The tablet computer has all but replaced the laptop for many, many people.  Solidifying this notion is iHome with the unveiling of the idM5 at this year’s CES.  What is it?  In short order, a full sized Bluetooth keyboard and speaker system in one.  If you take a closer look you’ll see there are a set of media controls for the iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch) and a keyboard cover that doubles as a stand to hold your tablet at a comfortable viewing angle.  And last but not least is a USB port for charging up your device, though it won’t support connectivity, just powering up.

We had a chance to get a short hands on with the device.  The keyboard is comfortable and the speakers, which are built into the left and right side of the keyboard, are surprisingly loud.

iHome hasn’t given us a price or launch date, but we expect it to arrive after the start of Q3.

ROCCAT ain’t messing around when it comes to gaming.  The company is set to introduce the Isku Gaming Keyboard and Kone+ Gaming Mouse at CES 2012.

So what makes them special? They can communicate wirelessly to one and other, allowing gamers to hit a key on the keyboard and change the settings of the mouse instantly mid gameplay.  But that’s not all these gaming peripherals have to offer.

The Isku keyboard is built for the true gamer. It has a a whopping 36 macro keys – 8 dedicated – 3 of which are located just below the space bar for ultra quick access during heated gameplay. Furthermore, they can all be double programmed in up to 5 profiles, providing up to 180 macros on a single keyboard.  And to make sure you know what profile you’ve selected, they’ve outfitted the keyboard with a set of LED lights along with extreme Ice Blue back lighting in 6 adjustable brightness levels.

ROCCAT’s Kone[+] mouse is one of the wired ilk, as it should be, and includes a 6000dpi Pro-Aim laser sensor that achieves a 10.5 megapixel resolution and 1000Hz polling rate – that means it won’t lag or lose connection even during the most furious of frag sessions.  The outside of the mouse is outfitted with a Soft-Touch Surface, though keep in mind it’s built for right handers only.  And like the Isku, this mouse can be programmed with up to 22 functions that can be changed at the press of a button and are affirmed by voice feedback.

Expect ROCCAT’s latest mouse and keyboard to launch sometime early next year.

Whether you just prefer to do your web browsing from the bed or if you want some inputs to get used to no matter where you are, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse is a nice, compact solution that is incredibly easy to set up, comfortable to use, and effective for just about any purpose shy of gaming. With a roughly laptop-sized keyboard and a small mouse that also houses the wireless receiver when not in use, this set comes with pretty much everything you could need from a wireless keyboard and mouse.

The keyboard itself is fairly standard, complete with function keys and even selectable number pad keys and volume controls. The keyboard runs off of 2 AAA batteries and just stays on, waiting for inputs. The keys are push in comfortably, and it’s very easy to adapt to for anybody who spends any amount of time using a laptop. The letter keys are spaced more like a traditional desktop computer, which is great for typing, though the other keys tend to be more bunched up and in different places, which means looking around a bit if you’re trying to insert or delete.

In order to save on battery life, the mouse features an on/off switch on the bottom. More responsive than other optical mice I’ve tried, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Mouse is a comfortable yet small size, works great on almost every surface I tried (including my white desk), and the scroll wheel is smooth but responsive. The fact that the mouse can be used anywhere is a serious perk to consider when you imagine that you might be taking these out to use on a conference room table or a couch arm or anywhere you can think of, really. Knowing that the mouse is going to be responsive on a wide array of surfaces increases the potential uses for a wireless combo like this.

As nice as the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse are, however, there is still room for improvement. The lack of a power button on the keyboard means that battery life is always draining, albeit slowly, though if you’re carrying the keyboard with you, every time a key is pressed it’s pecking away at the battery. The tiny wireless USB receiver, while convenient in its size, is pretty easy to lose track of if you don’t want to keep removing and replacing the mouse’s battery case to store it. While I’m sure they would make the battery life drop a little faster, some lights on the keyboard to let you know if Num Lock or Caps Lock are activated would go a long way. I also would like to see some kind of USB compatibility so that if your batteries run out and you don’t have a spare set on you, you could still use the keyboard at least.

With a solid wireless distance and decent battery life, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse make for a very good temporary solution for presentations or the odd situation where you don’t want to stretch cables. However, because of the reliance strictly on AAA batteries that do wear down after about 15-20 hours, I don’t recommend getting these for use in making your home a bit more mobile or wireless. The products themselves work to specifications and the fact that all it typically takes to get going is plugging them in and putting batteries in goes a long way in my opinion of any wireless device. Finding a regular use for them that makes sense in terms of not constantly buying batteries, on the other hand, is a little harder to do.

