Kensington Ci70 Wired Keyboard with USB Ports, Mini-USB Connector (K64396US) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a pretty fast typist but the one thing I kept hearing while I was typing at home was "Why are you typing so loudly?" Hey, it wasn't me, it was just the keyboard responding to my fingers flying over the keys. I've always, for the most part, used an Apple keyboard hooked up to my Macs. You know, the big, almost sounds like a typewriter, keyboards.

Now when I purchased and started to use my new MacBook in January, there were no longer any complaints of my banging the keyboard to death. Why, maybe because of the change in the keyboard style from the larger keys to the shorter, chicklet-like, keys on the MacBook. So when the chance came around to get a new Kensington Keyboard, with added USB ports, for my regular desktop Mac, I couldn't resist.

Kensington's new Ci70 keyboard (wired) provides the user with a smaller footprint than most of the other keyboards. The keyboard has been reduced in size by 35% and presents a lower and much more laptop-like keyboard for the user. The keyboard is very lightweight, comes only in black and typing is easy and enjoyable. One thing you have got to know from the start, Kensington decided that one model fits all, so the keyboard also has Window keys (or to a PC user, it has Mac keys) and it has also been tweaked to prevent any wasted space. If you take a look at the picture below, you'll get a good idea of what I'm talking about in regards to there not being an inch of wasted space.



Here's the other interesting point of Kensington's Ci70 keyboard... they've added USB ports to the keyboard. I know, even Apple has USB ports on their keyboards. But Kensington's keyboard, besides the two standard USB ports (one on top, one on the back) also has a mini-USB cable that hides on the top of the keyboard under a sliding cover that permits a digital camera user to hook up directly to the keyboard without having to go searching for their USB cable to hook up and download pictures. Kensington has put the cable right up on top for you to hook up, download, disconnect and then continue with whatever you were typing.

Under the same sliding cover, you will also find five control buttons that, from left to right, permit one to open up their CD/DVD drive, conduct a search of their Mac, open up the default email program, open up the default web browser, and finally, open up iTunes, or whatever your default music app is. Speaking of iTunes, Kensington also has five controls on the right side of the keyboard, right above the number pad, allowing you to start/pause your music app, move up and down your playlist and finally, raise or lower your volume.
As you can see above, the keyboard presents a very low profile. There are two small feet on the back of the keyboard to raise up the board, but it will no be well off the desk. However, I found it very easy to get used to and it did not present a problem at all.

Using the keyboard is great, it produces very little key noise. (scissor-key mechanism) Once you get used to the compressed keyboard, you'll really enjoy it. The one thing that threw me for a loop was the fact that there is no Caps Lock indicator. I thought maybe I had a bad keyboard so I checked. It seems the caps lock function was intentionally left out in the keyboard's design of a 35% smaller footprint. Once you get by that, unless you're typing in a password and you've inadvertently now gone into Upper case and you can't access what you need, it's okay and not a big deal. Hooking up a camera to the mini-USB cable is fast and simple, just be aware it's only five inches long so it will be close to your keyboard or on the top portion. I encountered no problems with syncing my iPod to my Mac. All in all, a great little keyboard.

So to review:
Pro: Easy to use, Mac/PC compatible, low profile, reduced size, provides 2 USB ports and one mini-USB cable. Looks good. Keyboard size: L 16.0" x W 7.0" x H 0.25"-1"
Cons: The only problem that I had with the keyboard was the lack of a Caps Lock indicator. (You'll adjust to it)

Warranty: Kensington 5-Year Warranty and free technical support.

Highly recommended!
My Mac rating: 4 out of 5

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Product Description:
The keyboard with connections!The Kensington Ci70 Keyboard has two built-in USB 2.0 ports and a mini-USB connector to help you sync your digital photos, videos and music. The sleek, low-profile design fits into your life while also optimizing your space.Subtleupgrades make all the difference, including soft-touch keys that offer a crisp, responsive touch for added comfort, and a sliding door that offers a nice, finished look. PC and Mac Compatible. In Black.

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Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Review

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(More customer reviews)As somewhat of a keyboard/mouse collector (16 mice and 12 keyboards) due to the "unfortunate" quirk of being left-handed and desiring a comfortable mouse, I've tried quite a few over the years.I bought this set because Microsoft advertise that it's Mac-compatible, which is important seeing as I use Macs primarily.

