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There has been a lot of interest in a proper, external, keyboard for the XDA.
After reading a lot of reviews and testing what I could get my hands on, I have concluded that the ThinkOutside Stowaway Wireless Keyboard is probably the best around.
This keyboard is mainly sold in the USA, but an alternative exists; the Palm Wireless Keyboard.
I have created a small review including large pictures on my website:
http://www.mahal.dk/keyboard
Regards
Michael
Nice review, Michael!
Wouter
Thanks.
Several of my work mates have tried the keyboard and appear very impressed by the quality - and the power of the XDA II + Keyboard.
Regards
Michael
nice review, you seem to be really happy with that keyboard,
But..., have you tried the official XDA II keyboard?, it locks in the open position so can be used on your lap, and doesnt need any batteries to use it,
I am going to order hte official keyboard i think and see how i go with it
I believe I have. I used to own an Ipaq 5450 with the HP Foldable keyboard. From what I can see at the pictures I found, it might very well be the same keyboard.
The HP is sort of pulled apart then pushed together again to assemble and lock it.
If this is the same keyboard, I was not happy and found I did not use it. The main reason was that they keys was not quite large enough and had the right feed-back for touch typing. Also, very annoyingly, the space bar needed a very hard push in the right hand side. This often caused me to miss a space.
Finally, there was no mapping to those extra 3 letters we have, meaning I had to get the stylus out each time I had to use one of those letters.
On the plus side, I could charge my Ipaq when using it, but only after having the bottom connector replaced.
The price was also much higher, almost 100 GBP, the Palm Wireless Keyboard that I find better is only around 35 GBP.
Battery drain is minimal btw.
Regards
Michael
Do One need SD or CF Bluetooth card ?
Do I need to buy an SD or CF Bluetooth card to use my QTEK 20202 with the Stowaway Bluetooth Portable Keyboard, anyone know?
Regards, Johnny
Saw this a few days ago, and it got me salivating, although I can't really justify getting one; I don't spend that much time typing on my Imate.
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110909
It projects (yes projects) a keyboard onto a flat surface in front of it, then detects which key you press on the projection by means of a second ir beam. And it's about the size of a cigarette lighter.
Feedback on the site says it works with the XDA II.
I'm sure I read about this idea years ago in a sci-fi novel. It's nice to see things like that come true. Maybe I will get one. Hmmmmm......
bodstrup said:
The price was also much higher, almost 100 GBP, the Palm Wireless Keyboard that I find better is only around 35 GBP.
Michael
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the palm keyboard work with XDA2?
That or similar laser projected keyboard was on Gadgets Gadgets Gadgets on TV the other night and they demonstrated it using an XDAII.
It looked like it worked very well But you have to have a flat surface. Also typing on a flat surface would feal strange to me i think.
I'm using the standard tri-fold case and the touchstone charge. Nothing fancy there but they make a good team. For an external BT keyboard, I'm using a Freedom Pro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMFOcHpFL0Q
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Computers-Tablets-Networking-/58058/i.html?_nkw=freedom+pro
Sadly, I got mine for around $20 but they tend to run VERY expensive. Seems like it tends to hover around $50.
For a carrying case, I use one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELUXE-SADD...3?pt=US_CSA_MWA_Backpacks&hash=item519eb242eb
The price is excellent for the quality of this bag. It's got a divided interior, a small, clear holder section in front, a medium sized zipper pouch in front and a large section in back. It's big enough to hold my work laptop AND the TP comfortably. I tend to wear it messenger bag style but it also works on your shoulder like a standard laptop bag. Hope some of this proves useful to somebody looking for some TP items.
HP accesories
I have almost everything what HP designed for Touchpad:
- HP TouchPad Slipcase,
- HP TouchPad Case,
- HP TouchPad Bluetooth Keyboard,
- HP Touchstone Charging Dock for TouchPad,
- HP Touchpad 32GB.
- HP Mini Sleeve - Black
It's look like nothing special, but I live in Poland. It's not so easy to complete this set here.
rysiuncio said:
I have almost everything what HP designed for Touchpad:
- HP TouchPad Slipcase,
- HP TouchPad Case,
- HP TouchPad Bluetooth Keyboard,
- HP Touchstone Charging Dock for TouchPad,
- HP Touchpad 32GB.
- HP Mini Sleeve - Black
It's look like nothing special, but I live in Poland. It's not so easy to complete this set here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you like the BT keyboard? I've got one coming in soon. That minisleeve looks nice.
BT keyboard is very good. Generaly I use it with skype, and its easier. It's very comfortable, battery life is OK [Still on first battery]. This keyboard look so good, and it work fine with PC too.
I agree on the HP BT keyboard. I've had mine for about a week...running CM9. You can use the directional arrows to navigate...however, I find it easier just to touch navigate and just use the keyboard for typing.
The HP BT keyboard is great. Happy I got it.
I have HP BT keyboard and i'm hapy:victory:
but still my most favourite is the touchstone charger. no other tablet in the world have it at the moment.
