Belkin USB MediaBoard
Written: Mar 31 '01 (Updated Mar 31 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: One touch features enables fast functionality. Relief from much mouse use.
Cons: The USB cord is somewhat short, especially for underdesk drawer use.
The Bottom Line: The "feel" is quite good and the functionality is excellent. I really like the scroll toggle.
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| lucie30's Full Review: Belkin USB Medi |
We tend to take familiar things for granted, and what can be more familiar to the computer user than the keyboard? I had been plodding along with my 10-year-old standard keyboard for so long, that I barely noticed it. Eventually, it started to wear, keys stuck, key labels vanished and the operating system did not always recognize its existence upon boot-up. It was time to replace it. The fancy new wavy models just did not look or feel right to me, but some of the special key features were appealing. Then I stumbled upon the Belkin USB MediaBoard and I immediately realized that here was the best of both worlds. It looked like a keyboard to me, its "feel" was even better than my old one and it had a large number of special buttons designed for just the sort of tasks that I use my computer for.
The first difference between the Belkin and my old keyboard was the interface, this is a USB connection, it went right in to my USB hub up in front of my work area. I did not have to shut down or get to the back of my computer to connect the keyboard. Of course, I cannot type fast enough to utilize all the extra speed of the USB, but the special keys could. Most of these special keys/buttons/switches are located above the traditional function keys. There are five of them just above the F1 to F5 keys. From left to right, they are Menu, Z, Coffee break, Calculator and Xfer, The Menu button brings up the menu from which you may configure the 10 programmable keys. The "Z" button places the system into suspend mode; the coffee break button activates the screen saver mode; the Calculator button displays the calculator and the Xfer button transfers the calculator sum to a worksheet.
There are also 3 buttons to control your sound volume, Mute, Up and Down.
Then on the right side, above the numeric keypad are the 10 programmable buttons. The top five defaults are for the Internet: WWW (brings up the web browser), Back (returns the previous web page), SRCH (search function), Stop (stops loading a web site) and Next (forward to the next page). Just under the Internet buttons are 5 more buttons that in the default mode control your CD-ROM drive. They are Play/Pause; Stop/Eject; Forward; Rewind and Record.
These last 10 buttons are programmable via the aforementioned MENU button. It is amazing how fast you get used to the one button press access provided by these special keys. No need to maneuver the mouse or even use it much.
Alongside the PLUS key on the numeric keypad you will find the SCROLL toggle that vertically scrolls while in Internet Explorer or Office. This is a very handy tool and much better than a mouse.
They keyboard has a detachable wrist rest.
Of course all the standard 104-key keyboard features are present including the Windows key that brings up the START menu for Windows 95/98/Me. Some of the functions of the special keys are not available for NT or windows 2000, but I use it on a Windows 98 machine, so everything works.
The keys are quiet, no clicking noise. The feel is solid and I have been quite pleased with this keyboard for the past month that I have been using it.
The list price is $49.99 and the keyboard has a lifetime warranty, which at my age does not mean much, but should for you youngsters. Best of all, you get that comfort feeling knowing that it is a Belkin product and therefore well made.
Visit their website at www.belkin.com for additional information.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 49
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Epinions.com ID:
lucie30
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Location: A small island in the Intercoastal.
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About Me:
3 University degrees. 30+ years in Electronics R&D. Registered Professional Engineer. Graduated USAF Flying School.
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