在计算机的现代时代，每年都变得越来越移动。 微软(Whether Microsoft)是发起还是仅仅跟随这一趋势是一个有争议的问题。然而，近年来，他们发布了多款针对希望在旅途中保持高效的移动用户的移动硬件设备。这种设备就是微软通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)，这是一种高度便携的键盘，旨在与智能手机、平板电脑、二合一设备和任何其他具有蓝牙连接(Bluetooth connectivity)的计算机配合使用。我们已经使用并测试了Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)几天，无论是在我们的办公桌上还是在旅途中，现在我们想在这篇评论中告诉您我们的体验：
拆箱Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)
Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)采用光面、外观精美的纸板箱(cardboard box)。如果您对键盘的外观感到好奇，您可以在包装顶部看到它的图片，以及折叠位置的键盘实际尺寸打印(size print)件，位于包装盒的右侧。
包装使用磁性封口，因此，要打开它，您只需拖动并抬起盒子的右侧，就像打开一本书一样。这是一个非常好的细节，可以带来非常愉快的拆箱体验。
在包装盒内，您会发现折叠位置的Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘、用于充电的(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)Micro USB 数据线(Micro USB cable)、产品手册和保修。另一个不错的地方是，在盒子的顶盖内侧，您会发现打印的快速用户指南(user guide)。这个简单的用户指南(user guide)是您快速设置新蓝牙键盘(Bluetooth keyboard)所需的全部内容。
设计和硬件规格
Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)可用于智能手机、平板电脑和任何支持蓝牙的计算机。因此(Hence)键盘名称的通用部分，尽管微软(Microsoft)宣传这款键盘是专为“平板电脑和智能手机”而("for your tablet and smartphone")设计的。
我们可以看到原因：当您折叠这款键盘时，它的长度仅为 147.6 毫米（5.8 英寸），宽度仅为 125.3 毫米（4.9 英寸），厚度仅为 11.5 毫米（0.45 英寸）。这些尺寸足够小，可以放入更大的口袋中，就在您的 5英寸智能手机(inch smartphone)旁边。或者，您可以将其放入钱包或背包(purse or backpack)中，放在平板电脑旁边。Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)也很轻巧，根据我不太值得信赖的厨房秤(kitchen scale)，它重约 200 克（约 7 盎司）。
当您展开它时，您会打开Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)。没有电源开关(power switch)，你也不需要一个。键盘使用内置磁铁保持自身闭合，或根据需要折叠。打开时，微软通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)的长度为 295.1 毫米（11.61 英寸），厚度仅为 5 毫米（0.2 英寸），这使得它与我们见过的其他便携式键盘相似，例如罗技蓝牙发光键盘 K810(Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810) .
Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)可以同时与两个不同的设备配对。据微软(Microsoft)称，通用可折叠键盘(Universal Foldable Keyboard)提供“全尺寸键盘，可实现快速、舒适的打字”("full-sized keyset for fast, comfortable typing")。带有全尺寸键的部分是真实的，我们无法反驳。至于舒适打字的部分，我们将在本次评测的下一部分详细讨论。前方剧透：它不像他们说的那么舒服！
微软(Microsoft)用黑色塑料制造按键，并使用柔软的灰色织物包裹键盘。Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)还可以防止意外溅水。但是键盘不是防水的——如果你把一整瓶水洒在上面，键盘很可能会停止工作。但是，它应该能够承受例如几滴雨。
在支持的操作系统方面，微软通用折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)正式兼容Windows 8至Windows 10、Mac OS X 10.7 至 10.10、Android 4.4.4至 5.0 和 iOS 7 至 9。除此之外，我们可以证明微软通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)还适用于运行Windows 10 Mobile、Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow 和 Amazon(Marshmallow and Amazon)的Fire OS 4.5.5.1的设备。我们自己测试过，效果很好。
使用Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)
我们希望我们可以说我们喜欢使用Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)，但不幸的是我们不能。键盘本身在某些方面非常好，但它的整体可用性并不是很好。
从好的方面来说，不同设备之间的配对和切换很容易。Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)具有两个专用键，用于与其配对的两个蓝牙设备。(Bluetooth)您会在键盘的左上角找到它们，在配对设备之间切换所需要做的就是按下其中一个键。
我们也喜欢微软(Microsoft)包含一个操作系统(operating system)切换键的事实。它被称为 “操作系统”("OS")，位于键盘的右上角(right corner)。根据智能手机或平板电脑(smartphone or tablet)上安装的操作系统(operating system)，您可以使用此按键开关更改特殊按键的工作(keys work)方式。特殊键是指键盘的媒体键、Home键、Search键和Lock键。我们在Windows 和 Android 设备(Windows and Android devices)上使用了Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)，并且这些特殊键始终按预期工作。
设置键盘是一件容易的事，也是我们喜欢微软通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)的部分。但这是我们不喜欢使用它的地方：
- 此键盘不适用于长时间打字。为什么？可能是因为它是可折叠的。这意味着当你打开它并尝试在上面打字时，你必须适应左右手键之间的大间隙。把你的手放在这个键盘上根本感觉不自然。而如果你是一个打字员，而且你在按下按键时通常不看按键，你会觉得你已经进入了但丁地狱(Dante)的(Inferno)第九圈(Ninth Circle)！
