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COOL PALMPILOT GADGETS
Using a keyboard with your PalmPilot
By S. Fred Green a.k.a. Fredlet
When I started traveling only with my PalmPilot, it was so wonderfulÉit didn't weigh 7 pounds, it didn't need to recharge ever 4-5 hours, it fit in my backpack (and didn't take over the whole compartment) and I still had the capability to check email and surf the web. However, as much as I adored my PalmPilot and as easy as I found Graffiti, when I wrote long emails, I thought to myself, "Self, there has to be an easier way."
Well, there is.
The Newton Keyboard was obviously meant to be used with Apple's Newton (hence the name), however, because it is a serial keyboard, it is perfect for the PalmPilot. It does have one drawback: the connector isn't one that matches anything for the PalmPilot. Never fear, our intrepid pals at LandWare have come up with an adapter to link the serial connector on the HotSync cable. With the purchase of their Pilokey driver (for $39.95), you receive an adapter that converts the serial connector to the PC connector on a HotSync cable. Plug it in and away you go, as shown in Figure A!
FIGURE A
 
Here's a Newton Keyboard with a PalmPilot. Roll over picture for a larger image.
Quite frankly, I'm kind of cynical and was expecting a little trouble installing and using PiloKey, but all I had to do was install the two .PRC files, connect the PalmPilot and cradle to the keyboard, click on the PiloKey app and start typing in whatever application I want. I started in Memo pad, for simplicity's sake. It works in all my programsÉespecially well with my mail program (yeah!) so now I can write longer replies than "cool!" or "sounds good" without getting cranky.
PiloKey's driver activates the serial port on the PalmPilot and makes it receptive to the keystrokes coming in from the keyboard. To reset the PalmPilot's serial port, you have to warm reset your PalmPilot. PiloKey has thoughtfully made a button on the splash screen of the application itself. LaunchPad users can use the pull down menu option to reset as well. The port usage precludes performing a HotSync with the driver is active, but I have never found this to be a problem, since I use my keyboard primarily for traveling. When I am at home and synching, my Newton Keyboard is waiting for travel in my suitcase.
Using the Newton keyboard is pretty easy. I find typing on it a breeze, but for larger hands it may seem a bit cramped. LandWare has also built in a slew of shortcuts, as shown in Figure B, so that you don't have to keep picking up your stylus and tap on your screen. Just about everyone can use PiloKey, the system requirements call for PalmPilot OS 1.06 or greater and it is safe to use with the new Palm III units.
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