Vidabox HTPC Wireless Keyboard - How does it work?
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Now, before I talk about performance, let me preface my comments by saying that I've used a good number of wireless devices. I've used IR, RF, and Bluetooth cordless desktop input devices over the years, and have had my ups and downs with them.
That being said, I would have to say I was actually impressed with how well this keyboard worked while I was using it with my HTPC. The keys were comfortable to use, and responded well to key presses. In the time that I tested it, not only did I not drop a single character, I was also impressed with how well the keyboard responded in heavy usage (using it while playing a game of Unreal Tournament).
The trackball worked well, but only during normal Windows point and click operations. If you are going to be playing mouse-driven games on this beast, the small trackball is just not the ticket. For web browsing and working in Windows, however, it performed quite well.
As far as distance goes, I was able to walk into another room and down the hallway before I noticed any problems in performance. This was approximately 25 feet away, but at the point the signal degraded it was traveling through no less than three walls.
And now, here are the highs and lows for this product.
Highs:
- Sleek design complements home theater system.
- Excellent response when in range.
- Included USB extension for more installation options.
- Auto-off functionality extends battery life.
- Integrated trackball.
- 2.4GHz RF for solid communication.
Lows:
- Trackball not suitable for gaming (to be expected)
- Expensive as far as keyboards go ($89 at the time of this writing)
Based on the above, the keyboard deserves no less than a ranking of 9 on a scale of 1-10, and Dev Hardware's GOLD award. If you are looking for a sleek solution for your HTPC, this keyboard delivers.
I would like to thank Vidabox for sending us this 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard for review. If you have any questions about this product, or any of Vidabox's HTPCs, visit their web page at http://www.vidabox.com/.
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