For the true computer geek there’s nothing like the finger-friendly feedback of a quality keyboard. The reassuring clack of spring-loaded plastic keys can help even two-fingered typists get through a long document faster.
In the age of the tablet, however, the keyboard has given way to flat virtual touchscreen keyboards that give little, if any, tactile feedback, thus making it hard to know if you actually hit the keys you wanted. On-screen keyboards also partially block the view of what you’re working on.
The solution, short of switching to a notebook, is to use a Bluetooth wireless keyboard that you can connect only when you need it. There are dozens of Bluetooth keyboards on the market, but the six here represent what you can expect to run into. Two are full-sized and have the key spacing of a standard notebook keyboard, three are compact and meant for traveling and one is mid-sized and meant specifically for Android tablets.
Connecting a Bluetooth keyboard to a tablet is no tougher than linking a wireless headset to a cell phone–the pairing method is essentially the same and only needs to be done once. All of these keyboards here successfully link with a variety devices.
So what do you gain when you connect a Bluetooth keyboard to a tablet? If it has a touchpad you get something you’re not used to seeing on a tablet: A floating mouse cursor. Some units offer one-key access to functions like e-mail and the presence of Ctrl and Alt keys on some mean easy access to familiar word-processing shortcuts like Ctrl-X and Ctrl-V for cutting and pasting.
AVS Gear Zippy BT-637
Pros: Comfortable keys, full set of function keys.
Cons: Even larger than some PC keyboards.
Bottom line: Good stay-at-home or office keyboard.
The full-size Zippy BT-637 Bluetooth keyboard from AVS Gear Inc. is a comfortable alternative to tablet poking. It mimics the keyboard layout of a Windows notebook down to the touchpad centered below the standard-size keys. The mouse buttons are on either side of the touchpad instead of below it–a minor departure from the norm.
The $70 unit can memorize up to six devices and switch between them quickly. The standard function keys across the top double as media-control keys when used with the Fn key. Many of the embedded function keys are meant for Windows notebooks but some, like the media-control keys, worked just as well when tested on a Bluetooth-enabled iMac. Like other keyboards here, some of the special keys serve no function for tablets.
At 14.4 inches wide, 7.3 inches deep and about an inch high, the Zippy BT-637 takes up a lot of desktop space. The Media Touch Keypad, an array of six backlit touch-sensitive keys on the right offer Home, Mail, Forward, Back, Search and Refresh keys.
AVS Gear Zippy BT-500
Pros: Lightweight, small footprint.
Cons: Small keys can be hard for those with large fingers.
Bottom line: Good traveling keyboard for multiple Bluetooth devices
The diminutive $45 AVS Gear Zippy BT-500 Bluetooth Keyboard is an unobtrusive traveling companion aimed at smartphone and tablet users. Due to its small size, it’s not the best choice for long-term typing. While the 82 keys are packed tightly into an 8.9-by-3.9-inch footprint, the typing experience is better than one might expect. At just under an inch thick and weighing just two thirds of a pound, the Zippy BT-500 barely makes a bulge in a suitcase.
All 12 function keys are present and, like the larger AVS Gear BT-637, the unit can pair with up to six Bluetooth devices. Touch typing was easy, but since you’ll need to adjust your posture slightly to get your hands in the right position, you may not be comfortable typing long documents but you should be able to get through a day’s worth of meeting or classes. AVS Gear keyboards are also marketed under the Noah Company brand.
IOGEAR Multi-Link Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad
Pros: Lots of function keys and a comfortable key layout.
Cons: Lefties may not like the touchpad on right side.
Bottom line: Well-suited for office use, but not traveling.
The $63 IOGEAR Multi-Link Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad (Model GKM611B) is a wide-bodied keyboard which has the same general look and feel of the AVS Gear Zippy BT-637, but has the touchpad on the right and the seven hot keys (Mute, Home, Mail, Previous, Next, Search and Refresh) across the top left. The placement of the touchpad may warm the hearts of right-handed mouse users but may irritate southpaws.
At 15.8 inches wide, 7.3 inches deep and weighing 1.9 pounds, the inch-thick unit is meant to stay in place–not travel from home to office. Like other units here, the IOGEAR Multi-Link Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad can memorize up to six Bluetooth pairings.
While there are many Windows-friendly keys, the keyboard is marketed for use with smartphones, tablets, notebooks and other mobile devices. Dedicated function keys include My TV, My Videos, My Music, My Pictures, Record TV and DVD.
