JUST IN: Windows Phone outselling iOS, ultrabooks on the rise: Estonia does hardware differently

Topic: Tablets

Compare

Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

Summary: Tablets can be adequate mobile blogging tools, if paired with the right mobile keyboard. The Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard works with just about every tablet.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

There is only one certainty in the life of a professional blogger, when you don't have your blogging gear with you you will need it the most. For that reason I have tried using every tablet I have tested as a mobile blogging system. This testing has failed until getting my hands on the HP TouchPad that I am using currently. I will be covering the mobile blogging experiement in a future post, but want to share the one piece of the mobile system that works consistently with all of the tablets I have tested to date. That is the Freedom Pro Bluetooth Keyboard.

The Freedom Pro (FP) is not my favorite keyboard due to weird key sizes and placement, but it is much better than using the onscreen keyboard for entering large amounts of text for most of my blogging. The FP keyboard is very mobile as it folds in half for easy transport, so the tradeoff in usability is worth it for occasional short blogging sessions.

What makes the Freedom Pro keyboard so unique is its ability to work with both the SPP and HID Bluetooth profiles. The HID profile is used with desktop systems and some tablets, but not all. Many Android tablets do not work with the HID profile reliably (if at all), and having the SPP profile support on the Freedom Pro means it can work with just about every tablet out there. I have used it successfully with the HP TouchPad, iPad 2, XOOM and the Samsung Galaxy Tab (both original and 10.1). It is a safe bet the FP will work with any tablet currently on the market.

Key placement on the Freedom Pro is a little tight to make the device as small as possible, but touch typing is possible with speed after a little practice. There are two space bars due to the split in the middle of the keyboard to allow folding it for transport, but they work well. The keyboard even has arrow keys, although they are very small and hard to hit reliably.

The keyboard occasionally loses the connection with the tablet, but toggling the power slider is enough to quickly get connected again to continue working. The Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard is not the best mobile keyboard, but it works with just about everything and is much faster for text entry than the onscreen touch keyboards on tablets.

The HP TouchPad is going to be my mobile blogging system which I will be covering in a future post, and I will likely get the HP wireless keyboard for the system. It is especially designed to work with the TouchPad and is a real keyboard without the compromises found in a mobile keyboard. For those just looking to do occasional text entry on the go, the Freedom Pro might be the solution.

Topics: Tablets, Browser, Hardware, Laptops, Mobility, Wi-Fi

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

15 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • Sucks

    Get an Asus transformer with its dock and be done with it.
    nomorebs
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Actually, I would get an Asus EEE state and use the handwriting recognition found in windows. That is how I am writing this comment.
    alamfour
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Use a keyboard with a tablet, I remember when those were called laptops. LOL!!
    LoverockDavidson
    Reply Vote

  • EP121

    I second the motion to use an EP121. Plus, it comes with the a bluetooth keyboard if you want to use it. I've had mine for a while. Remember to change your DPI settings.
    pelleg
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Drop $120 on a keyboard and turn your $600 tablet into a low end netbook in seconds!
    sully0208
    Reply Vote