Editor’s Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars

Very Good

Bottom Line: The Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse isn’t perfect, but has enough going for it that it should be considered for anybody looking to add some wireless functionality to any computer around. The compatibility across multiple operating systems means that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, getting started is often just as easy as plugging in the wireless USB receiver to the system and going. For a product designed for portability and ease of use, something as pivotal as that simply can not be overlooked. Anyone looking for a replacement for their current keyboard and mouse aren’t going to like shelling out battery money frequently, however.

Pros:

• Full number pad via a function key is a rarity for portable keyboards
• Works with a variety of operating systems simply by plug and play
• Mouse works great on virtually every surface and has a full, clickable scroll wheel

Cons:

• 2 AAA batteries for the keyboard, another 2 for the mouse, if you use these devices with any degree of long-term frequency, you’ll need to keep a lot of batteries stocked
• Lack of LEDs for Num Lock, Caps Lock, or Scroll Lock means relying on the installable toolbar that comes with the keyboard on a CD to know if you have any enabled
• With no shutoff switch for the keyboard, batteries need to be removed to make sure life isn’t being drained while it stows in your bag or briefcase

The Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse is available from Amazon for $29.24.

In the mechanical line of the Tt eSPORTS branding, there is the standard Meka, the Meka G1, and the king of the hill – the Meka G-Unit.  This beauty has a ton of features to set it apart from the crowd, like the sweet cherry black mechanical keys.  While my experiences with mechanical keyboards is somewhat limited (I’ve only ever used two others), the buttons here have a much nicer feel to them.  It’s a world of difference between using a standard keyboard and the “squishy” feel of the keys, and a mechanical keyboard with their “stiff” feel.  However when you’re playing certain games (FPS especially) that stiffness is extremely nice to have.  Another thing about these cherry black switches is the life expectancy – Thermaltake claims they’ll work for 50 million keystrokes, and I’m inclined to believe them (sorry – I’m not testing that myself).

The Meka G-Unit also has a polling rate of a whopping 1000HZ – that’s pretty much eight times faster than most other gaming keyboards out there.  It also sports a really great anti ghosting feature that works for up to 46 keys on the keyboard at any one time.  It’s extremely advanced, and if you’re playing something that uses a lot of keys (MMOs for one), you won’t have to worry about ghosting of any kind when you’re in “Game Mode”.  Game mode is turned on and off easily, by one simple button push though – it kills your Windows key so you don’t inadvertently hit it, and turns on the advanced ghosting protection.

While the entire Meka G-Unit isn’t backlit – something I noticed right away after coming from the full spectrum backlighting of the Challenger – it DOES light up in very distinct places.  The W / A / S / D keys, the arrow keys, the number pad 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 keys, and the left Ctrl / Left Shift / Space Bar all have a bright white illumination feature.  While it is nice to have full on illumination of every key, the illumination here is designed specifically to pull your eyes to the gaming related buttons, and when playing in the dark it’s actually more welcome than having everything lit up.  Each of the “zones” of light can be independently set to one of three brightness levels as well, or you can enable a “pulse” like effect for show.

Like the Challenger model, the Meka G-Unit has two USB ports, and audio jacks located in the rear section of the unit, making it easy to hook up your mouse and headset straight to it, and minimize cable clutter.  Also like the Challenger, the Meka G-Unit has a detachable USB cord for easy transport and storage.  That USB cord – supplied by Thermaltake – has gold plated ends, for maximum signal transmission.  While the Challenger has an attached ergonomic rest however, the Meka G-Unit features a detachable one – and it’s one of the features I’ve grown to hate.  It’s probably because of how my keyboard sits (my keyboard sits in a hidey-hole on my desk that looks like a drawer, but the front folds down and then the keyboard slides out), but the damn thing just would not stay attacked.  I seriously contemplated super glue, but then it would be too much of a pain to transport, so I just took it off and stuck a gel pad in front.  A simple solution to an irritating problem.

