A Keyboard for Couch Potatoes

Logitech diNovo Mini

I just bought the diNovo Mini and it is so cool.  We have Windows XP Media Center and have our computer connected to a 50″ rear projection LCD.  We download a lot of TV shows and Movies to watch when the kids are taking a nap.  One of the main reasons we bought it is because our two year old is always getting his hands on the regular size Bluetooth keyboard and I am just waiting for the day he formats the hard drive.  

 Product Features

• Package Contents – Logitech diNovo Mini, USB Mini-receiver, Power adapter, CD with software, comfort guidelines and help center, User’s guide, and Cleaning cloth
• Use as a touch pad to point and click or as a directional pad to navigate menus and make selections
• Backlighting – Makes text entry effortless even in low light with two different backlight colors- orange for cursor mode and green for media control mode
• Bluetooth 2.0 – Enjoy long-range wireless control from up to 30 feet away
• Thumb-operated keypad design

I like the fact that the keyboard is Bluetooth.  It is much better than the regular wireless and allows you to use the keyboard from almost anywhere in the room.  It also has a touch pad that you can use like a mouse.  Once you get used to it, you can move pretty fast.  This helps because now we can keep the mouse hidden from the kids who like to play with that also.  You just have to remember that it’s a “mini keyboard”, so it is like typing on a blackberry.  It is really great for using Windows Media Center and checking the occasional email or web page, but if you are going to some heavy duty surfing, it is better to get out the full size keyboard.

Here is a link to the review on CNET for more information.  It was rated and editors choice.

http://reviews.cnet.com/keyboards/logitech-dinovo-mini-keyboard/4505-3134_7-32784878.html

 

 

Update: June 24, 2008

I just wanted to give you an update since we have been using the keyboard.  I really like it, but more like a remote control than a keyboard.  We watched a bunch of shows on Media Player yesterday and it worked great.  It works better than having a mouse on the couch when you turn the player to full screen.  When you have a mouse next to you it keeps moving and the controls for Media Player keep popping up.  With the diNovo Mini, you just close the cover and no need to worry about the pointer moving and messing up your show.  It is also great because it can work with an existing Bluetooth USB plug.  We already have one for our Windows Bluetooth keyboard.  We just went to the Bluetooth manager in the Control Panel and it found the diNovo right away and it worked fine.  How easy was that.

There are only some small things that bug me, but some of it may be fixed by adjusting the settings.  I find myself typing with my thumbs, so then when I go to use the touch pad to move the pointer, I start with my thumb, but I do not seem to have good control.  If I switch to my index finger, it is a piece of cake, like using a laptop.  Then to click the mouse you just need to push on the touch pad, but for some reason I am not coordinated enough to click in the right spot on the first try.  I may just have to adjust the sensitivity on the pad.  Otherwise if I flip the switch to use the touch pad as arrow keys, it works awesome.  I have also found because of this that it works pretty sweet with Media Center.  The button are a lot bigger and easier to navigate on screen so it is pretty easy for me to use.  I tried web surfing the other day, but after about 15 minutes I pulled out the full size keyboard.

All in all, this is a cool little toy and I am glad we bought it.  We have an HP Media Vault connected to our network and I see sometime in the future moving a computer into the bedroom and watching movies from the Media Vault.  I definitely see the potential of using the diNovo Mini for just that purpose.  The keyboard also has intelligent backlighting which would be cool for running the Media Center while watching movies in bed.