The Perfect Mobile Keyboard for On-the-Go productivity

A mobile keyboard can be the express lane to enhance productivity, but not all keyboards are created equal. Finding one that satisfies your professional needs is a matter of understanding what’s out there and how the various options align with your needs.

Remote and roving workers need all the support they can get, and the right keyboard goes a long way toward enhanced productivity. The truth is that no single keyboard design is perfect for all users. A keyboard is a highly personal peripheral, depending on what you’re using your computer to accomplish. Here, we’ll discuss the challenges of being a mobile worker and finding a portable keyboard that’s perfect for you, enhancing your productivity while you’re on the go!

The Challenges of a Road Warrior

People who travel for work or work remotely increasingly use their electronic devices. BYOD policies are growing as US and European companies adopt them. These companies know that the adoption of BYOD policies is capable of boosting productivity by almost 70%. But some challenges come with working remotely - specifically, cyber security - which must be acknowledged and met.

Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks are one of the road warriors' most pressing concerns in our post-pandemic world. Remote and mobile workers have been burdened with a 238% increase in cyber attacks. Many of them are caused by overlooking the importance of essential system updates.

Remote workers likely need the robust cyber security an office plant boasts. Road warriors may be staying in hotels and using other public networks, which is similarly challenging. Every point of entry represents an opportunity for cyber mischief. And on the road, risky behaviors on the internet can endanger your device and your company’s technological systems. Thankfully, solutions are emerging that companies employing remote workers must implement to mitigate the threat.

Mobile accessories support road warriors, enabling their on-the-go work with the convenience of portable wireless chargers that keep their mobile and other devices juiced up and ready for action, allowing the constant contact and accessibility they need. Keyboards are also a popular mobile accessory, bringing road warriors familiar tactility and ease of communication without “fat finger” getting in the way of business. With all the challenges mobile and remote work present, a keyboard eliminates at least one.

With a wide range of keyboards available, there’s a keyboard for every user under the sun. But which is the perfect mobile keyboard for you, road warrior?

What to Know About Keyboard Configurations

Your first consideration is keyboard size. There are four standard layouts:

1. Compact
2. Tenkeyless
3. Full-size
4. Ergonomic

Compact models are manufactured in varying layouts with the keys closer together. These models are 60% (no function keys, number pad, modifiers, or arrows), 68% (no function keys or number pad), or 75% (includes function keys, arrows, and modifiers but no number pad) the size of standard keyboards. The advantage of the compact style is a more petite presence on your worktop. A compact keyboard lets the mouse be closer to the keyboard, eliminating repetitive motions and reducing tech injuries.

If you don’t require a number pad to the right of your keyboard, the tenkeyless layout may be your perfect mobile keyboard. With all the other standard keys, all that’s missing is the number pad.

Full-size keyboards include a number pad, function and arrow keys, and modifiers.

Commuters can have an ergonomic keyboard in all the previously mentioned keyboard styles. They differ because they’re configured to support your arms, wrists, and shoulders. They provide a curved or two-part keyboard and a slope at the bottom edge, allowing you to type at a more natural angle. This keyboard style is most useful for people who struggle with technology-related physical issues.

Wired vs. Wireless

There’s no question that a wireless keyboard is much more adapted to mobile use, as it’s portable, with no cables to trip over! That said, wireless keyboards use batteries, reducing this type of keyboard’s convenience. Wireless models also aren’t great for gaming due to delayed input.

If you’re on the go, a wireless keyboard is probably your best bet, even considering the battery challenges. A mobile keyboard, like all mobile accessories, is intended to make life easier while you’re out there, and if that means carrying a change of batteries, so be it! But you can get around that with a rechargeable keyboard, eliminating the need for batteries and the possibility of them corroding and harming your keyboard when you need a setback.

If you have a Mac computer, your wireless keyboard will undoubtedly work with it, as mobile keyboards aren’t OS-specific. But if you’re keen on having a Mac layout, Mac-specific keyboards that enhance the input experience are readily available.

Connectivity

Contemporary wireless keyboards include dongles (dedicated USBs) for both Bluetooth and wireless, allowing you to toggle between devices without continually needing to repair. While these keyboards may cost a little more, having that kind of flexibility is just what a road warrior needs!

A dedicated USB dongle provides needed stability, but don’t lose that pre-paired dongle! Also, newer computers may not have more than 1 USB-A port. Sometimes, there aren’t any! This contingency can be remedied by purchasing a hub to accommodate your peripherals.

Even with Bluetooth’s occasional and legendary flakiness, having both dongles is your best bet. You may pay a little more, but if stability matters to you and you’re using more than one device, having both adds an extra layer of workstation stability. And that’s road warrior joy!