Just like all of the other Tt eSPORTS products I’ve worked on, the Meka G-Unit comes with a very robust UI program.  Through it, you can set up the aforementioned brightness levels, you can set up your profiles and instant switched, and you can set up macros.  The Meka G-Unit has 64KB of on board memory, so you can have your macros and profiles with you even when switching from one computer to the next.  You have twelve fixed macro keys, eight unfixed, and they can all be changed depending on the profile you have on, making a total of 60 available macros.

I have to say that using this keyboard was an experience.  I never had any kind of keyboard lag, and even though I tried to make it ghost, it just would not do it.  It had a level of responsiveness that I wasn’t used to at all, and I found myself playing a lot better in certain games because of it.  This has definitely taken the place of my other gaming keyboards – the only thing I really wish is that it had a little fan like the Challenger does, because I never noticed how much that helped before I used this without it.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

The Bottom Line:  The Meka G-Unit is an amazing keyboard that will surely be a welcome addition to any gamers repertoire and when compared to some of the other high end mechanical keyboards out there, it just blows them out of the water.

Pros:

• The advanced anti ghosting features really do work as promised
• The keyboard has a very sleek and refined look
• The cherry black switches are simply a dream to work with

Cons:

• The detachable wrist rest could use some design improvement
• No hand cooling fan is noticeable if you’ve used one for a while
• Illumination is only white, and only in specific areas

The Tt eSPORTS Meka G-Unit has a MSRP for $129.99

Typing on the iPad is anything but analogous to that of a standard keyboard.  As a result, a number of after market products have seen success, or at least production – case in point Logitech’s Foldup Keyboard (which we loved).  Unfortunately, they add bulk and negate the iPad’s svelte form factor.  As a result Steve Isaac & Brad Melmon built the TouchFire.

It’s an ultra thin and light weight (less than one ounce) keyboard that fits over the iPad’s virtual keyboard and provides the much needed force feedback to enable touch typists and those with an aversion to onscreen keyboards to type as if they were using the real thing.  Course it won’t solve the issue of keyboard size, but by using micro-structures and some sort of special manufacturing process, it can not only produces force feedback, allow you to partially see the screen as well as swipe, but leave the TouchFire in place even with Apple’s smart cover is in place.

So at this point the two have designed and built a working prototype.  But they need your help to get the TouchFire into production.  Pledging (it’s another Kickstarter project) $45 will buy you your own TouchFire, though if you pledge $25 more you’ll get two and some additional goodies.  So far they’ve raised $14,000, which exceeds their $10,000 funding goal, so it’s not a question of if it will ship, but when.

In just under a month’s time COD: Modern Warfare 3 will hit store shelves.  No doubt we’ll see productivity drop across the globe as fans of the game call in sick to work so they can prolong their weekend frag session.  Here to celebrate the arrival of this disgustingly captivating game is Logitech, who earlier this week introduced a Modern Warfare 3 inspired keyboard and mouse for those that will take to the battlefield on a PC.

Now, don’t get too excited, since they’re pretty much just rebranded versions of their G105 gaming keyboard and G9X gaming mouse.  But that’s not all.  They’ve outfitted both peripherals with green lighting to complement the MW3′s logo.  So the keyboard has green backlighting while the mouse sports a set of green LED lights.

In terms of the actual hardware, the G105 keyboard sports 6 keys which can each be programmed with 3 different macros.  They’re customizable to however you see fit, provided you’ve downloaded Logitech’s software.  It also rocks anti-ghosting tech which lets players mash up to 5 keys simultaneously without any interruption in game play and some media shortcut keys.

The mouse on the other hand (pun intended), can keep pace at up to 165-inches per second.  So suffice to say, the G9X is fast.  Its sensitivity can can be adjusted anywhere from 200dpi to 5700dpi depending on your gaming tastes.  There is also a dual-mode scroll wheel that Logitech says is ideal for selecting weapons, thanks to the precise click-to-click function or if you’re not digging that you can switch to frictionless hyper-fast scrolling to fly through web pages.  Five profiles allow you to effortlessly switch between settings and you can even customize the weight of the device with up to 28 grams of extra mass.

Both the MW3 Keyboard and MW3 Mouse should be available now for $79.99 and $99.99, respectively.  We’re not saying replace your current gaming keyboard and mouse, but if you’re in the market, here’s a way to pledge your undieing devotion to COD.

