Strengths:The keys are full size and nicely resistent.
Weaknesses:The keyboard case has a significant design flaw. The ends are not supported, so when you press keys on the left and right edges (such as the Shift key) the keyboard tips.
Posted Dec 24, 2004 - This keyboard has many nice qualities, but it also has a significant design flaw, which surprised me coming from what's supposed to be the Mercedes of travel keyboard companies. The engineer who designed the clever folding case apparently did not build a prototype and try typing on it before putting it into production.
The keyboard folds up into a case that's less than 6" wide. The case serves as the keyboard's base when unfolded, supporting the center of the keyboard. The left and right sides of the keyboard float 1/4" above the surface of the table, so pressing keys on the sides (for example, the Shift key) causes the keyboard to tip. It’s impossible to touch type because the keyboard tips so wildly from side to side, and I bought the keyboard so I could enter data quickly.
I solved this problem by creating supports out of pieces of cardboard cut to fit on either side of the base and glued together in layers like plywood to the necessary height. I thought of trying to velcro them onto the keyboard, but anything attached to the underside would prevent it from folding up. As it turned out, though, this wasn't necessary. The non-slippery surface of the cardboard is enough to keep it in place.
Once I solved this problem, I was able to actually try out the keyboard. The keys are full size and the resistance is good, so once the keyboard is stabilized it feels much like typing on a notebook. The big difference is that some of the keys are laid out differently, which greatly slows down a touch typist who is used to keys always being in the same place. To minimize the size and weight of the keyboard, Think Outside removed the standard fourth row of keys. You have to hold down Function keys to type the numbers and symbols usually found here.
I think this was a mistake. The additional weight and bulk of an extra row is minimal, but the slow-down in typing forced by the need to locate and press two keys is significant. I knew this would be a problem before I bought the keyboard, but I bought it anyway because of the good things I read about the size and touch of the keys (which happily turned out to be true). I wish Think Outside would at least make some models with the fourth row of keys. Every review I've read of this keyboard complains about the missing fourth row, and yet they continue to do this. I'll bet If they offered a model with the fourth row, it would greatly out-sell the ones without. People buy this keyboard so they can enter data fast. It makes no sense to alter the keyboard in a way that significantly slows how fast people can type just to save less an ounce or less of weight. This again makes me think that the engineer who designed the keyboard does not do a lot of typing himself.
There's a removable attachment on the back of the keyboard where you can set your PDA either horizontally or vertically. Since a different tilt is needed for a PDA set horizontally, you can move the wire support back. It takes some pressure to move the wire, and it looks to me like if you’re not careful, the plastic pieces that hold it down could easily break off, making the support unusable. Also, the plastic piece that holds the PDA steady on the bottom isn't quite high enough, so when you tap on the screen with the stylus, the PDA tends to slip up over the edge and fall back. I wish the PDA holder was better designed and sturdier.
I know that many companies save money these days by distributing manuals only electronically, but I find it very annoying - and especially in this case, since I really wanted and needed to read the manual. It's 30 pages with color pictures, and I had to print it out myself. Note that the documentation fails to say something important: the software must be installed in RAM - not ROM, and not on an external card.
Okay, good qualities... I already said that the keys are full size and nicely resistant. This is a big plus. I've seen mobile keyboards with keys so small that even my small hands were cramped trying to type on them. There is built-in access through function keys to the typical programs found on a Pocket PC (Calendar, Contacts, Word, Excel, etc.), plus keys for accessing the Today screen, the Programs and Settings folders, and the Close and New functions. -Tab toggles through open programs just like on a desktop computer. In case these aren't enough (or if you don't use a Pocket PC), you can set up to ten additional hotkeys to any app you like.
Settings let you adjust the repeat delay and rate, and choose from a variety of layouts for different countries (default is US). There's an option to make your Bluetooth connection secure so that others can't eavesdrop on what you're typing. There are a bunch of other options as well - click sound on or off, auto-correct options, etc.
All in all, I'm happy with this purchase. The Stowaway keyboard isn't perfect, but from what I've seen it's the best option out there at the moment.
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Rated 
Amazing - beat my expectations by far!
Comment about this review
Great Product, Serious Drawbacks
