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!
@Eternity Thanks. This program costs more than the product in the post if I don't count the shipping from Hong Kong, but it looks like fun to try. Too bad I'm running Linux.
dinovo mini is going for around $120 these days.... Does the same but it is backlit, which is more than handy for home theater and look, appearances matter... right?
@YpoCaramel
you say it. but at 120 i would never buy the dinovo although the backlight seem very useful.
at 60 its a nobrainer for people wit an htpc or laptop hooked up their tv. also the touchpad is way bigger than on the dinovo.
@YpoCaramel
The Dinovo Mini was a let down for me. It was bigger than I expected/wanted making it awkward to reach keys in the middle or to type modifier key combos. The lack of proper cursor keys (having to switch from touchpad mode to cursor mode), and the fact that the touchpad doesn't support the touchdisc scrolling (where you spin your thumb in a circle on the touchpad to scoll up and down) mean it just sits in a drawer for me. And the little flip top case was annoying.
Another big problem with these smallish keyboards is you always end up needing weird key combinations that really become a pain to do.
it fails as a HTPC controller because it doesn't have separate transport keys and the arrow keys are not in a cross formation.
very close though, and very nice for light web browsing on the sofa
I also say that it is a great product but I bought it half year ago. I bought it from efo site and they just sold US$45 including shipping fee.
Just from the picture and video, I think they are the same.
Share it : http://efo.buy-lowest.com
@AlanMo For anyone interested in ordering from the efo site directly:just get one, the shipping charges go up foolishly for multiple units. Shipping on one is $5, on two is $11, and on three is $25.
something like this makes the proposition of using an iMac instead of a Tv in the bedroom all the more possible...
I mean how are you supposed to use a mouse in bed???
not wishing to be a total fanboy but an apple keyboard with built in multi-touch pad would be a dream solution
This thing is under $25 on eBay just do a search for "RF Wireless mouse Keyboard". Last time I checked one vendor still had ten available.
@Dinochicken Not anymore, They are all $45+ now shipped! Sucks, for that price I would have bought one right now. Still think Im gonna get one though, this is almost exactly what I have been waiting for.
I've been looking for something like this for ages. And I finally found this product a few weeks ago. Ordered from a China and it arrived yesterday.
A few comments:
- I was pleasantly surprised at how sturdy it is. Very well made, good plastics, no creaking.
- Real English instructions!! Not the usual broken English you get with products delivered from China et al.
- Well packaged in an easy to open plastic shell.
- The thumb-board is a set of rubber keys over a very clicky membrane type circuit. Not too rubbery but a bit stiff to press and very clicky.
- No shift key - you press Caps and then the letter and then turn off Caps if you know what I mean, it doesn't just stay on for a single character.
- Number row is well placed. The SC (alternate character) key is the same as Caps (so you have to turn it on then off). The SC key is on the right and the number keys are well marked on the left side.
- The track pad moves the mouse a bit 'slow' so you'll have to increase mouse speed in the control panel.
- As mentioned above, the arrow keys are in a weird formation.
- Rechargeable, very light and has an On/Off switch so batteries don't die.
- Blue LEDs!!
- Oh, and it's got a Backlight. It's definately well thought out!!
- I'm delighted with my purchase.
Hope this helps!
Saw the ones on eBay - The $25 seller charges $20 for shipping.
They all seem to work out at about $45.
I bought mine from http://efo.buy-lowest.com/ shipped for $45 to the UK ($40 plus $5 shipping to anywhere).
(I'm NOT affiliated with that site!)
Sorry for the multi-post.
Forgot to mention that this is a standard Wireless Keyboard & Mouse in that it should work on any USB device that supports it - bought mine to use with the PC and the Wii.
Eternity: I like the E71 keyboard better as well!
For those with an iPhone or iPod Touch you could try Air Mouse. It allow you to do something similar for your HTPC. Very good solution but it only worked once for me then stopped connecting to the PC software :-(
I'd still recommend you try it though. It's very well thought out with different keyboard options for controlling Media Players and Browsers etc..
@aamp Seconded. Air Mouse Pro is awesome. Probably my most-used iPod Touch app.
@danfowler
Yeah I think it's great. Must be something intefering with it on my machine. It's due for a rebuild soon so I might get it working after that!
Of course this keyboard/trackpad is definately a keeper as well. Always nice to be able to multitask!