Walk into pretty much any store that sells accessories for electronics, and you’ll find a vast assortment of items for the iPAD – try to find something for another tablet though, and you’ll have a rough time of it. Some companies like Acer do make their own things, but Samsung apparently doesn’t feel they need to make cases for the Galaxy Tab. Because of that, we’ve been left to get sub-par cases, or modify another to suit our needs – but now that ZAGG has made their ZAAGfolio compatible with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, will Galaxy owners like myself finally have someplace safe to store their tab?

One thing I found out doing this review, is that there are slight differences in the WiFi only version of the 10.1 Galaxy Tab, and the Verizon LTE model.  I mention this because I have the Verizon model, and the ZAGGfolio is meant for the plain WiFi model.  I’m not taking any points off because of any modifications I had to make, because really that’s not their fault.  I will let you know though exactly what you’ll need to do in order to make it work should you also have the Verizon model.

The first thing you’ll notice on picking up the ZAGGfolio is that it feels very solid.  The hard shell will definitely be able to protect your Galaxy Tab from everyday bumps without any issues.  The Bluetooth keyboard is small and sleek, but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to use at all – rather I find myself using it almost exclusively anymore, even when my Tab isn’t in the case.  A charge on the keyboard lasts about a week with normal use, and it only takes about an hour of being plugged in to build that charge right back up.

On the keyboard is your standard set of keys, but then there are a lot of Galaxy control keys.  Things such as volume up and down, screen brightness, and media keys are right at your fingertips – and in the case of the volume controls that’s super important, as you won’t be able to change the volume any other way on the Verizon model.  I don’t know where the volume buttons are on the WiFi version – they could very well be in one of the holes that don’t line up with anything on my model, but when you put the Verizon version in the case your volume buttons are completely covered up.

Speaking of things being covered up, if you DO have a Verizon version like myself, I hope you have a Dremel, because you need to lengthen the hole for the power button about a quarter of an inch, or you’ll never be able to turn your Tab on.  Again, this isn’t a design flaw on the ZAGGfolio, but merely Samsung being strange and changing little things between models.  Hopefully there will be a design revision though to take into account these differences between the models.

One thing that is both good and bad on the ZAGGfolio, is how tight of a fit it is.  I don’t believe there’s any size difference in the Verizon and WiFi models (though if anyone knows they can feel free to correct me), so this will happen on either model.  Trying to get your Tab actually in the ZAGGfolio is a chore and a half – saying it fits like a glove isn’t really right, more like it fits like a glove one size too small.  I understand that you want a tight fit to keep the tab from slipping out, but the same thing could have been accomplished with two tabs at the bottom to clip it in place.  As it it, I was afraid I would end up breaking my Tab by repeatedly putting it in and taking it out.  If you don’t plan on ever taking your Tab out though (or rarely), then that won’t be so much of an issue for you to have to deal with.

Something that’s really great about the ZAGGfolio is how you can rest your Tab in it at an angle, making it act much like a laptop screen.  This is perfect for watching videos and movies on the go when you don’t feel like holding your Tab for everything.  While the viewing angle isn’t really adjustable, it’s set up for the average person to have a good view for it being seated either on your lap or a desk.

Editor’s Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Good

The Bottom Line: The ZAGGfolio is a good first attempt at a case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab – while it’s not perfect yet, it works and with a few simple hardware changes it could easily become the go-to case for Galaxy Tab owners.

Pros:

• Nice and solid case will protect the Tab a lot better than having nothing
• The Bluetooth keyboard is a really nice feature, and a Godsend for people like me who like to feel the keys
• The screen sits at pretty much the perfect level when it’s in the holder

Cons:

• Incredibly tight fit makes you dread having to take the Tab out of the case
• The case doesn’t like to stay snapped shut unless you really force it together
• It’s not set up to be universal across different Galaxy Tab models

You can grab a ZAGGfolio for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Amazon for $89.99

4.5 out of 5 stars

Apple’s iPad 2, while great for watching a YouTube video or surfing the net, is far from an ideal device for taking notes or hammering out a long email to grandma. Sure, iOS 5 will offer a split keyboard, which will provide a small amount of alleviation, but it most certainly won’t transform the tablet from a lean back device, as Steve Jobs called it, to a full blown wordprocessing machine. Unless you’ve got Logitech’s Fold Up keyboard case.

The Logitech Fold Up keyboard is an all black, plastic affair. It weighs just shy of a two pounds, but all things considered the added weight is justifiable given the flip out Bluetooth keyboard that seems to magically expand from underneath the iPad as you lift the tablet to a 45 degree angle. It’s quiet brilliant actually and until you try it in person you won’t be able to recognize how smoothly and easily it works. Logitech has made sure to include a set of slots to leave unfettered access to the 30-pin port and speaker.

