Recently one of the world-famous (and as said Arkady Raikin, "thrice laureatny") of Culture said that the Internet completely destroyed the epistolary genre. The verdict came during a leisurely radiodiskussii, which revealed that no cultural activities or talk with him a journalist does not even have a rough idea of a personal computer. Thus, the vague information from popular newspapers. Sad, very sad. Especially because it does not. Internet should not destroy the epistolary genre. He would not destroy the epistolary genre, if only because that the Internet - this is primarily a computer. A computer - which, among other things, more and keyboard. Why a keyboard? To write. Whom to write? All and sundry, who can read, can receive our newsletter via the internet and will not be at the same time swearing, with no computer, nor desire anything about him to know ... God is with them, with grandiloquent analysts. We know that the personal computer downright provoking work with words. That any novice into a computer person's faith will inevitably begin to write - some letters, and who's diary notes, and some hits to the winds, flowing into the ranks of aspiring writers ... What do you think whose fault the current abundance detektivschikov, fiction and other martyrs of the national literature? Computer, only for him ... Would the author say about opupei Raging vytyukivat your masterpiece on a typewriter? Hardly. And we would not have. Other times, other requests. Typewriter (dream dissident graphomaniac) is no longer listed. Give us something silent, compact, and preferably the budget. Laptop in this sense does not fit - it's expensive. And the problem, he, in general, does not solve. Notebook in his pocket will not put ...
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Let's talk about keyboards for handheld computers with pen input. It is clear also that the choice among small PDA keyboard. Or Psion, or ... Psion. We often buy machines with touchscreen - Palm or Pocket PC. A read-only - no success. We must also write, and, in the most unexpected places. We order and took a pocket-sized machine to use it in unexpected places? But it did not expect to get half of the computer, completely refuse to accept anything from the outside, but ready-made programs.
Pure Writing
The fact that each family has its own computer system of handwriting, no secrets, there is no secret and that no such system assigned to it, hope is not justified. The situation is particularly serious in the most advanced "pickpockets" - a Pocket PC (that 2002, that without it tsifiri, all is one). Whoever took up a handwriting recognition program, the results are insignificant. The computer adapts to the handwriting tuzhitsya, overloading the memory, and straining his modest computing power, but on recognition of individual letters is not coming. Does not understand the CPC fused to write, much less hurried cursive script in which characters merge into reduced to verbatim Your strokes. Meanwhile, a brief history of the CCP industry remembers the example of successful implementation of handwriting. It almost forgotten about already fairly Newton `s production company Apple. This computer by today's standards too big, and obviously not "skorostrelen. But some of its features former owners of Newton `s who have passed on modern machines, remembered with nostalgia. For example, the organization of the display of information (in a text editor screen scrolls like an endless roll of paper - had only to finish by the end of the virtual page), or the same system of recognition ... Today it is hard to believe, but four years ago, Newton was able to really adjust to the handwriting of the owner and was able to recognize even sloppy cursive ...
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| Venerable Newton |
After trying various "raspoznavalki" under Windows CE (the latter - Decuma for Casio BE-300, not the most powerful, but small in size and fun), I came to a simple (though perhaps not correct) conclusion that there is nothing better on Graffiti today did not exist. Maybe that's it, in this simple system, handwriting, and lies the secret of success typewriters Palm? For those who do not know (though hardly any exist) to remind you the basic idea of Graffiti - a change of priorities. Namely - no computer downloading challenging comparisons nonrepeating ink strokes with the standard shapes of letters and numbers, reassign the case to the user. Each character (letter, numbers, punctuation) is associated with a simplified on-screen image that the user input information must be repeated. At the same tolerances faces are large enough - to draw a non-closed curve and eerie circle you still get the letter "O". Handwriting is produced only in a certain area of the screen, which only in some clones (from Sony and Handera) is used to display information, as in the original Palm computers play the role of the small touchpad (special purpose - to enter these same numbers and letters). In Graffiti has advantages and disadvantages (scandals surrounding authorship aside). The main advantage - get used to the Graffiti doodles very easily. Time training - day or two. Moreover, special sessions do not need, just write ... Or try to write as quickly it is unlikely to succeed. This is a clear lack of - input is only letter by letter, therefore, much slower than with normal ("iron" hardware) keyboard. Improved version of Graffiti, as well as recognition systems for Windows CE, offered a means to accelerate the input - the letters (or numbers, depending on the mode) can be entered in pairs. That is, the left side of input write a letter. Shelf software it recognizes the right of writing a second. Then, the left side of the third. And so on ... This circus. Shooting at the Macedonian ...
