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Logitech k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard: Review and Giveaway
Owners of iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac Pros don't have to look at the glowing keyboards of their MacBook-owning buddies with envy anymore. The folks at Logitech have introduced the new k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard (US$99.99) so you can continue banging away at the keyboard in the dark. Let's take a look at this new piece of hardware. Design The first thing you'll notice is that this keyboard is really targeted at users of Windows 8 and Windows RT. Unlike most Mac- and iOS-friendly keyboards on the market, the friendly command key has been replaced with the harsh reality of a Windows key. If you can overlook that slap in the face, you'll find a keyboard with some pretty interesting features. First, let's take a look at the design. Unlike Apple's light aluminum Wireless Keyboard ($69), the k810 features dark anodized aluminum and black plastic construction with black key tops. There's an easy-to-reach power button on the right side of the keyboard and a "connect" button on the bottom for placing the accessory into a pairable state. While the regular F-keys are still located across the top row of the keyboard, the first three are are also used for a unique function -- providing the k810 with access to three different devices. With most Bluetooth keyboards, a single computer or tablet is paired at any time, but the k810 provides easy switching between three different devices. For example, the keyboard can be paired with a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone, and switching to any of the devices is as easy has pressing a single button. As the name implies, the k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard has backlit keys. The Logitech logo at the top of the keyboard also glows in a not-too-subtle reminder that the keyboard is powered up. Charging of the keyboard is done through a standard USB to micro-USB cable that is included. Size-wise, the k810 is almost identical in size to Apple's Wireless Keyboard. It weighs in at 18 ounces, and is quite portable. Functionality There are some features on the k810 that are incredibly cool. In order to make battery life as long as possible (Logitech doesn't supply estimated life figures...), there's a proximity sensor built into the keyboard. If you take your hands away from it for about 15 seconds, the backlighting dims and then disappears. When your hands get near the keyboard, the backlight turns on again. It's magic! The k810 has a very good feel to it. The keys aren't as "stiff" as those on the Apple Keyboard, which actually makes for smoother typing. The placement of most of the keys is identical; the main exception is in the bottom row where fn, control, option/alt, and command are replaced with control, fn, "Windows" and alt. In the top row -- where the function (fn) keys reside -- the buttons do not correspond to the functions that most Mac and iOS users expect. That was my biggest problem with this keyboard; it's obviously not made for Mac users. The Windows key will act as a command key, though, although it's not in the location that most Mac users will expect it. The ability for the k810 to be paired with three different devices and switch between them with the push of one of those top row buttons is unique and very useful. I used it with my iMac, iPhone, and iPad, and linking to any one of the devices was as simple as pushing the first, second or third function key. A blue "radio" icon appears above the function key when pushed, and then it flashes until the device and keyboard are linked. Conclusion Anyone who has up to three devices they'd like to use with a Bluetooth keyboard should find the Logitech k810 to be a winner. It's reasonably priced, it's backlit, and the easy-switching function for multiple devices is incredibly smart. Best of all, it has a great feel to it and will be a compact wireless keyboard that most heavy keyboard users will love. Pros Easy-switching of Bluetooth pairing between up to three devices Backlighting with proximity sensor for longer battery life Excellent keyboard feel and feedback Nice looks, although not "matched" to most Apple products Rechargeable internal battery Cons Keyboard arrangement is different to what Mac users are used to More expensive that Apple's Wireless Keyboard (unless you take the cost of rechargeable batteries into account) Who is it for? Anyone -- Mac or PC user -- who wants to have a lightweight, portable backlit keyboard that can be used with up to two other Bluetooth devices (iPhone and iPad, for example) with the touch of a function key. Giveaway It's the keyboard that's so nice we want to give it away to a TUAW reader! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 13, 2012 Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Logitech k810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Maingear's Titan 17 has a change of heart, keyboard
Maingear has been tickling us with its gaming PCs for a while, and now it's adding some extra muscle to its catalog. The company's Titan 17 notebook is hitting the operating table for a processor transplant, the previous Intel i7-990X being swapped out for either the i7-3930K or i7-3960X. But what good is an internal update without some external flourish so folk know where you stand on the spec table? Maingear appreciates this, and that's why it's throwing a backlit keyboard into the mix. The souped-up Titan is up for pre-order now, with prices starting at $3,499. Tap the PR after the break for the full specs.
