Keyboard Reviews

I don't see any need to repeat at length what the other positive reviewers have said--I agree totally that this incredible folding keyboard A) unfolds into a *full-size* keyboard with most keys the exact same size as those of your desktop keyboard, B) folds up into a size no bigger than the Palm itself, and C) works cleanly and smoothly with Palm programs as well as third-party add-on software (a definite plus in today's age where adding a peripheral to your computer often means hours spend hooking it up and fiddling with installation programs). What I *will* add that no one yet seems to have commented on yet is the ultimate COOLNESS factor...take this keyboard out, pop it open, and I guarantee your tech-head friends will be oohing and ahhing over its elegant and innovative design, compact size, and sleek shape...and when they see it *work* as smoothly and easily as it does, they'll want one too! ADMIT it, after all...isn't that at least ONE of the reasons you got a Palm...because it *looks* cool? Like the Palm, this looks cool, works great, and after a week you'll wonder how you ever did without it. (One addition not mentioned in the other reviews: don't expect to use this sitting on your lap, as the keyboard folds up in the middle. You have to set it down on a table.)

The inventor's of the Palm Portable Keyboard have have developed an incredible accessory to the Palm PDA Platform. You have got to see it and try it out to appreciate its marvel. It literally is a full size keyboard that folds up and is only slightly larger then the Palm PDA itself. It even comes in a nice carrying case. Inputing information into your Palm is a snap and I really appreciate not having to write, using the grafiti tool to add information into my Palm. If you use the Memo feature on your palm to jot down some notes, type a lengthy memo, etc., this this keyboard is for you. Typing is a breeze and feels very natural as if you were typing at your PC. There are specific keys on the board that replace the need to tap on a menu item to be called up. I cannot emphasize the portability and light weight of the keyboard and the uniqueness of how it folds up into compact size. If you are a regular user of your Palm PDA then this keyboard is a must. You will not regret spending the extra bucks in lieu of convenience.

Imagine if you will...

You've just returned to your hotel room after an important all day conference, your head brimming with ideas. You're a woman (or man) of the 21st century, you've got your Palm Pilot at the ready, and you're all set to record the amazing things that are popping into your inspired brain.

Then, you remember the incredible hassle it is to actually USE a Palm Pilot for this sort of task. Sure, it's OK for notes or quick jots of phone numbers, names, or reminders, but when it comes to pinning down the flow of thoughts, it's a pain in the hand.

Enter the portable keyboard! This little gadget is truly a lifesaver for all Palm Pilot users. After the Palm Pilot, seeing a keyboard folded into a smart zippered pouch may not be very impressive -- until you use it! Everything you need is arranged neatly inside this smart little case, and you get to open it ... just like Christmas!

The Palm Portable keyboard is not much bigger than your Palm Pilot. Yet, waiting inside this practical looking case is an instruction manual, software CD, and the answer to your Palm Pilot prayers: a complete, finger-comfy keyboard. It's so easy to use, you may not even need to read the instructions.

All you do is remove the contents of the zippered case, and unfold the keyboard! When completely unfolded, it's the same size as your desktop keyboard.

Once unfolded, just pop the CD into the Palm HotSync to install the Palm Pilot Keyboard software, and connect your Palm Pilot where indicated. Viola! Now you have the speed and data entry control only a keyboard can provide.

This is a match made in Palm Pilot heaven! It takes only minimal power from your Palm Pilot to run, and it works like a charm. The keyboard is the same size and has the same basic feel as your trusty home PC keyboard. It's small enough to slip into your pocket along with your Palm Pilot so you can take it wherever you go. It unfolds and assembles in seconds, so there's not much wasted time getting those thoughts down when you need to. When you're finished using it, this handy keyboard folds down to a little pocket-sized, eight-ounce packet.

This keyboard makes it easy to take notes at meetings or conferences, or any place when you're away from your desk. You can use it to record lengthy notes at business meetings or to compose and respond to email. It's simple to navigate to your address book, appointment calendar, or any other applications. It also comes with nine user-programmable keys.

The keyboard even saves wear and tear on the Palm Pilot itself since by using the keys you no longer use the screen as much.