The keyboard, much to my surprise, is full sized. A friend and I had a word typing competition using a simple online tool. She exclaimed that she could type 90 words per minute. The skeptic in me challenged her and at the time the iPad and Logitech Fold Up keyboard was within arms reach. Now keep in mind her claim was based on a desktop computer. So the battle ensued.  My score: 60 words per minute. I thought I’d do better, but no matter, because there was no way she could eclipse that score on, what, a Bluetooth keyboard. I couldn’t be more wrong. She scored 91 words per minute, proving that this keyboard is comparable if not better than a full fledged stand alone, wired keyboard. In fact the chiclet keys are highly responsive and provide great feedback, something I didn’t expect to see from a device such as this. It’s got the usual keyboard shortcuts as found on the iPad. Just hold the function key and hit the corresponding number key. Nevertheless, it’s a pleasure to type on this keyboard and as a matter of fact I wrote the rough draft of this review on it.

Chiclet keys and full sized keyboard make typing a pleasure – click to enlarge

Pairing the keyboard and keeping it paired couldn’t be easier. Just open the device, hit the connect button, turn on the iPad’s Bluetooth and your set. When the iPad is fiiipped down and the keyboard is stored away and the Bluetooth automatically turns off. Flip up the iPad, unfold the keyboard and the Bluetooth turns back on and automatically connects with the iPad. In the event that it dies or needs charging you simply plug it into the wall using the included mini-USB charger.

While Logitech doesn’t state battery life on their website, their instruction manual claims 500 hours.  That number seems like a bit of a stretch, and as you can imagine I didn’t have the patience to test this.  Nevertheless, even if it’s a fifth of that you should be good for a few months before heading back to the wall socket.  So it’s a moot concern.

What makes the Logitech Fold Up Keyboard so slick, is that it opens simulatanously as the iPad is flipped into an upright position. A small, ever so slightly recessed plastic button keeps it tightly locked away ensuring that the keyboard doesn’t open during transport and fall victim to a bump or ding.  The entire device is crafted from plastic and while it’s well built and sturdy when closed, it’s a tad fragile feeling when open.  So durability could be questionable for those that are hard on their products, but I had no problems in my testing.  And after all it’s an exceptional caveat since the nimble build makes for what would otherwise be a large and heavy device (i.e. a full sized keyboard).

3 LED lights indicate battery, Bluetooth connectivity and caps lock – click to enlarge

In the top right corner of the keyboard, just below the Connect button, are 3 LED lights: the middle one to convey Bluetooth status (blinking is ready to connect while a solid light when you unfold it indicates power), another to indicate when the caps lock is engaged and the last indicating battery life.

Typing on the Logitech Fold Up Keyboard is an absolute pleasure.  Unlike other keyboards of a similar ilk, this one is full sized, allowing you to easily transition from your laptop to the iPad without skipping a beat.  The design raises some questions about durability when unfolded – it’s a a tad flimsy -but since I had no problems I can only offer conjecture and skepticism, which is hardly justifiable.  The screen of the iPad remains exposed, but invest in one of Apple’s smartcovers and you’ve suddenly got the best of both worlds.

Bottom line: The Logitech Fold Up Keyboard is a massively useful tool for any one that want’s to turn their iPad into a productivity tool.  Its fold out keyboard is as enchanting to unfold as it is to type on.  The only caveat is that it doesn’t protect the iPad’s screen, but that can be quickly remedied with one of Apple’s Smartcovers.

You can buy the Logitech Fold Up Keyboard from Amazon for $129.99.

Pros:

• The full sized Bluetooth keyboard is a pleasure to type on
• Fold out design makes it very portable
• Super long battery life should last for months

Cons:

• All plastic build and a wide number of hinges makes the durability questionable, though I had no problems
• Pricey at $129.99

123►

The Vengeance K60 from Corsair is a hardcore FPS keyboard.  Not only is it built to last, but perform.  It retails for $109, so you’ll need to be, well, a hardcore gamer to justify its cost and features.

