KB Gear keyboard has Winnie the Pooh give reading...

KB Gear keyboard has Winnie the Pooh give reading lessons

KB Gear Interactive is banking on a captive audience for its Learning Keyboard featuring Winnie the Pooh. And what preschooler can resist the lovable character?

The idea is to entice little ones to the computer. With the included learning software, it just might work. The keyboard plugs into the standard port on a Macintosh or Windows computer. After installing the Winnie the Pooh Ready to Read program (Mac users run the software directly from the drive), children can begin pounding away.

For inspiration, raised Pooh, Tigger and Piglet figures are molded into the keyboard along the top edge. The purple, orange and yellow keys are standard size, and the lettering is in a whimsical font. The QWERTY layout is the same as on keyboards for grown-ups.

Through the hardware-software combination, children can become familiar with the keys as well as learn spelling and phonics through drills and other activities. The $49.99 keyboard becomes less of a luxury item when considering that adults can use it with their programs.

Information: 800-228-0988 or www.kbgear.com.

-- Jean Nash Johnson

Neopoint phone handles PCS Wireless Web service

Sprint PCS' Wireless Web service may be one of the most user-friendly options for those who want to surf the Internet over their mobile phones. Which means, like most cutting-edge telecom services, that it's fun to play with but has bugs.

The service runs on the slick, champagne-tone Neopoint 1000 ($399. Its screen holds several lines of type, and it comes with calendar and phonebook functions.

Toggling a button provides access to Internet news feeds, stock quotes and trading, weather, driving directions, flight schedules and other information.

Sprint tried to pack the service with features intended for mobile users, and the company promises that there's more to come.

One practical feature on the phones now: white and yellow page directories. A reverse lookup feature can help when all you know is the number.

I typed in a friend's phone number and within seconds, the screen showed his name, address and directions to his home. This might make me nervous if the service gave the same information on me. But the database is incomplete.

Typing text on the phone's limited keypad is complicated, and sometimes it takes a while to pull up information.

Sound quality during calls isn't great.

I also had trouble accessing the Internet from my home.

Sprint PCS Wireless Web may be great for early adopters, and with prices starting at $9.99 a month on top of current Sprint voice-calling plans, it's inexpensive enough.

Users who demand perfection might be happier waiting for improvements.

Information: www.sprint-pcs.com or 800-480-4727.

-- Jennifer Files