Oops: Droid 4 makes an early appearance in Best Buy promo
With its backlit keys and shaved corners, it could only be the Droid 4 leading the pack of phones in this Best Buy promo shot. The slider hasn't yet reached the shop floor, but that hasn't stopped it from promoting the big box retailer's Rewards Zone offers. While Verizon has already let a festively-colored Droid RAZR and a pair of Xoom 2 Xyboard tablets out of the gates this winter, keyboard hunters have been left out in the cold. Hopefully, this snafu will translate into a release very soon.
MSI infuses more gaming juice into its G Series notebooks with processor refresh
They may have barely finished component convalescence after being kitted out with NVIDIA's GTX 570M, but MSI's GT780DXR and GT683DXR are getting yet another technical leg-up. This time, the processors are being nudged up to an Intel Core i7-2670QM, replacing the Core i7-2630QM we found on these gaming rigs last time we met. The ultra slim X460 series will also get the same CPU refresh. We'll admit, it's a pretty gentle update, but it should help keep MSI's latest offerings close to the bleeding edge of high-end laptops.
MSI's GT683DXR and GT780DXR shred pixels with NVIDIA's GTX 570M (hands-on)
We might still be smitten with a certain svelte ebony beaut, but we're aware some of you require absolute maximum performance from your "portable" gaming rig. Here to heed your call for blistering frame rates is MSI, which has gone and refreshed two laptops from its gaming lineup: the 15.6-inch GT683DXR and its big brother, the 17.3-inch GT730DXR. While both retain the Core i7-2630QM from their forebears, the duo now feature NVIDIA's beefy GTX 570M with 1.5GB GDDR5. And just like their predecessors, either can be stuffed with up to 16GB of RAM, dual 500GB or 750GB drives and a Blu-ray burner. Also on board is a premium sound system from Dynaudio, four USB ports (two of the 3.0 variety), Gigabit Ethernet, VGA and HDMI sockets and, of course, 802.11b/g/n WiFi. They're on sale now, starting at $1,699 for the 15-incher and $1,799 for the 17-inch variant. MSI was kind enough to send us the smaller and lighter of the two, so hop on past the break for our brief impressions. %Gallery-132842% %Gallery-132847%
Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards
They say Apple updates its products like clockwork, releasing something new at the same time in the same place every year. Not so with MacBook Airs anyway. The outfit's gone and freshened up its 13-inch and 11-inch ultraportables -- the second such update in nine months. Although the industrial design hasn't changed much since the last generation, both models step up to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, Thunderbolt ports, backlit keyboards, and, of course, OS X Lion. The 11.6-inch flavor starts at $999 with 64GB of solid-state storage, 2GB of memory and a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. The higher-end of the two configurations costs $1,199, with the extra two hundred dollars doubling your RAM and storage. The 13-inch Air, meanwhile, starts at $1,299, with a 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and a 1.7GHz Core i5 CPU. Step up to the $1,599 model and you'll get a 256GB SSD instead. Regardless, you're looking at Intel HD 3000 graphics across the board, along with FaceTime webcams, two USB ports (plus an SD slot on the 13-inch version), 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The two differ when it comes to resolution and battery life: the 11-incher has a 1366 x 768 panel and is rated for up to five hours of battery life, whereas the 13-inch model has a 1440 x 900 screen and promises up to seven hours of juice. As for that 1.8GHz Core i7 CPU, it'll set you back an extra $100 on the 13-inch version, and $150 for the 11-inch version. Whichever size you choose, it's only an option for the higher-end configuration. Hit the source link to peep the specs and buy one, if you're so inclined. %Gallery-128755%
New MacBook Airs reportedly to feature backlit keyboards
Besides a faster processor and Thunderbolt support, the next generation MacBook Air models may also include a backlit keyboard. This feature was present on the first MacBook Air model introduced in 2008 and dropped from the 2010 line. This removal was widely criticized by Mac owners accustomed to the backlit keyboard of their MacBook Pro. The new 2011 Air models may be introduced in the next few weeks either at the same time or shortly after OS X Lion is introduced. Apple reportedly has 400,000 units sitting in a warehouse waiting for the Lion to be finalized and installed on the hardware.