  • IR to Bluetooth would be handy

    When you consider how many Palm Pilots and particularly the Tungsten devices, are still out there, the first manufacturer to produce an IR to Bluetooth adapter should pick up all of those who have an IR Palm folding keyboard tucked away. Not a bad instant market, I would think. My Palm IR keyboard with my LifeDrive was an outstanding combination, if I could use it with my Android phone or tablet I would buy it today!
    algreig@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    James, can you detail how you got the Freedom Pro to pair with the Touchpad? I bought one on today's firesale and can't get it to pair to save my life, either in SPP or HID mode.
    marcguido
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate!<a href="http://nccma.com">nccma</a> <a href="http://coolerkings.com">cooler</a>
    MACKENZI
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    I used to be more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post. this thread is amazing i like your work and i appreciate you that you have share a useful stuff thanks for sharing <a href="http://the-ishop.com">the i shop</a> <a href="http://abatwa.com">abatwa</a>
    PEARLINEI
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    I used to be more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.Bookmarking now thanks please consider a follow up post.<a href="http://power28.com">power</a> <a href="http://sagesinc.com">sa</a> <a href="http://iloveshoping.net">shop</a>
    RHIANNONA
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    I think the representation of this article is actually superb one. This is my first visit to your site. Thanks a lot and keep sharing the information. Keep updating the information for all of us. Thanks ZDNet Government was launched as the brand's first industry vertical, with a mission to cater to IT professionals in the public secto I agree with your post. However, do you have any sources I can cite for my paper <a href="http://easy-wheels.com/">wheel</a> <a href="http://pbcars.com/">car</a> <a href="http://com69.net">com</a> <a href="http://cadburry.com">bury</a>
    SATURNINA
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Well welcome, hopefully you can become a vital member of the community and really help to push far ahead of google. Which Im sure the development team would love. This will of course earn you alot points too and get you on the leaders board.<a href="http://vintagesnapbackhatsfan.com">z</a><a href="http://bestsolidstatedrive.net">d</a><a href="http://b2days.com/">n</a><a href="http://b2wp.com/">e</a><a href="http://buy-sell-cheap.com/">t</a> <a href="http://sellcheap.net/">t</a><a href="http://newsoftwarepc.com/">h</a><a href="http://bestlaptoppcreviews.com/">a</a><a href="http://buyfurniturefreeshipping.com/">n</a><a href="http://cheapclothingstoresonline.com/">k</a> Im not sure i come to an agreement with you on every level, howevor it absolutely was a good posting, many thanks for taking the time to put up your ideas.
    TOCCAR
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Thanks nice info <a href="http://buyboxinggloves.net/">z</a><a href="http://buygemicrowave.com/">d</a><a href="http://cheapweldingsupplies.com/">n</a><a href="http://cheapcarcareproducts.com/">e</a><a href="http://cheapluggageforsale.com/">t</a> I really liked your current article write more..let me add you to its favorite The articles you have on zdnet <a href="http://mlbshopgiants.com/">s</a><a href="http://best3dtvavailable.com/">i</a><a href="http://lampsplusstorelocator.com/">t</a><a href="http://discountperfumewebsites.com/">e</a> are always so enjoyable to read. Good work and I bookmarked it.
    MCKNIGH
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Fantastic news about the new release.I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3nfbubdTA">b</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thkxMxMihl0">o</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9Uw27cJH0">o</a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/kindlefirereviews">k</a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/bestkindlefire">m</a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/kindlefireforsale">a</a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/kindlefireprice">r</a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/cheapkindlefire">k</a><a href="http://the-ishop.com/kindlefireprice/">e</a><a href="http://power28.com/kindlefire/">d</a> to check out new stuff you weblog post.Im not sure i come to an agreement with you on every level, howevor it absolutely was a good posting, many thanks for taking the time to put up your ideas
    RICHMONFT
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Freedom Pro Bluetooth keyboard: Good for use with any tablet

    Good day to confirm this comment I would appreciate <a href="http://golfcarttops.com/">T</a><a href="http://snowgum.net/">h</a><a href="http://gatesbydesign.com/">e</a> <a href="http://ashleighblinds.com/">b</a><a href="http://yjsound.com/">e</a><a href="http://dry-fruit.net/">s</a><a href="http://xweddings.com/">t</a> <a href="http://netrail.net/">o</a><a href="http://7ey.net/">f</a> <a href="http://birdellis.com/">Z</a><a href="http://airtechinc.com/">D</a><a href="http://medicalwholesalers.net/">N</a><a href="http://kustombike.com/">e</a><a href="http://beelinebicycles.com/">t</a> <a href="http://dippitydog.com/">d</a><a href="http://infinityskate.com/">e</a><a href="http://jeansjournal.com/">l</a><a href="http://vwebcams.com/">i</a><a href="http://compactlightbulb.com/">v</a><a href="http://expressionphotography.net/">e</a><a href="http://cavehicles.com/">r</a><a href="http://falconconcrete.com/">e</a><a href="http://fedson.com/">d</a> your website very nice to everyone Yes, Oracle is the only one with shared-disk architecture, but that is there advantage. It means you can add or remove nodes and the database lives on. In a shared nothing architecture, if you lose a node, you lose the system. I'm sure Oracle appreciates EMC highlighting their advantage.I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate Awesome post! Thank you very much || thanks for nice content this is really benefit to me.
    JACOBSONR
    Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close