Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard (Black)
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $135.99 You Save: $44.00 (24%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $65.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard (Black)
Customer Review: Perfect for my needs
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this keyboard because I was looking for something to use for my Home Theater PC. As it's not intended to be used on a desktop, I needed something that was both wireless, and included a pointing device.
This pulls off both of those requirements perfectly. It's also far thinner than what I was expecting to wind up with when I went shopping for a wireless combo, which is perfect for my application.
Installation was 100% plug and play. I inserted the dongle, walked across the room, switched on the keyboard (it has a mechanical power switch on the right edge,) and it was working instantly. I later installed the included software, which gave me the ability to program the buttons and fine tune the mouse, which I didn't feel the need to do.
I read several reviews on various sites condemning the "Touch Disk" for it's inaccuracy and difficulty of use. I find quite the opposite to be true. Yes, it took a couple of minutes to get the hang of it's scroll features, but once I learned how it functions, I find it to be VERY forgiving. As long as you start with a tap on the home point of either the vertical or horizontal scroll, it doesn't really matter much where your finger is, as long as it's moving in a vaguely circular motion. As for accuracy, it's about the same as most other touch pads I've used. It's perfect for navigating websites or operating the computer, precise enough to place a cursor between characters in a document every time, though I'd not recommend it if you're looking for something to do graphic design work or FPS gaming. One possible weakness/possible strength, depending on your point of view, is that the mouse buttons below the touch pad are a little less sensitive that I'd like, given their size. You have to be very deliberate when operating them. Of course, this also means that accidental clicks are less likely. Pressing the "Fn" key will reveal an ON/OFF above the mouse buttons that will turn the touch pad and touch sensitive volume control on and off.
The volume control is very responsive, but operates more like a volume wheel rather than a fader (which I would prefer.) It seems to require about three strokes of the control to traverse the entire range of the fader in Windows' "Volume Control."
As for the Fn keys, despite other reviews, F1-F4 and F9-F12 are programmable. Only F5-F8 are locked, and they function as the typical media function keys (play, pause, rewind, etc.)
I miss the number pad, but I can do fine without it. Then again, I learned to type when changing fonts meant changing the daisy-wheel. :)
The rest of the keyboard is just fine. It's quiet, and the keys have a shorter throw than what I'm used to (I'm not a laptop user), but I can type quickly and accurately with it.
Overall, I'm 100% satisfied.
Customer Review: Great Keyboard
Summary: 5 Stars
My last keyboard was a diNovo multimedia keyboard, numeric pad and mouse combo. It was a very good board but not made to the same caliber as this one.
In construction this one is really second to none. Some have said there were some fit problems but my board arrived in perfect order. It looks and feels substantial. This board will not slide around on your desk. Where you put it is where it will stay.
Setup was a breeze and typying is pure pleasure. The key resistance is perfect not to light as to give no feedback and not to heavy as to make your fingers fatigue. Logitech must have done a lot of research on this board and on it primary typing function and it shows. I have never typed on a more perfect board.
Orange lights light keys when they are pressed. In my opinion this is more gimmick than anything else. But it is cute for the first day or so when you are using the board. The board is lightly programmable which is frustrating. Functions like single key strokes to bring up My Computer or My Document folder have been eliminated and in their place are four programmable Function Keys. I can live with that but it would have been nice if I could place these programmed keys as a default instead of constantly having to press the FN shift key and then the appropriate Function Key to get the response I want. Probably this only bugs me since I am used to their previous diNovo model which had a toggle for this default.
One thing that bears mentioning is the Touchdisc. It is a pad that takes over your cursor control and it is fabulous. It has eliminates constant mouse usuage and keeps your hands on the board. Why Logitech doesn't make more noise regarding this little gem is beyond me.
Another thing is the aluminum fronted palm rest. Perfectly designed with the right slant to support your hands and keep them in the right position for typing. The added benefit is that it almost always remains cool to the touch which, and this might sound touchy feely, soothes your hands. If I were Logitech I might have called it the strip the palm spa. OK maybe I wouldn't have but it sure feels good.
The board is solid and performs impeccably.
Worth every penny.
Note: Since writing this review I have gone onto the Logitech forum which does mention an erratic volume control on this keyboard. It is being postulated that it may be ambient light, interference from speakers or monitors or a bad charging station that may be the cause. I have not experienced the problem yet however if you are thinking about this board you may be well advised to check the Logitech forum before purchase.
The volume control and TouchDisc can be disabled using the Function Lock key and Off combination however that is not a solution for a board that costs this much.
Customer Review: A Great Keyboard; Just Not For $139
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a great keyboard. I have had it a few days and am impressed by how convenient everything on the keyboard is. I had written a review for this product but have since decided to reformat it for an easier read and a more in depth look at the product. I will begin this review by pointing out pros and cons.
Pros:
-Its Logitech
-Wireless
-Touch Mouse on keyboard
-Joy to type on
-Stylish
Cons:
-Lack of back-lighting
-Overpriced
-Connection to computer isn't consistent
Its Logitech. What more really needs to be said? Logitech backs there products with great tech support (I have experienced this support with past Logitech Harmony remotes) and they are built to last.
A wireless keyboard is incredible and a must have for a computer. This keyboard is solid in this department with one minor flaw. In the 4-5 days I have used this keyboard, it has disconnected for no apparent reason 4 or 5 times. After it disconnected, I had to unplug the receiver from the computer, plug it back in and reconnect the product. Some times this wouldn't work and I had to do some random tinkering before it was usable again. A minor problem but $139 means you shouldn't ever have to worry about this.
