1. Introduction

While tuning into "CSI" one day I saw this neat little projection keyboard, which supposedly worked with lasers. Alright, I thought, being gadget prone, I’ll bite and see if this thing is useable. So it looks neat, but how does it perform? I wondered if it was worth my hard-earned dollars, or more precisely, $179.99.

Installation

I received the Bluetooth version of the I-Tech keyboard, which is much more convenient than older, cable-connected versions of the VKB. Pairing is straightforward. For pain-free installation, make sure you’ve downloaded the correct software for your specific device. For testing purposes, I used my HP 6315 phone/PDA, which is a great unit with a large screen, but the resolution is a meager 240x320, and it also runs Windows Mobile 2003. Still, Pocketword and the 6315 provided a good sandbox to play around with the VKB and to report on my impressions.

After installation, users launch the VKB application. Under Mobile 2003, you are presented with a list of available Bluetooth devices. One simply selects the VKB option, which then serves as the primary input for your device. The software allows users to change settings such as typing sound/silence, brightness, sensitivity, repeat and latency rates.