A touchscreen might be fine for a text message or a quick email, especially with their sensitivity and multi-touch-gesture commands, but the screen's virtual keyboard can quickly become annoying as soon as you have to type anything longer.
"It takes a certain level of practice. For some people, it's too steep a hill to climb," says Roland Stehle of the German Society for Entertainment and Communications Technology (gfu). Enter Bluetooth-connected keyboards. Can they help tablets and smartphones up their game?
"In general, there's great interest in accessories for smartphones and tablets," says Stehle. Thus, it's no wonder that multiple manufacturers have been bringing mobile keyboards onto the market. There's not even a requirement that they be Bluetooth-enabled. For example, if you're going to be using your tablet in the living room, it makes most sense to have a keyboard with other built-in transmission standards. The drawback is that these alternate options will require a USB receiver and many smartphones and tablets don't have the right ports or drivers.
Of course, not every Android tablet harmonizes with every Bluetooth keyboard, meaning users will have to eventually install one of the driver apps available at the Google Play store. For its part, the iPad tends to work well with Bluetooth keyboards.
It's not easy to find the right product in the flood of new entries. "Above all, it's what you're comfortable with and what suits your tastes," says Andrej Kupetz, manager with the German Design Council. What adds excitement to the search for the best form is that Bluetooth keyboards are relatively new, meaning customers have not given their preference to one model yet.
"Manufacturers are still trying out different versions," says Gerald Himmelein of German computer magazine c't. Some Bluetooth keyboards resemble those of desktop PCs or laptops.
But, when it comes to smaller models, the manufacturers have shown themselves more willing to experiment. "I would be especially careful with really small keyboards," warns Himmelein. If the keys are too close to one another, typos become more common. Special symbols often get short shrift in such layouts.
Kupetz says customers should always insist upon a test run before making a purchase. "What's important is that
I can transfer my learned abilities from other keyboards to the new device." That's because a Bluetooth keyboard can only be considered to be a step above a virtual keyboard if you can type blind while using it. "The haptic feedback for experienced typists is the key advantage with a proper keyboard," says Kupetz.
A lot of Bluetooth keyboards also offer a mouse replacement like a touchpad or a trackball.
That doesn't always make sense for tablets, though it might come in handy with other devices, like gaming consoles or computers that are linked to a television.
But, just like the keyboard, there are huge variations in quality between these mouse-replacement devices, warns Himmelein. What's most important is that the mouse button is easy to reach and that users don't find themselves crossing the finger for pushing buttons with those needed for controlling the trackball or touchpad.
That's why some manufacturers segregate the controls, with the touchpad or trackball on the right, for example, while the mouse button sits on the lower left edge, just like the controls of a gamepad.
"Upon first glance, it requires a little time to get used to. But, in practice, it's surprisingly comfortable," says Himmelein.
But such layouts could create problems for left-handed people, especially if they control the touchpad or trackball with their right hand.
A mobile keyboard shouldn't, of course, be too big or heavy.
"If you write a lot while travelling, you're better off with a netbook than a tablet," says Himmelein, noting that netbooks tend to weigh less than a tablet combined with a keyboard and its stand.