Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W Review

Introduction:

The research and development of mobile communications have always focused on reducing the size of the devices at the same time increasing their capabilities. Unfortunately, this sometimes affects the handling convenience. Writing a message or an e-mail using the numeric keyboard is the most difficult part of it. We all know that no matter how much we are used to it, it is quite a slow process. A number of companies have solved the problem to a certain extent by putting standard (QWERTY) keyboards on their devices. Unfortunately, they are standard in terms of layout only, remaining as small as ever in terms of size.

One of the leading manufacturers in the Nokia sector has presented his solution to this peculiar ‘difficulty’ - Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W. This is a wireless keyboard connected to the device by means of Bluetooth technology.

To emphasize its compact size, the keyboard comes packed in a transparent blister so that you can see it in folded position. In addition you have a user guide, 2 AAA batteries and a 32MB RS-MMC card with the software loaded on it.



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Design:

Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W has been manufactured in a combination of white and silver where the white sections are made of plastic while the silver surfaces are metal, probably aluminum. Like the standard keyboards we notice here that the designers have taken care not only for the appearance but for the convenience, too. To prevent slipping during use, it has two rubber bands on the lower part of the same color as the plastic parts perfectly fitting in the overall design of the device.

Still, to be compact and easy to carry, the keyboard folds in the middle thus reducing its size to just 132 x 87 x 19 mm from 262 x 87 x 13 mm in unfolded position, and with a weight of 192 g carrying will not be a problem.



By pressing the release button, SU-8W can now be opened and put in a convenient place for use. The restriction here is that the keyboard must be put on a hard and even surface, otherwise it will fold. A kind of locking device to keep the two parts open regardless of the surface would be a good solution, but Nokia have not provided for it. The buttons are made of the same white plastic as the external parts. The symbols thereon are gray, light green and blue and are not engraved into the buttons but are glued. Let’s hope they endure in time and not get worn out after long writing. The buttons are 15 x 15 mm which is large enough size to allow faster writing. The keyboard is not lit but this is an acceptable compromise. Only the indicators of Bluetooth (blue), Fn (green) and the on/off button – green/red depending on whether you switch the device on or off, are lit.



To make the keyboard folding, the designers have had to divide the space bar into two separate buttons. The keyboard is designed to be used by Nokia devices operating by S60 user interface. Therefore we notice some differences from the standard PC keyboards. Three selection keys with the same functionality as with the phones, a menu key and messaging key have been added.

Apart from writing on the phone you can also use SU-8W to put it in a convenient position on the retractable cradle. It is on the deeper dented upper side of the keyboard and to put the phone on it you just need to pull it out. You can also take it out of the keyboard so that the device is at a convenient distance from you. You can even set the phone at 5 various tilt positions to choose the most appropriate and convenient one for you. The lower part of the phone is placed on a metal clamp partially rubber-lined against sliding. This fastening mode guarantees that the phone will not fall down if you push the keyboard unintentionally.

Functionality & Performance:

To be able to use the keyboard you need to install Wireless Keyboard application on your Nokia smartphone. You can download it from the manufacturer’s support in Internet and after installing it, you can proceed to connecting the two devices. It is easy and does not differ from connecting to the Bluetooth headset and will hardly be difficult for you. If your phone is RS-MMC or MMC cards compatible, you can use the software coming with the 32 MB RS-MMC card.

As soon as switched on, the keyboard is ready for pairing with the phone. If before that it had been connected to another device, you have to disconnect it so that you can pair it with the new one. Another possibility is to erase all settings which you can do by pressing the menu and the messaging keys simultaneously and hold them for about 10 seconds.

Once connected to the phone the keyboard provides a possibility for you to control it using the arrows for navigating. In this way the inconvenient moving of the hands from the phone to the keyboard and back is avoided, and to make it even easier for you, Nokia have superscripted in blue all control related keys.

We tested the keyboard operation using Nokia 5700 XpressMusic, and the whole process from pairing to the actual writing and phone control passed without any problems. We have no remarks in this respect.

The convenience of writing is not much different from writing on a standard-size keyboard, yet you’ll need some time to get used to it. The keys are of the small travel type and resemble those of mobile computers very much. If you have got used to working on a notebook, it will be very easy for you to use SU-8W.

When you fold the keyboard or leave it unused for 10 min., it will automatically switch off thus saving its batteries to increase the operating time. It would be a good solution if the keyboard switched on directly by opening it, without having to press the on/off button. The manufacturers promise that the keyboard will be operational for up to 50 hours with the batteries set (2 standard LR03 – AAA batteries).

We could connect SU-8W to a computer running on Windows XP operating system where the left and right selection keys are recognized as Win buttons and the message key opens the mail client. The remaining keys are with normal functionality where the middle selection key and the menu key are inactive.

Satisfied with our success in connecting to a computer, we tried to pair SU-8W and with a Pocket PC, too, operating under Windows Mobile 6, but unfortunately all of our attempts turned unsuccessful.

Conclusion:

Regardless of the fact that there are a number of devices with inbuilt QWERTY keyboard, you will certainly not find another one offering the same writing convenience as the model under review. If you often have to write messages or reply to received e-mails, using your Nokia smartphone, you will probably be interested in Nokia Wireless Keyboard SU-8W.

This is an excellent solution which will save you from the sometimes annoying work on your phone keyboard.

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