And the price is right. It's really a great bargain!

Is there a downside? Well, you may need a bit of time adjusting to the height of the keys on this new toy. Although it works just as well as the keyboards you've become so fond of, the key height is a bit different.

Some hard-core typists may feel odd about the right shift key being a bit more to the right than they're used to. These are minor quirks however, and nothing you can't get used to quickly.

Also, the little keyboard stand is a bit tricky to set up. You've first got to slide it straight out from the back of the keyboard, then hold it at a 45-degree angle, and flip out the back portion to attach the Palm Pilot. Once you get this process down, however, you'll find that this fragile looking stand does a great job of holding the Pilot in place while your fingers fly smoothly over the keys.

The support desk at Palm Pilot is great with resolving any setup problems:...

I chose this just because I wanted something cheap. I have heard bad things about some other brands overheating or having various problems, but I have been using this a few months and found no problems whatsoever.

It remains room temperature and has had no bandwidth or power problems for me. It appears to have a place to connect a power supply (not included), but that doesn't seem to be listed as a feature so I cannot guarantee it. It has two USB plugs so you can get the power from a second USB port if you need it. I have only needed one. My only complaint with the device is having that extra plug sitting around (attached to the cord), but of course that isn't a problem if you use it.

It's cheap and it works, so I recommend this item.

I am totally loving this little thing! Very slick design with those blue lights and the ability to put 4 different USB devices all into one super-mini hub. A must have for this price...

This is an excellent usb hub for the price. Very compact and very light. It doesn't take up too much space at all. Also, it's powered thru USB so you do not need to deal with an AC adaptor.

I have a couple of USB devices that are powered through the USB port as well and my concern was whether they would still be active through this hub. I plugged both into the hub and both were powered up!!

And the 4 ports light up with a nice blue led color that's looks really cool!! Targus should show this in their ads/marketing material because it definitely makes the hub look much cooler!

This is a great bargain and perfect for people that need a simple & compact USB hub for all their gadgets.

Definitely recommended!!

I chose this just because I wanted something cheap. I have heard bad things about some other brands overheating or having various problems, but I have been using this a few months and found no problems whatsoever.

It remains room temperature and has had no bandwidth or power problems for me. It appears to have a place to connect a power supply (not included), but that doesn't seem to be listed as a feature so I cannot guarantee it. It has two USB plugs so you can get the power from a second USB port if you need it. I have only needed one. My only complaint with the device is having that extra plug sitting around (attached to the cord), but of course that isn't a problem if you use it.

It's cheap and it works, so I recommend this item.

I am totally loving this little thing! Very slick design with those blue lights and the ability to put 4 different USB devices all into one super-mini hub. A must have for this price...

This is an excellent usb hub for the price. Very compact and very light. It doesn't take up too much space at all. Also, it's powered thru USB so you do not need to deal with an AC adaptor.

I have a couple of USB devices that are powered through the USB port as well and my concern was whether they would still be active through this hub. I plugged both into the hub and both were powered up!!

And the 4 ports light up with a nice blue led color that's looks really cool!! Targus should show this in their ads/marketing material because it definitely makes the hub look much cooler!

This is a great bargain and perfect for people that need a simple & compact USB hub for all their gadgets.

Definitely recommended!!

Both keyboard and mouse are good, however, I just got a second system to use with the computer in the room next door (the two systems are just separated by a thin wall) and the mice "jam" each other if used at the same time (move a mouse and both systems "freeze" on the screen, very annoying). I've followed the instructions on the logitech support site to reinstall the systems (take out batteries, press button on receiver for 15 secs., install one system, wait at least 20 mins., install the second system), but the problem doesn't go away. Contacted two service reps via e-mail over the past 10 days but they just re-sent the info that's available on the site. Very disappointing, I'm junking one system now.

Logitech makes great products and by in large, this one is no exception. Assuming you have the right placement of the transmitter to eliminate interference from your monitor etc... it is a fast and easy set up. The keyboard is light, but you have to hit the keys a bit harder than I would like and its noisy. The mouse works well, and both do have that "cordless" advantage.

