Slusy's Full Review: TARGUS UNIVERSAL PDA/KEYBOARD CASE - BLACK
I'll admit it: My handwriting is atrocious. There, I've said it. Normally, it's not a problem, except when I need to take notes quickly and accurately by hand. I can get one or the other, but not both; I either get everything down but can't read it, or I can read the notes but miss details.
The solution: The Palm Folding Keyboard. I mean, heck, I use the Palm for everything else anyway, I might as well keep notes on it. (Besides, I end up typing up my handwritten notes anyway, so I may as well cut out the middleman.) Of course, I needed something small and portable, so I went with Palm's folding keyboard over some of the others (GoType! being the first to come to mind).
The first thing that you notice about this keyboard is that it gets major style points. When I set it up, it's like the old Transformer toys from the 80's; one second it looks like a deck of cards, the next it's a full-sized keyboards. (I've actually drawn stares in class as I open it up.) The second is that it's really a full-sized keyboard. You can type on it as naturally as a regular desktop keyboard. (Some of the factory settings are a bit funky but the software that comes with the keyboard can fix that quickly.) Not only that, but once the keyboard is set up, you don't need to touch the Palm to navigate. Everything from applications to the backlight has its own command built in to the keyboard.
This is not to say that the keyboard/Palm combination should be confused for a laptop, however. There are some flaws with the keyboard that keep it from being a true laptop replacement. First of all, the keyboard isn't solid when unfolded; it needs to rest on a completely flat surface (as in, not your lap). This can cause problems for the college student in lecture halls where the desks are narrower than the keyboard is.
Second, though the keyboard unfolds quickly, this ease of setup makes the keyboard a bit shaky when unfolded. Specifically, the two edges are slid into the center to cover the hinges, but they do not stay solidly. Sometimes when I type I can feel the sides sliding back and forth a bit. I'd prefer a more solid snap/closure to secure the keys so they wouldn't slide at all.
Overall, though, this keyboard is a lifesaver. It's expensive, to be sure ($99 when I bought mine), and it's not perfect, but if you find yourself taking a lot of notes in situations where Graffiti is just not efficient enough, seriously consider the Palm Folding Keyboard. It could just make your life a whole lot easier.
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