Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

Got my ThumBoard today

I received my ThumBoard today, and boy do I like it!

Getting the packaging open in a pain; it is one of those seamless plastic things that requires lots of cutting.

The contents consist of the ThumBoard, a manual and a diskette. Installation is as simple as installing the .prc off of the floppy. After it is installed, you have to do a reset (it prompts you for this).

One technical note before I get too far: Don't try to run the ThumBoard driver off of a Flash Springboard. It doesn't work and it causes numerous errors and resets before you can get it moved back.

Anywho, after installing the driver all you have to do is drop the Visor into the keyboard and you are off and running. The keyboard hangs on to the visor quite firmly. I was pleased to find that I could not shake the Visor out of it even while holding it upside down.

Typing on it is quite simple, but took a little getting used to. I felt like I was pressing multiple keys at a time sometimes, but I very rarely every got unwanted characters.

About 5 minutes after I got it set up, I took a spin on WPM (a typing speed measurer). My usual graffiti speed is around 19 words per minute, but even with my unpracticed thumbs I was able to do 24 words per minute with the ThumBoard on my first try. I am sure with a little practice I will increase that even more.

My personal biggest concern was if it would be compatible with Wordsmith. The short answer is: YES! The only feature that did not work correctly is the ability to use SHIFT-ARROWKEY to highlight text. Everything else worked great.

The only real complaint I have is that I wish there was a button for selecting the Categories dropdown. Aside from this, I give this nifty little gadget 9 out of 10 stars.

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--
ThirdMan

Last edited by ThirdMan on 09-30-2001 at 04:03 AM

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Glad

I am glad that you like your Thumboard. Its too bad that it does not work with the Visor Prism.

SIDE NOTE: Drivers, Hacks and other "system" software should ALWAYS remain on the Visor's RAM.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Posts: 79

ThumBoard with Modem?

I just received the ThumBoard and I agree that it is very useful. I have learned to hold my Visor by the "caudal fin" and type with my right with my stylus in my hand. It seems especially useful for longer text entries, and it forces me to learn the shortcut commands. From reading the Snap N Type thread, there seems to be a sequence of driver enablings that allows the use of a modem. I have tried to use my ThinModem with the ThumBoard, but was unable to get it to work. I know that the IR does not work with the ThumBoard attached, but is the modem disabled too?

The ThumBoard acts in many ways like the Stowaway keyboard, and I am able to use the ThinModem with Stowaway. Any tips would be helpful.

I also would make two changes, one may be software specific, but the menu button when pressed in an application only allows the first column to be displayed. I wish you could navigate to the other columns. Even if you cannot access the commands through the tab and keyboard, you could see them and access them with a command sequence.

Second, I would add some "home keys" bumps, like those on a pc keyboard, so you can feel the "f" and "j" keys without looking.

The ThumBoard is very useful, almost as useful as my Stowaway, in QuickSheet, and a natural for QuickWord. For quick notes, calendaring events, and to do's, it is a great product.

It is a little thicker than the Stowaway, but doesn't need the flat surface to operate.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

"I know that the IR does not work with the ThumBoard attached, but is the modem disabled too? "

I don't know why, but I cannot get my Thinmodem to work with IR turned off, maybe this has something to do with it?

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

The Visor's IR and Serial port both share the same port on the CPU. (or is it interuppt) thus being said, only one can be used at once.

Many keyboards require your IR to be kept on, and you to enable software and disable it when using and not usign a keyboard. Good software like the Stowaway is autodetect, and jstu pressing on and off things get reset. When the thumboard is in use, IR can't be in use. When IR is in use the Thumboard can't be used...

gah! that's confusing!

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-miradu

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

Got a link for the ThumbBoard?

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Spring Lake Park, MN (45min from minneapolis)
Posts: 313

why didnt you get a snap and type? it works with every visor handheld exept for the edge. i am looking forwards to buying one but want to now the differences, right now i like the snap and type better.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: earth
Posts: 5

ThumBoard won't work with Minstrel S

I liked all that the ThumBoard offered - It won't let me
use the Minstrel S wireless modem - I got it to type emails.
Can't do that.....

Just ordered a SnapNType - it says it works with the modem.