I was unable to kick back and type. I kept getting inaccurate keystrokes that appeared to be hardware error, not the operator. As long as I kept the keyboard on my desk... all was well, but since I got it to be able to move away from the desk, I can't say I'm thrilled with what I would consider to be a fairly big chunk of change going to this item.

Best wishes to all those who want to give it a try, I'm going back to the plug in myself.

I just got my Cordless iTouch keyboard and mouse this morning and I set it up right away. At first glance, I knew that setup was going to be a piece of cake. And it was! I can't believe I didn't have any trouble at all. Before I bought the product, I was kind of skeptical and cautious because my current keyboard is a HP multimedia keyboard which also has some customizable buttons in it. I was afraid that the software might conflict with my old one. However, after I connected the cordless keyboard and mouse on my PS/2 port, there was no problem...it worked right away. Changing the software was no problem at all.

I also tested the range of the product and it turned out to be pretty good. The receiver is currently surrounded by other electronics but it doesn't seem to cause it a lot of trouble.

Since I only got it this morning, I can't comment on the product's durability and/or dependability. But as far as I know, I recommend this product to anybody who likes to be free from cords.

No foolin', this is one great mouse for the money. No more shaking to dislodge a stuck mouse ball. Quick accurate pointer movements and a comfortable hand feel, this mouse includes a useful scroll wheel too. At this price, nothing appears to come close. Oh, and don't forget the limited lifetime warranty. Not sure what the limitations are, but lifetime is a pretty long time. It's nice to know the company is confident in the product. I like mine so much, I bought another one for a friend.

This mouse is a good product and it saves you ... from purchasing the Microsoft Intellimouse. I had a small amount of trouble installing it on my 486, but I got it to work well after a while. It works fine on all of my other computers. The software also allows you to program the scroll wheel to perform a function upon clicking it. This mouse looks different than the advertisements show it. The mouse is white and the scroll wheel is blue. This is a PS2 mouse. If you have a computer department store at home, you could probably find this mouse .... This mouse works best on flat surfaces and senses even the slightest movement. Great Product! Highly recommended!

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE! THIS LITTLE MOUSE WORKS PERFECTLY=ALMOST A GIVE WAY PRICE=SO COMFORTABLE TO USE= NO MORE CLEANING CHORES=SMOOTH AS SILK=ON A ONE TO TEN RATING IT IS A TEN PLUS=THANK YOU "MICRO" FOR A SUPERB PRODUCT AT SUCH A LOW PRICE WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY! BLESS YOU!!!

I just purchased a Dell laptop, The touchpad was so sensitive it drove me nuts. So I looked at this model because it seemed to have all the right specs.
It took all of 5 minutes to install the software and have the mouse up & running. It is small enough to work on the right or left side of your laptop. It is optical W/USB & a PS2 adapter. It has a 3' extension. The mouse is small but very ergonomic with a 2 button scroll. Works with all Windows including XP OS & Macs.

I love this little thing. A lot of travel mice are too small, or the wrong shape, or easily broken, but this mouse is just right. The buttons have just the right amount of give to them, the scroll wheel is firm but not too firm, and it tracks well whether I'm using it on a tabletop, on my pants leg, or even on my laptop's wrist rest. Plus, it comes with a sturdy carrying case, so I don't have to worry about it getting damaged in my laptop bag, and an extension cord, in case the three-foot cord on the mouse isn't long enough for whatever reason. It looks stylish, too!

I really love the Traveler mouse. Yes, it's small, but I have very large hands and I've adapted to it quite easily. It tracks smoothly and the wheel has just the right amount of resistance. It even comes with a nice PVC travel case, perfect to slip into your laptop bag without scratching anything else up.

This is a great companion to a Powerbook, too, as it looks cool alongside! Now if Apple would just work on making the right button more useful in OSX...but I digress.

I got my Internet Pro keyboard to go with my Celeron-based system running Windows '95. My previous keyboard was also a "multimedia" keyboard--a rebranded unit made by Chicony.