The keyboard in the virtual
Although Graffiti piece is comfortable, but most of us still writes with the onscreen keyboard. At a certain skill set speed almost equal speed printing on a conventional keyboard (only four times, but that does not count). But even here not without a fair fly in the ointment. Too small screen size in computer format Palm-size. And the pop-up soft keyboard larger than the screen can not do nothing, and it is little more than a matchbox on its longest side. This is the first. Second - the lack of the keys, no borders (which is understandable) and as a result, tactile feedback. When you write a quick operation keys perceive subconsciously. And here ... There are, of course, the acoustic signals - sound embedded in the CCP dynamics, ringing out at every touch to virtual keys. But this peep more hampered than helped (so the sound is usually turned off). Another problem - the screen space, which occupies the software keyboard. Text editor (scheduler, address book, spreadsheet) is small, and since the screen itself is small handheld computer. Keyboard "eat off" from 30 to 45 percent of screen space. Well, if the editor has built-in auto-scroll - is only the cursor is moved off-screen keyboard, as the current window immediately scrolls up. But the programs with fixed windows, text entry - in the same scheduler - scrolling is impossible. Must act "to the touch, then calling, then removing the keyboard. There is not quite the usual ways of entering information. One of them - the use of Graffiti by specially arranged keyboard. In this case, the input area of the glued paper with designated buttons (Silkyboard), and the Palm `s installed software support. Enter the letters made the stylus - as with the standard virtual keyboard.Another method - the use of supportive programs, like the system of T9, used in mobile phones to create SMS messages, and filling in the telephone book. In this case, use either Graffiti, either on-screen keyboard, and the program selects the most commonly used letter combinations, allowing you to write a whole syllables. T9, as experience shows, for us, still exotic, because for such a method of text entry should be a strongly accustomed. But Silkyboard - a very real way out. According to the testimony of many users - it is really handy thing, because it is a cross between virtual and real keyboard: more palpable over the keys of the sticker somehow easier to aim and hit, and the printing speed increases significantly. The latter, incidentally, has been proved experimentally in the past year on the second pilotovke Moscow Palmkluba. Bit winner in the competition for the fastest way to enter text to 117 characters per minute! Enjoyed it just SilkyBoard. For skill has been awarded a cute folding keyboard, which we describe below.
Buttons, buttons, buttons in a row
One need only look at price tags of Russian computer stores, and the seeming abundance of portable keyboards for handheld computers is reduced to negligible quantities. Meanwhile, releases of companies specializing in producing accessories for PDAs, crowded most exotic input devices ...
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| Flexible Keyboard for Palm |
Here, let me just digress ... How often do we see in the sale of widely publicized computer news? And the "old fashioned"? Does anyone own eyes saw on the shop shelf, say, web-tablet - a touch screen computer "notebook" size, but without a keyboard? How much written as it is said, and all - by and by. Russian sellers can understand - they do not have the financial resources to reckless experiment. But - the desire to win the competition or the elementary curiosity? Really, no? Sorry.
However, recently the situation has changed somewhat. Today in Moscow you can find lots of interesting accessories for small computers. For example, join (Attached) keyboard for computers Jornada (I recently talked about her). Or similar to her keyboard, connected to the system connector on the CPC. Or flexible plastic keyboard, which can be rolled into a tube, or even turn in her pocket computer (only heard about this, but he has not seen for sale).
