Which mini keyboard & mouse to choose for mobile applications for the Linux Pinephone?

Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org

Is the best solution a Pinephone keyboard with PostmarketOS with SXMO?

  • And does an additional Bluetooth mouse not always disconnect?

  • I have chosen postmarketOS for my Pinephone since among the distros which support the PP keyboard and that is postmarketOS, Manjaro Linux, DanctNIX (Arch Linux) and Mobian:

https://pine64.com/product/pinephone-pinephone-pro-keyboard-case/

  • postmarketOS is the one Martin Braam has chosen in several YouTube video demos so I have chosen it as well.
  • But user reported in the Pine64 forum that only one Bluetooth HID device can be connected at a time:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=12973

  • and does a Bluetooth mouse disconnect as well as a Bluetooth keyboard with trackpad we tested?
  • and an usb mouse can only be connected if the PP keyboard is not connected:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18586

  • Zebulon Walton uses a Bluetooth keyboard with trackpad:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=13835

  • But I had issues with this device since it always disconnects:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=16829

  • Is there a user who is happy with Zebulon Waltons Bluetooth keyboard with trackpad?

There are happy users of the PP keyboard, for instance Hook:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=16750

Hook writes:

For whatever it is worth in this context, for PostmarketOS with SXMO, the keyboard works perfectly out of the box.

  • Alt G gets you the third layer symbols on the numerical keys
  • and Pine key & num key gets you the function keys.
  • No mods of any sort required.
  • Being a noob, SXMO was a little challenging, but once you get it, it is perfect for a phone sized device.
  • I just installed nano and away I go.
  • SXMO on a PinePhone makes the phone essentially a terminal with menus and gestures. Very nice.

  • According to what I have learned and mention in this thread, it sould be possible add additionally a Bluetooth mouse to a PP with the PP keyboard.
  • Is there another option to add HIDs?
  • And does the mouse not always disconnect?

  • Is LibreOffice not one of the applications which can be started up on the PP which is one of apps with the most features for the PP and is highly costumizable:

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=16614&page=5

  • But does it make any sense to costumize LibreOffice for the PP without a keyboard with a lot of keys which can be accessed directly without pressing ALT and SHIFT and Control and the Pine key?

  • I studied intensively single board computers and the issues they have with HID devices.
  • One such a device is the Orange Pi 5
  • On my question « Is there a wireless keyboard which works with the Orange Pi 5?» which I wrote to the armbian forum:

https://forum.armbian.com/topic/30167-is-there-a-wireless-keyboard-which-works-with-the-orange-pi-5/

  • forum members posted that they use 2.4 GHz keyboards with trackpads which do not require any driver and work out of the box.
  • One of these devices is the Ri mini 4 which is part of Chris Sherwood (Crosstalk solutions) kit for the Orange Pi 5:

https://kit.co/crosstalk/orange-pi-5

  • The Rii 4 offers Bluetooth and 2.4 Ghz dual mode.
  • It is a keyboard from which Chris Sherwood says it works with the Orange Pi 5.
  • Is it not the best to choose 2.4 GHz with the dongle of the keyboard which does not require any drivers?
  • Did someone get the Rii 4 mini keyboard with 2.4 Ghz dongle get to work with the PP and is happy with it?

https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=18809