That's what I get for going for more keys and not base functionallity.
Shoulda gone with fewer keys

Last edited by frank_motta on 10-03-2001 at 01:07 AM

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 15

Thumbboard and Minstrel S

Hey Frank,
Do you have a YadaYada Minstrel S modem? That's what I have and want a mini keyboard to use wirelessly. I emailed tt-tech, asking if the SnapNType would work with a Minstrel S modem, but haven't heard anything yet.

I am waiting until someone says yes it works.

Last edited by lonesniper on 10-03-2001 at 02:42 AM

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: earth
Posts: 5

The Minstrel S (all of the providers use) is the same in hardware.
So, Yada or OmniSky (my provider) would have the same problem.

Thanks for the info - I should have gotten this board first - it's backordered now and wasn't then.

Anyone want to buy a ThumBoard ?

Caveat is you can't use it and any comm package (HW nor SW)

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Nashville, TN USA
Posts: 125

Well now I know the thumb-board has two strikes against it.
1. Doesn't work with the prism
2. Comes with a 3.5" disk - I don't have a 3.5" drive anymore - darn those Sony cutting edge computers!

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"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." Benjamin Franklin

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: earth
Posts: 5

There is another option...
You could download the driver from the web - that one forced me to reset
in a never-ending loop until I hard-reset. Awesome eh!?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 334

The SnapNType comes with a 3.5" floppy also. Yes, it should work w/o
problems with the YadaYada Minstrel S. I like mine, except for the
missing shortcut key.

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Rick

www.visorsolutions.com

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 1

Workaround for Visorphone?

Does anybody know if there is a work around for using the Thumboard with a Visorphone?

If there isn't, the thumboard I got yesterday is useless to me.

Thanks in advance.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: earth
Posts: 5

It appears that SnapNType works with -some- comm devices

Dear customer,

Our SnapNType is compatible with Visor Phone and it seems compatible with
Card Access Thin Modem too.

Regards,
Bernard

----- Original Message -----
From: <me>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 8:25 AM
Subject: Does the Snapntype work with Minstrel S modem?


> I'd learned (after purchase) that the ThumBoard won't work with the modem
> installed.
>
> Does the snapntype?
>
> thanks
>

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 15

Fast Repy from TT-Tech.

Frank,
I can't believe that you got a reply from TT-Tech the same day you emailed them. I emailed them last week about whether the SNT would work with the Minstrel S, but have yet to get a reply.
Shame Bernard did not really answer your question, and just told you that it works on the visor phone and thinmodem. It would be nice to get a definate answer, one way or the other.

I am still waiting for visorcentral to reveiw all these new mini-keyboards. Now that is the review to read!

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Posts: 79

ThumBoard Works with ThinModem!!

I finally figured out how to make the ThumBoard work with ThinModem. Frank, there is hope:

quote:

---

Frank Motta said, "I liked all that the ThumBoard offered - It won't let me use the Minstrel S wireless modem - I got it to type emails.
Can't do that....."

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 32

Here is a reply from Seiko:
HandSpring, in their testing of the TB6000, assured us that the Visor Phone
and the popular modems will work. However, if you have been experiencing
difficulty, please give us the details of your situation so that we can
report it to our engineers and to HandSpring. If there is a conflict, we
need to fix it.

And one more reply:
hanks for the input. This is a issue of grave concern for us and we
appreciate your help. Unfortunately, I do not know when we can find
resolution of this. It is too early in the game to make ant predications or
even speculate what the issue is. It may be software correctable, but it
may not. I apologize for any inconvenience.

So, looks like they will try to fix this problem and thumboard will work fine with visorphone and all modems.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Is this really worth it?

Is this device really worth it? Doesn't the Stowaway fold almost as small and sits on the lap easily enough to use anywhere?

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The Cat

Everything makes sense when you realize that the world is Perfect, that we move from one perfect moment to the next forever; both forwards and backwards in time.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

Re: Is this really worth it?

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Cat
Is this device really worth it? Doesn't the Stowaway fold almost as small and sits on the lap easily enough to use anywhere?

---

erm, to achieve that, you probably need to put some magazine below to support the hinges of the Stowaway. Otherwise, the hinges will "give way" and fold into 2 again.

The Thumbboards are useful for typing in places where there is no flat surface to lay out a keyboard to type, BUT it's un-comfortable cos the keys are sooo tiny.

The Seiko Thumboard looks classy which earns it a point from me.
The SnapNType looks "cheaply-made" to me... :P

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my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism