Author Topic: Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay  (Read 14876 times)

ZDevil

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1998
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« on: June 05, 2007, 06:56:10 pm »
I've just seen quite a number of the Stowaway USB foldable keyboard from the same seller are selling rather cheaply off ebay, just USD 25, such as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Elegant-Foldable-Fulls...1QQcmdZViewItem

Is it worth buying and using?  It's so cheap now and it is claimed to be able to work with all sorts of laptops and PDAs without using any driver.

Conics is selling exactly the same thing but the price is double.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2007, 06:57:19 pm by ZDevil »

Life is too precious for hacking *too much*
Visit my Z screencap gallery[/color]
My EeePC 701 Black = Debian (Lenny) on IceRocks + Transcend SDHC Class6 8GB + 2GB RAM
My Zaurus SL-C3200 = Debian EABI (kernel 2.6.24.3-yonggun) on a swapped internal Sandisk Extreme III CF 16gb
My Debian EABI feed: http://matrixmen.free.fr/zaurus/debian/
My OpenBSD/Zaurus feeds:  Link1, Link2
[/i][/font][/color][/size]

pelrun

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2007, 09:25:58 pm »
Well, I bought (that) one.
SL-C3100 with usb power mod running debian eabi
pdaXii13 still on the NAND for dualbooting
16GB SDHC! (a new one, after I sat on the old one and it went kaput)
D-Link 660 wifi, Socket Bluetooth rev H
External 9800mAh LiIon battery and slimline dvd drive
Homebrew microphone and remote

ZDevil

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1998
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2007, 05:51:41 am »
So how does it work? Is it fully functional when used on Z?

Life is too precious for hacking *too much*
Visit my Z screencap gallery[/color]
My EeePC 701 Black = Debian (Lenny) on IceRocks + Transcend SDHC Class6 8GB + 2GB RAM
My Zaurus SL-C3200 = Debian EABI (kernel 2.6.24.3-yonggun) on a swapped internal Sandisk Extreme III CF 16gb
My Debian EABI feed: http://matrixmen.free.fr/zaurus/debian/
My OpenBSD/Zaurus feeds:  Link1, Link2
[/i][/font][/color][/size]

Da_Blitz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1579
    • View Profile
    • http://www.pocketnix.org
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2007, 06:06:00 am »
very nice find, reminds me of teh stowaway mechanisim
Personal Blog
Code
Twitter

Gemini Order: #95 (roughly)
Current Device: Samsung Chromebook Gen 3
Current Arm Devices Count: ~30
Looking to acquire: Cavium Thunder X2 Hardware

pelrun

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2007, 09:50:27 am »
No, I mean I literally won the auction you linked to, I can't possibly have received it yet
SL-C3100 with usb power mod running debian eabi
pdaXii13 still on the NAND for dualbooting
16GB SDHC! (a new one, after I sat on the old one and it went kaput)
D-Link 660 wifi, Socket Bluetooth rev H
External 9800mAh LiIon battery and slimline dvd drive
Homebrew microphone and remote

pelrun

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2007, 07:46:43 am »
Got the keyboard and it's good - I was wondering whether it would be an official stowaway kb or a cheap knockoff, and luckily it's the original.

Now if only it had a decent mini-B socket on it and not the old style 4-pin mini connector. It's one more cable I have to carry around!
SL-C3100 with usb power mod running debian eabi
pdaXii13 still on the NAND for dualbooting
16GB SDHC! (a new one, after I sat on the old one and it went kaput)
D-Link 660 wifi, Socket Bluetooth rev H
External 9800mAh LiIon battery and slimline dvd drive
Homebrew microphone and remote

speculatrix

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3707
    • View Profile
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2007, 06:30:58 pm »
I note that Maplin in the UK have the non-folding mini USB one

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...YBOARD&doy=12m6
Gemini 4G/Wi-Fi owner, formerly zaurus C3100 and 860 owner; also owner of an HTC Doubleshot, a Zaurus-like phone.

ghostshadow

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 29
    • View Profile
    • http://www.ghostknox.com
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2007, 08:45:05 pm »
That one ^ looks very sleek.

uth

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
    • View Profile
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2007, 10:08:49 am »
Quote
Got the keyboard and it's good - I was wondering whether it would be an official stowaway kb or a cheap knockoff, and luckily it's the original.

Now if only it had a decent mini-B socket on it and not the old style 4-pin mini connector. It's one more cable I have to carry around!
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

You need something like this:

[a href=\"http://store.pchcables.com/usbadtyfetom.html]http://store.pchcables.com/usbadtyfetom.html[/url]

Look around at drug stores and places like that,  I've seen bundles of USB adapters that include parts like that at Walgreens and Big Lots.

pelrun

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 366
    • View Profile
    • http://
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2007, 11:22:26 am »
Hah, no. I don't even know why that adapter has a female A on it; the only thing it would work with is the equally silly A-to-A cable.

Besides, it has a 5-pin mini-B on it. I have those - I've made those! It's the connector I wish was used by the keyboard. But the keyboard uses the old style 4-pin mini-B which is physically completely different.

Hence the need for another cable jammed in my bag *only* for the keyboard.

(I did try replacing the socket... but opening the keyboard is practically impossible and almost certainly a self-destructive event. Gah, why glue when the thing's also perfectly well screwed together!?)
SL-C3100 with usb power mod running debian eabi
pdaXii13 still on the NAND for dualbooting
16GB SDHC! (a new one, after I sat on the old one and it went kaput)
D-Link 660 wifi, Socket Bluetooth rev H
External 9800mAh LiIon battery and slimline dvd drive
Homebrew microphone and remote

speculatrix

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3707
    • View Profile
Usb Foldable Keyboard From Ebay
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2007, 05:32:26 pm »
Quote
I note that Maplin in the UK have the non-folding mini USB one

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...YBOARD&doy=12m6
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

aha, you can get it much cheaper:
[a href=\"http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10838]http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10838[/url]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/KEYSONIC-ACK-3400U...82893385&sr=8-1
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=170467

I was wondering whether one of these keyboards could be used to make a clamshell/dock for a Nokia 800 tablet.
--edit-- proposed this on internettablettalk: http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/s...read.php?t=7018
« Last Edit: June 26, 2007, 05:49:08 pm by speculatrix »
Gemini 4G/Wi-Fi owner, formerly zaurus C3100 and 860 owner; also owner of an HTC Doubleshot, a Zaurus-like phone.