XtremeMac Aluminum Foldable Bluetooth® Keyboard – Space Grey

My all-time favorite folding keyboard for travel was PalmOne’s Universal Wireless Keyboard – back in the early 2000s when PDAs were all the rage. That one even had a PDA holder/stand that locks the keyboard’s folding mechanism when slid at the center (see photos). Although it uses 2 AAA batteries, & doesn’t come with a touchpad, it’s one of the earliest mobile keyboards to use Bluetooth technology.Fast forward to 2022. My search for the perfect folding keyboard for travel continues as this one failed to meet my expectations in two aspects:1). The folding mechanism does not lock into place. You can’t use it properly or securely on your lap or an uneven surface.2). The touchpad area is too small (2.18” x 1.75”). It could have used the whole space (about 2.4” x 3.8”) where it folds/unfolds as the touchpad. Hence, using the touchpad can be a frustrating affair.The overall size and weight are good enough for travel – at just 8 oz (227 gms.) and measures about 12” x 3.8” x 0.25” – (unfolded) and about 6” x 3.8” x 0.5” (folded).Elegantly made in space-gray color, it easily pairs and works as advertised on a Mac, PC, and BT mobile devices. The keyboard’s tactile feedback is almost identical to most of Apple’s latest ones.But the main draw for this keyboard is its rechargeability -- no more AA batteries are required to operate! There are also magnets to keep it from unfolding when stowed.The set includes a short USB cable and a handy manual. Adding a protective sleeve would have been better.I would have rated this product higher if not for the two (2) abovementioned issues.

Default for most keyboard reviews: write the review on the keyboard itself.Comes with a USB cable for recharging. I had a typo in the last sentence, and there was no problem with using the built in trackpad to go back and correct it. For most of my laptops, I end up disable the trackpad because I tend to touch it with my thumbs while I'm typing. Having the trackpad out of the way on the right is quite nice. But first off, connecting. The is a bluetooth button right next to the on/off switch. I was able to figure out how to connect this within two seconds of taking this out of the box.The folding action works well. I can put this right into my pocket. Looks good and seems pretty sturdy. I'm typing on it fine. A few annoyances:T V D F are all very small keys.{[ ?/ CapsLock are all large keys.They should have made D V T normal and { ? Capslock small.However, pretty easy to adapt to that. So I'll allow it. This is an excellent folding keyboard for traveling.Recommended.

Aluminum Foldable Keyboard: $59.99 at the time of reviewI am all about any kind of technology that makes my life easier. I've been traveling for work pretty frequently for the last year or so, and one of the things I've wanted is a good, reliable travel keyboard. When I saw this tiny one from XtremeMac it look like it would be the perfect tool for me to slip into my computer bag on the go.*TL;DR Review Haiku™*Well-built qualityCommand on wrong side of boardJust not good for me*What I liked*:Overall, this is a really good package. The box and associated materials are all high-quality, and the keyboard is tightly packed with a charging cable.The quality continues on to the keyboard construction. The aluminum body gives it a really solid field and I think is instrumental in providing a stable key press. One of the most critical things about a keyboard is how well the buttons work. If the body of the keyboard wasn't so stable, the keys would feel squishy or even bendy. Thankfully though, that's not the case here.I also like that this keyboard is Mac specific. Having the keys labeled and especially having a dedicated command key are great when your primary computer is a Mac.One more thing I'd like to mention that I like is the included touchpad. If you don't have the space in your bag to carry a mouse, this is a great feature.*What I didn't like*:Unfortunately, I’m afraid that there are a couple of specific downsides to make this keyboard something I’m unlikely to use long-term.The first and probably worst one for me personally is the overall size of the keyboard. I realize that a travel keyboard is supposed to be small, but in this case something I listed as a pro also causes the worst con. It was just really difficult to type on this keyboard without committing a lot of mistakes. I realize that if I were to use it longer, my hands would probably adapt to a little better. However, since I'm not going to use it as a daily driver, it is unlikely that I would ever get enough out of it.The next issue I have with it is the placement of the command key. I realize that space is limited, but one of the primary uses for this key is in keyboard shortcuts like a copy paste cut etc. Considering that the corresponding letters for those short cuts are on the left side of the keyboard, it stands to reason that that is where the command key should be as well. However, it's on the right side. That means that in order to perform those Shortcuts, you need to use two hands. Such a silly oversight on this keyboard…*The Bottom Line:*Ultimately, this keyboard was a disappointment to me. Well the build quality is good, and the max specific functionality is appreciated, the resultant functionality just isn't there. The placement of the command button on the right side of the keyboard (without a corresponding left side button) is really workflow breaking for a Mac user. Other people may not find these issues as much of a distraction as I did though. So my final score will come in at three stars out of five. I would not order this over again knowing what I know now.