More Info on G300 and G500 Keyboards Available

Posted By: Ed Monday, June 4, 2001 7:11:18 AM

Darfon Electronics, a subsidiary of Acer, has announced that its G300 and G500 portable keyboards will soon be unveiled. The G300 is a small clip-on keyboard just 2.8 by 3.8 by 0.6 inches and weighing only 1.4 ounces. It has 0.5 mm key travel. A built-in hook for the handheld lets the Palm be held for easy viewing. It runs off power from the handheld so no batteries are needed and power consumption is low. The G300 for the Palm V will be available June 15 for $50. Versions are also planned for the Palm III series, m500/m505, m100/m105, as well as Handspring Visor, Edge and Sony Clié series.

Darfon's G500 is a folding keyboard that is 3.26 by 4.78 by 0.55 when closed but opens to 3.3 by 10.4 by 0.3 inches. It weighs only 3.6 ounces. For comparison, the Stowaway folding keyboard is 3.6 by 5.1 by .8 inches when closed and weighs 7.9 ounces.

The G500's keys move with a scissors-type mechanical action. The keys have 17 mm pitch and 2.0 mm travel. This keyboard also runs off power from the handheld so no batteries are needed and, again, power consumption is low. It will be available in August 2001 for a suggested retail price of $80. Currently, the G500 supports the Palm V series and IBM c3 but soon it will work with the Palm III series, m500/m505, m100/m105, as well as Handspring Visor and Edge and Sony Clié series.

Founded in 1997, Darfon Electronics, a subsidiary of Acer Communications & Multimedia group , is engaged in the design, manufacturing, and sales of input devices. It is the third largest supplier of keyboards for notebook computers. At present, the company is dedicated to the design and manufacture of PDA and mobile phone's portable keyboard as well as the desktop keyboard, smartcard keyboard, RF wireless keyboard & mice.

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Stowaway when?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/4/2001 8:28:15 AM #
Ed would you mind telling us when the Stowaway keyboard is coming out for the m500 series. I believe a previous article said June 4th. Anyway to confirm that.

Thanks tons

RE: Stowaway when?
Ed @ 6/4/2001 8:47:36 AM #
I've been on vacation for a week so I've been a bit out of touch but I haven't heard anything to make me think that the official announcement of the Stowaway won't be later today.

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RE: Stowaway when?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/4/2001 9:03:39 AM #
I forgot, sorry to bother you. Hope your trip went smashingly well.

Sorry about that,

RE: Stowaway when?
mikecane @ 6/4/2001 12:46:51 PM #
Is there any difference between the Stowaway and the Palm Portable Keyboard?! I ask because I've seen the PPK in stores in NYC for at least a week.

(Shows you how little attention I pay to keyboards...)

RE: Stowaway when?
Ed @ 6/4/2001 2:55:21 PM #
The Stowaway and the PPK are identical, other than the names. Think Outside makes both. If they are available now their PR people are unaware of it. Just make sure you are seeing the m500 version, not the V one.

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hmmm...

bradleyboy @ 6/4/2001 8:44:34 AM #
I have to say that neither of these keyboards interests me, and I wonder why they are even being produced. The folding keyboard seems just like a Stowaway, with the exception that it folds in half, as opposed to in quarters like the Stowaway. As for the teeny keyboard, I am imagining that it would be pretty unwieldy to thumb-type on that little thing, especially given that the Palm and the keyboard will create one larger, flat combo. How rigid will that be? Enough to type confidently on a non-flat surface? If not, there's no use to it. That's the only gripe I have with the Stowaway; I can't use it on the train because you need to have it on a flat surface.

More Details
Ed @ 6/4/2001 9:33:05 AM #
While the info I got from Darfon never flat out said it, I got the strong impression that the G300 can be used with the thumbs while holding the combination device with both hands. A table isn't required. All their press release said, though, was, "A built-in hook for the handheld lets the Palm be held for easy viewing."

I also believe the G500 will find buyers. It is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than the Stowaway.

BTW, both keyboards have plastic covers.

