Add-ons for your handheld
Published: 07 Nov 2003
Treo Portable Keyboard
£69.51
Pros
Neat fold-out design, useful shortcut keys, charger adapter supplied
Cons
Somewhat flimsy construction
Verdict
If you want to get the most from your Treo 600, you need this keyboard
Editors’ Rating
8/10
Handspring’s award-winning Treo 600 Palm OS handheld/smartphone has a built-in thumb keyboard that’s OK for text messages and brief memos. But if you want to enter significant amounts of text, you really need to consider the neat Treo Portable Keyboard. Featuring a clever fold-out design, the keyboard’s 66 keys provide a typing platform that’s probably good enough to persuade some mobile users to leave their notebook at home.
As well as the basic QWERTY arrangement, there is a useful range of Palm OS-related shortcut keys, accessible via the Fn key. The driver software lets you customise settings like the click sound, delay until repeat and repeat rate; you can also rearrange the cursor keys to your preferred layout. The keyboard comes with an adapter that allows you to charge your Treo 600 when it’s attached.
What’s not to like about the Treo Portable Keyboard? Although the design is clever, the construction feels a little flimsy -- especially around the attachment for the Treo 600, which is too wobbly for our liking. Also, you have to remove the charger adapter from the keyboard before you can close it, which makes the former more likely to get lost. A proper built-in power connector would be preferable. These minor gripes aside, the Treo Portable Keyboard is an excellent add-on for serious mobile data users.
Handspring
0207-294 0157
Note
Some of the peripherals reviewed here are fussy about which Palm or Pocket PC they’ll work with. Where possible, we’ve indicated specific makes and models, but in the interests of not turning each review into a list, check each product’s Web site if you’re in any doubt.
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