[REVIEW] Motorola Xoom Bluetooth Keyboard

[DiscoPh3v3r]

I just got my Xoom bluetooth keyboard in today for my nook, and I got to say... I couldn't be happier

Typing on this thing is so easy as it is a full size keyboard. The keys are nice and big, but not to big but just the right size. They have a nice spacing and the whole keyboard just seems to flow and it let's your fingerrs move fast across the keys.

It does have it down sides such as: not all the keys seem to work most do without a problem but caps lock does not work, as does the Tab button. Arrow keys work, but they seem to be swithed, the left arrow goes up, the right arrow down, the up arrow left, and the down arrow, right. I assume these keys work on a computer that can make use of a bluetooth keyboard but seeing as my computer does not have such functionailty, I cannot test it out.

Around the edges there is a glossy finish which leads to mucho fingerprints. The keys are matte, so the only time they ever seem to get nasty is when you are really greassy, or you are sweaty.

All in all, I'd have to give this keyboard an 8/10 It would get a 7, but seeing as how I got it from wal-mart for around $10-20 cheaper, it makes it a great deal

P.S. It's not AS sexy as the pictures make it look :/ but its very slim and is still pretty sexy in person

P.S.S The nook box makes a great "dock" when you are at a table at the library

P.S.S.S I just took a typing test on my nook and got 58 words per minute, which is just a little slower than my normal typing speed of 65 on my computers keyboard

LOOK FOR PICS BELOW

*Sorry if my grammer and punction are off, I did type this all from the keyboard and will edit it when I can get home.

 

[britoso]

Thanks for letting us know, it sure does look cool
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Motorola-XOOM-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Review_id2668

 

[altimax98]

Once HC is released then it will work with the caps and tab buttons

Sent from one of those missing Droids

 

[DiscoPh3v3r]

Once HC is released then it will work with the caps and tab buttons

Sent from one of those missing Droids

Ahhh that does make sense... And I guess that also means if I was using the stock music player the music keys would work. I am using phirmod 5.1 and the music keys don't work, the menu key doesn't work, and the keyboard seems to disconnect... kinda a lot. And I wishI could fix the key mappings on the dpad but I'll get used to it I assume

 

[jinp6301]

What app did you use to check your APM?

 

[DiscoPh3v3r]

What app did you use to check your APM?

I didn't use an app, there is a website called 10speedyfingers, or something, that will let you check you wpm online. Just Google it and you should find it

 

[tj!2k7]

@DiscoPh3v3r: can you post a photo of nook and keyboard together for size comparison? Thanks.

 

[JLCollier2005]

you beat me on a review by one day! I also got it from wal-mart ship-to-store (expecting to get a text from them any minute saying it's there) and was surprised at the price difference even over Amazon! I figured man this is MADE for android, why not get it? the first BT keyboard I bought I had to take back (from Frys) bcuz not only was it broken, but also it was so small I don't know how they can consider it a full sized keyboard.

I'll be getting mine, as I said, today or tomorrow, so I'll write my thoughts on here as well (as long as the OP doesn't mind).

Quick question, does it come with a case or anything to protect it? If not, I'll be looking for something to do so since I usually carry my nook and such in my backpack...

 

[DiscoPh3v3r]

Ill try to post a picture but camera isn't very good



And it doesnt really come with a case, but it does come with a nice little plastic sleeve it comes wrapped in, sure it will look cheap, but it works great for me.

 

[JLCollier2005]

Hey Disco, got mine today and it works great except for it going to sleep mid typing pretty often, any idea why and how to fix it? This would about ruin it for me if I can't get it fixed...

 

[DiscoPh3v3r]

Hey Disco, got mine today and it works great except for it going to sleep mid typing pretty often, any idea why and how to fix it? This would about ruin it for me if I can't get it fixed...

Yup, that was one of my mine gripes. I cant seem to get it to stay connected, I'm hoping it is nook related and not keyboard related, so that it can be fixed with a new nightly. As of late I have not been able to get to stay connected because sometimes it will last about 30minutes and then die, and other times it takes just a second or 2.

 

[JLCollier2005]

Yup, that was one of my mine gripes. I cant seem to get it to stay connected, I'm hoping it is nook related and not keyboard related, so that it can be fixed with a new nightly. As of late I have not been able to get to stay connected because sometimes it will last about 30minutes and then die, and other times it takes just a second or 2.

after talking to others, searching around the net, and frustrating attempt at fixes, I found a work-around. Download the app Bluetooth Keyboard JP, change the settings in settings > Language and Keyboard to that app, then connect the keyboard.

I went from a (max) of 45 seconds connected to not getting disconnected after writing a lengthy email, posting to facebook, and letting it sit for 10 minutes. I also didn't get that problem where the keyboard would seem connected, but all of a sudden hit the back button and exit out of the app/screen I was in.

It does have it's issues, though. One being that the faster you type the less responsive it is. I'm a very fast typer and it's hard for me to slow down, but it still was ok. Sometimes it will repeat a keystroke (i.e. we will turn into wwwwwwwwwwwwwwe), and sometimes the special character box will pop up while tying (although I think this, again, had to do with fast typing).

I'm going to try to get in contact with the CM7 devs and see what they think and if there is a fix in the works (or at least point it out to them and tell them about the app). Knowing those guys, they'll probably be able to fix the initial issue and eliminate the other problems with it!

Edit: Oh and with this app I was able to get tab to work on some apps, but not others (seems to work good with mobile websites), the back button works perfectly, as does the home key and search.

 

[jgore43]

Yup, that was one of my mine gripes. I cant seem to get it to stay connected, I'm hoping it is nook related and not keyboard related, so that it can be fixed with a new nightly. As of late I have not been able to get to stay connected because sometimes it will last about 30minutes and then die, and other times it takes just a second or 2.

I have a different Bluetooth keyboard and it does the exact same thing on my nook, works fine on my desire. So i do believe that it is nook related and not the keyboard.

 

[lschroeder]

I posted in the thread below how to get arrow keys working in landscape mode and menu button to function correctly. I attempted to make other keys work as well. See link. Expand the single post to see additional details given by me in the next post.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12918367&postcount=44