Now add Bluetooth to it then I am sold! Perfect for my mobile devices.
There's an app for that... I'm doing exactly that with my htc diamond, through bluetooth (or wifi if you prefer)
@(Unverified) ditto for the iPhone and iPod Touch -- called "Air Mouse Pro", best $2 I ever spent.
What software are you using? I want to use it on my HTC Touch Viva.
@XIYL
GRemote Pro
Kinda looks like an older Blackberry (957)
http://www.beststuff.com/images/articles/041100a.jpg
Poo-poo for not including Bluetooth. I guess we'll have to wait for the second version.
If you want a total one-hand operation, perhaps they should put that Sony/Lenovo nub/nipple thing in the middle of the keyboard.
This is a step in the right direction, but it still isn't a REAL universal HTPC remote. Most good frontends require the standard 5-way control pad to operate (WMC, XBMC), and this doesn't have one. Nor does it have basic media controls (play, ff/rw, etc).
I build my first HTPC almost a decade ago, and in all that time nobody has bothered to come up with a proper, fully functional universal remote with qwerty/mouse control. It's not that hard: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1196532
Interesting, but the keyboard layout is unbelievably weird.
Or, go to http://mobileairmouse.com and download their app for your iPhone or iPod. Much cheaper, a ton more options and can be held with one hand like a remote control. This looks interesting, but it's too bulky and not suitable as remote for media applications on your HTPC or even suitable as a presentation tool.
@(Unverified)
I do agree with you about Air Mouse but this keyboard/trackpad combo is actually very useful. You don't need to install drivers (or special software) and you don't need an iPhone or iPod Touch. It's not bulky and it works with any system that support standard USB keyboards and mice.
The key placement could be better (directional pad etc) but overall it's really good. Would be useful for presentations because the mouse button acts as a next/previous slide button. In my setup it does have it's uses.
One thing to note about the Air Mouse app when using it with Windows - the system tray application (what the Air Mouse app talks to) doesn't start until you've logged-in. So if you don't have auto-login enabled then you'll need a proper keyboard attached before you can use it.
just setup remotedroid on me droid....works fairly well, if the mouse control is a little touchy. real and soft keyboard support options - corrective text on the soft keyboard would be nice. definitely useable for couch surfing and htpc nav.
i'd be all over this dedicated unit if it worked with the droid over bluetooth - for use in the car when docked. it is just so much work to have to lift your hand up to screen for control....I want a touchpad right in the middle console.
This just became #1 on my Christmas list
this is exactly what i need! i almost bought the logitech one.
I work in IT and this would be perfect for troubleshooting systems. I normally just give them power and network and RDP into them, but obviously there are cases where you need a physical keyboard and pointing device. Just plug in the dongle and go, sounds perfect. If this shows up on any of my supplier's sites I'll definitely snap one up.
That looks like "The BlackBerry Time Forgot"
I always wanted a diNovo Mini but wasn't willing to spend the cash for it. This thing is right in my "impulse buy" zone. Ordered!
From the review (http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15319&Itemid=1)
"Rechargeable Li-ion batteries last longer – up to 2 days between charges."
but also
"I've used it almost everyday for the last two weeks and found it to be a great little keyboard and navigation device. I only charged it once so far, the first time I opened it and it still works fine."
So, how long does it last between charges?
Could be great little keyboard to supplement a tablet device. Shame about the dongle though. :/
Or if you have Android on a phone with a keyboard, you can get the fantastic (and free) gmote app. It can control or stream your music in addition to turning the touchscreen into a touchpad and keyboard into a... uh... keyboard, for your computer.
Awesome. I just ordered one. I suggest going directly through EFO (http://efo.buy-lowest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=180) rather than USB Geek. $45 < $62
This would rule so much for an HTPC. If it could have multitouch it would be perfect for OSX
@WilliamGH
Long enough I should think...
Thanks for the link. I'd agree with most of the review except the bit about build quality. I'm seriously impressed with it. Good quality plastic and no flex or creaking. Only thing I'd mark it down for is the placement of keys and lack of Windows, Shift and Media keys etc.
I use remotepad on the iPhone to do something similar, especially as it has multitouch and drag support. Only supports OSX though, but it is free.
Hey all I just posted a review of this product over at HNet Inc. here is the link http://cli.gs/nMJ2LS