desertcart.com: iClever Foldable Keyboard, BK08 Foldable
Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad, Aluminum Build, USB-C Charge,
Equipped with Stand Holder and Carrying Bag, Portable for Laptop,
iPad, iPhone, Silver : Electronics
Review: Killer Product for the Mobile Office Work Crowd - Ever
try to use a laptop at a crowded airport bar during a flight
delay? Or on an airplane with increasingly shrinking seat space?
Now you don't have to. Remember the netbook craze where you ended
up with a very underpowered laptop and low resolution screen?
They call those mini/micro-laptops now and they are still
underpowered with low res screens. Wireless keyboards aren't new,
and portable bluetooth keyboards seem to be a dime a dozen... So
what does the iClever BK08 offer that the countless other pocket
bluetooth keyboards don't? True productivity in a pocket form
factor. If paired with a screen that can display full-sized apps
then you might have a real-deal laptop replacement. I am tired of
lugging my laptop around, or having to keep a car nearby just to
hold my computer and accessories in case I need to do work. Don't
even get me started on a "lapdock" for a smartphone that has all
the form factor drawbacks to a laptop with none of the processing
horsepower. After getting fed up with my trusty but slightly
flawed smartphone after a 10 minute unexpected work task took 30,
I decided to upgrade to a folding phone so I could do no-kidding
office work on my phone and display the level of detail I needed.
After about a week I knew I was keeping the phone, but the
onscreen keyboard was doing quirky things here and there I wasn't
quite appreciating. For short periods of time it was fine, but if
I wanted to do real productivity work the onscreen keyboard
wasn't going to do. So I decided I needed a separate keyboard
that was ultra-portable. After an hour of hour of looking around
on desertcart, there was only one real option for me. The iClever
BK08 had a touchpad with two physical buttons. Click and drag
with one hand? Check. Right click for a context menu? Check.
Right shift key? Check. All the keys you'd expect to have (Ctrl,
Alt, Tab, F1-F12, etc)? Check. Being able to do office work
productively anywhere without lugging around a tech pack? Check.
And that's priceless. The keyboard was a little bigger than I was
hoping for. After all this is a keyboard I bought to fold and go
in a pant pocket. But after a couple of times actually walking
around with it and unfolding it at a bar during happy hour (or on
a random concrete pillar to type something out before I got
distracted and forgot) the size of the keyboard actually became
an advantage. One thing I noticed after only a couple of uses was
that my typing speed was about the same as when using my laptop.
On a lark I actually laid the iClever keyboard down by my laptop
keyboard (coincidentally where the trackpad sits) and it has a
typing surface that is about the same size. Not bad for something
that fits in a pocket. I live in a walkable community, and one of
the things that is going to be right next to my keys for when I
am on the go is this keyboard. Definitely a game changer. Match
this keyboard up with the right smartphone (and maybe a cheap,
lightweight phone stand) and you have laptop replacement that
bypasses the tablet device class altogether. You can use this
with any device that accepts bluetooth keyboards, though,
including tablets. For context I have included photos of the
iClever BK08 keyboard placed by a foldable smartphone with
unfolded screen, a tablet, and a laptop keyboard. The laptop has
a 15" screen and the keyboards are roughly the same size. While
using the keyboard I have had no issue with character pickup on
the bluetooth connection, and trackpad has been accurate. The
keyboard does not seem to have a power level indicator but I have
not had an issue so far with battery life. I actually purchased
two of these products, and one of the keyboards stays in my car
in case I need to take an unscheduled meeting or work stop. The
pack in phone/tablet stand works well, but I use a smaller
product that folds a little flatter the cost me about $6. I keep
the stand in my car in case I need to set my phone on an uneven
surface. One improvement I would suggest is to have a multi-touch
capable trackpad, but if using this with a touchscreen smartphone
like I am it isn't really noticed because I zoom from the
touchscreen. I only tested for multi-touch after reading a 1-star
review that mentioned they could not scroll with two fingers.
That is the first time I even thought to try it, so hadn't
noticed. Also, another item for the wishlist would be backlit
keys. But compared to the productivity boost this keyboard has
provided me those are minor omissions. As a final side note: for
gaming you would probably want to adhere some type of no-skid
surface to the bottom of the keyboard. Bottom Line: This product
combined with the right mobile device (smartphone, tablet, etc)
can provide a laptop replacement-level productivity boost in a
pocket form factor. This is a killer product for those want a
mobile office without all the bulk.
Review: 4.5 Stars, but rounding up! - Pros: + Keyboard works well
and was easy to connect to multiple devices. + Metal frame and
keys all have a high quality feel. + It is a compact design ideal
for storage and travel, but not too small; I have above average
size hands, so long periods of typing or gaming would not be the
most comfortable, but it is perfect for keeping my hot laptop off
of my lap. Cons: - The folding joints don't lock into place, so
if the keyboard is on a less-sturdy surface (such as resting on
your knees if they are more than 4 inches apart), typing in the
center section will cause it to fold in on itself and possibly
drop if you're not careful. - The non-slip feet are not the best,
so the keyboard can occasionally slip on smooth surfaces while
using the track-pad. - The light to indicate the keyboard is
charging is not visible while it is folded.
