Physical Properties/Technology/Power Requirements
I heard the VKB was about the size of a pack of Tic-Tics. However, it is much bigger, measuring 3"x1"x1." This isn’t that "space-saving," as it’s not that compact and is thick. I found carrying around a Belk in foldable to be just as convenient, since you can slip it in your pocket as it is less thick. The 6315’s included thumb board is just as small or smaller as the VKB. You need a flat surface to accommodate the Vibe’s projection area, which isn’t a requirement for a thumb board or a foldable keyboard.
The VKB is sturdily constructed and comes with a leather pouch. A red laser projecting the keyboard beams from the top with the power supply at the lower left and reset settings on the bottom right. Latency settings allow for auto-shutoff if unused; if the unit is picked up, a sensor on the bottom automatically powers it down. The extended projection window/keyboard size was 3.5" x 11" with the VKB approximately 7.5" back from the opening projection line. In contrast, the space profile for the Belk in foldable was 3 5/8" x 10.5" and the thumb board simply attached to the PDA.
The model I received shipped with an internal rechargeable battery and included an AC adapter/North American pin converter. Battery life was very good. I found it took little time to fully recharge, while it held a charge well. I had left the keyboard in my car for over a month and found it near the charge it was left at. The total typing time I experienced with my unit was about three hours.
I've got one of these, and - although it doesn't get *much* use, I have to say I'm surprisingly impressed. I have an (old) invention ideas list on my web site which included this concept, so I felt morally obliged to get one when I found out that a companies were actually selling them.
Yes, the lack of tactile feedback is annoying - you can't touch-type. I find myself looking at the keyboard, and the projected key positions and where they register don't quite line up on my unit (I need to aim at the side of the key nearer to the device), but allowing for that, accuracy is reasonable. There's some lag in key presses reaching my mobile (Portege G900), so I'm reliant on looking at the keys rather than the screen, but it doesn't usually lose keys. Fortunately, I don't keep my fingers on the "home" keys on qwerty anyway - I don't look at the keyboard, but I only do the traditional touch-typing thing on dvorak.
It's nothing like as good as a real keyboard, but it *is* much smaller than the folding keyboard I own (which, to be fair, is much bigger than the Palm version which I also own), and I can't get the folding keyboard to work with my G900, so it's the laser keyboard or the integrated keyboard(/thumb board) on the device - and the laser keyboard *is* faster. It's a bit chubby, but it's small enough to leave in my bag for when I need it.
I've not had brightness problems, but I've not tried using it outside (I wouldn't be able to see the screen on my device anyway). I'd find it much more usable if the keyboard projected from the side (side-to-side space is much easier for me to arrange than front-to-back space - especially on a train or on a desk full of monitors), but I guess the fingers would shade each other much more; perhaps the best that could be done is to make the device thinner and have it project more closely to itself.
Yes, it's a gadget. I got it when I saw one on special, expecting it to be entertaining but almost useless. It's not brilliant, but it's much better than I was expecting - it *is* usable. So long as you're not expecting too much, you may find the same. I may change my opinion after I've got Emacs installed on my phone and I start to use it in anger.
Well played fluppeteer. That's probably the most useful comment I've seen in months
:-) Glad to be of service. (And I did end up using the keyboard last night for sending an sms - it seemed laggier than when note-taking, but the G900 is a little rough around the edges so it might be better on more developed devices.)
Thanks for sharing. I haven't any idea we can use it. Thanks for information. It is really interesting what new technologies wait fot us in the nearest future. I've read about one device (found a very interestine magazine HighTech at rapidshre SE http://rapidpedia.com ). It is a very small digit that can think. It can give you the information about everything (it is like transparent laptop), it can make photos, it can scan books and at once show the reviw about it. It is increadible. It was written that Apple was going to buy the patent. That is why soon it would be in mass production