The wide keyboard duplicates the look and feel of a desktop PC keyboard and actually felt more solid than some notebook keyboards. The touchpad proved smooth and responsive.
IOGEAR Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard
Pros: Light and small, but with all function keys.
Cons: Small keys, no touch pad.
Bottom line: Quality travel keyboard for multiple devices.
The diminutive $50 IOGEAR Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard (Model GKB601B) is less than half the size and weight of the full-size units here, but proved easy to work with. Despite the shrunken, but full QWERTY key set, it wasn’t hard to type swiftly after a moderate amount of practice.
Still, the unit is not meant for long typing sessions, especially if you have fat fingers. Like the smaller AVS Gear keyboard, the small Shift, Caps Lock and Backspace keys may cause your digits to stray.
The 9.1-by-4.5 unit pairs with up to six devices and is marketed as a portable keyboard for devices ranging from game consoles to PCs. The unit weighs just over a third of a pound and comes with a cloth carrying case. The keyboard has the My TV, My Videos, My Music, My Pictures, Record TV and DVD Player keys embedded on the top row.
While the keys are small, they’re also well-placed. For example, the right Shift key is conveniently at the right edge, unlike some other compact keyboards which push the right Shift key one or two spots in from the edge, thus making it hard to find without looking.
Logitech Tablet Keyboard
Pros: Android-specific keys and a hard case which doubles as an easel.
Cons: Not for older Android 2.0-class tablets
Bottom line: Excellent package for Android-toting travelers.
The $70 Logitech Tablet Keyboard sits in a middle ground between full-size Bluetooth keyboards and mini keyboards and is meant strictly for Android tablets. It has no touchpad or top row of Windows-friendly function keys–just keys that are useful with Android tablets. The thin, 14-ounce, 11.3-by-5.1-inch unit slides out from a protective hard plastic case which then opens up into an adjustable tablet easel. Â While the keys don’t have much travel, they’re firm and silent with enough feedback for touch typing.
While it has the same basic media-control keys as Windows keyboards, instead of Windows function keys the Logitech Tablet Keyboard embeds the four familiar Android keys (Back, Menu, Home and Search) into the bottom row. On the top row are Mail, Internet and Calendar keys that are activated when preceded by the Fn key.
The mid-size Chiclet-style keys proved both responsive and quiet. The Android-specific keys were handy and once back it its case the unit is well-protected from dust and bumps. The keyboard runs on three AAA batteries and requires Android 3.0 or later. Logitech also offers the similar $70 Logitech Tablet Keyboard For iPad, which, not surprisingly, offers Mac keys like the Command and Option keys instead of the Android keys.
Tumi Wireless Keyboard
Pros: Good-looking and light and includes case with cord storage.
Cons: Pricey and no rubber feet; keyboard slides on smooth surfaces.
Bottom line: Adequate travel companion for infrequent use.
The $125 Tumi Wireless Keyboard from Tumi, a company known for
luggage and other travel gear, is an adequate traveling tablet companion with a mix of pluses and minuses. The handsome keyboard comes with a zippered case with a small pocket inside for storing a short USB charging cable.Touch typing takes a little training since some keys have been moved from their standard locations. For example, the PrintSc key is in the bottom row instead of the top and the quotation mark/comma key is on the left next to the Shift key instead of on the right side next to the colon/semicolon key.
On the plus side, important keys like the Shift and Delete keys are at the extreme edges where they’re easy to find without looking. Across the top are five special keys for Home, Mute, Bluetooth pairing and Power as well as a well-designed multimedia key cluster with a four-sided rocker button. Pushing the center of the multimedia key starts or pauses playback of audio or video, a touch up or down on the rocker button controls volume and a click on either side expresses to the next or previous media selection.
Unfortunately, the bottom of the keyboard is smooth with no rubberized feet to keep it from sliding around, which is exactly what happened when it was tested on a standard wooden desk. Swiping the space bar with a thumb is all it took to jostle the keyboard out of position.
Instead of replaceable batteries, the Tumi Wireless Keyboard’s internal battery charges in 3.5 hours, will hold a charge for up to 60 days and provide up to 30 hours of typing per charge, according to Tumi.
The unit, which promises compatibility with Windows, Windows Mobile 6.0, Apple iOS devices, Android 3.0 devices, Sony’s PlayStation 3 game console and the almost forgotten Blackberry Playbook tablet, is a good choice for frequent travelers providing users make a stop at a hardware store for a rubberized strip to attach to the bottom to give it some desktop friction.