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[+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+---===<<<+[ NOKIA N900 ]+>>>===----+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-]
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Stardate: 20181207.23h33
Location: Kitchen
Input Device: Nokia N900 w/ Fellowes Stowaway USB Keyboard.
Software: nano
Energy: 40%
Mental: 60%
Audio: Compressor from fridge, sounds of TV downstairs
Visual: A mess of computer accessories, pa1mOne IR folding
keyboard, PSP Hacks book, USB battery pack, USB hub/dongle.
After much fussing with keyboards, adapters, and
power, I now have my N900 functioning where I can
type on a larger external keyboard. I am using a
Fellowes Stowaway Keyboard, almost exactly like the
folding keyboard I have for my Palm IIIc, but with a
dongle that has a USB connector on the end. I like
this one better than the one for the Palm IIIc since
I can plug it into other devices with USB, like a
Raspberry Pi, laptop, etc. Plus the way it folds is
cool. To open it, you pull down on this mechanical
switch and it opens up in four sections where you can
lay it flat and lock the keys in place by sliding
the side sections together. Then you plug in the
dongle to the keyboard. To close, you slide the side
keys out and fold the sections back to the original
rectangular shape. It's hard to describe in words
but a picture will probably make more sense. Perhaps
I will post some. It's a really neat keyboard, but
doesn't work well in your lap. Best to type seated
at a table, like I am doing now.
Not sure how long I will be able to type on this,
with the battery and all, but I'll do what I can. If
I am out of juice before I'm done writing, I will
have to continue later.
I forgot how much of a pain it was to connect an
external keyboard to this device. It has 1 micro USB
port, so you basically needed some kind of adapter.
I have the keyboard attached to a 2-port OTG (On The
Go) Micru USB "hub" that connected to the phone. 1
port has the keyboard and the other port could be
used for a mouse or USB drive. There is also another
dongle that is used for a USB charge, but does not
charge the N900, rather, it is meant for the USB
devices. Also, I have to use a utility called h-e-n
or host mode enabler, which has buttons that need to
be pressed in sequence in order to mount the
peripheral device properly. It basically has buttons
to 1. Enable Hostmode, 2. Turn on 5V VBUS, 3.
Enumerate the device, and 4. Mount the dev node on a
mount point. I thought this was a really cool
utility when it came out, but using it now, I
realize that I have been spoiled by the ease of
connecting peripherals to today's devices.
When the N900 was announced, I was really excited
about it. I had read about the previous "Internet
tablets" that Nokia released, which were cool and had
wifi, but the N900 was actually a phone as well. I
followed the news until it was released and placed my
order shortly after.
OK, I think I gotta stop for now, unmount the
keyboard, and recharge. Moar l8r.