I've had the custom fit case for over a year now as well as the Touchstone (I sold the keyboard a few months ago; I never used it). Today, I decided I was sick of it not staying closed, so i did this:
(I'm waiting for a new case I just ordered anyway, so I might as well have some fun! )
Infinite Jest said:
I've had the custom fit case for over a year now as well as the Touchstone (I sold the keyboard a few months ago; I never used it). Today, I decided I was sick of it not staying closed, so i did this:
(I'm waiting for a new case I just ordered anyway, so I might as well have some fun! )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a button-clip would have looked nicer and been nicer. I hate the sound of Velcro haha
I don't have any additional accessories for mine. Well, I have a third party case I never use.. I'm pretty safe with my tablets so I don't really see a reason for one. Other than that, I'm probably going to be getting a touchstone dock soon.
I only have the folio case
But I would like to get a HP Bluetooth keyboard or the Touchstone charger. Or I might just get an iPad Mini with smart cover
i have touchstone charger..charges fast and really convenient..
solar powered 4 port hub (also charges from wall or PC via usb) 10$
otg cable..1.20$
using chainfires stickmount, i have KB, mouse and flashdrives etc all at once
no cables tied to wall etc..
Got the N5120 recently at a 55% discount, probably indicating the next gen is likely being launched at MWC. This is my first Android device, although others in the family have Android 4.3 and 4.4 phones.
Apart from the slightly lagging pen input on the Note I'm really, really pleased. Better still, the Note 8 works with my old iGo Stowaway foldable BT keyboard out of the box, and in my local language. I can actually use this as my only device, a dream I've had since the OQO was out and about. Amazingly production for the iGo Stowaway ceased when the iPhone burst onto the scene.
I was wondering if any of you knew of a larger compatible stylus for the Note 4 I could purchase. I don't want to use one that has a fat capacitive end like all those cheap styluses I see on the internet, I'm talking about a larger stylus with the same functionality of the S-Pen.
Pretty sure the Wacom specific stylus' work. Here is one specific for the note line, but I think others work as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Bamboo-Stylus-Samsung-CS300UK2/dp/B00IWJM9SW
The first notes used to have the pen accessory that came with a styles and it slipped into a "pen" sized holder. Wish samsung brought that back for our devices.
Lieutenant Fudge said:
I was wondering if any of you knew of a larger compatible stylus for the Note 4 I could purchase. I don't want to use one that has a fat capacitive end like all those cheap styluses I see on the internet, I'm talking about a larger stylus with the same functionality of the S-Pen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several options:
Most (if not all, because The Note series is using Wacom technology) Wacom styli works
HM-5100 Bluetooth-enabled S Pen
Or the fancy Montblanc Styli
All of those are larger styli that works with our Note 4.
I hope I can help
Edit:
I added links:
You need penabled styli. So the Wacom Intuos will not work, but FE a wacom pen for Microsoft surface will work, and for nealry every tablet PC will work!!
In this video review, the guy says (at 3:18) this tablet DOES NOT support an "active pen". I hope he is mistaken and just means it doesn't support specifically the "S pen". Should a universal active pen work with the Tab A8 T290? I think of buying the pen below, the manufacturer says it should work on any touch screen. The problem is that, if it doesn't work, I won't be able to return, I am in Italy and will send it to my niece in Brazil... so I have to make sure. Thanks if you can help!
PS.: Since I'm a new poster, links are blocked to prevent spam. Please, substitute (dot) for "."
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-T290 Review: How Good Is It?
youtu (dot) be/9y-jXjp7IdA?t=198
AICase Active Stylus Pen, Penna Capacitiva Attiva Universale per Qualsiasi Touch Screen
amazon (dot) it/dp/B07KK7HJ8Q/?coliid=INIFVRM8I32TF&colid=3EWJ1C2WID35A&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
"Active" pens, which are battery powered, work with devices that have a digitizer layer on the display. The non-S pen model Tab A won't support those pens.
Instead, you can use the universal non-battery or battery-powered capacitive stylus or pens, like these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N1BRWLA
Or
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LG7DHXL
I already tried the first one but the experience wasn't good enough for me. The second one is arriving next week & I'm hoping it'll be better.
Coincidently, I already have exactly the first cheaper Meko. I had bought it in order to save money and use it on my Windows Surface 3, it didn't work... I can in fact write a whole sentence with a lot of pain, but not really usable. The bigger soft tip is always responsive, but not nice for note taking. In the end, I had to spend more money and buy the Surface pen (which is very good). I've also tried the cheap Meko on an iPad, it works better, but not really good enough for note taking. I haven't tried it on an Android device, though.
Please let me know if the Meko with the battery works better.
Thanks for your answer.
