A few years back (2004) I purchased a “ThinkOutside Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard” back when they existed. Since then the company was purchased or traded or renamed to iGo, and they stopped manufacturing the Stowaway.

While here in Japan, after owning the keyboard for seven (7) years, the M, K & U keys stopped responding. I couldn’t figure out what happened, they worked one day, then a few days later, like magic – they no longer wanted to respond. So… It was time to continue a “I’m in Japan” tradition: Buy a gadget.

Now, for some strange reason, folding bluetooth keyboard with a little mount for a mobile device, pretty much died some time after PDA’s went the way of the dodo. As a result, I was cherishing my ThinkOutside device like no one’s business. The bad news is – technology, especially portable technology, is never meant to last seven years. Thus, when it died today, while in Japan, I said to myself – how fortunate! Mainly because I’ve seen people using Bluetooth keyboards, and folding ones at that, with their smartphones all over the place. So I was in luck.

Thus – this entire post was typed using the shiny new Ryudo RBK-2000BT3. It’s a US format keyboard, designed for use with Bluetooth devices (Windows, iPhone, Android… whatever), takes a couple of AAA batteries, and it has a built it stand for your mobile device. I highly doubt the stand is strong enough to hold an iPad, but an iPhone – no problem.

The instructions are in Japanese, but it’s a very intuitive designed device, with, basically, zero guess work to get started. All you have to do is put in some batteries, pair it to your device, and start to type away like your fingers needed the exercise.

That said - here’s the link on where to get one if you’re interested. This is a hell of a lot better than typing on a screen with my thumbs or index fingers, it’s also a hell of a lot cooler. Not to mention – if you have an Android – shortcut keys for hopping around your device fully exist, and that’s just bad assery… For grins, you can always go for a US-branded version of the same keyboard with minor changes, looks like it’s about $60 on Amazon too.

05.12.11 • posted in: Technology • Travel