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. The construction is solid, the typing feel is very good, and it's quiet. I cannot put my Windows 95 system to sleep with the sleep key, although my previous keyboard allowed me to. I tested the new keyboard with a system running Win '98 and it goes to sleep when the sleep key is pressed.

The IntelliKey Pro software is pretty good, especially the multimedia features. It worked flawlessly. I would like more control over user-defined keys (only three or four are programmable, depending on how you count), but this is a gripe I would levy against every custom keyboard software I've seen.

The only caution I would give a potential buyer relates to the USB: This is not a keyboard that'll work on a "legacy-free" computer. It is a PS/2 keyboard with a USB hub, a USB keyboard with a USB hub. Although my Windows 95 OSR 2.5 software states "USB support" on the CD label, the keyboard does not function with USB under Windows 95. This is not the fault of the keyboard and the software requirements on the keyboard box clearly state that Windows 98 is required for USB support. By the way, I was using a USB mouse for testing. The keyboard itself uses the PS/2 port and has an extra plug (a USB pigtail) for its built-in hub.

USB suppoort under Windows 98 seemed to work OK, although I did not have time to check this out fully. I understand there are a few glitches when using this keyboard with a USB mouse that happen when waking from sleep mode.

Overall, a good keyboard choice. Have reasonable expectations of USB and you'll be very satisfied.

I got this keyboard simply because I needed one that had extra USB ports to plug things into. This isn't really necessary except to make things neater without going all out and getting wireless (which I've had -- performance isn't perfect with wireless just yet).

However, it is extremely useful for laptop/notebook owners that didn't bother getting a port replicator or docking station. All I have to do is plug in the monitor and the USB from the keyboard, and voila, everything I have is plugged in via the extra USB ports on the keyboard.

The keyboard has a y-shaped end, one end being ps2, the other being USB. Remember though, the USB ports can only be used if you plug the keyboard into the laptop via USB, not PS2.

I sort of wish it didn't have PS2 at all -- sort of gets in my way.

Feels nice...I hate ergonomic keyboards. Standard keyboard layout. Keys depress nicely, though a big louder than my old wireless logitech.

I bought this keyboard a couple of years ago and have been very happy with it. The only problem is it's size, and I really didn't need all these extra buttons, but other than that, it's a great keyboard. The wrist rest is also quite nice, although I still prefer a gel wrist rest, however with the size of this keyboard, it's easier to use the hard plastic one provided, otherwise the gel one would just keep falling off my desk.

I'm a touch typist, so the position of keys is important and this uses the standard size and spacing which I like. Also, I use this keyboard with both Mac and PC, and the software provided allows me to set the keyboard up perfectly for each platform.

One problem is that it occasionally stops responding and I have to unplug it and plug it back in again, but this doesn't happen that often and is only a minor complaint really. Not as bad as the IntelliMouse Explorer which stops working for days on end.

After getting a thorough soaking with tea, the keyboard obviously stopped working, but after half an hour of cleaning it out and ensuring there was no tea left on the internal contacts, it worked fine, and was much easier to clean out than some keyboards I've tried to repair. So really, it's been pretty damn reliable, even after the tea.

Overall I like this keyboard, but in future, I wouldn't bother with all the additional buttons which never get used to be honest. Without then, I could save an additional inch or two on my desk and have a nice gel wrist rest. However if desk space is not a problem and you get use from them, I can see that they would be useful for some users.

I you are looking for the ideal keyboard? Well look no further. The Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro has everything a keyboard should have and then some. With easy stroke, quick action keys and of coarse, the wrist friendly ergonomic design, Microsoft further compliments this keyboard with the internet hotkeys that you use most. It makes a full day of typing or web surfing something that can actually be enjoyed! Plus you almost never have to use a mouse to slow you down. Being a keyboard designed for the newest computers it comes with a PS-2 plug-in and additional USB ports which is nice but for those like myself who still have a box that requires an AT keyboard plug-in, the addition of a standard PS-2 to AT adaptor is necessary. Microsoft does make an attempt at providing the adaptor, if you are willing to wait another 2 to 3 weeks for it to come in the mail, as a cost saving stratagy. But really, are they saying they can't afford to provide what should be standard equipment? Had it included the adaptor it would have gotten the five star rating.

