Hasta La Gadget!

Another day, another keyboard, and here we are with yet another model from Swiss hardware maestros Logitech – the Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810. Just what kind of value will this keyboard be able to offer? For starters, since it connects via Bluetooth, the Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 will play nice with Windows, iOS and Android devices, while hoping those on non-Windows platforms might be persuaded to jump aboard thanks to its layout that has been specially designed for Windows 8. It can pair up to a trio of devices simultaneously, letting you switch among (for example) your PC, tablet and smartphone at the push of a button without any hassle.

Taking its design cues from the rest of the consumer electronics industry where “slim is in”, the Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 will come in a thin form factor, sporting actual brushed aluminum and sleek lines. It even comes with auto-adjusting illumination so that you can work even in low light conditions as its laser-etched key characters will remain bright and easy to read at all times. Proximity detection has been thrown into the mix, where it will turn on the lighting whenever your hands approach it, dimming or brightening up automatically according to the light level in the room.

It is said to deliver 10 days of battery life on a full charge, but of course, we do not mind putting it to the test and see whether it lives up to such claims. The Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 is tipped to arrive in the US as well as across the pond this month and the next, respectively, for $99.99 a pop. [Press Release]

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 is waterproof, washes grease right off, Logitech Unveils Its K750 Wireless Solar-powered Keyboard,

Keyboards aren’t always high on the list of considerations for folks buying a new computer or looking to upgrade an old one. Some may be more likely to splurge on a high-end monitor, or cram in as much RAM as possible. For this writer, though, the keyboard is one of the most important components of a computer, if not the most important. For the past 10 years or more, that’s meant a split-design ergonomic keyboard in the vein of Microsoft’s Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 — at least when not exclusively using a laptop. That style certainly takes some getting used to, and is always guaranteed to start a conversation, but it has some clear benefits for comfort (not to mention the well-being of your wrists) over the long term.

More recently, however, that old standby has given way to a mechanical keyboard with a traditional design — the Matias Tactile Pro 3, specifically. A split-design mechanical keyboard would be ideal, but those are unfortunately quite a rare breed. While a something like the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 has advantages over your average keyboard in terms of overall comfort, it still feels like a regular keyboard. That is, it’s slightly mushy and generally less tactile given its use of a rubber membrane for the keys instead of the individual switches found in a mechanical model like the Tactile Pro.

As anyone who’s used both can attest, the difference is immediately noticeable. With a good mechanical keyboard, you don’t have to worry about a key press not registering; the keys have more spring to them for a crisper feel and (here’s the contentious part for some) they make more noise. It’s not a typewriter-level racket, but there’s a good chance you’ll be frowned upon if you’re sharing a desk with someone, or are trying to take notes while on a conference call. It’s that potential issue that led Matias to try something different with its latest keyboard — one that it claims is the world’s quietest mechanical keyboard. Did it deliver? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Matias Quiet Pro review: a mechanical keyboard with less clickety-clack

Filed under: Peripherals

Matias Quiet Pro review: a mechanical keyboard with less clickety-clack originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga is a lovely rather-bendy converting notebook-to-tablet that we saw back at CES 2012 – both an 11-inch and a 13-inch version of this device are appearing today with assurances for launch side two new guns in the industry as well. Lenovo is also showing off the IdeaTab Lynx and the ThinkPad Twist, two more twisters and turners for the next generation of PC power with Windows 8, Windows RT, and more!

The IdeaPad Yoga is coming in two iterations, one of them with a 13.3-inch display, the other with an 11.6-inch display, both of them with great battery life and the ability to move 360 degrees and fold from laptop to tablet. The 13 model has Dolby Home Theater, IPS display technology, and a multi-touch screen so you can make full use of Windows 8! The Yoga 11 is just 15.6 mm thin and is made to balance power and mobility – so they say! You’ve got an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor inside and Windows RT for a full tablet experience.

