This was the first word document being written via the Freedom Pro bluetooth keyboard, and it was certainly a different experience from the unbranded pocket version purchased from Dealextreme.com. I suddenly felt as if I was home with my Logitech keyboard from Freedom Pro's more expansive layout of keys which also had the same tactile feedback. No clicking sounds were to be heard from the pressing of each button, just the quieter spring action expected from laptop and desktop variants. I was the luckiest mobile enthusiast in the world to actually feel like I was typing on my desktop setup at home! Not to be overly picky, but typing on a clicky mobile qwerty whether it was from a smartphone or a pocket keyboard would always pale in comparison to a full keyboard solution. Not having to rely on a "Fn" key for the inclusion of alternate characters and sometimes numbers was really a breath of fresh air with this fold-out gadget.
Build quality was acceptable with plastics that felt more solid than the toy-like pocket counterpart I had purchased previously. The inner portion with the keys was of matte black while the outer skin was glossy and extremely prone to fingerprints and smudges. The locking mechanism appeared to be secure when the keyboard was closed, and there was no creaking or bending in the body frame.
Just like with any gadget, the Freedom Pro had its own fair share of cons along with the obvious pros. First thing I noticed from the unboxing was a PRINTED user manual instead of the useless mini software disc that contained an electronic copy. Looking back on that situation, the mini disc would not have been useless if it was readable to begin with on a family member's PC. Getting back on topic, there was a cheat sheet of shortcut keys for four different operating systems, but Android was not one of them. The included AAA batteries were nice, but did not seem as convenient as the rechargeable alternative on the pocket keyboard. I guess it could have been seen as a positive to not keep me enslaved to a power outlet, and there were always worse things to be subjected to. Just like on the pocket qwerty, constant captilalization was not activated by the "Caps Lock" key, but by pressing the "Shift" key twice. As a result, I came to the conclusion that the "Caps Lock" issue was due to Android and not the hardware itself. A huge inconvenience emerged from the pairing feature being a button that could only be accessed through a pinhole. If one did not have a mechanical pencil or a paper clip handy, he was most certainly out of luck in this regard. While music controls with the "Fn" key did not work, the volume controls did. After a few minutes of experimenting, using "Fn" with "Home" brought me back to the desktop homescreen while "End" simply put the display to sleep. At that point, I figured that taking time to read the manual to setup further key customizations would provide additional help. The "Ctrl" key was just as useless on the Freedom Pro as the unbranded pocket model, so it looked like I had to continue relying on the interface menu for copying, pasting, and saving. To the left margin, there was a column of hot keys for various functions like email, contacts, tasks, calendar, call, and end...and they had yet to be programmed (if they worked with Android at all). As to be expected, there was much more bulk to be had with the Freedom Pro model and its folding form factor. Even in closed mode and placed in its storage pouch, it was definitely not as appealing as the other model that could fit with my Captivate in my pants pocket. Another downside I noticed was it being more prone to character duplications...it was quite often that one pressing of a letter would produce up to 10 entries in a row onscreen.
Overall, the Freedom Pro keyboard did have its good points, but unfortunately did not win me over. It was just too darn big for everyday portability! While its wider layout could surely benefit a more business-oriented consumer, I was not really in dire need of a mobile version of my desktop keyboard. I realized I was a bigger fan of the smaller qwerty due to its smartphone resemblance with clicky feedback and smaller/slimmer dimensions. I thought I would be able to overlook having to carry a separate gadget in my hand or a backpack, but being able to carry things efficiently remained a paramount concern. As much as I did understand that all devices could go through malfunctions, the Freedom Pro did not have a good track record like the other. I also had to be honest and claim my disdain for having to deal with external AAA batteries instead of a simple microUSB port for charging power. While having a plethora of shortcut keys for special functions seemed like a great idea, it probably would have ended up being overkill for me. I liked the simplicity of the unbranded unit that simply existed as a mobile qwerty with some shortcut keys. If one intended to stay in touch with a mobile office experience closely related to a full desk keyboard, Freedom Pro was certainly worth looking at. As a result of the honeymoon period being cut short, I actually moved back to the smaller qwerty to complete this blogpost. Even though it failed to keep my attention for the long run, it was a worthwhile experience while it lasted.
TRENT SMITH
Sent from my Samsung Captivate
www.trentsense.com
www.trentsensevideo.com
Here is a purchasing link if anyone is interested.
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