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RE: hmmm...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/4/2001 2:28:30 PM #
Now, before we all dismiss this G300, wait a minute. Imagine the new, yet-to-be released m705 with always on e-mail AND this G300 keyboard... THE BlackBerry KILLER!!!

RE: hmmm...
Nate @ 6/4/2001 3:05:02 PM #
I think that the spec for the "universal connector" includes a place for such a keyboard to hook on to the unit, so that at least for the new palms, the keyboard wouldn't require a flat surface. I don't think I'd buy one if it did, but for something like the "m700" that showed up a few weeks ago, it would be the perfect accessory. I love my stowaway, but it's a bit of a hassle to use in places where there isn't a flat surface.

I agree about the half-folding keyboard though - what's the point?

_________
Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: hmmm...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/4/2001 4:25:56 PM #
There is this wonderful little device called the Blackberry that uses a similar keyboard configuration. Surely some smart lacky out there can figure out a way to have the Palm compete with this device using such a keyboard.

RE: blackberry type keyboard
Cheetah @ 6/5/2001 12:33:32 AM #
The Blackberry keyboard, and the keyboards on the Motorola two-way pagers are similiar in size. People seem to type on them fine with their thumbs while holding the unit.

I think there is a market for a third party Palm OS vendor to make a Palm with such a keyboard built-in

Interesting ...

Legible @ 6/4/2001 8:58:55 AM #
What I would say is that the smaller keyboard seems suitable for thumb typing, provided the whole combination with the Palm is rigid enough to be held in the hands. I wouldn't buy it if it had to be laid flat on the table like the Stowaway in order to be used. That would be self-defeating.

If only the Palm V had wireless capabilities, then I suppose the little keyboard is ideal for sending off quick messages. (Sign)

RE: Interesting ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/4/2001 2:46:31 PM #
Considering how hard it is to get my m500 off of its cradle, I would assume any peripheral you attach to the m50x series would require a friggin' crowbar to remove. ;)

BTW: Dose anyone get the impression the m50x cradle was made for another device? The shape of the cradle doesn't seem to match the shape of the device.

2c


RE: cradle...
Cheetah @ 6/5/2001 12:31:39 AM #
off topic, but since you mentioned the cradle...does your Palm 505 sit flush on the cradle?

When I place it in the cradle it is NOT flush (my Palm V was flush).

When I first bought it I thought I was putting it in the cradle wrong.

Is everyone's like this or do I have a faulty cradle?



RE: Interesting ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/5/2001 12:38:29 AM #
It does stick out from the cradle, and it doesn't seem to fit right, but at least it's fast.

RE: Interesting ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/5/2001 12:38:29 AM #
It does stick out from the cradle, and it doesn't seem to fit right, but at least it's fast.

RE: Interesting ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/5/2001 8:01:28 PM #
Tilt it slightly forward and lift it off. Mine works fine. I also got the Palm (Stowaway) keyboard today at Office Depot. It works fine too

When Stowaway Keyb.

Golfduo2001 @ 6/5/2001 9:02:11 AM #
I have both an extra cradle & a stowaway keyboard on orderfor my m505. I called Palm twice, and they told me that they won't ship until at least sometime in July. If anyone knows any better news please reply.
RE: When Stowaway Keyb.
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/5/2001 9:06:58 AM #
You'd be better off looking in retail stores for this stuff. I've seen the cradle in a couple of stores and you can see that other people have found the keyboard, too. When you find them, cancel your Palm order.

RE: When Stowaway Keyb.
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/5/2001 7:49:11 PM #
Hello, morningstar here, the cradles are available in Office Depots and Compu USA stores at least in Odessa Midland, Texas I have 3 cradles USB for my palm m505 if you want to buy one and cannot get one locally, I would sell one of my cradles. Reply to morningstar1844@hotmail.com

Another Accessory

Marc from Denver @ 6/5/2001 2:27:02 PM #
As my father used to say, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity." I purchased my Palm (m100) for its simplicity and affordability. Unfortunately, I have spent at least three times the original purchase price in add-ons & software. Where does it end?
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