Targus Universal Wireless keyboard review

Bonnie Cha CNET

Published: 22 Oct 2004

There's simply no missing the Targus Universal Wireless keyboard. This input device is plenty big, the trade-off being -- of course -- that you get a full-size keyboard that's comparable to those found on many notebooks; there's also the bonus of a directional mousepad. Operating via infrared technology, the the Targus Universal Wireless keyboard is compatible with devices running Palm OS 5.0 and Windows Mobile 2003, although it doesn't support Second Edition. And at £60.22 (inc. VAT), it's reasonably priced. However, if you're constantly on the go, the Targus's cumbersome design and setup may trip you up.

At 14cm by 10.5cm by 2.5cm closed and 335g, the Targus Universal Wireless keyboard is easily the largest handheld keyboard we've tested. The black and silver housing sports four rubber grips on the bottom to prevent it from slipping on slick surfaces. Despite its simplistic look, opening the keyboard is a multi-step affair. First, you lift the cover that houses the handheld stand and the battery case, then a release button on the left side unleashes the keyboard. We like the fact that Targus has included a lock mechanism so that you can use the keyboard on your lap without it collapsing -- a feature that was noticeably absent on Belkin's Wireless PDA Keyboard. The stand consists of numerous pieces and makes it unnecessarily complicated to set up. There's an easel-type stand on the back that you can lock into several notches, depending on the angle you want to view your handheld, while three wire prongs are present to hold your handheld in place. Finally, there's a 210-degree rotating infrared arm.

We matched the Targus keyboard with the PalmOne Zire 72; however, the included software was outdated, so we had to download an updated driver from the company's Web site. It wasn't a huge hassle but still an inconvenient hiccup. Also, after performing a HotSync operation, we noticed two keyboard utilities were installed on our device. From the IR Keybd5 utility, you can set up the keyboard's repeat and delay rates, assign function keys and adjust mouse speed. And don't forget to disable all incoming beams under Settings and Connections before using the keyboard.

With the Targus's 18mm key spacing and 3mm key travel, we happily tapped away email and notes without experiencing any cramped fingers. However, we had a couple of complaints. Although the keyboard has dedicated numeral keys, they're a bit small, so users with bigger fingers should beware. Also, we didn't understand why the space key was split in two on the left half of the keyboard. Why not stick with one roomy bar? Four shortcut keys line the right side provide quick access to applications, such as Inbox, Notes, Pocket Word and Excel. The keyboard uses two CR2032 lithium batteries (included), which should last 150 hours with continuous use or 1,100 hours in standby time, according to the company.

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