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Adesso's newest keyboard, the Wireless Slimtouch Ergo, is a love-it-or-hate-it type of product. If you can get along without the features it misses and get through the learning curve, you might just keep it.
It has a few interesting features to offer those looking for a change of pace. However, making the move probably will not be an easy transition.
I routinely work on four or five computers, and different keyboards often have slightly different layouts. Sure, they're all QWERTY designs, but sometimes things are just a little different when it comes to the delete key, for instance, or when it comes to the media control buttons. So the prospect of taking a cordless keyboard to my different work locations was intriguing. It should be a convenient way to stay productive if my brain only had to remember one keyboard's finger-touch scheme.
Unusual Feature
The first thing to catch my fancy with this model is its small but functional touchpad. I've always liked using a touchpad -- that touch-sensitive square most laptops use instead of a mouse. However, very few vendors today offer desktop keyboards with a touchpad.
Adesso goes one step further. This model not only has a touchpad, but its location to the far right of the keyboard resembles the normal step of leaving the key rows to reach for a mouse (though lefties may prefer a different setup).
Still, I wonder why the designers put the two mouse buttons for the touchpad on the far left side of the keyboard, rather than directly beneath the touchpad, where they're usually kept on laptops.
Funky Key Action
I found that adjusting to Adesso's wireless keyboard entailed a far steeper learning curve than using multiple keyboards as I move from computer to computer. One reason is its curved key rows.
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The overall perky travel of each key press was fine. However, the upward angle of the rows constantly caused my fingers to hit the wrong keys. This makes more work and forces me to sight type instead of touch type.
Another difficulty with the keyboard's design is the caps lock key. I constantly hit it with my left pinky finger and didn't notice the rows of uppercase letters. The key is where it belongs, so I don't know why the misfingering occurs, other than possibly the angled rows.
Missing Stuff
Another problem with this keyboard: No numeric keypad. One reason might be the placement of the touchpad and indicator lights on the right edge of the keyboard. Adesso's engineers sacrificed the space below that by locating six hot function buttons there.
I would expect the lack of a number pad on a small laptop configuration. But this model resorts to the use of dual-purpose letter/number keys, like some laptops use -- a big disappointment.
Adesso loads up extra function keys with a Function Lock key that allows the traditional function key row to provide multimedia and Internet tasks. These include My Music, My Videos, My Pictures, My TV, My Radio and DVD.
This is all well and good, but the absence of some standard function keys that tap into Windows tasks such as sleep mode would be an improvement.
Good Vibes
A few good features keep Adesso's wireless, multimedia keyboard in the running for consumer consideration. One is the array of audio and video control buttons on the left edge of the keyboard.
I was also impressed with the device's long battery use. This 86-key keyboard is powered by two AA batteries. I ran the keyboard for more than one week day and night without having to replace the batteries. Of course, remembering to slide the on/off switch into the off position on the underside of the keyboard assured maximum battery life.
I was also glad to discover that this keyboard model works quite well on Linux systems. Adesso doesn't say this in the list of specifications, but the fact that this keyboard is Linux-compatible is a definite plus. It worked flawlessly on my Ubuntu Linux netbook, my Ubuntu Linux desktop, and on a laptop dual booting into Puppy Linux.
Overall, the more I use the lightweight Wireless Slimtouch Ergo Keyboard, the more I like it. The 2.4 GHz Wireless RF Technology covers up to 100 feet from the USB receiver.
The device has no setup needs -- it is plug-and-play for both Windows and Linux. No software installation is needed.
The price is right as well. This model sells for US$79.95.
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