Little Springs Design. 2001 – 2010.

Text entry is a major usability concern for mobile devices, and lots of companies are seeking the best solution. One of the better solutions in the use category of needing a hand and a surface is FrogPad. (see our overview of mobile text input use categories and example solutions)

While I've been aware of FrogPad for a couple years now, I couldn't convince myself to spend the money for an extra keyboard for my computer. However, I now have a Bluetooth PDA, and FrogPad's Bluetooth keyboard is only $149. When I added the fact that I have a new baby and am frequently typing one-handed anyhow, I decided to spend the money.

First, there are many aspects of the entire operation that feel "cheap". The main page of the website has a float-in window that only somewhat works on my browser, when clicking the "add to cart" button in the web store the page merely refreshes and does not give any feedback that the operation was successful, the return policy is odd, and the email receipt does not indicate what was purchased (but the web-presented invoice does).

All of this makes FrogPad's cutesy communication style (calling the product "Froggy", describing the left- and right-handed designs as "lefty" and "righty", and folksy "we have vowels, too" in the user guide) seem less than professional. One thing I've learned from the experience is that if you want to be cutesy or folksy, you have to have a rock solid product and experience to support it.

The product came quickly, and I was excited to open it. The keyboard itself feels only a little bit cheap (not bad in today's environment) but I really don't like the rattle when I tilt it back and forth. It makes me think that the keyboard will break. I also don't like the fact that I can't really tell whether I've successfully slid the on switch to on (which isn't labeled) and the pairing button (much like a Palm reset button) only appears to have a contact for half of the hole. I'm definitely keeping the 1-year warranty information as I expect to have to use it.

The design of the product is pretty good for standard text entry. If you are a person who uses your mouse to start applications, switch between applications, and perform actions like save, you'll be up and running very quickly. I, on the other hand, use lots of keyboard shortcuts and operate most of my launching activities (including Google and visiting bookmarks) from LaunchBar so this is less useful. After all, a key combination that on a standard keyboard is 3 keys, on the FrogPad could take 5 - in 3 separate operations.

However, for intensive standard writing, it appears to be quite good. In my 30 minutes of working with it, I quickly move from hunt-and-peck to touch-typing over three quarters of my keystrokes. This is due to the intelligent arrangement of letters. This little 15-key keyboard has all the functions of a standard 101-key keyboard. The most frequent 15 letters in the alphabet are accessible with a single keypress, and the remaining letters and the most common punctuation accessible by pressing the "green key" (space button) in combination with a standard key. Other symbols are accessible by pressing a symbol key, then a single key or a green key combination.

There are four modifier keys: green (space), orange (number), symbol, and shift. Two require simultaneous keypress, one toggles state, and the last toggles state for a single keypress. This combination is pretty confusing for a new user ... I would have considered adding one extra button and making the state-control buttons more consistent. It would make the device far more accessible to the novice.

I felt more wrist strain than I am accustomed to on a standard keyboard (but much less than trying to type on a handheld device such as a phone or PDA).

My summary so far: I'll use the device for computer data entry when I have only one hand available, but not when I have two. However, when I want to do intense data entry on my Palm, I'll use the keyboard. This may allow me to reduce use of my computer for meetings, which would be quite useful. I'll post another review as I become more expert.

Oh - and I really appreciate the integrated cover that protects the keys when not in use. That will make the product more reliable as it gets tossed into less-than-sterile satchels for transit.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 1st, 2005 at 1:31 pm and is filed under Design, Devices, Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.