Voxicon keyboard

Apparently I just can't resist buying a new keyboard once in a while.

At least this one fills a different niche than usually. The Voxicon DK-199B-G is a tiny foldable Bluetooth keyboard.

Previously, my on-the-go keyboard has been a battery powered Apple Mini keyboard. Although it feels fine, I was looking for something even more portable. Also, as a battery hog it was necessary to remove the batteries when not in use.

Well, less about the Mini and more about the Voxicon. Three Bluetooth channels, dozens of hours of battery life promised. The charging is done with the included Micro-USB cable, which is getting a little old-fashioned.

Folded, the dimensions are 202mm x 47mm x 16mm. A magnet keeps it together. It's almost conceivable the keyboard could be carried in an inside breast pocket.

Opened, the keyboard is 202mm x 90mm x 15mm, depending on whether the screen stand is folded out. The separate parts of the keyboard are connected with a ribbon cable, I can only hope it is sturdy enough.

I first tried typing with Google Docs and a version of Sublime Text on Android. The experience on overall was passable.

The keys itself have a quite good, crisp, tactile feel to them, not the usual cheap BT/IR keyboard mushiness.

The smooth bottom means a cloth or rubbery surface could be desirable.

There's a little bit of rise to the keys, too, something often forgotten from even larger mini keyboards.

I have to admit my hands are somewhat too large for this, but the final verdict will have to wait as I haven't written that much with it yet.

There are the usual woes of a compromised keyboard, many common symbols are in different places.  Although backspace is technically in the correct place, it's at a cramped corner and not above the Enter key, because of the Enter shape. 

The design is such that the stand "flaps" should be opened to give more room for fingers at the top row. The flaps are removable, though, with what looks like three very tiny Torx screws. But I'm not going to mutilate this keyboard yet.

Some common symbols might need more key presses than usual. Home/End/Page Up and Page Down are reasonably accessible from fn+cursor keys, and Scandinavian keys are at least direct keys even if a little weirdly placed.

As mentioned, the keyboard includes a stand for phone/tablet, and it is simple to use. For added coolness factor I prefer to have a separate stand for the phone. The separate stand is more pleasant to use with a tiny screen as it can be positioned better.

The built-in stand might make more sense with a tablet, to give that pseudo-laptop feel and your gaze can be a little higher.

For the occasional urge to make notes or an e-mail on a phone, I can justify this better than the Apple Mini keyboard. Certainly the Mini is better for typing, but this micro-keyboard has some advantages and I'll try carrying this around instead. It's light years better than the atrocity I once covered in my blog.