Built to last might actually be an understatement.  This keyboard’s chassis is made from brushed aluminum and sports laser etched keys, which means neither should ever wear out.  The WASD and #1-6 keys are textured, contoured and slightly soft to give you a one up on your opponent since you’ll always know where your fingers are thanks to their tactile response, and that they won’t slip during even the most intense of gameplay.  If you find those special keys bothersome you can switch them out for a set of standard, hard plastic set, which can be stored inside the wrist pad.  Good if you’re knocking out an email to your (virtual) girlfriend explaining why you can’t hang with her this weekend.

We’re not PC gamers, but whatever “anti-ghosting” is, it sounds freaking cool.  According to Corsair it all but guarantees that when you mash down on multiple keys, each one will input 100% of the time.  Furthermore, it can register up to 20-keys at the same time all at an ultra fast 1ms response time.

Lastly, there are the requisite media keys and a USB pass through slot, the latter allowing you to connect a mouse or other USB device, though it probably won’t charge your iPhone.

The Corsair Vengeance K60 is available now, but note that it is not Mac compatible.

By now there are a fair amount of iPad compatible Bluetooth keyboards on the market.  At their core they’re all the same, which is to provide a tactile typing surface for those that can’t cope with the virtual keys.  As a result few of them stand out in the design department and probably won’t have anyone ogling with envy.  That’s all about to change.

While it’s probably not the slimmest portable Bluetooth keyboards – it measures 12.5mm thick – the Levitatr is by far and away the most ingenious and fun we’ve ever had the luxury of laying eyes on.  With the push of a button the keys elevate from the glossy face of the device and the backlighting turns on.  On the converse when the keyboard is not in use the keys retract back into the body and stow away safely.

The benefits, aside from the aesthetical bliss you’ll enjoy every time you whip it out, is that the keys will avoid a mispress while stored in your bag.  Additionally, crumbs and whatever other debris  is lurking in your bag won’t be able to force its way in between the low-profile scissor switches, which if you haven’t used any of Logitech’s low profile keyboards, make for a smooth and comfortable typing surface.

Integrated into the Levitatr is a aluminum precision-machined kickstand and holds most any device at a 20-30 degree angle.  It locks into place using a high-powered magnet, which only adds to this device’s cool quotient.  A set of hot keys, 5 in total, are built specifically for the iPad, which control some of the most common functions (we’re assuming volume and play/pause, etc).

Instead of a built-in rechargeable battery, which we’ve seen in most Bluetooth keyboards, is a slot for 4x AAA batteries.  We’re not sure if James Stumpf, its designer, plans on including a set of rechargeables, but either way there are conveniences and drawbacks to either setup.

The Levitatr is a Kickstarter project, so James is looking for at least $79 if you want one of your own, though you can pledge less but you won’t get the actual product when it goes into production.  He says they’re currently prototyping a version that integrates directly into a tablet and they have a patent pending.

GadgetReview is giving away one Qmadix: Portfolio case with Removable Bluetooth Keyboard for the iPad 2 ($150 value), to ONE lucky winner!

The Qmadix: Portfolio Case features a removable Bluetooth keyboard that is designed specifically for the iPad 2.  However, since the keyboard is removable it can work with any compatible Bluetooth device, such as an Android smartphone.  All the ports are open for quick and easy access – even the camera – and it charges via micro-USB.

We’re giving away one of these to one person for FREE. To enter just LIKE our Facebook Fan Page and then leave a comment on the associated FB post telling us which movie you HATED this summer and why.  Again, you’ll need to head to our Facebook page and leave your comment on the post announcing this contest.

Will pick one winner at random from the comments, but in order to WIN you’ll have to Like Us and comment on Facebook. If you’d like a double entry, follow us on Twitter and retweet this contest.

This contest ends 9/14/2011 at 11:59 PST

It’s open to US residents in the continental US of A only.

Everything is better in a chrome or silver finish, right?  That would be our assumption based on Logitech’s Wireless Solar Keyboard, the K750.  It came out last year for the PC, but now Logitech has a Mac version and it’s finished in silver, which is very Apple, at least in terms of their computers.  As it happens you can also purchase it with a blue, pink or green stripe at the top or in all black.

Much like a solar powered calculator, the K750 can be recharged by indoor our outdoor lighting.  That means no batteries to replace or recharge. They’ve even got an app that informs you about how much battery power you’ve got left and how much juice the keyboard is sucking down from your desk lamp.  And let’s not over look that the K750 has a PVC-free construction and a fully recyclable box.  Now that’s green.

