October 31, 2009

Tiny Wireless Keyboard For The Home Theater
By Luis Anthony G. Oliveros
Published in the November 2009 print edition of PC World Philippines

Logitech diNovo Mini
P9,599
www.logitech.com

The Logitech diNovo Mini is a pint-sized wireless keyboard designed specifically for pairing with home theaters PCs and the PlayStation 3. It’s for those who need an input device but wouldn’t want a full-sized keyboard parked in their home theaters or living rooms. It comes in a compact 152x90x27.5mm clamshell design at only 175g so handling feels very comfortable with the curved lower corners nestled comfortably within the palm of both hands. This easily makes handling it comparable to using a handheld gaming device or a landscape oriented mobile phone where you type with your thumbs.

Underneath the lid, the keyboard is made up of sensibly tactile keys that offer good feedback. These keys are mostly nicely sized although we would’ve preferred a larger CTRL key which had been minimized to make room for the Windows button on its right side. Also, adequate spacing between each key would’ve helped a lot to enhance usability as we’ve managed to commit several typos during our test period. A circular touchpad is positioned to its right, which doubles as a five-way direction pad to supplement navigation. This keyboard also has a backlight, making it easier for use in rooms with less than desirable lighting conditions.

The diNovo Mini connects via Bluetooth which means it’ll work at up to 10 meters away from the computer. This seems apt since a good parking space for it would be a home theater or a living room’s coffee table near the general couch vicinity. Indeed, quite a comfortable area for multimedia buffs and gamers alike to enjoy their videos and games. A USB dongle is also included in the box should your machine lack the wireless connectivity.