How is Pocketop able to do this? It takes advantage of one of the least used PDA functions: infrared. Unfortunately, it also highlights the peculiarities of this now quickly aging technology. Setup of the Pocketop, software-wise, is actually very simple. The installation disc comes with drivers for Palm's Hotsync and Pocket PC's Activesync. While the driver isn't very elaborate, there are provisions to turn the driver on and off (so you can use other infrared functions) and the ability to map programmable keys. All said and done, the setup of the software is simple and it works with every program that requires text input.

The crux, on the other hand, lies in Pocketop's hardware setup. The keyboard itself is actually fairly slim. Folded up together, it's almost thinner and most certainly lighter than older Pocket PC handhelds, feeling substantially less bulky than the Stowaway. That's including the PDA stand. Pocketop's main trump is appealing on paper. One keyboard, one model and one product will work for all your Palm and Pocket PC handhelds. That not only saves time and money in a corporate setting but for the consumer, you're guaranteed to get a better return on investment when you buy the Pocketop keyboard. That's something its competition is having a monumentally difficult time in handling.

Unfortunately, one size fits all also implies that Pocketop has bundled a slew of stylus holders to help you hinge your PDA stand alongside the wireless keyboard. Think of it as a fake stylus that is extended to act like a spine to a book. As if that wasn't confusing enough, the manual is actually fairly skimpy, in terms of instructions and graphics, on how you'll exactly put together the wireless keyboard. The whole keyboard is plastic to ensure lightweight portability. This bred the fear that I might break something while putting it together. I have the luxury of a product guide that has much clearer pictures and instructions on how to put the keyboard together. But for people who are buying this for the first time, this isn't one of those products where you open the box and proceed to use it right away. The PDA stand could at least have come pre-assembled. That would eliminate one step and let you focus on tailoring the setup to your handheld.

Setup is definitely a word you'll use if you're a Pocket PC user. On paper, the Pocketop's reliance on infrared implies universality. So theoretically, you'll be using it in no time since every handheld has infrared enabled by default. The trick is: most handhelds have their infrared port pointing upwards so if you want to avoid typing upside down, you'll have to attach your handheld to the PDA stand included. A metallic frame then extends from the handheld to reflect the infrared signal towards your keyboard; very much like using a television remote control through a mirror. Handspring users are in luck as they have no need for the reflector. Palm users are in luck too because it isn't too much of a problem. Pocket PC users, especially ones with thicker handhelds, will be the ones who'll have the most trouble. The PDA stand isn't very much up to the task to handle a sleeve or sled-equipped Pocket PC, which are, by their nature, heavier than their Palm counterparts. Why am I subjecting the Pocketop to this test? Expansion sleeves or sleds are most likely needed for things like wireless access or modem access. Built in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is still the purview of high end PDAs.

The keyboard consists primarily of three rows of keys. Only the center row is near full-sized. The others are all half-sized keys. This makes it one of the smallest keyboards around but for me, the touch-typing was speedy. It has a good tactile feel to it so if you can manage to strike the keys correctly, you'll receive feedback. Those of you who swear by full sized PC keys may want to look elsewhere. Everything on the Pocketop is willing to bend, fold and customize to your handheld. The keys, on the other hand, will not.

Infrared often brings me memories of dropouts and interference. But I'm happy to say the Pocketop handles those issues very well. There's no noticeable delay compared to typing with a wired keyboard. I've used the keyboard in the public and haven't found stoppages because of interference nearby. The keyboard is self-powered with a single AAA battery. Back when Palm handhelds relied on AAA batteries, those were things you always had around. Unfortunately, that's not the case here but Pocketop promises a few months' usage on a single battery. It also saves the keyboard from draining your PDA's batteries, which is probably the issue of most concern to mobile workers.

There is, however, a catch to all this convenience. The placing of the infrared sensor is not at the center of the keyboard. With larger handhelds, like an iPAQ or an older Casio E-series, you're going to spend a lot of time positioning the PDA stand (with PDA and reflector) with your keyboard. Often, the keyboard has to be off center towards the left to get a clear signal. Perhaps the dispersion on the iPAQ's infrared port is not very wide, but I found the margin of error is frustratingly slim; almost like setting up pizza-sized satellite television dishes. Suffice to say, I came into the review with the preconception that wireless meant I could use the keyboard in whatever position I wanted. But the nuances of infrared technology caught up to me. A Palm V, on the other hand, proved to be no problem for the Pocketop and I should probably stress Pocketop clearly has affinities towards smaller, thinner Palm handhelds.

Ultimately, Pocketop's main triumph over the growing number of competitors is the wireless capability. It uses infrared, which also means it is a universal PDA product. This, however, is a double-edged sword, dangerous to Pocket PC users, less so for Palm owners. From my experience with the Pocketop wireless keyboard, I believe infrared's reliance on point-to-point communication is clearly showing its age. Perhaps Pocketop might have made a better product by supporting Bluetooth or some sort of low power RF frequency. But that precludes it would have to go the route of its competitors, releasing a keyboard for each operating system, if not for every handheld. Moreover, Bluetooth has yet to make it to every handheld released in the last few years. Therefore, the fundamentals in Pocketop's wireless keyboard are sound and once you get it working, it's charming. For those who are in tech circles, it'll also turn heads.

The catch-22 prevents it from being a stellar product. This is Pocketop's initial product and things like sparse manuals and cumbersome setup denote first generation manufacturing woes. The wireless infrared on the keyboard could also be a lot more forgiving. A wider range and stronger signal could offset problems with different PDA form factors and poor infrared strength on some handhelds. Pocketop's wireless keyboard holds great promise. Their inaugural product proves that shooting for the stars is no easy matter.