Media Centre keyboard recommendations

[WannaNiceCar]

I've tried numerous keyboard solutions in the past, all of which have been lacking in some respect or other, so I am continuing my search for the 'Holy Grail' of media centre keyboards and was hoping that someone might have some good suggestions.

My requirements are as follows:
1. Must be small enough to hold in one hand comfortably (Roughly the size of a TV remote control)
2. Have a good range - All keyboards tried previously with no 'extended range' claims have meant having to sit on the very edge of the sofa to get them to work
3. Would prefer the keyboard to have a touchpad rather than a trackball
4. Must be wireless (Just in case anyone suggested putting a wired keyboard in! :-) )

I have tried a couple of cheap keyboards and as mentioned above the signal strength just isn't quite enough. The only one that has got the range so far is my Logitech Dinovo Edge, which is a really good keyboard but is too heavy / bulky for everyday use.

I have tried a couple of the Rii wireless keyboards http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rii-2-4GHz-Wireless-Keyboa... and love the size of them and the fact that you can get ones that will do a few IR commands as well, but these have always let me down on the range.

The nearest one to my requirements that I can find at the moment is the Logitech K400 http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/product/wireless-tou... but that one seems to get very mixed reviews.

Any suggestions?

[Hargo]

Hi,

I've got the K400. It's pretty good, got a good range and the batteries seem to be lasting a long time. It's about 3/4 the size of a normal keyboard so a bit bigger than the Rii

The touch pad is very good. My only gripe is that the Page Up / Page Down actions require the use of the Fn button which is on the opposite side of the keyboard so it requires both hands.

Got mine from Currys for about £25. They often have them on offer.

Cheers

Al

[mike9009]

Hi

I have used this for a couple of years. Not quite remote sized, but it works really well, the keys are decent and the trackpad is good. Easily works from sofa to telly in our living room (Probably about 12 foot from keyboard to receiver at back of HTPC)

Only slight glitch is the trackpad very occasionally falls over (4 times in two years maybe?). This maybe linked with battery life - but a quick reset usually resolves it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keysonic-ACK-540RF-Wireles...

Mike

[ZesPak]

I've just dropped a little money on this gem:



Microsoft All-In-One Multimedia keyboard.

Great keyboard, very nice to type on (wouldn't mind it for a working keyboard!), huge trackpad,...

Does an amazing job, also on Android devices (USB only though, no BT).

Cannot recommend it highly enough. Only downside I'd say is that it looks quite bland.
I've owned MS gear in the past and it's always top-notch, feels like it could outlast the apocalypse.

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 18th August 09:05

[WannaNiceCar]

Many thanks some great suggestions & info.

All 3 seem to be great for the range issue, it's just a shame that all 3 are a little bit on the large side. I'm not bothered by the useability of the keys as long as I can do minimal typing (website URL's and passwords etc. is about all the small keyboard would be used for, the Logi can be used for any lengthy typing tasks)

Oh well, It looks like I'll just have to keep banging the coconuts together and carry on searching unless anyone has any more suggestions.

[Al K]

I have one of these. Not cheap but it is remote-sized and has good battery & range. Only annoyance is that you can only do right-click with the function key so it's two handed for that.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Al K said:

I have one of these. Not cheap but it is remote-sized and has good battery & range. Only annoyance is that you can only do right-click with the function key so it's two handed for that.

Also got one of these for my media centre. Pretty good so far.

[WannaNiceCar]

Thanks for reminding me about the Dinovo Mini - I had initially discounted it due to it being discontinued with no apparent replacement, but I'm now wondering if it's worth picking one up while there is still some around.

[Derek Smith]

I've got a K400. I would rate it as excellent.

I use it instead of my laptop keyboard/pad, which is poor (Acer Aspire).

I take the K400 around with me and work in coffee shops and such and it gets knocked, dropped from a table once, and yet it still goes on and on. Light on battery.

Thoroughly recommend although a little big for your requirements. That said, its very light. It fits in my laptop bag easily.

[mike9009]

If you have a Windows Phone there is a free app called PC Remote. I haven't used it.

There maybe other alternatives for IOS/ Google devices??

Mike

[WannaNiceCar]

mike9009 said:

If you have a Windows Phone there is a free app called PC Remote. I haven't used it.

There maybe other alternatives for IOS/ Google devices??

Mike

Thanks for that suggestion Mike, unfortunately I have tried numerous phone apps and have found that they are nowhere near as good as a physical keyboard for a few reasons:

1. Apps are no use for guests (unless I install the app onto everyone's phones - imagine the chaos that would ensue when everyone's had a few drinks!)

