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Everything Else => General Support and Discussion => Zaurus General Forums => Archived Forums => Accessories => Topic started by: Sy Ali on June 18, 2006, 05:34:01 pm

Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on June 18, 2006, 05:34:01 pm
I've been looking for USB keyboard solutions, and the only serious contender I've found is the Fellowes Stowaway Folding keyboard
http://www.conics.net/catalog/product_info...&products_id=96 (http://www.conics.net/catalog/product_info.php?currency=CAD&products_id=96)

I don't want to use an IR keyboard, because I want to use my C1000 in landscape mode, and I'd rather not have yet another thing with batteries.  =)

What other solutions are there, for a portable USB keyboard?

I'd prefer to have a keyboard which does not require a powered USB hub.

---

Also, I've done a bunch of searching and I found references to people having trouble with their external keyboard, because they key mapping is different for the inline vs external keyboards.  How big a problem is this?

* Has anyone created the new keymapping configuration files for their external keyboard?
* Has anyone whipped up some scripting to swap their keyboard mappings when they use their external keyboard?
* Has anyone found a way to automate that kind of keyboard re-configuration?
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: sleepy on June 18, 2006, 05:50:45 pm
I've had no luck on getting a keymap for this keyboard that recognizes some of the keys on the right side. It seems that pressing those keys does not produce any output so I don't know how one would even remap them in the first place.

This is with a C1000 on Cacko.
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: gettons1980 on August 22, 2006, 11:51:58 pm
Is there somebody that can run this keyboard without any problem on SL-c1000 ?
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on August 23, 2006, 02:09:05 am
While I haven't looked into keyboard swapping automation, it seems pretty simple to have an alternate keymap.  I did this to swap the "/" key for some other software.

I still have no idea about anything else.. and I have no intentions of wasting money and time just to experiment.

Has anyone anywhere used a decent external keyboard?
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: asti on August 29, 2006, 07:44:00 am
I would like to test this one: Keysonic Nano (http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=172) -- but I did not yet. Sounds for me that it should work w/o problems.

asti
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on August 29, 2006, 12:35:08 pm
Then there's the Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/)..

The problem remains.. I think that there will always be keyboard mapping issues with any keyboard.  Nobody has suggested that there is a properly-working keyboard.

[edit]

Wait.. I want an Optimus (http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/)..
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: bluedevils on August 29, 2006, 04:03:29 pm
The problem is not the keyboards, but the differences between the maps.  Unless you find a keyboard that maps like the keyboard built into the Z, you are going to have to use some software to alter the mappings.  There was some work done on the 6000 to this end, but I do not remember a final product ever manifesting.

I still use my illuminated usb keyboard at night, but I've memorized many of the differences in the layout...still hard though.
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on August 29, 2006, 04:28:32 pm
Maybe that's the solution.. find a similar keyboard mapping.  Get a Japanese USB keyboard with the Latin keyset.

When I brought my Zaurus to show it off.. I was hunting for a certain key, and one guy piped up with the exact key combination.. he knew the layout.. it was standard in Japan.

I found a couple of keyboards which can have their keymapping redone during their manufacture.  If I knew the mapping properly, I would try it..

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html)
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html)
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: desertrat on August 29, 2006, 10:40:53 pm
Quote
Has anyone anywhere used a decent external keyboard?
Maybe this will help:
https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17122 (https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17122)

Quote
I found a couple of keyboards which can have their keymapping redone during their manufacture. If I knew the mapping properly, I would try it..
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html)
Their website says "While the EnduraPro PS2 model can be programmed at the time of manufacture, the USB model is not programmable."?
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on August 30, 2006, 06:06:19 am
Quote
Quote
Has anyone anywhere used a decent external keyboard?
Maybe this will help:
https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17122 (https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17122)

Not really.  pdaXrom has one "beta" (alpha) release out for the c1000 and only recently completely changed their kernel and has only done light testing.  I'm not going to use it until it matures.

I'm using Cacko, and so the X11 references aren't useful.  The keycode listing could come in handy if I translated it into the format which Cacko uses.

Quote
Quote
I found a couple of keyboards which can have their keymapping redone during their manufacture. If I knew the mapping properly, I would try it..
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html)
Their website says "While the EnduraPro PS2 model can be programmed at the time of manufacture, the USB model is not programmable."?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=140137\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I figured that it would be simple enough to use an adaptor on the ps2 model.. I wonder if that would work.
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: desertrat on August 30, 2006, 08:08:39 am
Quote
Not really.  pdaXrom has one "beta" (alpha) release out for the c1000 and only recently completely changed their kernel and has only done light testing.  I'm not going to use it until it matures.
Doesn't 1.1.0beta3 work for C1000? It has been very stable for me (on C3100).

Quote
I'm using Cacko, and so the X11 references aren't useful.  The keycode listing could come in handy if I translated it into the format which Cacko uses.
Sorry, didn't know. Anyway here's an alternative that may work depending on your situation:
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ (http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/)
It's a brilliant little program that allows another computer to "control" your keyboard and mouse. Thus you can use your regular desktop keyboard on your Z. And the best thing about it is that you can send the contents of the clipboard back and forth.

However I've no idea whether synergy is available for Cacko
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Sy Ali on August 30, 2006, 04:05:37 pm
I thought that beta4 was the first release which works with the c1000.

There are a few remote control solutions for Linux.  But I want to be able to use a keyboard with the device, without needing to bring my home computer with me.  

[edit] HEY.. beta3 does work with Cxx00 .. I will try it.. but I'm not sure how happy I will be.  pdaXrom development seems strange to me.  I don't want to have to hack around to make it look and work well.  I'll try it and find out.
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: Drake01 on August 30, 2006, 09:11:59 pm
Quote
I thought that beta4 was the first release which works with the c1000.

There are a few remote control solutions for Linux.  But I want to be able to use a keyboard with the device, without needing to bring my home computer with me. 

[edit] HEY.. beta3 does work with Cxx00 .. I will try it.. but I'm not sure how happy I will be.  pdaXrom development seems strange to me.  I don't want to have to hack around to make it look and work well.  I'll try it and find out.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=140236\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I just recently "retrograded" to beta3.  I agree with everyone else that beta4 has a lot of potential, but I was spending too much time trying to get things to work and wondering if a problem was because of a new application I installed or just another issue with the OS.  I wanted to spend more time using my Zaurus.  

Beta3 does seem to be more stable but I miss some of the features of beta4.  I'm looking forward to a more stable release of the 2.6 kernel.

I'm still working on a practical solution to using my USB keyboard.
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: bakkeo on August 31, 2006, 11:15:10 am
Has anyone try this foldable keyboard produced by Targus?
http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Targ...875U01X/J27460/ (http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Targus_Universal_USB_Portable_Keyboard/PA875U01X/J27460/)
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: speculatrix on December 11, 2006, 04:54:40 pm
Quote
Has anyone try this foldable keyboard produced by Targus?
http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Targ...875U01X/J27460/ (http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Targus_Universal_USB_Portable_Keyboard/PA875U01X/J27460/)
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=140345\")

that's an even better price than here:
[a href=\"http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=24&idproduct=165]http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/view...4&idproduct=165[/url]

I wonder where I can one from to try it out?
Title: Usb Keyboard Recommendations
Post by: speculatrix on December 11, 2006, 04:56:59 pm
I don't think I'll be buying this one from Amazon, at GBP999.99 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Targus-Compact-USB...8&s=electronics (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Targus-Compact-USB-Keyboard-D/dp/B000BSPIO4/sr=1-26/qid=1165874178/ref=sr_1_26/202-5992618-9972642?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)