This version includes the Mac friendly keyboard layout, which means all the Mac keys – music and brightness controls, command keys and the eject key – are in the places you’d expect them to be.  And because it is specifically designed for the Mac it works right of the box; no drivers to install.

You can preorder the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac right now for $59.99.  Expect it delivered sometime this month.

The Old Republic, Razer’s newest gaming keyboard, at first glance appears to cater to the Stars Wars folks, but if you look closer it’s an exceptional gaming device.

It’s a wired affair that rocks a touchscreen and 10 LCD buttons that can be mapped with macros along with displaying content according to the game.  Up to 10 profiles can be assigned making switching between games a cinch and the lighting scheme can be selected according to your affinity; blue for the Galactic Republic, red for Sith Empire, or even green like a Jedi’s lightsaber.

No word on a launch date or price at this time, but we’re digging for more info.

Read

Still hunting for the right Bluetooth keyboard to complement your tablet?  Today, Scosche dropped the rubbery, spill proof freeKEY Bluetooth keyboard on us.  It sports chiclet like keys and can be rolled up for easy storage. Presumably it’s pretty light weight and the silicone material should make it resistant to wear and tear, at least for the foreseeable future.  A retractable USB to micro-USB cable is included for charging , but don’t get any ideas, this keyboard connects over Bluetooth and Bluetooth only.  You can grab one today for $99.99.

Read

There are two dots that reside on a standard keyboard that help you position your hands for touch typing.  But that hardly forms a significant, ever lasting bond.

The Engrain Tactile Keyboard is cut from slabs of wood and is designed to enhance our connection with the keyboard, as we type, through tactile sense.  Each key has its own unique grain and perhaps the hope is that over time the user will become more attached to the hardware and in turn write, or the very least type with more intuition and emotion – something like that.

Read

4 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Wonderful visual design
• Great for MMO and general gaming with all keys programmable
• T1-T7 keys are brilliant

Cons:

• Mid- to high-profile keys are mushy, soft
• Two USB cables required for keyboard and backlight
• Several minor gripes, like the name and single function key

Games come and go, but MMOs are forever. Whether it’s Everquest, World of Warcraft, Eve Online or another version of digital crack, they all have one thing in common: a ton of commands, a smorgasbord of functions. That’s part of what makes MMOs great, that players can do so much, and have so many different abilities that it takes not hours, but days to learn, and sometimes years to master.

Having such vast capabilities is strenuous for gamers, and thus MMO gaming keyboards sprouted to accommodate. Most just take a standard keyboard and tack on anywhere from 6-18 programmable keys. Others use software to make every key programmable and drop macro-specific keys entirely. The Razer Anansi meshes both concepts together, without making the keyboard huge and putting on too many keys. Instead Razer employs a minimalist design. The Anansi is shockingly small average looking, but under that very old-school keyboard shell is a dazzling, ethereal masterpiece.

Taking a look at the Anansi removes all doubt that this is just another keyboard. As you saw in our first look, it’s anything but average. Sleek glossy sides and a crisp black coating make the Anansi stand out the most, but that’s just the start. The font on the keys is sharp and loud, yet refined. The secondary functions are visible, but they don’t stand out. Glass on the top right hides the indicator lights for Caps, Scroll and Number lock, without anyone taking a second guess. The Anansi doesn’t look like it was designed by a game peripheral manufacturer, but by someone who almost nabbed a designer job at Apple.

It really does look good, like the Anansi was made to be just as stylish as it is functional. Playing games when you can customize any key is nothing new, though Razer does an excellent job with their software for the Anansi. Users can assign any function to any key instantly with the downloadable drivers, or by hitting the macro recorder key and typing away. This feature is nothing new, but it works excellently nevertheless.

What’s more important are the macro-specific keys, those extra keys included specifically for programmed functions. The Anansi includes 12 in total, five on the left side of the keyboard, and seven beneath the spacebar. This placement is unique, to say the least, and ingenious. Most of those can be reached by a left-hand thumb, and unlike needing to move over to one side of the keyboard, using these keys requires little to no change in your current hand posture. These T1-T7 keys are also thinner, lower-profile and differently shaped so they don’t match other keys or get in the way. If you’re just typing away, users won’t accidentally press these keys. They’re well made and well placed.

For gaming, the Anansi is great. On the fly key adjustments with the macro recorder works flawlessly, and keypresses read just fine. While the experience you have will be wholly different – no two people will use identical custom key settings – using those T1-T7 keys is something I believe will be universally adored.

