OESF Portables Forum

Everything Else => Sharp Zaurus => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => C1000/3x00 Hardware => Topic started by: kurochka on July 15, 2005, 03:16:57 pm

Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: kurochka on July 15, 2005, 03:16:57 pm
On this picture (from ebay), I noticed that Targus Stowaway Keyboard is connected to SL 6000 through some sort of a cable (serial to USB?). Am I mistaken? If not, where do you get this cable? I have this (or similar) keyboard that I used with my old Visor and it is all dusty now.  All help is appreciated.  I presume no drivers are needed.
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: BarryW on July 15, 2005, 04:57:01 pm
I still have my iPaq version as well.  Would be cool to figure out.
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: Tom61 on July 16, 2005, 02:11:13 am
There is a USB model, he seems to be just using that.

If you want to use an older one, it's not hard, pending you have a model of Z with the standard sync connector. All you have to do is match up the pinouts between the host PDA's serial and the Z's sync connector. For most boards, you should be able to find drivers on handhelds.org.
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: vputz on July 16, 2005, 02:10:58 pm
Quote
There is a USB model, he seems to be just using that.

If you want to use an older one, it's not hard, pending you have a model of Z with the standard sync connector. All you have to do is match up the pinouts between the host PDA's serial and the Z's sync connector. For most boards, you should be able to find drivers on handhelds.org.
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That's my picture (from eBay), so I can confirm it for you: Yes, that's the Fellowes USB stowaway keyboard through a mini-A connector to the USB host port on the 6k.

Works like a champ, with the difficulty that the 6000 keymap for USB connections is goofy under OpenZaurus 3.5.2 (not sure if that was fixed in 3.5.3, but on 3.5.2, letters work wonderfully and numbers/symbols are wacky).  But it's a handy little keyboard.  I use it for occasional keyboard connection to my HTPC as well.

I think for extended use I'd rather have one of the "Happy Hacking" keyboards, particularly if they had a Dvorak USB version, but the Fellowes does very well and compacts to a very small footprint.

-->VPutz
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: icruise on July 19, 2005, 03:41:49 am
By the way, these keyboards are going pretty cheap on ebay now. I just got one new in the box for $15 shipped. I loved this folding keyboard back when I used it with my palm V, and I was happy to learn that there was a USB version. Now I just have to get a Zaurus!  

By the way, is the key mapping issue just a matter of the keyboard using the JIS keyboard map? (e.g. shift-2 gives you double quotes) Or was it more than that?
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: vputz on July 22, 2005, 11:41:54 pm
Quote
By the way, these keyboards are going pretty cheap on ebay now. I just got one new in the box for $15 shipped. I loved this folding keyboard back when I used it with my palm V, and I was happy to learn that there was a USB version. Now I just have to get a Zaurus! 

By the way, is the key mapping issue just a matter of the keyboard using the JIS keyboard map? (e.g. shift-2 gives you double quotes) Or was it more than that?
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Too late--I sold the Z6k, so can't confirm.  But it was pretty frustrating.  You can probably find more details on the forums (there is at least one thread dedicated to the problem).

Oh, and you're a dog for getting the keyboard for $15 (grin--I paid about $40 on eBay several months ago!  They must be getting lower!).

-->VPutz
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: adf on July 23, 2005, 10:25:32 pm
guylhem wrote up some stuff on the tosa keyboard problems. it is either around here, somewhere, or on externe.net. That was a big issue in the last guylhem-rom
Title: Stowaway Keabord To Usb?
Post by: mobilemike on July 27, 2005, 01:14:29 am
I found a great keyboard at Frys.  It is a BTC USB mini keyboard and it has an extra usb port for a mini mouse.  What a combination.  Works great!  Only $20