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A Wireless Keyboard for My Media Server
By Dave Peterson | January 14, 2009
A few months ago, I wrote a couple of posts about my efforts to build a media server based on a Mac Mini. It’s been serving me pretty well, but one element of it I’ve never been happy about is the input devices I’ve used with it. Until yesterday, I had an Apple Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mighty Mouse serving it. I like both, but the mouse in particular is much better suited to a desktop computing environment than a media center. I’m usually having to scramble for a hardback book to run the mouse over when I need to use it.
Last week, wandering though Macworld, I came across a solution to this issue that I think will work out much better. At the Logitech booth I saw the diNovo Edge, Mac Edition keyboard. It’s a very high-design sleek keyboard, but what really hooked me was the integrated touchpad that I was able to try out while I was there. The keyboard is very trim and wedge-shaped, making for a thin, comfortable device to balance on one’s knees while in front of the television. There are dedicated buttons to launch Front Row and to put the Mac into Sleep mode, as well as function keys that will launch apps like iPhoto and iTunes. A touch-sensitive volume slider sits above the TouchDisc, and media controls that mirror the functionality of the Apple Remote are on the left side of the keyboard. Connection to the computer is by Bluetooth. I used this for a while last night after setting it up and it’s by far the best keyboard/mouse solution I’ve used when no hard surface is readily available.
The keyboard has a recharging cradle that holds it vertically. A full charge will provide a week of normal usage. The design is very appealing and modern, though possibly a bit more in the style of recent PCs than the current Apple motif. The diNovo Edge keyboard is available for PCs as well as Macs, and if you’re looking for an elegant all-in-one wireless keyboard, you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer one.
Topics: Computer Accessories | 3 Comments »
January 15th, 2009 at 4:09 am
We have this keyboard and we love it! I would highly recommend it. We use it for our HTPC.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
[...] A problem faced by everyone who attaches a computer to their television for media center purposes is how to handle mouse operations. Keyboards can be juggled on knees when they are occasionally necessary, but getting the pointer around the screen is a constant hassle. Either you run a wireless mouse on a book or coffee table, or you might go for a wireless keyboard with an integrated touchpad. [...]
April 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
[...] have to be Apple-manufactured. I tested successfully with both an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a diNovo Edge keyboard, made by Logitech. Another physical keyboard option is the Apple Keyboard Dock, which has begun [...]