Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts
By Donald Melanson 
posted November 25th 2009 3:44AM
posted November 25th 2009 3:44AM
A free PDA that came with a magazine subscription in 2002? An early Peek prototype? No, this is the humbly named USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad that's now available from USB Geek, and it just might be the sort of device you never knew you were looking for. As the folks at CrunchGear have noted, while the device is simply being marketed as an all-in-one wireless touchpad and keyboard, it actually has all the makings of an ideal HTPC controller -- not to mention an entirely reasonable price of $62. No multitouch, no LCD -- just a plain old trackpad, a wireless USB dongle, and a QWERTY keypad that should be adequate enough for tweeting your reaction to the TV show remake du jour. Video after the break.
Update: And here comes a review!
Update: And here comes a review!
I don't know why but after watching the video, I want this. Maybe it's because of my Crackberry addiction.
I was about to say the exact same thing. Looks a bit 'meh', but after watching the video, I feel it looks kinda cool.
@ChalupaFiend
I have owned one of these for a little over a month.
First of all I got mine from here ($40):
http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180
No problems whatsoever in dealing with them but then again it was just the one transaction.
Overall impressions: Amazing device for the money.
Remember, the key thing to remember is that for the money, this thing rocks. The keypad is not the best you've ever used and the navigation arrows are positioned strange but these are really easy to get over. The trackpad works splendidly, it does have great range (but I benefitted even more by putting a USB extension cable on the receiver so it wasn't behind my PC). It lights up, charges via miniUSB, the battery lasts a great deal of time, and despite its width and my average sized hands (a bit on the small side really) you can use the mouse trackpad functionality with one hand.
This was my answer to an ATI Remote Wonder that isn't supported on Windows 7. People claim to have gotten old drivers for that remote to work on Win7 but I tried every combo of driver install methods out there to no avail.
If they could combine that little nub-style mouse control that the Remote Wonder had and revamp the layout of the arrow keys this would be amazing.
That being said though, for $40 you will love this thing.
Oh this is cool! Perfect for when I've got the laptop hooked to the TV.
It's so painfully obvious once it's already made. I can hardly believe that this is the first of its kind, not counting apps for smartphones.
First of it's kind? This is an '80 styling of a DiNovo Mini
Not so much...this one has a true touchpad.
The DiNovo Mini has a touchpad, it's just smaller than this one. It doesn't make it any less "true"
@B3astofthe3ast In addition to the Dinovos (even the big one has a touchpad), the PS3 has a wierd version with a thumb-keyboard whose service is touch sensitive as if it were a mouse. Doesn't seem to work well from reviews though.
@B3astofthe3ast
It's sad how slow the HTPC market moves. This is essentially the same (albeit smaller) as the mini keyboard/mouse combo I was using with my first HTPC nearly a decade ago. While it's better than the (ridiculously overpriced) Dinovo mini, it's still just a keypad and mouse. Where are the all-in-one solutions?
Logitech cranks out half a dozen new Harmony models every year, and not one of them does proper keyboard/mouse control. Seriously, it's not that hard to come up with a truly universal remote: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1196532
@GeoDim if they're going to make it that small, with a keypad instead of a full keyboard, i would rather it had some kind of pointer for mousing, sorta like the nipples on some laptop keyboards.
They've had these for a while from Maplin in the UK:
http://maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=264584
very nearly bought one
@Arc007
Great!!! You are my hero..
Maplin branch 5 minutes walk from me, and they are supposed to have 4 in stock. Many thanks for the link. If it works well, it will be perfect for my HTPC.. Way better than the mouse and full sized wireless keyboard set I am currently using. If not, repack and bring back. I have got a lot of garbage from Maplin over the years, so no reservations getting a refund.
I was lusting after one of the little keyboard and touchpad combos from Logitech, but this is actually affordable.
@Arc007 - Typical - ordered from China and thought it was a rare find, then you tell me it's available from Maplins down the road!! :-)
> from Maplin
>If it works well
Have you bought anything from Maplin before?! :)
@Arc007
it's also available at brando, for US$60 (about GB£36), which means just for once Maplin in the UK are a reasonable price with their £10 off deal.
http://usb.brando.com/usb-wireless-handheld-keyboard-and-touchpad_p01297c034d15.html
I wish there was a bluetooth version, then I could use it with my PS3 and Nokia Tablet.
@in5ane
Sadly yes. Usually only in an emergency. And NEVER cables.
I've had one for a while now that I got in Maplins, even mentioned it in comments here at least twice now.
It's OEM name is the Unisen ipazzport.
