Comments on: Brando Bluetooth Smart Keyboard Review

Brando Smart Keyboard ReviewPalmInfocenter guest reviewer Ron brings us this review of Brando's Smart Bluetooth Keyboard. The basic design is a five row QWERTY keyboard with some of the less used characters activated in combination with a special function key. A second function key is available to launch the Palm apps assigned to the four hard buttons and to activate hotkeys and a few other functions as well. Read on for the full review...
Return to Story - Permalink

Article Comments

 (6 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Start a new Comment Down

Good review on an underpublicized product

hkklife @ 7/28/2006 9:08:37 PM # Q
Nice review, Ron.

A couple of quick questions I didn't see addressed:

1. Does the BT driver seem stable? Did you just get a chance to test it with a TX? I'm curious how it handles the "New and not so improved BT" of the 700P. Can you out-type this one like on some of the older IR models?

2. Does the metal holder thingie have a provision for devices in landscape mode? Does it hold smaller devices (Zire, Treo) as well as taller/thicker units (TX, LD)?

3. Size-wise, how does this thing compare with your older Palm-branded IR keyboard?

4. How's the build quality (aside from the flex you mentioned, of course)?

5. Any idea on how the battery life would be under average usage conditions?


Right now the lineup of BT portable keyboards with a Palm OS driver available is, IIRC, limited to this one and the ThinkOutside (they were recently acquired, btw) BT keyboard that's very pricey. It ALL comes down to driver support for these things, ya know. I'd hate to buy one of thse suckers now and have it broken by a future FrankenGarnet device only to not see any updated drivers--that's the main reason I've stuck with Palm's own keyboards so far but I'd really prefer BT over IR.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Good review on an underpublicized product
twrock @ 7/31/2006 10:07:09 AM # Q
(I'm traveling a lot and not checking into PIC very often, so sorry for the slow response.)

Thanks for the compliment. Regarding your questions, here's my take.

1) I only tested the keyboard with my TX. The pictures are Ryan's, so that is why the article shows a Treo. I have had no issues with the updated driver and my TX; works fine.

2) The metal holder for the PDA/phone is "universal". It allows for both landscape or portrait mode. It has a rubber pad that holds the handheld in portrait mode at a variety of angles. In landscape mode, it will only hold it in two positions, at about 60 degrees and 30 degrees. That is because of the metal tab used to pull the stand out of the unit. The PDA will not sit level and will slide forward into the 30 degree position if placed on the tab.

3) Other than the size comparison of the keys above, the folded keyboard is within a milimeter or two of the size of my old-style Palm IR keyboard. Open, it is about two centimeters longer.

4) I'm not thrilled with the build quality. I like a lot of the stuff sold by Brando Workshop, but this keyboard doesn't seem quite up to par. I think that is primarily related to the hinge locking system being weak, but that coupled with the "hard-hitting" keys really makes me wonder. Let me put it this way: it is not the build quality of either of my Palm branded keyboards.

5) Sorry, I really have no idea on the battery life. I haven't used it enough since replacing the first set of batteries.

I don't own the newer Palm IR keyboard, but I did use one for a few minutes. If I had the choice between this BT keyboard and Palm's five-row IR keyboard, I'd take Palm's. A huge factor is the key size, of course. I need full-sized keys. (Anybody want to trade?)

It might not be the "mythical color HandEra", but I'm liking my TX anyway.

RE: Good review on an underpublicized product
mdyesowitch @ 7/31/2006 10:47:44 AM # Q
I might want to trade. I have the Palm IR keyboard and I loathe it. I've been afraid to buy the Bluetooth version because I'm concerned it might just be the same piece of crap, only triple the price.

For one, I don't like the 4 keyboard layout. It makes it too difficult to operate the keys the way I expect. I thought the III form factor IR keyboard was perfect, and this one is bigger than that, but is harder to use. Why? How does that work?

I hate the palm cradle type thing. If you put the palm in normally, you can't use the wire holder to hold it in place, or it will press against the buttons on the Palm (at least with the TX) What you have to do is set the handedness to left so it will rotate the screen the proper direction (because apparently a four direction rotation was impossible, you can only have three, and only one per "hand". (which is a design flaw in the TX that just gets highlighted by the cradle) (Handnedness also gets reset EVERYTIME the palm gets reset. Which seems to be an awful lot. I don't like my TX as much as I liked my TRGPro.) Anyway, once you've got it rotated okay, it's fine.

The construction is pathetic. After having the keyboard only a couple of weeks, keys already started sticking. And it's not because I eat while using my palm or I dumped a pot of coffee on it. It's just poorly designed. I don't tap that hard, so I find when the keys stick, I don't get a response. (am I filling you with love at the idea of trading with me now?)

Like I said, I considered going to the bluetooth Palm branded device, but the idea of paying an extra 110$ for a keyboard that might well have the same design flaws I hate this one for just holds very little appeal.


RE: Good review on an underpublicized product
twrock @ 8/1/2006 10:46:34 AM # Q
Sounds like you have the same "old-style" grey four-row IR keyboard that I have. I haven't had any problems with it over the years, I just don't like all of the extra "function" key presses it takes to get numbers and other symbols. What I'm wanting now is the newer black five-row Palm IR keyboard.

Anyway, if anyone really does want to trade, please just send me a private message so we can keep the discussion here on-topic.

It might not be the "mythical color HandEra", but I'm liking my TX anyway.

Reply to this comment

Drivers? Vendor site?

drub @ 10/31/2006 3:58:13 PM # Q

Just ordered and received this keyboard.

The CD arrived with the device but is unreadable. So, I don't have the drivers.

Is there a vendor site for the "Smart Keyboard" where I can download the drivers for a Palm E2?

Thanks!

RE: Drivers? Vendor site?
drub @ 10/31/2006 4:42:59 PM # Q

Well, now ...

Lookee what I found. A reference to "Brando" helped me find http://shop.brando.com.hk/btsmartkeyboard.php

Looks like Version 1.708 is the latest. Wow, a whopping 31.7MB worth of goodness.


Reply to this comment
Start a New Comment Thread Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: