ClipKee Adds Scroll Wheel to Clip-On Keyboard

Posted By: Ed on Friday, July 13, 2001 9:50:25 AM

Clip on keyboards appear to be all the rage right now. A company named EtherAge has one they intend to release in August. The ClipKee will be the first to have a built-in scroll wheel, which has a lot in common with Sony's Jog Dial. There will be versions for the m500 and V series and the Visor. The ClipKee will cost only $40.

The ClipKee covers the handheld all the way up to the top of the Graffiti area and has replacement buttons for the main applications (Date Book, Address Book, etc.) and replacement scroll up/down keys. The scroll wheel is located at the top right and is intended to be used with the index finger by right-handed people. It will come with an application that mimics many of the functions of the Jog Dial on the Sony Clié.

Even more interesting is version two, which will be a clip-on sled that will add 802.11 wireless connectivity. Tem Balanco, one of the company's co-founders, described it this way, "Picture the Omnisky modem for Palm V, smaller of course, but with a keyboard that wraps around." They are working hard to keep the cost of this version under $200 and possibly as low as $160. While they are doing the best they can, 802.11 chipsets are very expensive.

They are aware that their product suddenly has a lot of competition. Mr. Balanco said, "We'll try to differentiate ourselves by having a) scroll wheel and software benefits of the scroll wheel b) very aggressive pricing c) wireless connectivity in V.2."

EtherAge is working with several large companies to distribute the ClipKee.

On the Web:

ClipKee

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Scroll wheel

mikecane @ 7/13/2001 9:58:10 AM #

That's an intriguing addition. But despite the way its shown being held in the photo, when I tried the SnapNType, I tended to use both hands to type with my thumbs. Putting my hands in that position now, I don't see how'd I'd use a scroll wheel...

RE: Scroll wheel

GKreamer @ 7/13/2001 10:52:06 AM #

To me, the combination is perfect! I briefly used an HP Jornada 547 and I really liked the scroll wheel. I now have an m505 and I was telling a co-worker how I wished Palm had squeezed in a jogdial. With this, I get both!! It is a win-win situation!

RE: Scroll wheel

mikecane @ 7/13/2001 11:01:20 AM #

Did you click on the photo to see where the wheel is located? Not where you might think!

RE: Scroll wheel

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 11:43:08 AM #

That's an interesting place for the scroll wheel. I wonder how lefties will feel about that.

RE: Scroll wheel

Pepper @ 7/13/2001 11:48:35 AM #

im a lefty, and this is gonna be great for me

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: Scroll wheel

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 11:58:12 AM #

For right handed people -- scrolling with your index finger? I still prefer scrolling with my thumb -- lucky Pepper... :)

RE: Scroll wheel or game controller?

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 12:04:49 PM #

I can see how this would be great for some games, though...

think of it as a keyboard that does double duty as a game pad!!

RE: Scroll wheel

GKreamer @ 7/13/2001 12:28:44 PM #

I'm left handed too, hold Palm in right hand, scroll with thumb...

RE: Scroll wheel

Pepper @ 7/13/2001 6:10:47 PM #

having the scroll be on the left is the main reason i didn't go for the clie ( i kept bumping it on accident). now, i get a jog dial equivalent that i can actually use.

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

RE: Scroll wheel

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/14/2001 9:40:38 PM #

Pepper-

Get a new signature. That's so stupid.

RE: Scroll wheel

Pepper @ 7/14/2001 9:54:43 PM #

and it's nice to see you too . . .

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

Julie reviews a clip-on keyboard!

mikecane @ 7/13/2001 11:03:08 AM #

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/accufeel300-review.html

RE: Julie reviews a clip-on keyboard!

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 4:19:09 PM #

Wrong keyboard in the review, brother.

RE: Julie reviews a clip-on keyboard!

mikecane @ 7/16/2001 8:35:38 AM #

I did not say she was reviewing *this* keyboard. That should have been obvious -- and apparently was, to everyone else but you. (And as it also turned out, it wasn't Julie herself who did the review.)

RE: Julie reviews a clip-on keyboard!

Pepper @ 7/16/2001 9:48:45 AM #

it okay mike, i enjoyed the review anyways. i'm actually happy you linked it since I've been wondering how good these keyboards are anyways

-Pepper

I love my Palm . . . do you?

I would buy version 2 today!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 11:08:24 AM #

Regardless of whether the keyboard works or not I would buy it to get wirless ethernet at work and still keep my memplug for the 128mb or storage I need.

RE: I would buy version 2 today!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/18/2001 3:25:50 AM #

According to the FAQ there will be CF support too. That means you can also add a 1 gig microdrive. Imagine what you can do with all of that

RE: I would buy version 2 today!!!

Ed @ 7/18/2001 9:01:14 AM #

When I talked to Tem Balanco, one of the company's co-founders, he didn't say a word about a CF slot. That's why I didn't include it in the article. I think they may have dropped that idea and not updated their website.

---
News Editor
Palm Infocenter

Text Focus

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/13/2001 2:40:42 PM #

I haven't used any of these keyboards but if you have multiple text fields can you easily change focus between the text fields without tapping the field with the stylus? It would be awkward to tap with the stylus everytime. Is there a tab key maybe that moves from field to field? Can you use these keyboards as a stylus replacement?

RE: Text Focus

bcombee @ 7/13/2001 6:04:43 PM #

Applications should be written to respond to the "next field" and "prev field" graffiti strokes. These are entered by making a down-up stroke or an up-down stroke in the graffiti area. The jog wheel on the Handera will send these characters if the application doesn't handle the jog-specific character codes, and I hope the wheel on this keyboard is programmed to do the same thing.

One For The N710C

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/14/2001 3:46:58 PM #

Does anyone know if one is coming out for the N710C, or other Clie models?

RE: One For The N710C

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/14/2001 4:44:33 PM #

Sony needs to release some hard sales figures for the CLIE to convince companies to make peripherals for it. No one really knows how many have been sold, though we suspect a lot, but companies need to know there will be a market for their products.

RE: One For The N710C

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/15/2001 12:08:32 PM #

Why do you think Sony hasn't? They released them right away for the PS2, so they must know. Maybe they don't want to tell us.......

At Last

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/17/2001 10:16:28 AM #

Finally, a company is releasing a keyboard that doesn't need to be folded out.

Sony 1 gig memory stick

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/21/2002 9:22:05 PM #

How freaking awesome would it be for sony to come out with a 1 gig memory stick? Opperate you Clie and cammeras with amazingingly large files! If someone from from sony reads this. Diffenitly get osmeone or team of people on this!! its a million doller idea.

RE: Sony 1 gig memory stick

I.M. Anonymous @ 7/15/2002 8:55:23 AM #

Wow! Sony should hire you! I bet they don't have anyone working on that.

Moron.

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