

I have an Adesso Model WKB-4000US (USB Wireless) I had used previously and after reading some of these posts tried on my eDGe.

It actually works great and since it has a touch pad does scroll pages well.
Using the touchpad for 'mouse function' takes getting used to as it mimics the onboard scrolling ball, but I think with practice I could get good at it.

I was just looking at this keyboard and was reading this thread to see if anyone had experience using it with it on the Edge. A couple of quick questions:
1) Are there any drivers that need to be installed to get the wireless to work? Or is just genuinely plug-and-play?
2) Do you travel with this keyboard? If so, did you pick up a special case for it or something? It looks like it would be just what I'm looking for, but it's pricey enough (~$75 is the cheapest that I've been able to find) that I'd want to make sure it's well-protected.

Thanks in advance!

Another question... Has anyone tried using the Matias Folding Keyboard with the eDGe?

Matias is the same Canadian company that makes the iRizer.