Plus you can mount USB storage devices! I'm going the BT keyboard route myself but if I want some external storage, well, it seems the powered USB hack is the only way to do so at this time.

I myself like the challenge of actually doing something. Who cares if it isn't practical. I learn things and have fun. Better than sitting on your arse all day watching 'reality' television

Tonight I modded my little usb box. I removed the switch given that the USB cable should be powered all the time. In it's place I put in a red LED connected to a small circuit I found on the net which causes the LED to flash when the battery gets flat. Since NiMH batteries have such a high self discharge rate I can keep it fully charged by leaving it plugged in at home all the time when I am not on the move. I also added a longer usb cable. My original was too short and rigid. Still have this key repeating problem though.

What about a reality show showing people hacking USB cables in real-time to have KB work with their tablets, charge their nanos...

That might work if they use sexy, geek girls

Thougthfix described in his blog dated January 7, http://thoughtfix.blogspot.com/ a schema using Y-shaped USB data cable http://www.xpcgear.com/usbtype2atob.html. Could a USB travel charger provide the +5 V to both USB-keyboard and 770 USB connector via that cable?
The company hama has a power supply providing 5.4 V DC 200mA into a USB Type A socket . It "charges all MP3-USB sticks with permanently installed battery and is also suitable for other USB devices with power consumption up to 500 mA". It is multivoltage 100-240 V AC. I have seen it in a local department store at 16 euros.
Part number is hama 00014056, see techical details: http://www.hama.co.uk/portal/article...67/action*2563.

Well, I focused on the hardware side of things and didn't dwell on that, but I do have the occasional hiccup where a keystroke will be repeated twice or more, if that's what you mean.
When working as root on the command line in xterm, you definitely need to pay attention before hitting the enter key. Makes life exciting :-)

Live via 770 tap-tap:

You the same DB that hung out on Shapiro's Mac CIS forum?

1 - cost, of course.
2 - localization : non-QWERTY BT keyboards are scarce, with USB keyboards (even very specific ones like the Keysonic) I get to keep my national layout.
3 - choice (of form, size, and color :-).
4 - battery life.
5 - sheer fun...

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

- Dennis Brothers

Addendum :

While replying in this thread I belatedly realized that in the original post I forgot to credit one very important contributer : CrossBow.

While I did not reproduce exactly his own hack(s), his detailed explanations were decisive and convinced me of the dangers of working "blind" (ie without appropriate instruments) and placing too much faith in the specs of batteries, rechargeables et al.

I followed his good advice and bought a basic multimeter, and have been having so much fun with it since that I now wonder how I've survived so long without it in my toolbox :-)
I certainly couldn't have done all those hacks on the same Saturday without it and without melting something or other... so thanks CrossBow !


PS: a case in point to underscore the sense in his cautious approach of these things, which sounds like paranoia but isn't...
While learning to use my new tool I tested everything within reach that looked like it might carry an electron... like verifying that 4 new AA batteries deliver well over 6V, and 4 freshly charged AA cells well over 5V, etc.
Also, I came across an older made-in-china (are there any others ?) wall wart, the sort with a slider to select voltage between 3 and 9V, another to select polarity, and almost every power plug form factor out there. It was in my son's room, where I used it to power his various toys and gadgets when their batteries ran out. Thus it's had a rough life over the years, but although it had a battered look, it seemed to be still working (in that it powered things).
Looking to test its accuracy at the various settings, I was shocked to find that no matter what the buttons were supposed to select, it now always unflinching delivered between 18 and 20V...
Now I know why those fixed-track racing cars were hard to control in the bends :-)