Full Accessory Review

[barrelockingnut]

Protective Case Integrated Keyboard for the 7in Scroll Tablet A47KJ - Laptop Tablet Accessories - Maplin.png

Item purchased today at Maplin £29


The Good
It fits the Scroll perfectly well, although I suspect not designed specifically for it
It is a grey/black leatherette wallet with central magnetised clasp
Has a photo-frame type extending arm at rear to make the tablet sit up at an angle above keyboard for easy read
Has two inserts for scribe devices (plastic one provided)
Connects to Scroll via mini usb port (See Bad )
Keyboard has a quite "nice" responsive feel, with extra functions to operate the Scroll
Has three "hard plastic" retaining clips for containment of the tablet (See BAD )
Will give the Scroll some protection against scratches or knocks, water spillage etc.
Has tiny caps lock, scroll lights etc. built into keyboard
Is fine for the "typists" amongst us
On plug-in Scroll instantly rendered device usable with no configuration.

The Bad

Far too expensive at this price,available elsewhere at £16
Has no "cushioning" protection, just reliant on the leatherette cover for protection
Keyboard is still small for those with even large fingers, the Qwerty style has cheap transfer lettering on the keys so expect them to disappear in a short time of use.
The three clips to retain the tablet simply do not, the tablet fits into the case best by sitting over the bottom two clips, then slightly raising the top one to "ease" the tablet in. All well and good, except that there are NO clips left and right to retain the Scroll into the case, so beware IT WILL FALL OUT and break. This is a complete design failure and could so easily have been avoided.Anyone purchasing this case would be advised to glue two plastic "buffers" on the edges to prevent this catastrophe occurring.
Probably the worst aspect is that if you do not have the Scroll in the position on its side in the case, with the inputs on the right, then the Power/Lock button constantly activates because it contacts the bottom retainer hooks, or the Volume button is constantly activated as the Scroll does tend to slide around left and right and not up and down.


Conclusion, too expensive from Maplin, cheap enough if bought elsewhere, for a typist it turns it into a mini-mini netbook, who will feel comfortable with it. Its drop-protection is nill. Because of a basic design fault,in that it will fall out, I can not recommend this product. A padded CD case is still more effective for carriage, although it has no keyboard. If it is just to look good on a side desk, then its OK.
Final point, whilst waiting in store for mine, I asked about a longer Power lead for it. They went and fetched a returned Scroll to check the mini port, when I asked why that particular Scroll had been returned, I was informed that someone had bought a Case/Keyboard, plugged it in and "killed off" their Scroll. Now this cannot happen in practicality as it is a slave device, however that sure fills you with confidence.

STAR RATING ** (Out of 5)

Can I also suggest that if people review other add-ons etc. that it is done in this style to standardise the post.

[admin]

Nice post

[Charlie]

@ barrelockingnut

Great post - you have put into words what I have been thinking all along. (& i have one, which after i tested the scroll in it, is now in a drawer gathering dust)

[time2key]

I don't agree with the bad - own one and i use it all the time.

Firstly, the three clasps have metal inside them, and are fully flexible- you can simply push them together a little bit, then slide the scroll inbetween them and they will hold it very securely.

Secondly, the volume/ power keys shouldnt be pressed, because all android devices are designed so that landscape mode is when all the hardware buttons are to the right of the screen (look at any program that is landscape only, or look at some phones that dont allow 4 way screen rotation), and in this position the clasp will not hold down the buttons.

[barrelockingnut]

Thanks for the views...If everyone here thinks the same , someone isn't thinking !
LoL

[Fregeman]

I agree in major part with barrelockingnut's review. However, I did buy one myself from Maplins yesterday. I sort of intended to get a mini-keyboard for the Scroll but thought that this product would accomplish same but with the added bonus of a desk stand. Soooooo, I think it makes a pretty good desk accessory, but would not really use it for transporting the Scroll around.

[quatermass]

Chinese websites sell this item for about £9...

[John]

Chinese websites sell this item for about £9...

yeah got mine off ebay from a chinese seller for 8 quid, i've been looking at one for ages cos I type far too slow with the on-screen keyboard. still waiting for it to arrive...bargain!

[ddervish]

I got one of these from Ebay. Its a decent enough piece of kit but there are bad points.
I dont like the clasps, yes you can bend them inwards to hold firmly but i dont know how long they will grip for, if you add a small piece of rubber to each one [like a patch from a bicycle puncture repair kit] they are more reliable
i really dislike the way that the mini USB plug sticks out so far when its in place in the scroll [not the fault of the item under review] but it is made worse by the long and very thin cable supplied with this item. i find i tend to disconnect the USB when its not in use as i fear it is likely to get caught on something and broken.
Definitely makes typing easier tho, using the scroll to edit or create documents was a pain before i got this

[Mitre]

maybe woth £5 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorola-right- ... 646&sr=8-2
or cheaper somwhere else?