I've been reading threads on cable that can connect an USB keyboard to N800. Not familiar with neither hardware nor linux, I am a little lost. I need a kind soul to clarify a few things...

1. Can I use this motorola cable (see link below) to connect an usb keyboard to N800? If not, where to find one?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y032X8

2. If I have all the right hardware to connect a keyboard, would it become a true plug-and-play device after I install the right software package?

Thanks for answering.

You can use the cable that comes with the tablet and it's VERY easy to do.

You do NOT need any knowledge of Linux or the tablet hardware or anything else.

However, you need to buy a very very very cheap female-female USB adaptor so that the USB accessory can be plugged into the tablet's cable. It's EXTREMELY cheap, just a few dollars, because it's basically just a bit of metal. Here's an example at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/USB-Gender-Cha...3523800&sr=1-1


After you've bought the adaptor, the rest is extremely easy.

I've done a complete step-by-step tutorial including a video on how to attach a keyboard:

http://tabletschool.blogspot.com/200...-ordinary.html

I've also done similar tutorials on how to attach a hard disk drive:

http://tabletschool.blogspot.com/200...h-hdd-aka.html

and on how to attach a USB flash drive:

http://tabletschool.blogspot.com/200...nnect-usb.html

Basically you can connect absolutely anything as long as it doesn't draw too much power from the tablet. However, not all of it will work because the tablet doesn't contain software support for all kinds of devices.

For example you can connect a USB mouse, but it won't do anything because so far no one has written any tablet software with mouse support (except for some experimental programs).

This software support may come in the future though, because there's nothing to stop people writing it.

thanks. Your instructions are very useful to newbies like me.

i'd like to reduce the number of cables by using a female-A to mini-male usb adapter like this one

http://www.amazon.com/Female-Mini-Male-Adapter-Shipping/dp/B000Y6UL5E/ref=pd_sim_e_title_4

It should work, right?

Don't assume that something you see SHOULD work. Maybe it does, but only the ones that are listed on this hallowed site for sure DO work.

The tutorial mentioned above might give information about what does work. I don't know which posts, but if you search here for "usb cable" or something like that, you will probably find mentions of the ones you can get. At least one member here was selling them awhile back for about $5; I bought one and it works great. But I don't remember the name of this hero.

http://www.electronicproductonline.c...e1f4843a18bf9b
otg adapter and other needed goodies
get a small keyboard off of ebay...the number is 2366 i think

Emmaitt, there's a specially modified mini to full size adaptor at joepagiii's link which is the easiest to use. :-)

If you want to get a mini size adaptor to reduce the number of cables, I'd strongly recommend getting it from that link.

The reason it's so easy to use is you just plug it in and the tablet automatically goes into host mode, you don't even need to install the "USB control" software.

They're apparently the only ones like them in the world, you can't get these modified adaptors anywhere else. The reason they work is because the wiring inside has been slightly altered so that it automatically makes the tablet go into host mode. Ordinary adaptors just don't do this on their own.

Krisse and Joepagii,

Thank you for the great detailed info on the cable. They are exactly what I was looking for.

I went to BestBuy, Circuit City, and CompUSA yesterday - NONE of them have female-female adapters in stock, and none of them have any USB micro cables at all!

Arrgh!

I'm sick of paying $5.00 shipping and waiting a week when I need just one item.

<sigh>

Steve

Order it from Amazon! :-)

It's difficult to find in shops because there isn't much else you can do with an F-F adaptor, you never normally have to attach two USB cables together in this way. It's a very niche item.


Look at it this way: the adaptor costs $3 at Amazon and maybe $5 shipping. That's $8 for an adaptor that lets you attach keyboards, flash drives and HDDs to your tablet.

Surely that's worth $8, however it divides up between the product and postage? :-)

Yeah, but the week is a bit more annoying.