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First off, I have the hx4705, and I love it. I use it primarily for editing of simple docs, for reading various files (pdf, lit, doc), AvantGo, and web surfing (mainly at home over 802.11b). As a Palm veteran, I am very accustomed to a stylus, so I'm a heaby stylus user as well.
So I jumped at the idea of a thumb keyboard because I figured I'd be using my sweet (thanks Napoleon Dynamite) hx4705 ALOT more than I ever used a Palm device, which is already true. How did I fare? Here goes:
SIZE: It would help if you are a veteran of tiny keyboards (i.e. RIM, BlackBerry, Treo, etc) as this one is small and tight, like the Treo. Big fingers beware, you will be hitting multiple keys at once. With practice, you do get better. I have average size hands and have used a RIM blackberry pager for over 4 years, so not really a problem for me.
FUNCTIONALITY: The software/driver allows you to set sensitivity of the keys so that is a major plus. It's very easy to pop on and off the device, but always fits snug. Also, the blue and orange and shift keys only take a few minutes to figure out, so the learning curve is small.
PRICE: I paid the hpshopping.com price because I'm overly zealous with gadgets, but I don't think it's worth the $55 I paid. I'd say more like $30 at most!
VERSUS full KEYBOARD: You can literally take this keyboard with you and use it ANYWHERE ANYTIME, a MAJOR PLUS (standing in line, on a train, bus, etc.) . And no fussing with BlueTooth. I also found typing with an almost full size keyboard on a tiny screen to feel just a bit weird. I'm sure opinions will differ on the issue.
OVERALL: 4 out of 5 stars
Does exactly as advertised, easy to use, compact, IT WORKS! However,
I don't think it's worth more than $30, so maybe you'll want to wait for a price drop or go ebay hunting.
Good Luck!!
Thanks for posting this I've thought about getting a thumb keyboard bunches of times. But being a big handed guy, I think it would be pretty cumbersome for me personally. I have seen some people who have competed in the Dom Perrignon contest that is held every year getting 80+ WPM using a thumb keyboard. Whew! that would be sweet!
This is great! I didn't even know a thumb keyboard for the 4700 was out. I knew when they released it that there were plans to make one, and I had been anxiously awaiting one (since what I really would have wanted was a 4350 with VGA ) but had never seen news about it. Thanks for posting this (and for promoting it to the home page)!
I've thought about getting a thumb keyboard bunches of times. But being a big handed guy, I think it would be pretty cumbersome for me personally. I have seen some people who have competed in the Dom Perrignon contest that is held every year getting 80+ WPM using a thumb keyboard. Whew! that would be sweet!
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