- 有些键比其他键大，这使事情变得比应有的更难。例如，T 和 N 键比全尺寸键大，而大多数标点键更小。为什么T 键(T key)会比Enter 键(Enter key)大？
- Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)应该是一种便携式键盘，您将主要在旅途中使用。不幸的是，您将无法在膝上使用此键盘……因为它会折叠。因此，它的移动性受到严重阻碍。您需要一张桌子或书桌才能有效地使用它。
另一方面，我们用我们的一些设备测试了Microsoft 通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)，并且每次都运行良好。我们将它与运行Android 6.0.1的(Android 6.0.1)摩托罗拉 Nexus 6(Motorola Nexus 6) 、运行Fire OS 4.5.5.1的Kindle Fire HDX 平板电脑、运行(Kindle Fire HDX tablet)Windows 10 Mobile的诺基亚 Lumia 930(Nokia Lumia 930)、无名Windows 8.1平板电脑以及传统桌面 Windows(desktop Windows 10)配对并使用10个人电脑。键盘与所有这些设备配合得很好，我们所说的很好是指配对、连接、设置特定的操作系统键盘布局(system keyboard layout) 所以。除了快速打字，我们可以做任何我们想做的事情。
判决
微软通用可折叠键盘(Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard)是一款对比鲜明的 蓝牙键盘。(Bluetooth keyboard)它背后的想法很棒，设备看起来不错，携带非常方便，并且与多种类型的设备和操作系统兼容。但是，它有一个重要的缺点：它不适合长时间、高效的打字会话，而且除了桌子和桌子等稳定的表面外，你不能用它在膝盖或其他地方打字。习惯这个蓝牙键盘(Bluetooth keyboard)需要很长的时间和精力(time and effort)，即使你习惯了它，你仍然不会像使用其他蓝牙键盘(Bluetooth keyboard)时那样高效，包括微软制造的型号(Microsoft). 我们只向那些优先考虑移动性而不是生产力的人推荐它。
Reviewing the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard - A device filled with good intentions
In the modern era of computers, everything gets morе and more mo bile each year. Whether Microsoft initiated or only followed this trend is a mаtter of debatе. However, during recent years they rеleased more than a few mobile hardware devices that are targeted at mobile users who want to be productіve whіle on the go. Such a device is the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard, a highly portable keyboard that is designed to work with smartphоnes, tablets, 2-in-1 devices and any other сomputer with Bluetooth connectіvity. We have used and testеd the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard for a few days, both on our desks and on the go, and now we'd like to tell yоu aboυt our experience, in this revіew:
Unboxing the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard
The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard comes in a glossy, premium-looking cardboard box. If you're curious to see what the keyboard looks like, you can see a picture of it on the top of the package, as well as an actual size print of the keyboard, in folded position, on the right side of the box.
The packaging uses a magnetic closure so, in order to open it, all you have to do is drag and lift up the right side of the box, just like you would open a book. It's quite a nice detail which makes for a very pleasant unboxing experience.
Inside the box, you'll find the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard in its folded position, together with a Micro USB cable for charging it, the product manual and the warranty. Another nice touch is that, on the inside of the top cover of the box, you'll find printed a quick user guide. This simple user guide is all you need to quickly set up your new Bluetooth keyboard.
Design and hardware specifications
The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard can be used with smartphones, tablets and any computer that has Bluetooth support. Hence the universal part of the keyboard's name, although Microsoft advertises this keyboard as being created especially "for your tablet and smartphone".
