iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds by Think Outside
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Digital camera reviews of iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard for PDAs and Handhelds
Digital camera Review: Could not get it to work on Dell Axim X30BT
Summary: 1 Stars
Oh how I wanted this to work.
I ended up sending it back after spending seven hours, over two days, trying to get it to activate. Followed the instructions to a "T." Again and again.
Downloaded the new software. The instructions for both the old and new software ARE quite confusing.
Spent time on the web trying to find a support phone number for Think Outside. No such thing. Found an email support address. Emailed for help. Found a support forum. Posted my questions. Didn't hear back for two days and so mailed the unit back to Amazon. Then heard back.
Think I MAY have figured out--from the response they sent--something I could have done to get it going. But, too late. Too frustrating.
Obviously (from reading the reviews) it loads more easily on some other pocket devices. Allow lots of time for experimenting and contacting support by email and awaiting responses if you're loading it onto a Dell Axim. AND read the recent comments from other Dell Axim users here who had difficulties but figured out how to get it working. (Wish I had realized there were new comments from Dell Axim owners.)
I've used a Stowaway keyboard for my Palm for years. Works wonderfully. Never needed any help. Expected this one to be just as easy to install and delightful to use. Or even more so, being bluetooth. Wish that HAD been my experience. Had no idea there is not a support number for Think Outside. Had never had reason for one before.
I ordered the keyboard early in March and at the same time ordered the Bluetooth Travel Mouse. Had planned to install them together. But the Travel Mouse didn't come with the keyboard. I kept waiting. (Turns out the travel mouse is on major -- couple month -- back order.) When I realized that almost 30 days had passed since the keyboard had arrived and the mouse was not here yet, I decided I had better load the keyboard software and try it out. Wish I'd played with it the day it arrived. Would have given me plenty of time to do the slow back-and-forth email thing with Stowaway and, hopefully, get it going.
If you have a Dell Pocket PC, this is probably not going to be plug and play for you. (But if you do get it going, I'll bet you'll love it.)
Best,
kwc
P.S. 10-5-05 UPDATE: In April I ordered the InfraRed Stowaway keyboard. Had the same problems getting it to work with my Dell, using the driver disc and following the instructions supplied. So went back to the emails that I had gotten from Stowaway support after shipping back the Bluetooth keyboard. Per Support's instructions, went online and downloaded NEW driver-loading instructions and a new driver and, following the (let me emphasize this) NEW instructions--not the ones that came with the keyboard--it loaded in a snap. Works beautifully. Bet the bluetooth would have, too. Why, why, why do they ship a product with a driver and instructions that they know won't work? (Maybe they aren't doing that any more. But if you have trouble getting the driver to load, visit the site and download the new driver and new instructions.)
Digital camera Review: Decent, convenient, but not without flaws
Summary: 3 Stars
Despite the many positive aspects of this product, I encountered a few problems I think people should be aware of.
When I received it, the quick start paper was glued to it with a cheap adhesive that doesn't come off cleanly - so when peeling it off, the paper tears and stays on the keys. It's an incredible pain to clean off, and makes it look awful. I can't use solvents, because it would get in between the keys and gum things up.
It usually takes several seconds of key pressing to get it to "wake up" and for my Palm TX to start talking to it. This makes it inconvenient to whip out for quick notes; I guess it's more suited to longer memos.
Lastly, I type in bursts of 65-80WPM, and I frequently find when typing two consecutive keypresses, it doesn't register the second keypress. This results in many words with missing letters. I don't know if it affects other devices; I've only tried it on the Palm TX.
Digital camera Review: Design Brilliance Marred -- literally -- by Packaging Cluelessness
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my third Stowaway keyboard, having used earlier IR and Bluetooth models (both great). The Think Outside engineers are a clever bunch, creating a full-size keyboard that folds up ever so elegantly into a package you can pop in a pocket. But somewhere along the line, evidently, Think Outside executives figured that an all-genius staff just wasn't going to cut it. So they hired, shall we say, someone a bit challenged upstairs. And, alas, they put him or her in charge of packaging. If you're reading this, you've no doubt already read about the sticker that's affixed to this keyboard. It's all true. It's a mess. If the Space Shuttle used glue like this, there would never be any problems with tiles falling off. That said, stickergate isn't fatal. The sticker covers just a small part of the keyboard real estate, and if you peel and scrape and pull carefully -- someone here suggested using a blade in the gaps between the keys to pop the sticker up; a good idea -- the residue left on the keys is fairly small, and can be cleaned up in a few minutes. It's the underside of the keyboard where you're going to find the grief. I'm still scraping off mine. Fortunately, it's on a part of the base that is covered both in use and in storage, so it's just annoying, not unsightly. For $30, this is still a great buy. But, really, Think Outside, everyone who had anything to do with this bonehead idea needs to be seriously scolded. I'll write more in a year or two when I've removed the rest of the sticker. Sigh.
Digital camera Review: Discontinued
Summary: 1 Stars
Product has been discontinued. No driver for Palm Centro. Tried using driver for Palm Treo, but it locks up my Centro, requiring a hardware reset. Had to re-install all my Palm apps after the reset.Digital camera Review: Discontinued item, no driver download to device, scumbags
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this product to send over to my wife who is on a trip, and complained about typing on a Blackberry. I thought I better install it before sending it after her, so I could guide her along. No PC where she is, so I tried to download as advertised. Result: Page Not Found.
Company advised that since this is a discontinued item (?) they took down the support pages.
This would not be an issue normally - you can install the driver from a PC.
It is the principle that a company can maintain a manufacturer's description while not the web page to support the claim...
You know a manufacturer is a scumbag when their feedback/survey link gives you an error message back...
If any doubts read the blackberry link from the bottom of the review page, or click on the one star reviews. A shame