Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000

I bought a Bluetooth keyboard about two months ago. I bought it because I was about to get an iPad, and thought it would be a good complementing accessory. I also bought iWriter for the same reason.

What’s actually happened is that I’m using both iWriter and the keyboard much more on my phone than on the pad. I think there’s maybe two reasons for this:

• My iPad stays at home. It’s WiFi only and still new enough that I wouldn’t consider putting it in my bag and taking it around with me. That tends to mean that if I know I’m going to sit down and write something long, I’ll go and sit at the computer. It’s on a desk and when I’m there I feel in work mode.

• It works just as well on a phone. There’s fundamentally zero difference between using the keyboard on a phone and using it on a pad – it docks just the same, and works just the same. It’s just as fast, there’s no lag and the phone screen is more than large enough to see what I’m doing (especially with iWriter). Therefore, if I’m going out and I think there’s a chance I might get some time to sit and write something, it’s a lot less hassle to take my phone (which I’d be taking anyway) and the keyboard.

A perfect case in point is right now. I’m at 30,000 ft on a flight to Turkey for a family holiday writing this offline to be published when I get back. In these circumstances, there’s no way I’d take a laptop or an iPad – I wouldn’t use either to justify the weight, and I’d spend the whole week worrying about their welfare. However, the keyboard is (relatively) cheap, is thin and lightweight, and fits on the seat tray alongside the phone:

 

Depending on whether or not I can think of anything to say, I think it’ll work just as well by the pool.

The keyboard I got (and the one shown in the photo) is the Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000.

I haven’t had it long enough to say anything about battery life, it’s still on its originals. It was super-easy to pair and connect, and just works. I’ve only used it with iOS devices, so the start button doesn’t work (though the volume keys do).The reason I got this keyboard over the others? The Apple one  is silly money and the others are either bigger, bulkier, or look cheap. The MS one feels sturdy and high-quality. Microsoft have a history of making good devices, and I use and like their wired keyboards. This one feels no different to use. It might be that I don’t think of anything to write about, and the thing stays in my cabin bag all week. That’s OK though – it takes up such a small amount of space that even if I think of one blog post (and I’ve written two already this flight) it will have been worth it.

I would definitely buy this again, and would recommend it to others as well. It’s incredibly liberating being able to write stuff down quickly using just your phone and a keyboard, and it’s MUCH lighter than a laptop!

I’d be interested to hear other people’s experiences of this device though, or any similar keyboards. Any heavy uses (like, every day) care to comment about comfort or battery life?