Home > Consumer Reviews > Targus PA820U Stowaway Portable Keyboard for HP Jornada

I use this to take notes in class and it has worked very well. It is actually quieter than most notebook keyboards and more like a standard keyboard in the way it feels. You can make it almost completely silent if you place a magazine under it. The space bar is split into two keys, which took me a little while to get used to because my thumb is used to hitting the space bar right where the split is. Of course, the FN keys are also missing, but I haven't needed to use those for years anyways.

It folds and unfolds easily and quickly. Its very sturdily build and of high quality. The little wire and plastic flipout that props up the journada seems flimsy at first, but I've had no problem what so ever with it. One minor drawback is that you do need a flat surface to make it work. You can't use it on your lap. Other than that, this is just like using a full-sized keyboard except that you can fold it up and put it in your pocket!

This product out ranks the traditional compact keyboard. Both my HP and Keyboard fit in my small handbag - great for adhoc meetings.

If you don't mind using a (full-size) laptop keyboard, then this is a great companion product for the Jornada. While not having the full key-stroke of a desktop keyboard, it's full-size keys make it easy to type for even extended periods of time.

The only downside with this product is that its case scratches VERY easily. I've had it just over a week, and already it's covered in scratch marks.

Overall, if you're not too worried about aesthetics, this product turns a Jornada into the smallest, lightest, most usable laptop available.

While this keyboard is in no way a perfect piece of equipment, it certainly comes very close. I'll go ahead and start with the pros. Ease of use is incredible. Within minutes of unpacking it, I was typing happily away. Driver installation is a piece of cake, unfold this beauty, dock your Pocket PC, and you're set. Sure, it is not incredibly sturdy on your lap, but as long as it stays on something hard (briefcase, desk, airplane table tray, whatever), it feels just like you're typing on a premium laptop keyboard. There are gobs of shortcut keys built right in, Today, Inbox, Contacts, Word, Tasks, to name a few, and with the software you can create so many more to satisfy your every need. A lot of people feel that it is too flimsy, and while it does feel as such, it certainly isn't. The only thing that really bothered me is the dock for the actual PC, another reviewer put it very well, "feels as if it's a toothpick holding up an apple". No problems though, so I suppose that I really can't complain.When you're done, pull off your PC, stick the dock down, fold it up, and you're off to your next class, seminar, meeting, whatever. If you're looking for something to make data entry much faster and easier, then you definitely need to get this keyboard. Great piece of work here, Targus. Keep it up.

Great product. Very durable and works really well. Its about the same size as your Jornado (a little wider) and fits in your pocket easily. the main keyboard folds out quickly and the dock connector slides out and up to posistion the Jornado perfectly. Very James Bond. as for power consumption, I have not noticed any major drain. The Stowaway also comes with some additional features. Hotkeys that you can program to open 8 different functions. A windows style start key. A power plug in so you you can charge the jornado while typeing. All in all a very cool, very well thought out product. I recomend it highly.