The IdeaTab Lynx is a device that’s made for Windows 8 action in full-on tablet mode. You’ve got an 11.6-inch display with Dolby Home Theater as well as connectivity with printers, hard drives, and more with a full sized USB port via its base. The base of this device will also help to type out your plans for the future as it presents a full keyboard bringing on a full-function PC experience. Microsoft Word is aboard, as is 16 hours of battery life (provided you use the base, of course.)

The ThinkPad Twist is made specifically for Small Business Computing and has a 12.5-inch display to get it done. You can use this device as a fully functional Ultrabook or just twist the display and push it back down for a lovely next-level tablet. The ThinkPad Twist works with a 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to Windows 8 Pro, and optional 3G mobile data connectivity. Inside you’ll also have up to 500GB of storage or 128 GB SSD. The Twist also works with a 350nit HD display – bright as heck – and mini-HDMI and DisplayPort jack for HD video on your 3rd party gigantic displays.

The IdeaPad Yoga 13 will be available starting on October 12 at Best Buy stores around the country for PRE-ORDER, after which the device will be in-store starting on the 26th of the month for $1,099 MSRP. The IdeaPad Yoga 11 will be available starting in December for MSRP $799. The ThinkPad Twist will be available starting on October 26th at a variety of retailers for MSRP $849, and the IdeaPad Lynx and optional keyboard will be available starting in December – MSRP $599 for the tablet and $149 for the keyboard.

See a selection of additional press images of the devices in the gallery below and get pumped up for their final release!

Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx and Twist introduced as Yoga 11 and 13 finalized is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Logitech has been making some of the coolest gaming keyboards for years that fit into its G-series of gaming accessories for computer users. Logitech has announced a new gaming keyboard today called the G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Mechanical keys are something that many gamers and touch typists love, even if mechanical keys typically make for very noisy typing action.

Logitech says that the mechanical keys it uses in the keyboard are quiet and feature dual-zone backlighting. The keys used promise tactile feel while reducing the noise typically associated with clicking mechanical switches. Logitech uses integrated damping rings to reduce noise produced even further when the keyboard is being used.

Logitech says that the mechanical keys have a life expectancy of at least 50 million keystrokes. The keyboard uses a full anti-ghosting matrix and has 26-key rollover. That means you can press 26 keys at the same time with all 26 presses being reported to the computer. That should mean no matter how complex the macro, the G710+ let you do it.

The dual-zone backlighting allows the user to adjust the backlighting level around arrow keys and the WASD keys independently from the backlighting used for the rest of the keyboard. The keyboard also has six programmable G-keys for binding macros or other controls. The keyboard also has a full array of media controls and a game mode switch to deactivate the Windows key when you’re getting your game on. The keyboard can be pre-ordered now for $149.99.

Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard clickity-clacks into the limelight is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Last week, we featured an sculpture of a horse that was made out of old keyboards. While it was truly impressive, there’s no chance you’ll be putting it in your house any time soon. Here’s some keyboard art you might actually hang on your wall.

Christopher Cobell of SketchkeysArtistry hunts down laptop keycaps in a variety of shades of grey to create these masterworks of pixel art. The largest of the current selection is his portrait of Marilyn Monroe shown above. Each one is handmade by gluing thousands of individual keys to a black foam backing, suitable for framing. Though I kind of like the idea of leaving the keys exposed so you can actually feel them.

He’s got several other images available for sale in his Etsy shop right now, including a sailboat,  an abstract cityscape, and my personal favorite, a humorous image of a pair of bombs – reminiscent of Bob-Omb.

The artist states that part of his process is to “check for any accidental expletives from the random placement of the keys.” Darn, I was hoping to make that a game for my houseguests – to find the hidden dirty words.

Prices for this awesome keyboard wall art range from $179 to $965 (USD), depending on the size and complexity of the image. If you look closely at the bomb image, you’ll see a Windows start key in the  bottom right corner. I wonder if that’s intentional.