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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DIYEyal - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Very interesting product category I haven't looked into before.Found a typo in page 2:
"Adesso's advantage that the kit can operate in one of 8 different frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band"
Should have been "Adesso's advantage that the kit can operate in one of 8 different bands in the 2.4 GHz frequency"
Imaginer - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
The built in balls of the wireless keyboards are tiny, resulting in more thumb action, despite adjustments in acceleration, which can throw off "zeroing" in on your intended click space.That and one cannot game in such a manner, which is a double bonus of an HTPC (but people are thinking HTPCs should only be for media and music).
praeses - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
actually no, it should be in one of 8 different channels in the 2.4 GHz band"omgyeti - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
Those channels are bandwidths centered around 8 different carrier frequencies. So "8 different frequencies in the 2.4GHz band," as it appears in the article is perfectly acceptable.Imaginer - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Why is everyone IGNORING WIRELESS TRACKBALLS?Specifically, the Logitech M570 as a more better means of HTPC control? Coupled with a inexpensive (preferably Logitech with Unifying receiver compatibility) one can have a full keyboard, unhindered in typing with a cursor drag device that is unhindered by any couch or any necessity of using a coffee table,
And it is worlds better than a finite trackpad versus a drag space of a sphere.
nathanddrews - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Did you even read the review? Adesso SlimTouch WKB-3000 features a trackball. The M570 is awesome (we have two of them), but ultimately it's clunky to have two wireless peripherals unless you really need them.We've been using Logitech K400 keyboards (3x) for a couple years now and they have performed flawlessly. They're perfect for navigating the web or XBMC, even some light gaming, but anything involving more than four keypresses gives it trouble. We've only replaced the batteries in one of them in almost three years. $25 is hard to beat. All our HTPC hardware is hidden away behind walls/closets and the keyboards have no problems operating, even with all three going in the house.
I only break out the M570 if I want to play an RTS on the big screen, but it's so rare as to almost never happen. Otherwise, I just play on my gaming rig in the office with a real mouse/KB combo.
Imaginer - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
The trackball in the built in keyboard is smaller, thus more thumb action and need more target "zeroing" if one were to adjust the speed and acceleration to move a great distance to compensate.Bulky? Being separate, one can solely navigate the HTPC for media sans keyboard. The only time I ever use a keyboard for media, is to type in searches. Otherwise, it really is not much used in an HTPC setup.
And gaming, batteries still going strong in the trackball I used. Plus, the built in trackball, leaves your hands in a very uncomfortable playing position. And I also mentioned the built in trackball in a reply of another comment, I meant to be a part of this one since there is no edit feature.
nathanddrews - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I said clumsy, not bulky. Needing to use two separate devices is often enough to dissuade people from using media PCs or HTPCs.We clearly have different expectations from our media/HTPCs and our peripherals. Have you considered duct taping your M570 to a keyboard? :P
Imaginer - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
No because that is UNCOMFORTABLE.My M570 rests to my side, arm relaxed to the side. This is coming from a person that also detests controllers because of the hunched convergence.
SirGCal - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
I have two M570's also, but NOT on my HTPCs (of which I have 3). As they mentioned, we would prefer one-hand operation. I DO have a solution but it's also the best of the bad options. It does work though. What I have is similar to this (but it is different, this might be better/newer): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9S...The HTPC is supposed to be short-access, not accurate (gaming) necessary. And a device like this is super-easy to click on a single file or program to execute and do so with one hand. I have to move my thumb just as much with that device as I do with my Logitech track ball. But in the end it is vastly better either way to have just one device for the HTPC and if you truly feel different, great for you but that's vastly in the minority.