Previously, I'd been using the standard Apple keyboard (slim aluminum), but wanted a keyboard with a few function keys.I scoped out the Logitech G15, as I had the older flip-LCD version and Logitech now supports Macs with their new G-series Profiler software, but I decided against the G15 because Logitech annoyed me with their Desktop Wave Pro set - which inexplicably is NOT supported by their SetPoint Mac software, even though the original Desktop Wave set IS supported.Grr!

This set from Microsoft is my favorite Microsoft set in years.The keyboard is fairly slim for an MS keyboard, which I like, and the keys are somewhat low-profile, which I also like.It took me an hour or so to get used to typing on it, as it has a bit of a weird contour to it - not quite as weird as the Logitech Wave, but a definite contour.

As mentioned by another reviewer, the keyboard is loud.I don't notice anything particularly loud about the spacebar, but the keyboard is most definitely loud in general.This doesn't bother me, as I tend to like the clack of a keyboard, but I can see how other people might be bothered by it.There's no way I could type on this keyboard stealthily while talking on the phone, for example.

For Mac users, the newest Microsoft IntelliType software is fantastic.Swapping a few settings allowed me to set the Alt keys to be equivalent to my Command keys, and the Windows Menu key (next to Ctrl on the right side) to be Alt, which is convenient while gaming - as I have easy access to Ctrl, Alt and Shift.The function keys are all customizable, allowing you to perform special functions, bind them to applications on your system, and so forth.One minor nitpick is that although you can bind a key to open your web browser, you can't bind it to a specific website - so I cannot, for example, bind my Mail key to automatically open my Gmail website.A minor nit, but it may also bother some people.

Another minor nitpick is that the F-keys are insanely small and are right above the standard keyboard, and below the special function keys.It took me a little while to get used to this, and I had to disable the iTunes functionality on the media keys because I kept hitting them while gaming, and popping up iTunes in the middle of a game.Not good!Due to per-application profiling, however, it's easy to disable them when in certain applications.

Apart from the above, I really like the keyboard.It's slim, low, the wristpad is of a material that's comfortable, and the keys are very nice to type on once you get used to them.

The mouse - which I believe is a Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 with a special white underside, instead of the solid black - took me a while to get used to as well, but I love it now.The mouse is very tall, which was a definite change from my previous mouse, a Razer Copperhead.It's ambidextrous, which is a big plus for me, and the sides are rubberized and very comfortable and keep it from slipping in my hand, which has been a problem with other MS mice.

The mouse is quite heavy, which I like, though others may not appreciate that.As is usual with Microsoft mice, the scroll wheel is heavenly - it scrolls so perfectly smooth, with just the right amount of tension.The rubber track on the wheel keeps your finger from slipping and gives good traction for scrolling.The scroll wheel isn't a click-wheel, but it's still very easy to scroll only one or two steps at a time, unlike the free roulette-wheel scroller on Logitech's new mice.

Though another reviewer complained about the loud clicks on the mouse, I don't think it's any louder than some Razer mice (Copperhead, Diamondback or Lachesis are the three I own) or Logitech mice (the G7, VX Nano and VX Revolution are about the same loudness), though it is definitely louder than some of Logitech's "squishier" mice, such as the MX610 and MX620, or the LX8.

I can also definitively say that the BlueTrack is amazingly responsive and accurate, especially for a wireless.After using it for a week, I still haven't had any problems with the pointer slipping or ghosting, or just plain teleporting all over.Very nice.

My only complaint - and it isn't a big one since I don't plan to travel with this mouse - is that although the transceiver snaps into the mouse, it's neither a Nano transceiver, nor does it snap flush into the bottom - it hangs out, which means if something brushes it enough, it could flop out.It would take a good bit of brushing, as there are four rubber teeth that hold the USB transceiver in, but beware if you store it in a laptop bag; your transceiver may be sitting at the bottom of the bag if you clunk it around.

All in all, I really am happy I purchased this set: it's a great value (combining a $40 Wireless Mouse 5000, and a $40 Wireless Keyboard 3000) for two high quality, rugged components - particularly the mouse.If you don't mind the loud clicks or loud keyboard, you'll probably love this set.

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Product Description:
Low-Profile Wireless Keyboard and BlueTrack Mouse Desktop Set - USB

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