Make a piece of hardware where I can touch type and move a mouse cursor with one hand. Then I'll be a happy camper. Would really help when I'm trying to do homework, but still want to chat on WLM.
@SDreamer Maybe the same thing but with a candybar phone keyboard?
@SDreamer
My thoughts exactly. I personally want to work on making one honestly, I'm sick of waiting around for products that either don't exist or cost way more than they are worth.
This product here could be made better if the touch pad were dropped, and replaced with either a trackball or a "control nub". I suppose they could be used in a addition to the touch pad, but I'm looking to cut cost and size.
You stick a trackball in the middle of the buttons on this thing and you don't ever have to re-arrange you hands to move the cursor, same concept as the thinkpad/lenovo keyboards. Not to mention it has better control.
the mouse buttons need to be moved underneath too. I don't understand why people don't think of these things.
I want this. It is useful when I carry my all-in-one desktop around but not the keyboard and mouse to save weight.
would be great for the ps3 - especially when it gets a proper browser...
@bigshape the PS3 thumbpad has a touch sensitive surface that acts as a mouse, I understand, though I hear it sucks. The dinovo mini is guaranteed to work with the PS3.
yeah, but the dinovo's over twice as expensive...
@bigshape As a PS3 alternative, wanna try this?
http://kotaku.com/5120585/ps3-keyboard-remote-is-elegant-solution-to-home-chatting
No touchpad, but QWERTY and dual analog.
i looked at that a while back, but the reviews on amazon put me off...
@bigshape Well you know your stuff. I hope our discourse here will be of use to others though.
@YpoCaramel hopefully ;)
from looking on amazon (uk) it looks as if there's a new version of the 3in1 remote available from december... looks a bit more robust than the first effort. although the HTPC controller does look pretty useful, it would certainly be advantageous to have an input devive with dedicated standard buttons for the ps3
What's the range on this thing? It seems like a pretty important factor in deciding its usefulness.
Oh nvm... "up to 30ft". Seems reasonable. Want.
For that price, it's a definite buy for me.
wow, i need this, end of discussion
If this had built in gestures it would be the best control ever
I'll wait until other companies steal their idea and make their own finishing touches to it, then get sued by the original designers and settle for a nice large sum. Ahhh ... capitalism.
Why is this wireless USB (which nearly nobody has) instead of proper Bluetooth HID (which could be used with Notebooks, PlayStation 3 etc)?
@Henning - I'm actually happy it's not Bluetooth. I don't find Bluetooth to be that robust. I have to reconnect my Mouse every few days, and if I try to use a BT headset at the same time as my BT mouse, the cursor goes dancing all by itself. I'm ready to go back to regular wireless mouse with a little dongle.
@Henning
At a guess, because it's cheaper to make a non Bluetooth device. This is not really designed for laptops. And desktops are not usually going to have a Bluetooth link built in, so no real advantage. Bluetooth mice and keyboards also have a bad reputation for being a bit finicky.
The wireless USB is a dongle that links with the keyboard like practically every cordless USB mouse/keyboard, and is included with the device. So everybody who buys one will have wireless USB. Most of the Logitech mice and keyboards are RF instead of Bluetooth.
@Henning It's not [Wireless USB], it has a [Wireless] [USB dongle]
@Henning As above, it's not 'Wireless USB'. It has a USB dongle and the keyboard/trackpad is wireless (uses RF frequencies).
That means it works on anything that supports a USB keyboard. Like the Wii or PS3.
I get what you're saying though, another dongle...
@Henning It isn't Wireless USB, it's RF. Comes with the USB receiver.
What's with scrolling? Does it have a scroll wheel? At the top left corner would be nice. Or on the back, like the good old TH-55.
@microlomaniac
No scrolling. Tried it on both Linux and Windows. Otherwise, not too bad. Keys are a bit small and stiff, but the back light is good.
No scrolling is a dealbreaker to me. Otherwise, I like the idea very much.
I don't think it does use wireless USB. It has a USB dongle that gives a wireless connection - like a wireless (non-Bluetooth) mouse/keyboard.
I'd be impressed if I didn't already do this with my E71.
@Eternity How are you doing this with your E71? I have one of those, but without a touchscreen I don't see how I could use it to control my HTPC.
You are going to need a mac or windows machine with bluetooth support.
I can't post more than 3 links so:
Use this Keyboard script for windows:
http://www.salling.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6527&highlight=e71
Here's the s60 client for the phone:
http://www.salling.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6989&highlight=e71
Here's the mac script for keyboard (Mouse is supported out of the box)
http://www.salling.com/forums/download.php?id=743
Go to www.salling.com/clicker to download the software for your OS. the above is the rest of the stuff you are going to need.