I got the Pro a few days before the Elite arrived. My initial impression was that the Elite was much more compact than the Pro- I was surprised, in putting them side by side, to see that the Pro was only about 1/4" wider than the Elite. The Pro is, however, an inch or more "deeper" than the Elite, because of the macro buttons that I'd probably rather do without.

For this 1/4" savings in width, IMHO Microsoft made an absolutely horrific tradeoff. Not only are the keys between the main keyboard and numeric keypad undersized, but they're arranged in a non-standard way.

Particularly annoying, the arrow keys, rather than being arranged as an inverted T, are arranged like a cross, with the left and right arrow keys side-by-side. I had to think about what I was doing when using these keys. Even acknowleging that familiarity comes with use, I think the Elite is decidedly non-ergonomic, on this basis alone.

I type with my keyboard on my lap, and the Pro seems to slope downward noticeably- I expect I'll have to put an air cushion or something under it to overcome this problem. The Elite has this defect to a slightly lesser degree; I also prefer the somewhat "flatter" inclined wrist rest of the Elite to the more rounded (bulging) design of the Pro.

The Elite is noticeably lighter than the Pro, but both keyboards had a similar feel, with respect to the keys.

I have 2 Dell minitowers. The older keyboard has a significantly lighter (key) touch than the newer one, which has quite a stiff feel. In this respect, I much prefer the light touch of the older Dell keyboard to that of the Microsoft keyboards, which is about midway between the 2 Dells.

A final significant difference is that the Pro keyboard has a cable with both a USB and a PS/2 plug. The Elite has a PS/2 plug, and a PS/2 to USB adapter that can be plugged in. There's a 2 or 3 second delay for my KVM switch (see below) to recognize the Elite, when I switch between PCs, while the delay with the Pro typically is only about a second.

Price really shouldn't be much of a factor in something so basic as the keyboard you use, but I'll do that comparison here, nonetheless.

At the time of my order, the Elite was priced at $30.34, and shipped from Amazon with a Super Saver promotion, meaning that shipping was free.

The Pro keyboard was priced at $34.99, but actually was shipped from Tiger Direct, at a cost of $9.49, for a total of $44.48.

However.... there's a $10 rebate currently available with the Pro keyboard, so presumably the actual cost to me will be $34.48, or $4.14 more than the Elite keyboard.

What really drove me to buy a keyboard is the rather nice $80 -$90 iView 4-port USB KVM Switch I recently bought, that allows me to control 4 computers (including my web server, that runs Linux) from one IntelliMouse, keyboard, and monitor; I really needed a USB keyboard to use with the KVM.

I gave the Natural Elite keyboard 2 stars. A 5-star keyboard, in my opinion, would be much like the Elite, EXCEPT for the non-standard key arrangement; a USB connector (who cares about PS/2 anymore?); would come with a foam pad (or something) for tilting it up slightly, when using it on your lap; and would have a somewhat lighter key touch- like my older Dell keyboard.

As I write this review from work I wish I were using Microsoft's Natural Keyboard Pro. I bought two last year and gave one to my aunt; if it were possible to fall in love with a keyboard, then this thing would steal my heart.

The Natural Keyboard Pro is the true successor to the original Natural Keyboard; forget about the Keyboard Elite. This board sports 19 multimedia "hot keys" that launch browsers, refresh web pages, and much more. There are connectors for USB and PS/2 ports; Microsoft recommends plugging the keyboard into both ports although you can use whatever port you want.

Key response is good without feeling mushy and the built-in wrist rest is good for those users who like to relax theirs wrists at the bottom of the keyboard. The IntelliType software that ships with the keyboard is version 1.0; users of America Online will want to download the patch for compatibility with AOL's 5.0 software.

I like Microsoft's latest keyboard. It's a good, sturdy keyboard with cool features that are really useful. Users with small hands might need some time to get used to the board's rather large layout; even still the Natural Keyboard Pro is proof that if Microsoft quit the software business tomorrow they'd have a great future in hardware.

