Sandberg intros wireless keyboard / touchpad combo for HTPCs

Wireless keyboards with built-in pointing devices are usually pretty ugly, and Sandberg's new HTPC-oriented keyboard is no exception: sure, the dedicated Media Center Keys and 32-foot range are nice, but that two-tone color scheme is straight out of 1987. Plus, check the placement of the Media Center button -- yeah, that'll never get accidentally pressed. On the plus side, it's just £49 ($97), so you'll have plenty of scratch left over for fiber-optic lights and white shag rugs.

[Via Bios]

[andres @ Jul 25th 2008 10:47PM]

wow, next time i have some free money i might look into this.

[coffee @ Jul 28th 2008 1:00PM]

the all-black Logitech PS3 Mediaboard (the newer one) works great with Vista Media Center. It's a touch more expensive, but has great range and the batteries last a long time. You can remap the PS3 keys to anything else you want, including the "windows" button.

[Courtney White @ Jul 25th 2008 10:54PM]

Actually, I've been looking for a HTPC Keyboard and mouse. This doesn't look too bad.

[adam @ Jul 25th 2008 11:23PM]

i agree. engadget´s just a mean bully.

this doesn´t look that bad (albeit terrible place for media center button)

[Davedrastic @ Jul 26th 2008 12:49AM]

Yeah - engadget is far too mean alot of the times. 2 tone straight out of the 80s'? Where did that come from. There's loads of 2 tone products, god what isn't - and it's not an 80s' thing anymore than it is a 90s' or 00 thing. Just being mean for the sake of it. I really don't understand the vile that comes out when reviewing some of the cheap PMPs' - they go way over board on some which in my mind look perfectly reasonable. We're not all Apple afficianados you know.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 26th 2008 7:23AM]

Yeah seriously. Next thing you know they are going to start criticizing peoples clothes, etc.


ENGADGET, I think it's YOUR taste that sucks, not the keyboards design.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jul 25th 2008 10:57PM]

Looks like a complete ripoff of the Microsoft Entertainment Desktop 7000/8000.

Which also has a mouse/trackpad built in...

[quomen @ Jul 25th 2008 10:59PM]

Buy a Dinovo Edge.

TODAY!

[andres @ Jul 25th 2008 11:09PM]

why not tomorrow, which is always a day away

[quomen @ Jul 25th 2008 11:50PM]

DON'T BUY IT! I MADE A MISTAKE.

[dennis @ Jul 26th 2008 12:05AM]

Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I love you, tomorrow,
You're always a
Day
A-
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy

[El Taco @ Jul 27th 2008 7:41PM]

dennis you have a great singing voice

[e_rocm @ Jul 25th 2008 11:00PM]

OK, Mr. Negativity. I think it looks pretty nice. Weird place for the Media Center Button though.

[Metkis @ Jul 26th 2008 5:23AM]

It's because of the lack of an aluminum frame and Apple logo.

[derspiess42 @ Jul 26th 2008 1:48PM]

Agree on both counts. When I was looking for an HTPC keyboard, this is pretty much what I was looking for. I ended up having to settle for a pointing device that is about the size of a damned pencil eraser. Took me weeks to get the hang of using it

[steven @ Jul 25th 2008 11:07PM]

yea i dont mind the color scheme, although the buttons on the left could be made to function/look cooler

[Joe H @ Jul 25th 2008 11:11PM]

Agreed, Dinovo Edge is the best.

[Kieran @ Jul 25th 2008 11:24PM]

Does that not seem rather expensive to anyone else? I don't check the keyboard market everyday but I've seen wireless keyboard and mouse combos from no-name companies like this go for about £20 in some places, surely added a touch pad can't add £30.

Also the Media Center button would be fine with me, I never seem to touch that part of my keyboard at all but ti would still be within easy reach of my thumbs (need it be, not sure what it would actually do if I pressed it as I'm not as priveledged to have one on my keyboard. Most of the time this keyboard would probably be on your lap or coffe table anyway, so your wrists would be raised.

[Ethyriel @ Jul 26th 2008 3:51AM]

If it stays connected reliably and has crisp key travel, not at all.

[George McLachlan @ Jul 26th 2008 11:46AM]

Colour scheme from 1987? As I remember 1987 just about everything was beige.

[Wwhat @ Jul 26th 2008 5:31PM]

Yeah never saw something from the 80's even remotely like this.

[bytepusher @ Jul 26th 2008 12:22AM]

For the love of christ won't someone please make a wireless keyboard with a Thinkpad style nipple?

[Alex @ Jul 26th 2008 3:23AM]

Errrrrrr.....

I have this keyboard in my lounge for my HTPC, works pretty well, mine is branded under Nexos http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135103 £19.99! And let me tell you, I have never once knocked the MC button. The touchpad is pretty decent too, tho the lack of \ next to Z is annoying and I can't be bothered to figure out a workaround lol

[Samo @ Jul 26th 2008 8:06AM]

Thanks for the heads up!

[pablo @ Jul 27th 2008 8:48AM]

yer i have the keyboard too for my media centre and it does the job gr8! from ebuyer too so cant argue with it only been £20!!

[James @ Jul 26th 2008 4:23AM]

how can this work for someone who is left-handed? the mouse is on the right hand side.... unless I'm the only person who prefers using a mouse with my stronger hand.

[kurosawa @ Jul 26th 2008 7:54AM]

I was thinking the same thing. Companies typically ignore the left-handed customers. The reason i refuse to buy any logitech mice is because i simply cannot use them.

Looks like i wont be getting this keyboard either.

[wunch @ Jul 26th 2008 3:44PM]

You actually use both hands for this: right hand for trackpad movement, and left hand for mouse clicks (buttons are to the left of the keyboard). I'm a lefty, too, and although I usually mouse left-handed, this setup works fine (I have the Microsoft 7000) for periodic usage. Really, the trackpad is most useful when you just need to use it briefly; if you're going to do some extended mousing, a dedicated wireless mouse is much better (the 7000/8000 comes with one).

I agree about the Logitech mice. I prefer the approach Razer takes, making 90% of their mice ambidextrous.

[seye @ Jul 26th 2008 9:10AM]

Just bought a diNovo mini. It's small and beautiful.

[Wwhat @ Jul 26th 2008 5:30PM]

And extremely ridiculous expensive, cheaper to buy an iphone and use it as a remote.
Shit I was tricked into saying iphone.

[Justin @ Jul 26th 2008 11:09AM]

I'm straight out of 1987, but I like to think I'm pretty dang fly!!!!

[Justin F @ Jul 26th 2008 11:10AM]

Damn, I'm straight out of 1987 but I think I'm pretty damn fly, Engadget!!!!

[Martin Millmore @ Jul 26th 2008 11:47AM]

I bought one of these at ebuyer a few months ago for £18. Don't spend £49!!!

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135103

[Darren Tilley @ Jul 26th 2008 3:52PM]

I prefer Microsoft's take on the media center keyboard.

It has a lenovo-style nipple instead of a trackpad though.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/images/gallery/hardware/RemoteKeyboard_lg.jpg

[tekman94 @ Jul 27th 2008 10:02AM]

I'll have to agree with you there. This Sanddune one, or whatever the company is called, is nice, but the microsoft one looks a bit better and more usable.

[El Taco @ Jul 27th 2008 7:40PM]

please ban him engadget

[bernard @ Jul 27th 2008 8:17PM]

straight-up rip-off of the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000

[DKDiveDude @ Jul 28th 2008 9:23AM]

Any dealers in US for the Nexos version?