Interacting with HTPCs: Adesso Keyboard Options Reviewed
by Ganesh T S on October 22, 2014 8:00 AM ESTFinal Words
Adesso has a number of wireless options for users requiring to interact with PCs. We took a look at three which specifically target the HTPC market and two that target the general PC market, but could find use in certain HTPC scenarios. The following table summarizes the features and specifications of the units that we have looked at today.
| Adesso HTPC Keyboards - Specifications & Features | ||||
| Aspect | WKB-3000 | WKB-4400 | WKB-4000 | WKB-1200 |
| Device Type | Keyboard + Trackball / 2-button + Scroll wheel | Keyboard + Touchpad / 2-button | Keyboard + Touchpad / 2-button | Keyboard + Optical Mouse (2-button + Scroll wheel) |
| Dimensions | 15" x 6.1" x 1.6" | 18" x 6.5" x 0.9" | 11.75" x 8.25" x 0.8" | 14” x 4.3” x 0.2” (K) ; 3.0” x 4.6“ x 1.5” (M) |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs / 680 g | 1.875 lbs / 850.5 g | 1.25 lbs / 550 g | 0.77 lbs / 350 g (K) ; 0.18 lbs / 82 g (M) |
| Power Source | 2x AAA | 2x AAA | 2x AAA | 2x AAA |
| Communication | RF 2.4 GHz / USB Receiver | RF 2.4 GHz / USB Receiver |
RF 2.4 GHz (UB) / Bluetooth (BB) / USB Receivers |
RF 2.4 GHz / USB Receiver |
| Power Saver | Explicit On / Off Switch | Explicit On / Off Switch + Auto Sleep | Explicit On / Off Switch + Auto Sleep | Explicit On / Off Switch |
| Extra Keys | 7 (Multimedia) + 7 (Internet) | 12 (multiplexed with Function keys) | 0 | 12 (multiplexed with Function keys) |
| USB Receiver Storage Compartment | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Backlight | No | No | No | No |
| Keyboard Layout | 7 / 10 | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Ergonomics | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Build Quality | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 (K) ; 6 / 10 (M) |
| MSRP (USD) | $69.99 | $79.99 | $89.99 | $39.99 |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
As outlined in the device-specific discussions, there is scope for improvement in each of them. However, compared to the offerings in the broader market, the Adesso units have a number of attractive features:
- Explicit power on/off toggle switch
- Power conservation via auto-sleep after a certain inactivity duration
- Recessed receptacle on the underside for stowing the USB receiver safely (held by a magnet placed in the receptacle)
- LED indicators for the Num Lock status (useful in cases where the numeric keypad is multiplexed with the traditional keys).
On the other side, Adesso needs to step up quality control and increase the warranty period from 1 year to 3 years (considering that all other vendors out there have a 3 year warranty on the keyboards). Out of the six samples we were shipped, one of them (the SlimTouch 4210) had a faulty touchpad button. The batteries bundled with a couple of the samples had no juice left. In addition, the magnet in the USB key receptacle for the WKB-3000 was missing. All said, these minor annoyances - which should not be a problem for consumers purchasing with warranty - do not prevent us from recommending Adesso units as HTPC interaction options. In our subjective opinion, the WKB-3000 (the trackball keyboard) and WKB-4000BB (the Bluetooth-based keyboard / touchpad combo) merit particular consideration.
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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?