Bianval said:
Coincidently, I already have exactly the first cheaper Meko. I had bought it in order to save money and use it on my Windows Surface 3, it didn't work... I can in fact write a whole sentence with a lot of pain, but not really usable. The bigger soft tip is always responsive, but not nice for note taking. In the end, I had to spend more money and buy the Surface pen (which is very good). I've also tried the cheap Meko on an iPad, it works better, but not really good enough for note taking. I haven't tried it on an Android device, though.
Please let me know if the Meko with the battery works better.
Thanks for your answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, and against my expectation, the battery-powered Meko pen performed worse! [emoji34] Instead of smooth lines, it was just dots everywhere.
On my iPad, though, it worked flawlessly.
I ended up returning both of the Meko pens.
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
optimummind said:
Unfortunately, and against my expectation, the battery-powered Meko pen performed worse! [emoji34] Instead of smooth lines, it was just dots everywhere.
On my iPad, though, it worked flawlessly.
I ended up returning both of the Meko pens.
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you mean the battery-powered Meko worked well on your iPad but not on your other device? Which one is it? Would it be Samsung Tab A8?
I guess it's a matter of luck, these styluses respond differently depending on the device.
I've been testing again the cheaper Meko Stylus (with no battery). These are the devices I've tried:
Surface 3 - very bad, not usable. 1 star.
iPad 4 - it could be used, but very painfully, not practical. 2 stars.
iPad 6 (2018) - very good, not great. It is usable to take important notes, like school notes. 4 stars.
Huawei P20 pro - very similar to iPad 6, responds very well. 4 stars.
Cheap Android phone (Leagoo) - very bad, 1 star.
I'm thinking of trying my luck on that "AICase Active Stylus Pen" (the one I put the link before, you can find in Amazon Italy)... it's an active stylus for 25 euros with a glove to rest the palm on the screen.
Thanks for you answer.... and please let me know if you find some good stylus for Samsung Tab A8 T290.
Bianval said:
So you mean the battery-powered Meko worked well on your iPad but not on your other device? Which one is it? Would it be Samsung Tab A8?
I guess it's a matter of luck, these styluses respond differently depending on the device.
I've been testing again the cheaper Meko Stylus (with no battery). These are the devices I've tried:
Surface 3 - very bad, not usable. 1 star.
iPad 4 - it could be used, but very painfully, not practical. 2 stars.
iPad 6 (2018) - very good, not great. It is usable to take important notes, like school notes. 4 stars.
Huawei P20 pro - very similar to iPad 6, responds very well. 4 stars.
Cheap Android phone (Leagoo) - very bad, 1 star.
I'm thinking of trying my luck on that "AICase Active Stylus Pen" (the one I put the link before, you can find in Amazon Italy)... it's an active stylus for 25 euros with a glove to rest the palm on the screen.
Thanks for you answer.... and please let me know if you find some good stylus for Samsung Tab A8 T290.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my iPad, both of the Meko pens worked well - 4/5 for the disc-based one, and 5/5 for the battery one.
On my Tab A, the disc one worked better than the battery one - 3 vs 1.
I found this pen on Amazon for the Tab A that has good reviews:
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi Stylus Pen, BoxWave [AccuPoint Active Stylus] Electronic Stylus with Ultra Fine Tip for Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi - Metallic Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGLKXM7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_KO4QEbQCKCTMR
Didn't pull the trigger yet.
Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
optimummind said:
On my iPad, both of the Meko pens worked well - 4/5 for the disc-based one, and 5/5 for the battery one.
On my Tab A, the disc one worked better than the battery one - 3 vs 1.
I found this pen on Amazon for the Tab A that has good reviews:
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi Stylus Pen, BoxWave [AccuPoint Active Stylus] Electronic Stylus with Ultra Fine Tip for Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi - Metallic Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGLKXM7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_KO4QEbQCKCTMR
Didn't pull the trigger yet.
Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was about to state that ALL "active stylii" require a second digitizer to work but apparently that isn't totally true. I bought a BoxWave stylus to use with my HP Envy X360 laptop, and just to verify that it wouldn't work without the second digitizer, like the ones for the S-Pen, I tried it with my T510. I have never used a stylus for drawing, so I don't know if it works as well as an S-Pen for that, but it DOES work and it DOES produce a "ballpoint pen" type line. Their "MSRP" is fairly high, but if you shop around, you can get one fairly cheap. I got mine in eBay for about $20. New with free shipping.
My "AICase Active Stylus" (from Amazon Italy) just arrived. It works very well, except that the glove that comes with it is useless, you can still use your finger to write with the glove on. I'm struggling to find some material that I can use to rest my palm... It's very uncomfortable to write without being able to rest your palm on the screen.
I would say it's a bit better than the passive Meko Stylus, especially for the iPad 4, which has an older screen. It has a metal tip, so you should have a screen protector to prevent scratches.
I've tried on these devices:
Surface 3 - doesn't work, it makes a few lines, but not good at all.
iPad 4 - works well enough
iPad 6 - very good, works a bit better than on the iPad 4
Huawei P20 pro - works similarly to iPad 6
I still haven't tried on a Samsung tablet.