Casio's wireless USB calculator/keypad

This just in from the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" department: Since die hard calculator users refuse to toss those relics and use their onscreen counterparts, Casio has decided to take a traditional calculator, add some RF circuity and a USB dongle, and sell it as a combo calculator and numeric keypad that can be used with or without a computer. Sure, there have been other calculator/keypad combos before, but most have been wired, and none have so successfully simulated the look of a take-and-toss dollar-store model. Of course, you'd better be careful not to take that look too literally, since prices on these range from $45 to $63.

[Via I4U News]

[Jacob Job @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

That's really a pretty cool idea. Here's the google translation from Japan to English (beta, of course, it's Google):

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.casio.co.jp%2Frelease%2F2005%2Fmz120_jz120_mz20.html&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[Jacob Job @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Oh, and I'm not the person that went, "yay, first post" by the way. Different Jacob.

[Chris Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

why not bluetooth ? you can pick up a wireless mouse for $10, but a bluetooth mouse is $60, I dont want a million dongles, make it bluetooth and cheap and it'll sell.

[G-unit @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I refuse to get a dongle when I've got a perfectly good Personal Area Network radio (Bluetooth) already built into my laptop. If it was bluetooth I'd probably buy one.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Except they still sell laptops without bluetooth.

[asurroca @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I love the idea, because an old-school calculator still beats crappy laptop keys or an on-screen calculator.

However, I'm sure someone with the programming skills could do the same thing with a Bluetooth r Wi-Fi PDA, wherein the key-clicks on the PDA's on-screen calculator would be sent to the host computer. Hmm...

[Trejkaz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Bluetooth would be better. If they used the Bluetooth HID profile, most people who would actually get use out of this would already have support. The remainder of people can go and buy the $20 Bluetooth dongle from their local store.

[yet another Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I would love one of these! Its a brilliant idea, bluetooth would make this tool amazing. But how many times do you find you miss your numb pad on your laptop?

And then this thing works as a calculator too

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Don't forget, the Logitech diNovo's Mediapad is a combo keypad and calculator, and yes, it's Bluetooth-enabled.

[Donnie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It would make more sense to use that with a scientific or graphing calculator, instead of the basic design. But then again, people want simplicity and some rarely need a graphing calc. after high school or college.

[Andrew B @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It looks like it would be hard to touch type on this keypad. When I have loads of data entry to do, I fly through it with a regular keyboard.

[TAZ427 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Bluetooth, WiFi, RF I don't care. Make it for $20 and I'll buy it. Charge me more and you can shove it.

[Kelli @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I want one right away. How the heck can I get a hold of one?

[Kelli @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

By the way, Logitech's Mediapad DOES NOT function as a calculator because it has no memory (M+, M-, MRC) keys. What good is a calulator that doesn't store numbers in memory? NONE! I paid $80 for this piece of junk, it is going back.

[Jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

YAY First comment

[Einhanderkiller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

...useless?