Logitech cordless MediaBoard USB
Written: Dec 11 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very affordable price. Integrated touchpad
Cons: lacks high end features like backlighting, recharger. Looks plain.
The Bottom Line: very affordable no frills wireless keyboard with integrated mouse. A good deal.
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| wound-up's Full Review: Logitech Cordless MediaBoardâ„¢ (920-000129) Keybo... |
I recently started using my 46" LCD as a computer monitor so I was looking for a practical wireless keyboard for my PC. For non-tabletop work a wireless mouse is not just impractical, but also leads to more expense and another USB port being used. While there are many cordless keyboards, there are fewer selections that have an integrated pointing device. After doing some on-line research I discovered this model and actually found it on sale!
I've been using the keyboard (exclusively) for about 2-3 weeks now and am quite pleased with the purchase. I think some vendors may not be marketing this keyboard properly because it is often advertised in terms of it's Sony Playstation compatibility. I even had trouble finding this product in the store because it was in the gaming section, not the computing section. Just be sure to grab the USB version as there is also a bluetooth version that looks very similar.
Guess what? It works great with my Windows XP unit. Installation was flawlessly plug and play. For CBC (Couch Based Computing) an integrated trackball or touchpad is a must. I had been looking into the Logitech DiNovo Mini and the LogiTech DiNovo Edge and I was surprised to find such a nice unit at a fraction of the price of those units! The keyboard is very light weight, but seems very sturdy. It requires 2 AA batteries to operate. so far in the short time I have had the keyboard I have not had to replace them. There is also a power switch to turn the unit off and a battery LED which I assume indicates when the battery is low.
This unit is not as elegant as Logitech's DiNovo Edge, it does not have a stand or a charging unit, and LOOKS like a computer keyboard and not something out of a Sci-Fi film. The MediaBoard on the other hand is 1/4 the price! As compared to the DiNovo Mini, the MediaBoard lacks a backlit keyboard,, and is, for better or worse, full size (I think I prefer the full size for computing). Once again the MediaBoard is easier on the wallet and comes in at a fraction of the price of the Mini.
There seems to be a lot of discussion of the Edge and Mini and their touchpad devices. Since I do not own either of those products, a comparison is not possible, however I can make a few comments regarding the touchpad. The touchpad seems to respond well, I have no complaints regarding response or sensitivity. It seems a tad bit smaller than my laptops touchpad, but that has not presented me with any problems. The touchpad DOES have the quickscroll function on the right edge of the touchscreen, meaning if you drag your finger along the right edge of the pad you will scroll a Window's page up or down. I do not know if there is a way to turn this feature off (I don't think there is). This feature takes some getting used to, but it does come in handy since you are lacking a scroll wheel when going with a touch pad.
As for range, I have had no problems from the coach to my PC which is about 8 feet away. I have tried it from a distance of over 25 feet and it seems to work fine, I could not try from a greater distance as I would not be able to see the display. Unless your PC is in a different location from your display I cannot see range as being any problem.
If you are willing to fore-go the chic design, recharging and backlight features of the higher end units this is a very practical, affordable alternative.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $38.00
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Epinions.com ID:
wound-up
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Reviews written: 2
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