Let’s face it. Trying to write a document or long email on a tablet or smartphone can be a real pain. The small virtual keyboards that often are missing special characters unless you page through to another keyboard screen can really slow down someone trying to be as efficient as possible. As mobile processing power gets better, there is the possibility that users can write on their screen with a stylus instead of typing on a virtual keyboard. But is this necessarily more efficient? I decided to try and put things to a test by comparing several different methods for trying to write lots of text on small mobile devices. Let’s see which method is the best… Continue reading
Two Ergonomic Keyboard Options From Microsoft
Keyboards have been standardized for many years and they typically come in a straight four to five row QWERTY layout. This is fine for short periods of writing but it is not the most natural way for the human body to be positioned for hours on end. In particular, the wrist must be bent in order to have your fingers resting on the home rows properly. This can put pressure on the nerves within the wrist and hand and lead to carpal tunnel in some people.
Ergonomic keyboards are those that are designed to help alleviate the pressure on yours hands and wrists to provide a more natural position for typing. There are many different designs for ergonomic keyboards but the earliest and most affordable designs are called split keyboards. These essentially take the standard keyboard layout and split it into two halves and then angle them so that the hands are wrist are aligned. It is a simple and economical solution for anyone that wants to try an ergonomic keyboards as there is learning curve on how to type unlike some other designs. Microsoft is one of the biggest makers of split keyboard designs. Today, I’m going to take a closer look at two of their ergonomic keyboards. Continue reading
Logitech K480 is Affordable Option for Multiple Devices
Have to write a lot of text on a mobile phone or tablet? Maybe you use both of them and also have a PC that you use in a media center that needs a wireless keyboard? If so, Logitech offers a couple of keyboards that can be used between multiple devices. Sure, you can use a single device Bluetooth keyboard between multiple devices but you have to unpair and pair them whenever you want to switch. Logitech’s keyboards store three profiles that can be switched between with the press of a button or turn of a dial. The new Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is almost half the cost of the previous Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811. So, is this new lower cost keyboard a solid compromise in terms of usability and features over the more expensive model or would it be better to stick with a single device keyboard option? Continue reading
Logitech Introduces a More Affordable Multi-Device Keyboard
At the beginning of the year, I reviewed the Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard that allowed users to connect this single keyboard to three different devices. It was a great keyboard that had one issue that kept many people from trying it. The price for that keyboard was typically around $90-$100. Last week at the IFA, Logitech introduced a new and much more affordable Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 that ships later this month with a price tag of just $50. Let’s see exactly how the two differ and why this more affordable version just might be the right one to try if you have a phone, tablet and PC you want to use a Bluetooth keyboard with. Continue reading
A Bluetooth Keyboard For Multiple Devices
For anyone familiar with connecting a Bluetooth peripheral to a computer, tablet or smartphone, you must pair the two devices with one another. This is typically a process that involves putting both into a discovery mode and then selecting the peripheral off the main device Bluetooth setup menu. This process works great when you have a single computer, tablet or smartphone that you want to pair peripherals with. Many people now have multiple Bluetooth capable devices. Trying to use a single peripheral with each of these devices can be a pain because it requires unpairing the device from one before it can be used with another. Thankfully, Logitech has come out with their Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard K811 that allows you to use a single keyboard with multiple devices. But just how well does this work? Continue reading