Overall, this mouse works wonderfully. It is comfortable to hold, its four buttons (including the mouse wheel) are easy to program, and it has very precise tracking. However, there are a couple of problems. First, I had to download updated software drivers from Logitech's Website, in order to program this mouse to work with my Windows XP system. I found this odd, since Logitech claims this product was designed for Windows XP. The other problem is a more generalized one, which is unique to optical mice--i.e., they don't work well on shiny surfaces such as translucent plastic. But this is easily remedied.

This is a great mouse and well worth the purchase. I don't even notice a different between a tradition ball mouse and this optical one. It's just as responsive and the way it's design feels a lot more comfortable in my hand than a basic mouse design. I never realized how uncomfortable a standard designed mouse was until using this one.

The thing you have to rememeber with most optical mouses is that you can't use them on reflective surfaces. Many desks have a somewhat reflective surface so you should use a mouse pad or even just a piece of paper would work. Just as long as it's not reflective then it would work. I even use it on my pillow while I'm in bed with my laptop.

There is also not an issue with XP. It takes about a few seconds for XP to recognize it but then it automatically installs a basic driver for it. If you want to use some of the fancy features then you have to install Logitech's driver but it's not necessary.

I love this mouse. I upgraded from a regular single optical mouse by logitech. I am a struggling Graphics artist and the dual optics looked good to me, plus i love the side button for those command-click or shift-click (Windoze) for opening a web site in a second window feature. It works perfectly on my mac, and i will probably get one for my PC as well. Its a nice upgrade, tracks well and feels good in hand. You will not be disappointed at all if you buy. It's worth every penny. Enjoy.

No, I'm not talking about honey on the keyboard. I love this keyboard; it's just that I'm extremely disappointed. I love the media player controls, the little scroll wheel on the left, and the quiet keys. With great love, however, comes great disappointment. The Windows start key has started getting stuck in the down position sometimes, leading to some strange behavior when I'm typing. The sad thing is that the keyboard is only 4 or 5 months old. I guess I could return it or something, but it's such a pain. And what would I do without a keyboard for the eternity it takes to get it back?

Luckily, so far I haven't accidentally erased anything because of the sticking, but every once in a while I'll suddenly switch to the desktop (Windows+D) or accidentally activate the windows narrator (whatever the crap that is)

Other than this annoying quirk, this is a great keyboard. But, because of this annoying quirk, I can't really recommend this keyborad. Maybe I got a bum one, but this doesn't inspire confidence in the product for me.

The keys have a solid feel, quiet operation. That's what matters most to me.

It has the usual features of a multimedia/internet keyboard, plus a scroll wheel that works just like a mouse's scroll. If you have a scroll mouse, the scroll on the keyboard is no big deal. Certain keys have labels that show the typical Windows shortcuts (e.g. contol-V for paste) which I find handy.

One thing that I don't care for is the F-Lock. It is the same thing as num lock, but for the function keys. It is naturally off so that the f keys can be used for other functions. I prefer to use the f keys for their original purpose. But you can't set the F-Lock to come on at every boot up, so you always need to remember to turn it own. I noticed that most of the new Logitech and Microsoft keyboards were like this. I wish it could be configured in software to control this default setting.

It comes with a 5 year warranty, which should be sufficient. Best Buy tried to sell me a service agreement on this, saying that "a lot of people return these". My experience with Logitech is that they are reliable.

I don't see how you couldn't love this keyboard. I bought it because 1. it's Logitech. and 2. because it matches my case, monitor & mouse. The extra buttons are nice. And there are sure a lot of them. Honestly, I use the volume control more then anything. But, I'm so use to plain KB's it's gonna take me awhile to get use to having 1 touch keys. I set some of other ones to lauch custom apps. So now I can pop into Photoshop or Flash super quick. It's probably really no faster then clicking on the icon on my Desktop. But single button access is always nice. The default layout is pretty good actually. But, every button is customizable. You you could really go all out. Only problem is, they are all already labeled, so if you do change them. You'll have to have a good memory. I think Logitech got it almost perfect with this KB. I'm curious to see what they bring out next though.