I-O Bluetooth keyboard aims for simplicity

CPKB_BT_keyboard_1.jpgI-O Data's surprisingly attractive Bluetooth keyboard is a winner due to simplicity and straightforward design; wouldn't it be wonderful if it had a tiny, single-line display and a wee bit o'RAM for saving text files? Unfortunately, it lacks a full complement of function keys, making it a hard sell for serious use. From the indistinct brochure, it looks almost too small, too.

There's always this.

A small keyboard for your mobile phone from I-O Data [Akihabara News]


Discussion

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#1 posted by hawkins , May 28, 2008 7:54 AM

A simple keyboard with a small LCD display, and a little RAM to hold a few documents? Is that what you want?

Surely you haven't forgotten the TRS-80 Model 100.

All it lacks is Bluetooth...

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I loved my Trash 80

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#3 posted by pewma Author Profile Page, May 28, 2008 8:04 AM

looks like one of those cheap chinese rip-offs of an apple product.

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#4 posted by Anonymous , May 28, 2008 9:07 AM

this looks exactly what I would like to be able to use my Mac Mini from the couch, except everyone always misses one thing: a trackball or other pointing device.

A bluetooth mouse is not a viable option when you are sitting on the couch and the LAST thing I need is two more gadgets sitting on my coffee table (a dozen remotes are already enough).

So one of these babies with a built in trackball would be, ummm, the bees knees

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Why can't I use this or the actual Apple version to type notes into my iPhone? either by bluetooth, or with a small dock for the device at the top of the keyboard. Grr.

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Because Apple doesn't want you to.

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#7 posted by mappo , May 28, 2008 12:54 PM

You can have my number pad when you pry it from my cold, dead, carpal-tunnel-wracked hands.

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#8 posted by pewma Author Profile Page, May 28, 2008 2:49 PM

@ BUCKTOWNYAT.

I wondered this a while ago. turns out the bluetooth device built into the iPhone only supports simple devices like headsets with a single button input. seems kinda dumb that a device can take a command like 'answer the phone' but not multiple key inputs...
and why we haven't seen BT headsets for music listening???

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#9 posted by Mike , May 28, 2008 3:18 PM

Hmm. My Nokia N800 needs a keyboard but for $150 I might as well just buy a N810...

Nokia's been behind on Bluetooth support. OS2008 just added mono headset support but no music headset support yet...

At least Nokia wants me to use Bluetooth...

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@ PEWMA

No kidding. I (unexpertly) assume the excuse for both - headphones and keyboard - has to do with battery life. I also can't believe this is an issue that couldn't be overcome.
Keyboard solution - include a relatively small rechargeable battery in the keyboard - assuming the iPhone could dock at the top of the keyboard (not bluetooth).
Re bluetooth headphones - either its "in the post" or Apple's plain crazy. still annoyed its taking them this long though.

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Hey, that reminds me that I'm still looking for a teeny keyboard for my server.

Anyone know where I can find a (wired) keyboard with just the alphanumeric section & ESC (more is optional), online and

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Here's the compact keyboard I use. BTC-1500. I've had this for years and years. I'm astonished it's still a current product. It's only 6" X 12". It gets out of the way when I need desk space for a bowl of noodles or a motorcycle carburetor.
http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-06keyboard.htm

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"wouldn't it be wonderful if it had a tiny, single-line display and a wee bit o'RAM for saving text files?"

Oh, but there is such a beast: http://www.alphasmart.com/Retail/

My roommate had an even smaller one made by a different company, it was as small as the keyboard in this post and had a little 2-line display with enough memory to hold a couple of decent sized documents. Neither of us can remember who made it though!

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#16 posted by Anonymous , May 30, 2008 12:25 AM

Really cool. But page up, page down, home and end are some of my dirtiest keys. That means something, and they aren't there.

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Computers like the EEE have to be terrifying to companies like Quickpad and Alphasmart.

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