Adesso rolls out WKB-4200UB wireless keyboard
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 17th 2010 4:01PM
posted February 17th 2010 4:01PM
Adesso sure isn't lacking for keyboards of all shapes and sizes (seriously, look at its website), but the company has nonetheless somehow found room for yet one more with its new KB-4200USB model, which packs boasts both a built-in trackpad and wireless connectivity. Thankfully, the trackpad (non-multitouch, it seems) on this one is a bit less awkwardly placed than on the last model, and the design is more along the lines of something like the diNovo Edge (not exactly a bad thing). Of course, this one also packs a similarly higher-end price tag -- $120, to be exact.
What's special about this?
@Scouse Pricey
If you close your left eye you can think you've got a new laptop
lol
@Scouse Pricey looks very similar to the dinovo edge...but bigger
@Scouse Pricey
it's special because it looks similar to the one made by logitech :]
@Scouse Pricey Square trackpad?
@seanGadget
ya, it's similar, but the problem is the dinovo edge is probably the better product. Typing on it now, and I love the thing. At a lower price than this offering, how would you not go with the edge?
Nothing to make me ditch a wired keyboard yet, I think.
@Elaith You use a wired keyboard and mouse on your HTPC from the couch?
These combo wireless keyboard/touchpad combo devices aren't meant for sitting right in front of a desktop.
The Dinovo Edge, however, has great keyresponse and feels absolutely smokin'. I have a Dinovo for Laptops (The model without the trackpad) here and I love it!
I believe there is a typo. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong. "packs boasts"
@Casuist Its packing and boasting! wow
got the DiNovo Edge. Picked one up on clearance at a BestBuy for $20 about 2 years ago. I love the round trackpad, it makes scrolling wonderfully easy both horiz and vert. Runs for weeks on a charge and has a great little docking station. most of it is back lit (though not the keys themselves), and it has all the media buttons one could want. it;s about the perfect home theater controller if you have an HTPC.
Now i see them for over $120 regularly. I don't know why BBY had them so cheap when they did....
Oh cool. A keyboard!
For me the beauty of the DiNovo Edge is the bluetooth support and the lack of a wireless dongle. This appears to be the same as other Logitech or Kensington wireless keyboards.
I'd love to get something like this, but they never think of putting out a left handed model for lefties like myself.
@bmorgan83 They should make the track pad sections disconnect so you can attatch them to either side....
@bmorgan83
+1.
2 of us out of 27 comments...about the right ratio. :)
The exact same keys as my Logitech S 510, even the side keys, and their functionality. Only those are grey this time instead of black.
I think I like their older, smaller, and CHEAPER model better.
The bezel is way to large!!
Haha.
I would rather have a keyboard that can pair with multiple computers and toggle between them with a button than have multiple keyboards laying around. I suppose that doesn't interest them because it only allows them to sell a single keyboard.
Can we file this under KIRF?
Ugh, horrible key layout. Why do manufacturers keep insisting on cramming all the keys into one rectangle?
Oh, and it's obviously not to save space! Look at the giant bezel!
If this thing sucks as bad as my Adesso WKB 3000 (which has serious RF communication problems) I wouldn't spend more than $1.20 US for it.
For my htpc I use a logitech dinovo mini. Great product!
Does anybody know of a decent wireless keyboard with a touchpad that's not ridiculously expensive like this? My monitor broke a few months back and ever since I've been forced to sit on my floor in front of my TV (which has a VGA port on it) and use my computer. I have my wired keyboard on my lap, and my wired mouse on a mouse pad on the floor. It's pretty uncomfortable. I'd love to just sit up in a chair with one piece of equipment and solve all my problems.
@kenny goo
I use the Playstation 3 keyboard by Logitech. It worked out-of-the-box with a third party bluetooth-usb adapter on my Win7 HTPC. I got mine for about $50.
Helpful hints:
1) it doesn't have a Windows Key, but this can be mapped to CAPS Lock easily if you need it.
2) Buy some Sanyo Eneloop NiMH batteries and a charger for it. These things rock and come pre-charged since their self-discharge rate is measured over years, not weeks. I change out these AA's about every 6 months on the keyboard.
3) Put some duct tape over the reset button on the keyboard. It'll save you much frustration.
*facepalm* When will they start making WiFi keyboards? Just think, no range issues, no need for a dongle, just works with any network connected HTPC... Something like AirMouse only with physical keyboard...