Photo Review:
Two External Bluetooth Keyboards
Models Reviewed
Freedom Keyboard -
www.freedomkeyboard.com
ThinkOutside Shasta Keyboard -
www.thinkoutside.com
What Are They?
These keyboard are external foldable Bluetooth keyboards that can be used with all Bluetooth-supported BlackBerry models. Supported BlackBerry models includes 32MB models and newer, generally all BlackBerry models released in 2005 and later. External keyboards allow the thumb touch typist to type very quickly into the BlackBerry, and makes it easier to leave behind a laptop. These keyboards can be used for the occasional extra-long email message, or even for word processing using products such as Dynoplex eWord.
Photo 1: Freedom Keyboard came with a protective carrying case.
Photo 2: ThinkOutside Shasta keyboard came in a nicer box.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 3: Comparision of both keyboards, closed.
Photo 4: Comparision of both keyboards, open. Freedom is at top, Shasta is at bottom. Notice that ThinkOutside Shasta has bigger keys.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 5: Comparision of both keyboards, end view. Shasta at top, Freedom at bottom.
Photo 6: Comparision of both keyboards, side view. Shasta at top, Freedom at bottom.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 7: Comparision of keyboards, with BlackBerry 8700r stacked at top.
Photo 8: Comparision of keyboards, with a third Bluetooth keyboard on top. This is the PocketPC/Palm/Phone ThinkOutside Stowaway XT Bluetooth keyboard, which is unfortunately not BlackBerry compatible.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 9: Freedom Keyboard, closed, with BlackBerry 8700r on top.
Photo 10: Freedom Keyboard, open, with BlackBerry 8700r in its holder.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 11: ThinkOutside Shasta Keyboard, closed, with BlackBerry 8700r on top.
Photo 12: ThinkOutside Shasta Keyboard, open, with BlackBerry 8700r in its holder.
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Photo 13: Comparision of PocketPC with Stowaway XT (left), with BlackBerry with Shasta (right)
Photo 14: All three keyboards having fun lounging, a demonstration of their foldability. (From left to right, 1: Shasta for BlackBerry, 2: Stowaway XT for PocketPC, 3: Freedom Keyboard for BlackBerry)
(Click for bigger versions of photos)
Look & Feel Impressions
Since the keyboards are pending updated BlackBerry 8700r-compatible drivers, I will comment on visual impressions at the moment, with a test on feel. The most noticeable difference is the key size. The Shasta keyboard feels significantly more comfortable to type on. The key caps are very similiar to my DELL laptop, and touch typing feels very natural on the Shasta keyboard. It appears to take more pratice to type on the Freedom Keyboard. From other users, both keyboards are reported to have some slight lagging issues on BlackBerry, probably due to the BlackBerryOS overhead of the 'Keypress Injection' since the BlackBerry itself needs to simulate a keypress on the BlackBerry itself. Lag is supposed to be much less noticeable on faster BlackBerry models, and the model 8700 should be no problem. It is observed that the Stowaway XT keyboard for Pocket PC, feels somewhat more solid in typing, with less flexing than either of the two BlackBerry keyboards. The typing on this non-BlackBerry-compatible keyboard feels more solid despite the lack of the numeric row. However, both BlackBerry keyboards have a numbers row, which is presumably very important to the business executive market which the keyboards may be marketed to. Also, the Shasta keyboard has a minor flex - if you press the D and L keys down very hard, you can see the Shasta keyboard flex. However, the Freedom Keyboard is much more difficult to type on, so the Shasta keyboard wins in feel. The ThinkOutside keyboard automatically shuts itself off, while the Freedom Keyboard has a power switch. I made the battery die in the Freedom Keyboard by accident, by leaving the switch on, so it appears that the Shasta design is better. Neither keyboards are stable enough to be used on the lap, they both require a solid surface, although I found that even a simple magazine sitting on my lap was sufficient to keep either BlackBerry keyboard stable enough for typing from the lap. So there should be absolutely no problems with a desk, table, airlane seat tray, or other hard surfaces. Overall, one star is deducted from Shasta for the minor observed problems, and 2 stars are deducted from Freedom Keyboard, with the additional deduction mainly because of poor touchtyping feel.
Preliminary Rating For Physical Looks & Feel:
ThinkOutside Shasta: 4 berries out of 5
Freedom Keyboard: 3 berries out of 5
Manufacturers
Freedom Keyboard -
www.freedomkeyboard.com
ThinkOutside Shasta Keyboard -
www.thinkoutside.com