And we can see why: when you fold this keyboard it measures onl y 147.6mm (5.8 inches) in length, 125.3mm (4.9 inches) in width and it has a thickness of only 11.5mm (0.45 inches). These dimensions are small enough to make it fit into a larger pocket, right next to your 5 inch smartphone. Or, you can slip it into your purse or backpack, next to your tablet. The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is also lightweight and, based on m y not so trustworthy kitchen scale , it weighs about 200 grams (~7 ounces).
When you unfold it, you turn on the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard. There's no power switch and you don't need one either. The keyboard uses built-in magnets to keep itself closed, or folded if you want. When it's open, the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard has a length of 295.1mm (11.61 inches) and a thickness of only 5mm (0.2 inches), which makes it similar to other portable keyboards we've seen, like the Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810.
The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard can pair with two different devices at the same time. According to Microsoft, the Universal Foldable Keyboard offers a "full-sized keyset for fast, comfortable typing". The part with the full size keys is true and we can't argue with that. As for the part about comfortable typing, we'll talk about it a bit more in the next section of this review. Spoilers ahead: it's not as comfortable as they say!
Microsoft built the keys from black plastic and used a soft gray colored fabric to wrap the keyboard. The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is also built to resist to accidental water spillages. But the keyboard is not waterproof - if you spill an entire bottle of water on it, the keyboard will most likely stop working. However, it should be able to withstand a few drops of rain, for instance.
In terms of supported operating systems, the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is officially compatible with Windows 8 through Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.7 through 10.10, Android 4.4.4 to 5.0 and iOS 7 through 9. Besides these, we can testify that the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard also works with devices running on Windows 10 Mobile, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and Amazon's Fire OS 4.5.5.1. We tested it ourselves and it worked well.
Using the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard
We wish we could say that we enjoyed using the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard, but unfortunately we cannot. The keyboard itself is very nice in some aspects, but the its overall usability is not great.
On the bright side of things, pairing and switching between different devices is easy. The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard has two dedicated keys for the two Bluetooth devices to which it is paired. You'll find them on the top left side of the keyboard and all you have to do to switch between the paired devices is to press one of these keys.
We also like the fact that Microsoft included an operating system switch key. It's called "OS" and it's found on the top right corner of the keyboard. Depending on what the operating system installed on your smartphone or tablet is, you can use this key switch to change how the special keys work. By special keys, we are referring to the keyboard's media keys, the Home key, the Search key and the Lock key. We used the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard with Windows and Android devices, and these special keys have always worked as expected.
Setting the keyboard was the easy part and the one we liked about the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard. But here's what we didn't like about using it:
- This keyboard is not made for long typing sessions. Why? Probably because it's foldable. That means that when you open it and you try typing on it, you must adapt to the large gap between the left and right hand keys. Keeping your hands on this keyboard simply doesn't feel natural. And if you are a touch typist and you don't usually look at the keys when you press them, you will feel like you've reached the Ninth Circle of Dante's Inferno!
- Some keys are larger than others and that makes things harder than they should be. For instance, the T and the N keys are larger than full sized keys, while most of the punctuation keys are smaller. Why would the T key be larger than the Enter key?
- Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is supposed to be a portable keyboard that you will use mostly when you're on the road. Unfortunately you won't be able to use this keyboard on your lap… because it folds. Therefore, its mobility is severely hindered. You need a table or a desk in order to use it productively.
On a different note, we tested the Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard with a few of our devices and it worked great every time. We paired and used it with a Motorola Nexus 6 running on Android 6.0.1, a Kindle Fire HDX tablet running Fire OS 4.5.5.1, a Nokia Lumia 930 with Windows 10 Mobile, a noname Windows 8.1 tablet, and with a traditional desktop Windows 10 PC. The keyboard worked great with all these devices and by great we mean pairing, connecting, setting the specific operating system keyboard layout and so. We were able to do anything we wanted on it except fast typing.
Verdict
The Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard is a Bluetooth keyboard with many contrasts. The idea behind it is great, the device looks good, it is very easy to carry and it's compatible with many types of devices and operating systems. However, it has an important downside: it's not great for long, productive typing sessions and you can't use it to type on your lap or other places except stable surfaces like tables and desks. Getting accustomed to this Bluetooth keyboard requires a long time and effort and, even after you get accustomed to it, you still won't be as productive as you are when using other Bluetooth keyboards, including models that are manufactured by Microsoft. We recommend it only to people who prioritize mobility over productivity.
