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Ask anyone to name the least favorite aspect of their PDA or smartphone and chances are that the word "keyboard" will somehow figure prominently in the response.

Not surprisingly, data entry is rarely the strong suit of handheld devices—whether that's due to the complete lack of a keyboard, a built-in one with near-microscopic keys or an often-bulky external unit.

For this reason, anyone that needs to do copious amounts of typing with their handheld device would do well to look at I-Tech Dynamic's Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard. The Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard employs a laser to display a set of full-sized keys; not a full 101-key keyboard, however. So you don't get things like function keys or a separate numeric keypad on a flat surface.

The Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard will work with a variety of Bluetooth-compatible devices, including Windows Mobile and Palm-based PDAs and smartphones as well as Symbian-based handsets.

The unit's battery requires about two hours to fully charge and is rated to last for about two hours of continuous typing. The charging indicator light is located on the wall-wart AC adapter rather than the unit itself though, which may be inconvenient if it's plugged into hard-to-view location.

Setup
The initial set up of the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard was quite problematic. And if my experience is indicative, the process might leave some non-technical users scratching their heads.

Its installation utility is a Flash application that asks you to specify your particular PDA or smartphone from a menu provided, but there are only a handful of choices offered. A list of devices that have been tested and certified compatible can be found online.

Any mobile device that uses the same Bluetooth hardware and drivers (there are only a handful of different kinds) as an officially supported device may also work with the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard . Finding out whether your unlisted device uses supported Bluetooth hardware may not be easy, however.

My particular testing PDA was a Dell Axim X30, which was not on the list, so I tried drivers for the Axim X50. They ultimately proved to work, but there were some problems to overcome first.

The typical method for getting software onto a Windows-based PDA is through a PC connected to the handheld via ActiveSync. This is usually a straightforward process, but for whatever reason, efforts to install the software this way (using two different PCs) were unsuccessful and resulted in an error message.

I was ultimately able to get the drivers onto the PDA (a Dell Axim 30) by copying the appropriate CAB file over to the PDA and executing it directly.

Smoother Sailing
Once the driver installation issues were overcome, setting up the wireless connection between the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard and the PDA was pretty easy. After turning on the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard and using the PDA's Bluetooth manager to discover it, pairing the two devices involved creating a 4-digit code (by typing it into the virtual keyboard) and then confirming it on the PDA to complete the connection process.


Connection Menu

For subsequent uses, the keyboard will link up automatically with the PDA whenever it's placed in range and turned on.

Performance
The projection unit measures approximately 3.5 x 1.25 x 1 (HWD) and weighs only a few ounces. It operates by emitting two lasers from a small window—tne laser projects the keyboard and the other is used to determine which keys have been pressed.

Keystroke response time is essentially instantaneous. And the only indication that you're typing on anything other than a "real" keyboard is the lack of feedback you'd get from actual keys.


Main Menu: Set Intensity & Sound, View Battery Level

Typing on keys that don't spring back does take a bit of getting used to, but it requires only a light touch and shouldn't markedly affect typing speed or accuracy. You'll hear an audible tick in response to each successful keystroke.


Properties Page: Adjust Sensitivity & More

You can use the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard almost anywhere, with an emphasis on the "almost". It will project well onto most flat surfaces, but trying to use a surface that's transparent or too reflective (like a glass or glossy tabletop) will usually result in a faint, diffuse or somewhat distorted image. It can work in a pinch on these surfaces, but readability will be limited to some degree.


Automatically Repeat Pressed Key

Similarly, don't be tempted to try and project onto low-pile carpet (like the kind you might find sitting on the floor at an airport departure gate, for example); it will make the keyboard tough to view and interact with. Outdoor use isn't recommended, as the unit won't function well in any kind of direct light (i.e. sunlight).

Conclusion
Although the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard 's installation process is a disappointment, the product's function isn't. Once you get past the installation hurdles, the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard can easily make you a good deal more productive with your PDA or make your smartphone seem a lot smarter.

The main catch is the price: At $179, the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard is not exactly cheap, approaching the cost of some entry-level handhelds. Still, for some, it'll be a small price to pay to be more efficient on the road.

(I-Tech Dynamic says it is in discussions with device vendors to have a version of the Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard embedded right into handhelds and smartphones, negating the need for an external unit. There's no timeframe, however, for when this might actually happen, or indication as to what manufacturer will be the first to integrate a virtual keyboard function.)