Demo F.A.Q. Compatibility List Specifications

Product Reviews


reviews
A Keyboard For All Seasons


May 29, 2002
Arik Hesseldahl

NEW YORK - A personal digital assistant is not a personal computer--and that fact sometimes calls for the purchase of the ever popular PDA keyboard.

But buying one nearly requires a degree in electrical engineering. Compare any two PDAs by different manufacturers and you'll find they often use a different method for connecting to extra peripherals. In practical terms, this means an add-on keyboard that works on a PDA from Palm (nasdaq: PALM - news - people ) probably doesn't work on a Hewlett-Packard (nyse: HPQ - news - people ) iPaq.

Pocketop's PDA keyboard

The main reason is that the physical connection on the two PDAs are different. One private company, Targus, has over the last few years taken the lead in making several different version of its Stowaway folding keyboard for the myriad of PDAs, smart mobile phones and other devices.

Now Canadian startup Pocketop has taken a new approach, creating a single keyboard that works on several different PDA models without needing that physical connection at all. The Pocketop keyboard uses the infrared port that comes standard on most PDAs. The second piece is a stand with a retractable mirror that beams the data typed from the keyboard directly into the PDA while holding it at an angle for easy viewing.

Weighing 4.2 ounces, the keyboard folds up to a size of roughly 3 inches by 4 inches and about a half-inch thick--making it easy to travel with. It runs on one AAA battery and started shipping to retailers in April with a suggested retail price of about $120.

This approach is certainly impressive. One wonders why no one thought of it before. But the main challenge for this keyboard will be the already crowded market--there have been literally dozens of product entries in this category over the past few years, making it a tricky time to join the fray.



Copyright ©2002 Pocketop Inc. All Rights Reserved