Interacting with HTPCs: Adesso Keyboard Options Reviewed
by Ganesh T S on October 22, 2014 8:00 AM ESTAdesso SlimTouch WKB-1200
The SlimTouch WKB-1200 is a wireless keyboard / mouse combo. It is unlikely to act as a traditional HTPC interaction option in the living room because of the separate keyboard and mouse components. However, it has the potential to be used in dorm rooms with desktop PCs which double as media consumption units. The sleekness and size of the keyboard are its main plus points. Adesso is quite clear that the main target market for this device is users who are frequently on the go and prefer separate keyboard and mouse units for interacting with PCs at different locations.
The keyboard and mouse use 2x AAA batteries each and operate in the 2.4 GHz range for a 30 ft. range. The stainless steel back and edge-to-edge design of the keyboard give it a premium look. The scissor-switch keys are a pleasure to type on. They keyboard itself is quite slim (4.5 mm / 0.2") and the batteries are accommodated in a bulge at the top (which gives the keyboard an ergonomic raise). Pretty much the only downside of the WKB-1200 is the squished nature of the arrow and shift keys as well as the out-of-place backslash key. These create a slight learning curve for users coming from traditional keyboards.
The optical mouse has a 1000 DPI resolution and, like every other combo device, uses the same USB receiver as the keyboard. The scroll wheel in the middle can also act as a middle mouse button. Like the keyboard, the mouse also has an explicit on/off toggle switch and a 'Connect' button to pair with the USB receiver. Unfortunately, the build and industrial design of the mouse don't measure up to the standard set by the keyboard despite the attractive external features.
Unlike the other devices that we have covered in this piece, the WKB-1200 doesn't have a receptacle for the USB key. That said, the most attractive aspect of the unit is its $34 price on Newegg.
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Keisari - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
Sorry but I'm into trackpoints. A wireless Thinkpad keyboard like the current one would be perfect... if only it didn't have island keys.ruthan - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Without back light, im not interested.Imaginer - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Hence I used a K800, with back lighting, that is separate from the M570 I used. With bundles, one has to stick with whatever is bundled out of the offering, which bundled pointer drag and keyboard options in one device may not be desirable.Gunbuster - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
So the Lenovo N5902 Enhanced Multimedia Remote is too small to play in this shootout?EmperorDeslok - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I don't know, i'm curious who makes it for lenovo because it is an awesome little remote i had the older model(with trackball) and just replaced it with the optical one recentlyicrf - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
All of these are much, much larger than I'm interested in for HTPC use. I'm currently using a Logitech Dinovo Mini, which is 6.0" x 3.5". I'm obviously not writing an essay on the thing, but it's plenty to type out the name of a movie or actor, and it doesn't take up much space on the coffee table.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JGU3YA/
If I had to pick one, though, it would definitely be the WKB-3000. I had an old IR keyboard with a large track point style pointer input instead of a track ball, but the pointer top right and buttons top left is an incredibly comfortable way to use the device. It's far more comfortable than rotating the wrist and poking at a touch pad. I think so many people use laptops daily that they've gotten used to touch pads they're infiltrating everything else.
cjs150 - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Best option for me is the Dinovo. A cheaper version is Rii Mini 2.4GHz Wireless Touchpad Keyboard. I use any even cheaper version (bought about 6 years ago from Maplin UK) which has a thumb trackball rather than touchpad with mouse buttons being where you would expect firing buttons on an XBox or pS4 controller - it is about the same size as an Xbox controller. For HTPC use it is a great design (easy to use one handed) - sadly the build quality is poor and the keyboard needs better key rollover function.icrf - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I've got a Rii, too, and that isn't anywhere near as reliable or nice as the Dinovo. Definitely cheaper, though.Gigaplex - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I considered one of those but went with the full blown diNovo Edge as I tend to dual purpose it as a regular keyboard on occasion.JeffFlanagan - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I think the requirement that the mouse should be built into the keyboard is misguided. I've had a home theater for over a decade now, and would find it extremely annoying to have to use a bulky keyboard all the time instead of simply using a mouse to select videos and music. I use a keyboard less than 5% of the time, so why tie the mouse to a keyboard?