Razer BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard offers backlit, programmable keys
There are mechanical keyboards, and then there's Razer's newest duo. For the past three years, the gaming accessory company has been toiling in a back room trying to figure out how to really get mechanical keyboards right; according to it, the vast majority of the options today "feature stiff keys that cause key actuation fatigue," and it has sought to remedy said issue with the BlackWidow and BlackWidow Ultimate. Launched today over at Gamescom, these two keyboards offer key actuation that feels much like a mouse click, with an actuation point that's actually halfway through the full travel distance. The company claims that its power-packin' pair has one of the lightest actuation forces for all keyboards, making it ideal for hardcore gamers who can't be bothered with missing a single keystroke. The standard BlackWidow offers up fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording as well as five additional gaming keys, while the Ultimate edition adds individually backlit keys with five levels of lighting, 3.5mm audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port. Both 'boards are due out next month for $79.99 / $129.99, respectively, and you can peek the full specs list in the press release just past the break.
Logitech's Wireless Illuminated K800 keyboard boasts ambient light and proximity sensors, costs $100
It wasn't too long ago that we were pondering the relative scarcity of backlit desktop keyboards, so let's all warmly welcome a new entrant into this niche category. The K800 from Logitech picks up where the wired Illuminated Keyboard left off: it has the requisite inflated price, adjustable and intelligent illumination to please functionalists, and a dagger-like profile for aesthetes. Ambient light sensors will align the keyboard's brightness to your environment, while proximity detectors will only flip the switch when your hands are in position to start writing. There's also a Micro USB cable to refresh your battery when it starts running low -- it's rated for up to 10 days of wireless use -- but whether this whole package of smart convenience is worth the $99.99 we'll leave up to you. The K800 should be shipping out later this month, and you can find out more about it in the press release after the break.
Laser-etched Engadget keyboard combines narcissism with our unmatched touch typing abilities
What's better than wowing your friends with a triple digit WPM on a blank keyboard with your screen off? Why, the glorious Engadget logo shining forth from said blank keyboard. Our very own Yeager Yu over at Engadget Chinese took a murdered out Zippy "Dancing Light" backlit 'board and got it laser-etched with the Engadget logo -- a glorious sight to behold, if we do say so ourselves. Check out the etching in action after the break.
OCZ expands Alchemy line with Illuminati backlit keyboard
OCZ Technology's Elixir keyboard was fine and dandy, but let's face it -- it's pretty hard to beat the awesomeness of a keyboard with lights. Today, the company is expanding its Alchemy peripheral line with the Illuminati multimedia keyboard, a board with rubber coated keys, fourteen quick launch buttons and the choice of two backlit colors (red or blue, naturally). OCZ promises that the keys can withstand over five million cycles, and given its USB 2.0 port, it should play nice with just about any machine you jam it into. Regrettably, the company has failed to divulge a price here, but it's supposedly "attainable on all budgets" -- whatever that means.%Gallery-45366%
Everglide's DKTboard gets inspiration from Razer
It's been a hot minute since we've heard any racket from Everglide, but the company seems to have tapped into what Razer's got going on for its latest gaming peripheral. The DKTboard is a sleek, all-black keyboard that features an ultrathin design, aluminum top case, eight multimedia hot keys and optional backlight illumination to keep your fingers on the right track even when the roommate turns in for the evening. The 'board is being offered up with an accompanying DKTmat for $69.99, but you'll have to wait for it to return to stock before calling dibs on your own.[Via RandomlyAccessed, thanks Steve]
