<<Gmail has long had keyboard shortcuts, though learning them can be difficult. Enter the Gboard, a specialized mini-keyboard for Google's e-mail service. It debuts this Friday at an asking price of $19.99. >>

This is not a product from Google by the way.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-10409035-248.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

http://www.gboard.com/

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20091203/gboard-1_540x360.jpg

<<Using the main keyboard and Gboard keyboard together in this way to use Gmail even faster!>>

Hmmm or just using your regular keyboard would be cheaper and quicker. You can either spend $20 and have this on one computer (or have to carry it around) or learn a few keyboard shortcuts.

The strange thing about it is that, in order for it to become truly productive, one would have to tactilely [tangibly] memorize placement of individual function-keys, and then use them pretty constantly and without errors. Ergo this "comes with" quite a steep learning curve.

Also, if one is using Gmail (or anything else) to such an extent that it'd require extra input hardware, then memorizing the single "Shift-?" command to the shortcut list would be far simpler. But what do I know of how gadget-fanatics ?think?. They only see another gizmo to put on their way-KEWL desks, and, at $1 a key, it's practically a steal as well!