2. I use a combination of Windows Media Centre, VLC and Plex - Plex only works with cursor keys (None of the phone apps I've tried seem to offer cursor keys when they have the mouse function in them) and VLC and Media Centre are hard to control if the app doesn't give a very smooth and accurate mouse control, unless the remote control app has specific functions for these programs.

3. Slow to gain control - E.G. the phone will have locked itself since it's last use and if you've been into any other apps you have to fire up the remote app and let it connect to the server before you can actually run any controls. (Once connected everything is great)

4. If your mobile is ringing, then you can't quickly pause the playback or mute the sound before answering the call.

[tenohfive]

It's bigger than everything else you've posted, but I've got the silver/slightly older version of this for my HTPC:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keysonic-ACK-540RF-Touch...

It's not light enough to hold in one hand (whilst typing with the other) for short durations but is of a decent size to rest on your knees when you're on the sofa (small keyboards I find can be a bit tricky for this.) The trackpad is spot on and typing is comfortable. I can't comment on range but I've yet to be out of it.

No special media keys etc but I don't need them, 90% of stuff I use the trackpad for anyway. I've dropped it from a great height a few times and lost a couple of keys in the process, so I'll be replacing it with the same again.

[WannaNiceCar]

tenohfive said:

It's bigger than everything else you've posted, but I've got the silver/slightly older version of this for my HTPC:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keysonic-ACK-540RF-Touch...

It's not light enough to hold in one hand (whilst typing with the other) for short durations but is of a decent size to rest on your knees when you're on the sofa (small keyboards I find can be a bit tricky for this.) The trackpad is spot on and typing is comfortable. I can't comment on range but I've yet to be out of it.

No special media keys etc but I don't need them, 90% of stuff I use the trackpad for anyway. I've dropped it from a great height a few times and lost a couple of keys in the process, so I'll be replacing it with the same again.

Thanks for that, but the size is an important factor - I already have the Logitech Dinovo Edge installed and in use for any lengthy typing requirements but I really need a keyboard that is as small as possible for the daily HTPC useage.

I think that the Dinovo mini (discussed earlier) is still too big for my preference but seems to be the best compromise so far.

[onlynik]

ZesPak said:

I've just dropped a little money on this gem:



Microsoft All-In-One Multimedia keyboard.

Great keyboard, very nice to type on (wouldn't mind it for a working keyboard!), huge trackpad,...

Does an amazing job, also on Android devices (USB only though, no BT).

Cannot recommend it highly enough. Only downside I'd say is that it looks quite bland.
I've owned MS gear in the past and it's always top-notch, feels like it could outlast the apocalypse.

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 18th August 09:05

Oh that looks good, thanks, now I've bought one.

[tenohfive]

Spotted these yesterday when looking into replacement options, may be worth a nosy - I dismissed them due to the small size but it sounds like it'd be ideal for you:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/iPazzPort-Wireless-Keyboar...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prod...

[WannaNiceCar]

tenohfive said:

Spotted these yesterday when looking into replacement options, may be worth a nosy - I dismissed them due to the small size but it sounds like it'd be ideal for you:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/iPazzPort-Wireless-Keyboar...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prod...

The iPazzPort keyboard is the same as the Rii one's that I already have, so I know that is no good for my needs but...
The Xebec listed on overclockers looks very promising and it is a very nice price, but the only thing is that the dimensions listed (163mm x 121mm) don't seem to match the photo of someone holding the keyboard (Unless that person has very small hands!) - Does anyone happen to know anything about using these in the real world?

[bulldog5046]

Quick question for those with that good looking Microsoft keyboard.

I bought the K400 the other day and I'm finding when I type I must accidently tap the trackpad and move the cursor so my typing gets screwed. Does this happen with the Microsoft one? It looks a little larger which makes me think this less likely.

[ZesPak]

bulldog5046 said:

Quick question for those with that good looking Microsoft keyboard.

I bought the K400 the other day and I'm finding when I type I must accidently tap the trackpad and move the cursor so my typing gets screwed. Does this happen with the Microsoft one? It looks a little larger which makes me think this less likely.

its quite a bit larger, and feels a lot better made. For similar money, the MS keyboard is a no brainer imho.

[Funk]

WannaNiceCar said:

he only one that has got the range so far is my Logitech Dinovo Edge, which is a really good keyboard but is too heavy / bulky for everyday use.

I love my diNovo Edge (and the MX Revolution mouse I bought to use with it on the desk). I hear what you're saying about weight, it's not a 'one-handed' device but as a multimedia keyboard it is peerless in my opinion. I'll be gutted when this one dies.

[tenohfive]

So what did you end up with?

Since posting a few more drops have killed my Viewsonic keyboard, so I need a replacement. I'm hoping a smaller keyboard will result in it being knocked off the edge of the sofa a bit more.