Review: Good with the Kindle Fire HDX", and even more
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2014
Keyboards for tablets can be exercises in finding a good middle ground.  You just need to choose which compromises work best for you.TheBelkin QODE Portable Bluetooth Keyboard Case for the All New Kindle Fire HD 7" & HDX 7" (fits both devices)is a good product for those who spend a lot of time typing on the keyboard of these devices. Right off, it is not the perfect replacement for the keyboard on a notebook or desktop computer, but it comes much closer than one might expect. Picked this up as a Vine selection for myKindle Fire HDX 7"tablet as a substitute for its built-in graphical keyboard, mostly for those times that hours would be spent on this device when away from the computer. Took plenty of time to use it, to explore how well it worked, and there were some interesting surprises. Here are the basics:◆ Likes:+ Excellent fit; no-nonsense installation of the Kindle Fire HDX 7" tablet+ Compact; doubles up as a case for extra portability+ Case is quite sturdy; offers good protection for the tablet+ Well-spaced keys; results in reduced typing errors+ Dedicated power button; located on the side of the keyboard+ Excellent battery life; charges via an included microUSB cable+ Easy Bluetooth pairing; no issues encountered◆ Mixed: Price is high; design may not be perfect for some◆ Dislikes:- There is no way to check the keyboard battery level- Magnetic ON/OFF feature does not function on these◆ In Use:Open the box and you'll find the QODE Portable Keyboard Case, a USB-to-micro-USB cable, and the user manual. The Belkin QODE Portable Keyboard Case is slim and lightweight, and offers a better option than typing with the graphical keyboard of the Kindle Fire HDX 7".  It has an ergonomic design lets you take your Kindle anywhere with its sturdy fitted case, and without the added bulk. Luckily I had added theMoshi iVisor XT Screen Protectorfor extra protection. Inserting the Kindle Fire is into the case is easy and fairly logical.It is a good idea to fully charge the keyboard before it's used for the first time. This is done by plugging the small end of the cable into the micro-USB port at the side of the keyboard, with the other end plugged into a power adapter or a USB port on a computer. Once it's charged, which takes about two to three hours, you can power it up with the ON/OFF switch on the side of the keyboard. By the way, the battery life is excellent.Bluetooth pairing it is straightforward: on the Kindle Fire HDX, go to the Settings > Wireless > Bluetooth. Once the keyboard is found, under Available Devices, tap on Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard. Just enter the pairing code and you are good to go.There are two viewing angles, making the case comfortable when typing, poking around on the 'Net or watching videos. The magnetic standing points keep the Kindle Fire HDX 7" device in place with no problems. The keyboard also has some shortcut keys that which allow for volume adjustment when you're listening to music or watching videos.◆ Personal View:The keyboard itself is very good, and there's no doubt that this is a big improvement over the built-in graphical keyboard in the 7" Kindle Fire HDX. But since I had already bought theAmazon Kindle Fire HDX 7" Origami Case, found that the QODE keyboard case was somewhat uninspiring. The Origami case automatically puts the Kindle Fire HDX 7" to sleep when it is closed and wakes it upon opening via its integrated magnetic closure. As a result I was prepared to rate this Belkin QODE Portable Bluetooth Keyboard Case with an overall 3 or 4-star rating.But then it dawned on me...I also have aKindle Fire HD 8.9"device, and that one is also Bluetooth equipped. Since I already have a couple Kindle stands, I folded the cover back on the Belkin Bluetooth keyboard case and did same pairing as noted above. And it worked, perfectly. For me it was like having an added bonus, and the best of both worlds.◆ Summary:TheBelkin QODE Portable Bluetooth Keyboard Case for the All New Kindle Fire HD 7" & HDX 7"is useful, functional, and makes it a reasonable substitute for a notebook computer when one is mobile. Though I dislike that there is no LED or display indicating when the battery is low, that is offset by having the versatility of being able to use the keyboard function with another Kindle Fire HD that wasn't listed. From a personal perspective, overall this is a 4-star product and is highly recommended.JW ▪ 4/16/2013