Stowaway Keyboard for NZ?

[blastradius]

Has anyone heard of any news about a keyboard, either the Stowaway or the Belkin, supporting the NZ90? It would seem all that is needed is some kind of adapter for the funky connector location and orientation.

[ralchizar]

no dice so far,
I am not sure that they will ever make an adapter for the NZ because of the built in keyboard. I know that the others in the N series have both, but they would have to redesign something just for the NZ and I would guess that there is not enough of a market out there for a keyboard adapter.

[Ditch]

Agreed but for different reasons...

With the built in Bluetooth, a wireless option should be made available within the next couple of months.

With Bluetooth you can have all the convenince of a portable folding keyboard with none of the clunkyness of having to connect the two. Also, with the NZ's ability to sit on a table and tilt, a wireless keyboard is the perfect answer!

P.S. Don't purchase the MicroInnovations IR keyboard as there are no drivers as yet for the NZ90. I found this out from personal experience and spoke to their tech support to confirm.

[Unregistered]

I desperately need a portable full size keyboard because I use my pda to post time at a home office and sync with a timeslips program at my office. The program won't allow me to type on my home computer and import to the pda, then to a central office one.

I stupidly bought one from CompUSA that they said was compatible --NOT! Wireless would be great, but anything would be better than nothing. ANY News???

[rob_squared]

Anything would be better than nothing... that's a definition isn't it?

[OcellNuri]

I have been thinking about this. It shouldn't be too difficult to build a cable that would go from the Belkin to the back of the NZ90 using connectors you can buy at brando.com

http://shop.brando.com.hk/pdaconnector.php

One female and one male. As long as you match pins, there shouldn't be a problem.

[parkercm]

Just got an email back from Stoaway saying they are not planning to support the NZ due to a "different" connector style.

That's a bummer, I've used one for my Palm V, then a Clie NR70V, and expected one for my NZ90 but no dice. They are nice though.

My question is has anyone seen/used a collapsible bluetooth keyboard that might be a good substitute for the Stowaway? Any information is appreciated.

Thanks, Carey

[greg elmassian]

bluetooth keyboard would be the ticket.... why have the connector hassles?

[n2ifp]

Wouldn't the wireless keyboard have to be self powered too?

[Bo_]

Yes, it would, something like a AAA cell ought to do for a bunch of typing.

I was very dissapointed today at the Los Angeles Palm Users Group, when it was made clear from Sony's product manager that he hoped some other company would come out with a keyboard... Seems like the Ultra Flagship NZ is kind of on it's own when it comes to acessories for functionality. Oh Well.


Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[likestech]

There is still hope that someone will do a new wireless keyboard.
ZDNET has an article on a keyboard under development using IR (hopefully they will consider bluetooth as well).

http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2913305,00.html

[blastradius]

This sounds very interesting...
http://www.brighthand.com/article/Virtual_Keyboard_Coming_Later_This_Year

[Bo_]

Problem always is... buying a handheld hoping for the right stuff to come out soon really is not a great idea. (smile)

My next job is always dependent on what I can do today... not next week. (smile) Sony ought to get a basic keyboard hack on the market so highschoolers and road warriors alike can justify using a NZ for a laptop replacement.


Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[likestech]

I completely agree with the last post. Let's face it there isn't a lot to do with bluetooth in the U.S. so one would have thought Sony might make a use for it with a wireless stowaway or Clie Gear keyboard. If I cannot use the NZ90 as a laptop replacement, then I suppose I will have to sell it.

[nz007]

Originally posted by likestech
I completely agree with the last post. Let's face it there isn't a lot to do with bluetooth in the U.S. so one would have thought Sony might make a use for it with a wireless stowaway or Clie Gear keyboard. If I cannot use the NZ90 as a laptop replacement, then I suppose I will have to sell it.


sell it then!

U will never be able to use it as a laptop replacement.

try the Sony C1, its a super portable , just take s a little longer to start up!:D

[Bo_]

NZ 007 Get a life...... My Fujitsu P1000 is the next best thing to a real NZ, with thouch screen, Windows XP 30 gig of HDD and build in WiFi. My P1000 RULES...! ;-)

Did I mention how much I LOVE my NZ


Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[likestech]

I am hooked on the NZ too. I could never sell it unless Sony produces a new model, and what are the chances of that.

As for the C1, despite its size, I don't quite view laptops as meeting my definition of a laptop replacement.

[Bo_]

LOL... Nooo guess you are right on that one...

Personally I would leave the laptop at home if I could get a keyboard for the NZ. Actually I am about to take my motorcycle cross contry next month, and am agonizing over if I can get away with bringing just my NZ, mostly it is the problem with writing a longer e-mail for work which probably will force me to bring the P1000 along... Oh Well. I had hoped to use the NZ for e-mail, photographing the trip in 2 megapixels and chatting ocationally... Naturally with the help of a backup battery.. he he.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[hondango]

check this out. a wireless keyboard:
http://www.pocketpccity.com/articles/2003/3/2003-3-13-Belkin-Adds-Pen.html

[likestech]

Here is a link to the new Belkin Keyboard. Regretably, the NZ form factor is not listed. Has anyone contacted Belkin about this?

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=200588&pcount=&Product_Id=144042

[Bo_]

http://www.pocketirkeyboard.com

I visited these guys yesterday and they ARE coding, they told me that something changed in the IR setup for Keybaords in OS 5 and that is why nobody have a driver now.

They expect to have a driver for their keyboard on the market in about 3 weeks.

Interestingly - this keyboard were able to see my older PDA much further away than any other keyboard I have tried, as they are using a much more powerful IR diode than what most use, it afects the battery life a little, but the keyboard is not as sentisive to positioning because of it.. Can't wait to get the beta driver.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie