My folding keyboard unicorn

[couponhead]

Hello,

I've been looking for my keyboard unicorn but having a hard time finding her.

My unicorn is:
Folding: small enough to put in an ordinary male pants pocket when not in use
Reliable: won't conk out when on a trip
Flexible: works as a USB keyboard when plugged in and a bluetooth keyboard when not
Comfortable: easy to write on during long projects

I've looked at the Geyes keyboard, but I don't understand why the company seems to be defunct and all of the product seems to come from China. If I buy one of these, am I getting a clone that may be less reliable?

[thestage]

best thread

[bhtooefr]

For what it's worth, don't get this: http://targus.com/US/universal-foldable-keyboard-for-android-akf001us

It's awful.

[ideus]

I had one similar keyboard, that by then, was manufactured to be used for the palm pilot. It is not bad, but why you want to bother with a foldable if you can get an authentic mechanical keyboard like the Poker. And with its small size there is no need to fold it. By the way, this keyboard is foldable, but by all means it cannot be put in a pants pocket, unless you have bags instead of pockets.

[kmiller8]

http://jornostore.com/

There's this. I've been watching it for awhile. It's supposedly going to be released later this year, but I've seen the release date change a number of times. I hope it doesn't become vaporware...

[tricheboars]

OTG USB Cable and a 60%.  anything else is just...amateur.

[couponhead]

Thank you for the recommendation.

 I looked up the Poker and it seems to have good reviews, but I'm not willing to cross dress for it. The Poker is small, but not small enough for a pocket. If I were to go out en femme, I would be able to put it in a purse.

I much prefer a keyboard that won't require me to wear heels to match the purse that I would need to put it in.

I had one similar keyboard, that by then, was manufactured to be used for the palm pilot. It is not bad, but why you want to bother with a foldable if you can get an authentic mechanical keyboard like the Poker. And with its small size there is no need to fold it. By the way, this keyboard is foldable, but by all means it cannot be put in a pants pocket, unless you have bags instead of pockets.

[mashby]

The closest thing I can think of hits 3 of your 4 criteria is the ThinkOutside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard. The only thing it doesn't do is tether with a USB cable.



ThinkOutside originally created a folding keyboard for the Palm Pilot and then had different versions for different connectors for other PDAs. It was a PITA to upgrade and then have to buy a whole new keyboard, but I did every time there was a change. Eventually, Bluetooth became a thing and they migrated to doing a single keyboard.  It's chromed plastic and folds into a nice package. There is also a neoprene case that zips around the keyboard when it's closed.

 After I switched to the iPhone in 2007, I tracked one down on eBay and I am happy to report that it works. However, I do have to re-pair the keyboard every time I use it and I don't know why, but when I need it, I'm glad that I have it in my bag. I paid $100 bucks for the one I bought 7 years ago, but there's one for sale on eBay for $78.26

ThinkOutside also made a smaller version, but I preferred the original. I really liked the ThinkOutside company and I was sorry to see them get acquired by iGO and then later fade away.  Their foldable keyboard was very unique for it's time and I used the heck out of them back in the day.

Hope that helps!

[False_Dmitry_II]

That thing actually looks like it uses scissor switches instead of the very weird stuff that you can roll.

[SpAmRaY]

http://jornostore.com/

There's this. I've been watching it for awhile. It's supposedly going to be released later this year, but I've seen the release date change a number of times. I hope it doesn't become vaporware...

That one has some not so happy comments on kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jorno/jorno-the-pocketable-folding-bluetooth-keyboard/comments

[tricheboars]

That thing actually looks like it uses scissor switches instead of the very weird stuff that you can roll.

that is rough.  however, people need to stop thinking that kickstarter is like amazon or a pre-order service. kickstarter is corporate charity. plain and simple.

[ideus]

The closest thing I can think of hits 3 of your 4 criteria is the ThinkOutside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard. The only thing it doesn't do is tether with a USB cable.

Show Image

ThinkOutside originally created a folding keyboard for the Palm Pilot and then had different versions for different connectors for other PDAs. It was a PITA to upgrade and then have to buy a whole new keyboard, but I did every time there was a change. Eventually, Bluetooth became a thing and they migrated to doing a single keyboard.  It's chromed plastic and folds into a nice package. There is also a neoprene case that zips around the keyboard when it's closed.

 After I switched to the iPhone in 2007, I tracked one down on eBay and I am happy to report that it works. However, I do have to re-pair the keyboard every time I use it and I don't know why, but when I need it, I'm glad that I have it in my bag. I paid $100 bucks for the one I bought 7 years ago, but there's one for sale on eBay for $78.26

ThinkOutside also made a smaller version, but I preferred the original. I really liked the ThinkOutside company and I was sorry to see them get acquired by iGO and then later fade away.  Their foldable keyboard was very unique for it's time and I used the heck out of them back in the day. :'(

Hope that helps!

This was the model I had, while it was as nice as a laptop keyboard could be, it is far from the feeling of a mechanical one.

[mashby]

This was the model I had, while it was as nice as a laptop keyboard could be, it is far from the feeling of a mechanical one.

Well said. My thoughts exactly.

[wuqe]

I currently use that Stowaway keyboard with my Android phone when I'm on the go. Scissor switches, yes, but full-sized keys and great battery life. I also wrote an Android keymap to make it Dvorak. :smile:

Jorno website says its keys are "only 15% smaller" than normal--yikes! I'd stay away just because of that; my touch-typing muscle memory would not appreciate it.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

The Goldtouch Go! 2 hits on some of the points, but it sounds like it's a little bigger than what you want and you get bluetooth or USB instead of both. It does fold in half and Goldtouch is a reliable company from all that I've heard.

[couponhead]

Thank you, the stowaway sounds like it is as close to my unicorn as I'm going to get.

Unfortunately, like unicorns, nobody makes them anymore. Hopefully, I can find one at a reasonable price online somewhere.

[wuqe]

Here's one of the smaller ones (four-row, I mean 40% on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/iGo-XTBT01-Stowaway-Ultra-Slim-Bluetooth-Keyboard-/251504797815?pt=US_Laptop_Replacement_Keyboards&hash=item3a8edaa877

The bigger ones (5-row) are harder to find, but generally searching the name "stowaway Sierra" will turn up some.

I used the bigger Sierra model on my Palm in days gone by, but I find the iGo sufficient for my needs, if not as impressive.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Matias has a foldable keyboard apparently, but I doubt it's pocket-sized.