Customer Reviews

Kensington Slim Type Keyboard - PC ( 64365 )

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I prefer laptop keyboards because the keys have a shorter actuation distance, which seems to make typing less stressful. The Slim Type actuation distance isn't as small as an iBook keyboard, but I think it's smaller than the keyboards of some Dells I've used. Maybe it's also the feel of the "crisp" "scissor-switch" keys as advertised above - "crisp" is certainly accurate. Anyway, I find that with this keyboard I can type a lot longer before my wrists start to hurt, as compared to normal desktop keyboards. Plus, the low profile (less than an inch high) means that I don't need a wrist support, I can rest my hands comfortably on my desk.Update: yes, I've noticed the problem mentioned in another review with keys "sticking", with both keyboards that I own. What happens is that about every half an hour the keyboard power-cycles, and when it comes back on, if it powered off or maybe came on when a key was depressed then things can get in a weird state - pressing other keys fixes it. The power-cycling itself is annoying, since I can't type for the two seconds or so that it takes to complete - the key repeating part I find less so, since it only happens occasionally. It isn't as bad for the user as it sounds, although it is indeed a major design flaw. I didn't mention it earlier because I thought it might be a Linux problem, I'm sorry if I misled other buyers. I'll wait and see if I can get replacements from Kensington.

I do not want to repeat everything that all the others wrote about this keyboard, except for a fact that it is nice, solid, fast, and inexpensive for its quality. What I do not like about it (although I could not give it less than 5 stars) is the regular-size NumLock key (some Logitech boards have a smaller NumLock key, which allows your to avoid pressing it accidentally). Well, it is just a wish, actially. Also, I am not crazy about the placement of the Delete key: it is somewhat hard to reach. The second ''|\'' key exists for no reason (I guess that the manufacturer did not want to make another irregular size ''Alt'' or ''Start'' key ) and it kind of interferes, sitting between the ''SpaceBar'' and the left ''Alt''. Yes, I type fast, I type ALOT. So, certain things do make difference for me. There are no perfect keyboards, but this one is certainly above-the-average in so many ways.

I tried this keyboard for several days and returned it.
Fortunately, Amazon gracefully accepted the return without any problem.
Here is my take on this keyboard and hope I can prevent someone like me from buying and returning this product.

1. Pros
1) Scissor type keyboard for comfortable typing
2) Smaller than regular size

2. Cons
1) Irregular layout
This was the deciding factor for me.
I could not get used to the strangely placed keys such as Ins, Del, Pgup, Pgdn, Home, End. Since I need to these keys frequently during programming, I found myself making lots of mistakes with this keyboard.
In addition, I started to make mistakes with regular keyboard as well.
2) Compared to regular-sized keyboards, this is smaller but only by a small degree.

3. Conclusion.
I loved the tactile response of scissor-type keyboards. It is definitely easy on my fingers.
However, the cons of this keyboard made me return it.
- If you need to use keys such as Ins, Del, Pgup, Pgdn, Home, End often
- If you think you may have problem adjusting to the irregular layout,
- If you do not desperately need the small saving in space offered by this slim keyboard,
I would recommend you to get regular sized-keyboard with scissor-type structure.

4. Alternatives
For PC users, I found the following alternatives available in the market.
Of course, there are more, but these are the ones that I tried.
1) I-rocks 6170M (Mac keyboard but can be used with PC without any driver)
2) I-rocks 6170E (with illuminated keys)

The former is cheaper than the latter but it has some shortcomings such as
- Alt and Windows keys are flipped
- It does not have PrtSc, scroll lock, Pause key. It has keys such as F13, F14, F15 but they do not work in PC.

The latter has typical PC keyboard layout. One problem is that using backlight makes buzzing noise. However, since I don't use backlight, it is not a problem. I am currently using the latter and quite happy with it.

Mine died a few weeks ago, and I replaced it with a Logitech UltraX keyboard. It is a 100% improvement over this Kensington model. The UltraX feels more solid, is even more responsive, has a standard layout, looks more sophisticated, and has no driver problems.

Pros:
- Keys have a very nice feel to them. Not as good as many laptops, but still a huge improvement over a regular desktop keyboard.
- It's much easier to type very fast on these scissor-switch keyboards.
- The media (play/pause, volume up/down) keys are handy.

Cons:
- Problems with the USB driver. At unpredictable intervals, one key press will result in ~30 repetitions of that key. You have to backspace through them, unless the backspace key was that one that stuck, forcing you to retype most of your last sentence again.
- Chrome-colored paint accents wear off very quickly, leaving an ugly greenish-grey color.
- The keys tend to stick after a while. They feel 10% engaged and you have to poke them a little to unstick them.
- The nonstandard layout is a little annoying at times. I never got used to the pgup/pgdn positions.
- The Cadillac comparison made by other reviewers sounds perfect to me. Too much flash, chrome, and cheap materials and not enough quality.
- Mine lasted less than 18 months. Unacceptable when paying $30 for a keyboard alone.

While I may be a PC power-user, I do not get to the point of purchasing lots of aftermarket parts to assist in enriching my computing experience. Most of the time, the stock computer parts that come with my PC are good enough for my use.

This is the exception. While I absolutely love my Dell QuietKey keyboard, it sadly has been starting to grow less and less quiet, and I finally fell in to the complaints of my family that it was more of a nuisance than anything. I had developed a kind of attraction to the laptop-style keyboards, but I was unable to locate one, until I saw this.