The touch pad is actually quite good. It isn't the worlds smoothest touch pad but it is certainly workable and an upside to this keyboard. After i figured out how to scroll consistently, it really improved the experience. The key is after you touch the scroll part of the pad, keep your finger on the pad and go around in circles according to the direction you would like. For some people, this is obvious, for others, not so much.
Typing on this keyboard is great. The smoothness of the keyboard is important to the overall satisfaction of the customer and you wont be disappointed. I love to type now. Emails, reviews (such as this one), Facebook statuses, and more, HERE I COME!!!
For the cons, price is the central negative point. Nowhere is this keyboard advertised as back-lit. Frankly, it should be back-lit. For $139, the keyboard needs back-lit keys. Logitech, SHAME ON YOU for not seeing this. The next version of this keyboard should have back-lit keys.
This keyboard, without a doubt is overpriced. It should be less than $100. Apparently, when it debuted, it was almost $200 which is ridiculous.
Summary: This is a great keyboard but way overpriced. I do recommend this to someone who wants a great typing experience and needs a mouse of the keyboard. But be aware, using this keyboard in a dark area will get you nowhere. If you are like me and looking for a nice product for a media center experience, look elsewhere. This isn't the product for you.
Customer Review: A good professional's keyboard
Summary: 5 Stars
(At the time of writing this review, I've owned this keyboard for about a month now.)
This is definitely a professional's keyboard. It's got a soft enough touch not to cause strain when you're typing for hours, but enough resistance, travel, and sudden reduction of resistance (I forget the proper term for how the key's resistance goes away once you've registered a keystroke) to allow you to type accurately. Being only 11mm tall, you don't need one of those cumbersome wrist rests -- your hands are barely above the table that you're typing on, so your posture is just naturally good. The keys are also a very good size -- I'm a touch typist (not trained; everyone becomes a touch typist if they type enough) and the keys are spaced very well to allow you to touch type without mistakes.
That the keyboard is pretty doesn't need further comment; it's also very solid. The first thing I noticed when I took it out of the box was that the keyboard was really solid. It may not be a cheap keyboard, but it's not made cheaply, either.
Thankfully the included receiver does bluetooth-to-usb conversion, so using the keyboard is simple plug-and-play, at least in Linux. (All of the keys work fine in Linux, there's still a bug in the mouse driver which disables the touch pad, but there will be a fix in USB mouse driver which fixes that, I believe -- a cursory google reveals at least one patch floating around.) I've never tried it in windows (I do embedded development in a Linux environment).
The battery life isn't an issue. Supposedly it can go a whole month on a single charge, but I can't fathom letting it go that long. As other commenters have noted, it looks good so good in its stand that when you finish for the day, you might as well put it there so that you have something pleasing to see when you start the next morning. Even so, I have gone close to a week without recharging it and didn't notice the slightest difference, so I believe the month-on-a-charge claim.
The bluetooth links is very reliable -- I've never missed a single keystroke. The touch-based volume control is really cool, and works quite well.
Oh, one other thing about it I love: instead of using an LED for caps lock, it beeps at you in one tone for turning caps lock on, and in another tone for turning caps lock off. I can't figure out who would use caps lock (and not a number pad) in the modern world, but as long as this mis-feature persists on keyboards, the beeping is extremely helpful for touch-typists who get a little sloppy with the left shift key.
In summary, I highly recommend this keyboard to any professional who can afford good tools. I'm very glad that I bought this keyboard.
Customer Review: Specialized review for PS3 and Linux
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this keyboard instead of Logitech Mediaboard Pro for use on Playstation 3 (80MB with most recent XMB update as of 8/29/08) running Yellow Dog Linux (YDL6.0 also updated on same date). I had several questions about compatibility before making the purchase that I am attempting to answer for others here.
Yes, you can make this keyboard work (typing keys and touchpad) both in the PS3 operating system (XMB) and in YDL6, and you can do both using the PS3's own bluetooth hardware, so you do not need to use the included Logitech dongle (save it for your laptop).
In the PS3 operating system, the keyboard pairs like any other bluetooth device using the System Tools in the XMB. Thereafter, it will work exactly like the Mediaboard Pro, including the F1 and F2 playstation specific functions (they just aren't marked with Playstation symbols like on the Mediaboard Pro). The DiNovo specific features of the touchpad, like scrolling by circling the disc, also work as they should.
In YDL6, nothing will work right out of the box without using the dongle. Nevertheless, it is VERY easy (and I am a techno-illiterate) to get the keyboard working without the dongle. There are several on-line tutorals available to assist. Basically, you open a terminal (not as scary as it sounds) then cut/paste some one-line commands into Linux. It is a four-step procedure: Scan for bluetooth devices, write down the MAC address for the DiNovo; instruct Linux to connect with that MAC; and add that connect command into the pre-existing start-up commands for future re-boots. This should literally take ten minutes. Upon subsequent re-boots, you must press the pairing button on the bottom of the DiNovo when you start the boot, and the pairing will occur automatically before the log in screen comes up.
After pairing in Linux, the DiNovo and the Mediaboard offer virtually identical features/functions. The "FN" and F keys are not supported or customizable, and Logitech's SetPoint software will not run in Linux (there are advanced work-arounds for the adventurist). The DiNovo's special feature buttons on the extreme left side of the keyboard will not work. The DiNovo's special touch pad scrolling features will work as they should. At least as far as this system is concerned, you are paying extra for the better typing experience on the DiNovo and its looks. Of course, you can always use the DiNovo with other computers. This is problematic with the Mediaboard because it does not come with a bluetooth dongle or a support CD for Windows users.
I hope this helps.