Interacting with HTPCs: IOGEAR and SIIG Options Reviewed
by Ganesh T S on March 2, 2014 1:00 PM ESTComparisons & Concluding Remarks
The pros and cons of each of the keyboards being considered today have already been outlined. In order to make comparisons easier, we have drawn up the table below comparing the features and specifications of each unit. I usually prefer to include hard benchmark numbers while presenting reviews, but evaluating input devices is more of a subjective exercise. Hence, the various keyboards are given some subjective scores for certain metrics.
| HTPC Keyboards - Specifications & Features | ||||
| Aspect | Logitech K400 | IOGEAR GKM561R | SIIG JK-WR0412-S1 | SIIG JK-WR0312-S1 |
| Device Type | Keyboard + Touchpad / 2-button | Keyboard + Trackball / 2-button + Scroll wheel | Keyboard + Trackball / 2-button + Scroll wheel | Keyboard + Touchpad / 2-button |
| Dimensions | 13.94" x 5.35" x 0.94" | 14.125" x 6.5" x 1.5" | 13.6" x 6.3" x 1.8" | 12.125" x 8.75" x 0.625" |
| Weight | 0.79 lbs / 360 g | 1.26 lbs / 572 g | 1.2 lbs / 544 g | 1.4 lbs / 646 g |
| Power Source | 2x AA | 2x AA | 2x AA | 2x AAA |
| Communication | RF 2.4 GHz / USB Receiver | RF 2.4 GHz / 78 channels (auto channel hopping) | RF 2.4 GHz / 80 channels (no explicit channel hopping) | RF 2.4 GHz / 80 channels (no explicit channel hopping) |
| Power Saver | Explicit On / Off Switch | Explicit On / Off Switch | Auto Sleep | Auto Sleep |
| Extra (Multimedia) Keys | 4 | 8 | 14 | 8 |
| USB Receiver Storage Compartment | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Backlight | No | No | No | No |
| Keyboard Layout | 8 / 10 | 6 / 10 | 5 / 10 | 6 / 10 |
| Ergonomics | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Build Quality | 7 / 10 | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| MSRP (USD) | $39.99 | $49.95 | $59.99 | $69.99 |
| Warranty | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years | 3 Years |
As evident from the table above, it is difficult to declare one particular unit as the best HTPC interfacing option out there. All of the presented units could do with an upgrade to operation in the 5 GHz band. The IOGEAR GKM561R could really do with a better keyboard layout and proportionately sized keys. It also needs a left click button on the top frame near the trackball. The SIIG JK-WR0412-S1 and JK-WR0312-S1 need to both improve upon the keyboard layout (particularly the location of the Ctrl and Fn keys). Automatic channel hopping could also help with range issues. The trackball version (JK-WR0412-S1) needs standard sized keys and a trackball of better quality. The touchpad version (JK-WR0312-S1) needs quieter mouse buttons as well as a larger touchpad area. The units missing an explicit on/off button would do well to integrate one.
Moving forward, we are looking to reviewing more options in this particular niche. If there is any particular model that you would like us to review, please sound off in the comments.
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Aikouka - Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - link
I use a Logitech MediaBoard Pro, which was originally designed for the PS3. It has a trackpad, physical on-off switch, and the best aspect for me is that it uses Bluetooth for connectivity. I use it on my NUC, which means I don't take up one of the valuable two rear USB ports on some wireless dongle. The only downside is that the keyboard lacks a Windows key since it was originally designed for the PS3.jensend - Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - link
Why aren't there any Bluetooth Low Energy/ Bluetooth Smart keyboards? Somebody showed a paper-thin one last year as a tech demo, but that's it.I'd imagine that lower energy use would be worth going for in a keyboard. The connection latency is low enough you can leave it idling in an unconnected state when not typing and still get good responsiveness for the first keystroke. Bluetooth Smart may be 2.4GHz but its frequency hopping is much smarter than most non-standard RF peripherals. Gigabyte's BRIX systems come with BT4 built in, while it's cheap and easy to install it in the NUC, and not so hard to put it in any HTPC system.
Imaginer - Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - link
As much as the keyboards with built in trackballs are nice in having one periphery device (instead of two with a cordless keyboard and trackball), the ball on the built in all in one keyboards are small.Small so that there is still A LOT of work in manipulating the pointer on HTPCs. You can forget about gaming with it, since your thumb would be doing more work to position the ball (even accounting for speed settings).
The smallness of the ball, is to account for the compactness of the device. Great, if you occasionally point.
The trackpads, are more of a compact design in a three dimensional space (still space taking in the 2D plane). Basically, your TV and HTPC interfaced like a laptop.
I will say this as an HTPC user. The keyboard is great for searching for text entry. The HTPC CAN be great for a work environment (properly matching your seating distance, your TV viewing size aperture, and the TV's resolution and scaling of elements with all of the factors in balance). It is possibly my preferred method (keyboard in lap, my trackball to the side) with no harsh edges or even levitating my arms for a desk.
A Logitech K800 and a M570 is my setup. both arms and hands naturally rested and not gripping (like the built in trackballs on the right side on some of those keyboards) for prolonged input of pointing or typing. The downside, is that there are two devices to account for. Most of the time however, the M570 sees more use on an HTPC setup so it can be paired down to one device (especially with the virtual on screen keyboards of Windows 7 and 8 OS areas, more so with 8).
sergekarramazov - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
it seems that nobody heard about the new logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard. I saw many references about the k400 (that i personaly owned) but nothing about this Harmony keyboard. It's much more expensive than the k400 but with all the functions of an harmony remote : http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/harmony-smar...widescreen - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
I've been using the K400 for a while on an old HTPC using XBMCbuntu and it worked great. Now I just switched to a NUC i3 haswell running Openelec and the range is terrible. Like 3 ft max. In openelec or in the bios, same thing. Plugged it into my laptop running Win7 and range was fine.Haven't tried in windows on the NUC yet to check if it's software or hardware related.
rahnold - Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - link
Apple Wireless Keyboard + Apple Magic Trackpad + Twelve South MagicWand?mrdanno - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
GREAT article! I've been trying to replace my Dinovo Edge forever...left click died ages ago, right click a year after that...but it's still a slick, rechargeable, backlit wireless keyboard & touchpad combo. I cannot believe Logitech has nothing that replaces it properly...I'd like something to do plenty of typing, gaming too...just a full-sized keyboard, that can be backlit, and has some form of touchpad/trackball/etc... I can use a wireless mouse for gaming, as I do now, so the touchpad just needs to be for casual use. Basically I'd like a new Dinovo Edge for less than a king's ransom, why is that so hard to find??
JaLooNz - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
Why not review the Thinkpad Trackpoint Bluetooth keyboard? Seriously I feel that trackpoint is better than any touchpad.mikato - Friday, March 7, 2014 - link
Personally I love my Logitech K400. I got it for $15 refurb on newegg. It is just what the doctor ordered for couch-HTPC-surfing. I bought it even though we already have a really nice K800 keyboard and G-series gaming mouse for gaming wirelessly and it was a great purchase.coolhund - Monday, March 10, 2014 - link
Tried several of those, incl. the diNovo mini. All were very unreliable or far too huge and the diNovo even had some keys not getting recognized after a while amongst other glitches.Then I bought 2 Riitek ones: http://www.riitek.com/product_Info.asp?id=81 & http://www.riitek.com/product_Info.asp?id=77 and never looked back. They have been working for over 3 years now.