All I can say now, is, it was exactly what I'm looking for. While it isn't whisper quiet, the sound the scissor-switch keys make is distinctly different than a normal rubber-plunger assembly. The keys feel crisp, responsive, and require just the right amount of force to depress. As far as looks go, it's a pretty sharp keyboard. The reflective chrome-esque trim around the edge is a nice touch to an overall beautiful piece of equipment. Keep in mind that this keyboard is VERY small. It's smaller than the QuietKey by a longshot, and it sits flat on the table, hardly half an inch tall.

With this keyboard, I am able to type for longer periods of time without the wrist strain that I normally experience. I also increased my overall typing speed by about 7 Net WPM. To some, that may be trivial, but that's just another plus in my book. The keys are not quite as flat as a laptop's, but they come pretty close, with a very similar feel.

Now then, on to the difficult part: Cons. I should warn you, the reader of this review, that you should weigh both the Pros and Cons equally, and do not dwell on the cons. More likely than not, the pros outweigh the cons considerably and you will enjoy the product even if there are aspects of it that you do not like. I know it's been that way for me. Anyways:

-Because of the extremely compact nature of this keyboard, the F-keys are placed right above the top row of numbers on the keyboard, and they are half-sized to save some room. This makes finding and hitting an F-key a little more difficult than on a conventional keyboard. I suppose with time one can get used to the placement and be able to hit them with ease, but it is different.

-The 6-key set of Home/End/Insert/Delete/PgUp/PgDwn are lined up vertically on the right edge of the keyboard (before the number pad), with insert placed down below to the right of the right control key. Being used to the placement on the QuietKey, this took a bit of getting used to, and I still reach for the wrong key occasionally when typing. Just another minor annoyance.

-This is purely aesthetic, but the printed numbers and letters on the keycaps are very large, much larger than most keyboards that I've encountered. While it does not detract from the performance of the keyboard, I personally do not like the very large font used for the keycaps.


Other than those minor concerns I listed above, this keyboard easily outperforms other keyboards in terms of comfort, control, and speed. I love it! If you are a fan of laptop keyboards and would like the same feel on your desktop, this IS the keyboard for you.

Jared

I was very enthuseed about this keyboard after having read reviews for this keyboard and competitors. I was sold on the overwhelming number of satisfied customers. When the keyboard arrived, I connected it to my KMV switch with a USB to PS/2 adapter and crossed my fingers. It worked perfectly. Connectivity gets an "A".
The feel of the keyboard was exceptionally close to my Compaq laptop, and I was glad for it. The media keys on the top of the keyboard intuitive and fit nicely with the keyboard. The sleep key is also a nice feature that I'm sure many other people will get fine use out of. They aren't for me. I do find the calculator button handy for when I use my Windows box. I'm a larger advocate of "elegance through simplicity" and this keyboard embodies both those characteristics.
There was a downside to my keyboard. Both shift keys and the space bar 'sqeak' when pressed through normal typing. It's an irritating plastic-on-plastic, high-pitched sqeak that drives me nuts when I type. All the other keys are fine. I haven't read anyone else complaining about this problem either here or on newegg.com. I've read reviews on other keyboards recommending this specific model. I believe that I simply received the only defective one. I've only had the keyboard for about a week and the sqeak is getting progressively worse. I'll likely be returning this keyboard for a replacement.

This keyboard feels like a laptop keyboard: the keys are easy to press and feel very precise. It is full-size, which is nice. The insert key is in a weird place though: it's to the right of the right ctrl key, and I sometimes confuse the two. There is also a \ key to the left of the spacebar which I sometimes hit instead of left alt. In a week of using it I've already adapted to the alternate placements enough that it's not a problem. Its superior feel outweighs the need to relearn a few meta keys.

I'm never going back to deep desktop keys. This keyboard rocks.

Keyboard works fine, keys feel fine. I bought this because it has a usb plug to work with my apple laptop, but find the windows-oriented key markings disorienting. I didn't realize it at the time, and chose this over the mac-coordinated white model because it was a few dollars cheaper.

The other reviews are correct, this keyboard looks and feels great, there isn't another short keystroke keyboard like it. However, it currently has a major flaw, every one of these I've had (3 so far) has developed a problem with sticking keys after about a month.

The keys don't physically stick, but one will just repeat after I push it, and at the same time the Scroll, Num, and Caps lock LEDs will flash on, then turn off. The key that has stuck will keep repeating itself until I push another key, and any of the keys can repeat. I've had the backspace key stick, which really sucks when you have the repeat rate up high and it deletes half of what you've just written.

I have spoken Kensington, and they said that this is a problem with the keyboard they are working on. The keyboard comes with no drivers, but they advised me to download the Kensington Comfort Type Wireless Desktop software (http://www.kensington.com/html/3846.html#64355) to see if this would resolve the issue. I haven't had it installed long enough to see if it fixes the problem or not. They did say that when they have this problem fixed and come out with the new version, they will replace my current keyboard if it is found that software won't be able to help.

I love the keyboard, great feeling, low profile, love the way it types. It's a little hard to get used to with the layout, but once you've used it for a while it feels more intuitive than the regular layout. (it's tighter, easier to access keys)

My main problem- and this is a biggie- is that the letters disappear quickly. Within a week of having it, the letters started to lose parts of themselves. Now, a year later, I have no markings on the cvbalnmsfg keys, and partial markings on the d&k keys. It's fine, because I touchtype and don't need to look, but it should be better made than this, even for the SOMEWHAT "low" cost.

The silver that goes around the edge also quickly becomes discolored and unattractive as the silver wears away and shows ugly yellowish-white plastic underneath.

If you don't look at your keyboard, though, it's a great buy. I love the feeling of it. I just wish it didn't end up so UGLY.

Kensington did not reply to any of my many emails addressing the issue. Not even an acknowledgment that I had contacted them via email or their website forms. THIS is the primary reason why I would not buy another Kensington keyboard.