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In general, for attachable miniature keyboard is characterized by very small and tiny, straight-away "kalkulyatornye, size of key buttons. Also, bold design, irregularly shaped buttons (in the sense of - brace, intricate), easy connection to a PDA and a lack of policy support for the Russian language. By the way, referred to the Jornada keyboard just russified. It is sold MakTsentr, which means that about Russification once again you can not ask. "The Germans" (in the sense of - "stray foreigners) there are practically no, and if any, and come across, then very soon begin to" speak "in Russian ... Is it convenient to work with the tiny buttons? No, it is inconvenient.Not to say that I have tried all this detail, but I have lying around a miniature keyboard for cell phone Chatboard Ericsson. Its dimensions are roughly the same size with the smallest attachable keyboards for PDAs. If you need to win more than two words are better with this nonsense is not messing around ... While other tools still do not. And how many have to enter information into your phone? Room, yes hooligan SMS-ku ...
Big keyboard to a small computer
Full-sized keyboard for PDAs is not so much. We've known (and popular), two - Go Type! Pro from Landware and Palm Portable Keyboard (former Stowaway). First released in two versions - with the prefix Pro the title and without it. The difference - in the electrical wiring through which the keyboard can be used to recharge the battery instead of the standard PDA "crib" - if you connect the power supply to the keyboard connector. And that is very convenient - you write, and machine charges.
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| Go Type! Pro from Landware |
Structurally the keyboard from Landware similar to the regular, on a personal computer. Notebook size, cover, which is tilted position into a cradle for the CPC. Several function keys work in any system - from the Pocket PC, to Casio BE-300 (really, about the BE-300 I only know the information on the manufacturer). Produced and modification for the Palm - a variety of options for old and new machines. When folded the keyboard is as good as in the open. But not as portable as the Palm Portable Keyboard, since the sum only cover, and the base is monolithic ...
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But the Palm Portable Keyboard is indeed folded. Skukozhivshis four times, she turns into an aluminum "cigarette case", echoing the shape of a Palm `. This keyboard "crib" can not serve, but in no less convenient than the Go Type! And at the same time very affordable. Watching where, of course. And looking for some machines. I really liked the version with an adapter that allows use Palm `ovsky Portable Keyboard option in conjunction with a computer iPaq. What's the point? Version of this keyboard for iPaq anything except plug, not different from the Palm `-native, and is worth three times as much. But, again, depending where. We are talking only about MakTsentr. In other places for foldable keyboard would have to lay out even very tangible money ...
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With this adapter iPAQ easily connects to the keyboard, Palm Portable, as seen in the photo. Only on the handheld itself to install the keyboard driver UniBoard version 2.10 or higher, as developed in MakTsentr. How great keyboard work? In my opinion, just like the keyboard of my laptop, that is - okay. The keys small, but the step is quite standard. Touch-type can not promahivayas and specifically taking aim. If you take a PDA and a keyboard, you get a portable system with a small screen, simple text editor, but with a long battery life and a familiar input method. Besides all this facilities can be pulled out of his pocket and placed directly on the table in the train compartment. And no one would bother with silly with questions - "how many megabytes your computer." That they have not seen the calculator?
A few words after
What will happen to computers Palm - we'll see. (I think that anything bad they do not do). But the Pocket PC, it seems, will soon dispense with portable keyboards - where there is no need keyboard hiking, miniature. The fact that the Casio E-200 already has bus connectors USB.Theoretically, these PDAs can work with any peripheral USB, including a keyboard - full size, from the desktop. How is the driver support at the moment, I do not know. While that all PDAs with the operating system from Microsoft eventually will recognize the device USB, almost sure ... Leave it "almost" as a safety net. Thought overseas legislators computer whimsical fashion. Will come up tomorrow, any voice input, and we - maysya. But personally, I'm ready for it. Very much interested. The authors, translation:
Nikolai Yakovlev