Dual USB cables would be fine if the Anansi also acted as a USB hub

It’s actually outside of gaming that I found my troubles with the Anansi. First and foremost is the 2-USB cable design. The first USB cable connects the keyboard to the PC, while the second powers the backlight…which raises the question, why is that necessary. Hundreds of keyboards do both in one cable. Is the LED backlight so much more powerful that it requires its own USB cable? I already use all eight of my USB ports, I really don’t want to be forced to either unplug something or use a USB adapter for a backlight.

Next is the name. I can just imagine the conversation people have discussing their gaming hardware. “I have a G19.” “I have a Tarantula.” “I have an X6.” “I have an Anansi…” It sounds like a deer playing cards with a lion, tiger and bear, oh my. That’s not even mentioning that Razer is once again breaking their animal nomenclature for a fictional character, or that every time I have to actually speak the word it feels more proper to say “Ansani”. Heck, I struggled with it in the unboxing video, which is partly why I scrapped it entirely and just had a quick first look.

Finally, and definitely most pertinent to heavy typers, is the key design. These are medium-profile rubberized keys, and they feel mushy and soft, not clicky and springy. Now, this is a realm of personal preference. My experience is that everyone likes their keyboards differently from the next person over. My preference is for mechanical, low-profile keys, like the old IBM Thinkpad laptops, most recently seen in the last IBM-labeled Lenovo line of Thinkpads a few years back. For me, typing on the Anansi was mediocre. I could do it, but I wasn’t enjoying the length per keypress and the feel of the keys. For gaming, that didn’t make any difference. Once again, feel of the keys is personal preference.

The Anansi’s software allows for immediate and simple keyboard customizations

Included with the standard keyboard are not additional function keys, but a built-in function key and the F1-F8 keys acting as media keys when pressed in tandem with the FN key. This model is a smart way to maintain a reasonable size for the pad without adding extra buttons. However, I was annoyed far too often that there was only one FN key, by the right CTRL, and not a second one on the left side. As many heavy computer users and PC gamers, I keep my left hand on the keyboard while my right hand moves between the mouse, keyboard and media keys. The Anansi’s design forces me to use my right hand to hold down the FN key and my left to press the media keys.

The Razer Anansi certainly has potential and does many things right. It’s a strong gaming keyboard and will suit many MMO gamers thanks to both every key being programmable and the below-the-spacebar T1-T7 keys. Exquisitely designed and sleek, the Anansi is a great keyboard. However, using 2 USB ports is excessive; the keyboard’s name is weird; I also found the typing experience far less than stellar (once again a personal preference). These few things are a significant hindrance to an otherwise great keyboard, which frankly makes it more difficult to score. The annoyances add up over time, and so do the great features. I struggled between 3.5-4 stars until I decided that MMO gamers are far more interested in the gaming features than anything else. That is to say the Anansi is a good keyboard with plenty of room for improvement. I look forward to the Anansi V2, whenever it comes around.

The Razer Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is available at Amazon or direct from Razer for $100.

Razer’s Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is the peripheral maker’s first MMO keyboard. In fact, this year is a huge year for Razer, after revealing the Switchblade, and practically announcing the release of the Onza Xbox 360 controller, Ferox portable speakers, and the Hydra motion controllers. Thing is, we have no idea when the rest will be available…but the Anansi is in my office right now.

Hit the jump to watch our first look video on the Razer Anansi.

I’ve been playing with the Anansi for about a week, and as far as MMO keyboards go, it’s solid and sleek. If it weren’t for the M1-5 keys on the right and T1-7 keys below the space bar, the Anansi would look like a standard keyboard with contoured sides and a decent backlighting system. Of course, even with the 12 program-specific keys, every single key on the keyboard can be programmed, as we learned a few months back.

As shown in the video above, the Anansi has seven media keys that overlay the F1-F3 and F5-F8 keys, and work when pressed in tandem with the function key. Surprisingly, there is only one function key, beside the right Alt key. The F11 key cuts off the Windows start key, but not the Windows drop-down. In fact, before installing the drivers that key functioned properly, but after installing drivers it now acts as a mouse right-click. This can of course be adjusted.

Installing the drivers is easy, and only requires going to Razer’s website and downloading them (or by clicking here). The installation process takes just a minute, but does require a reboot.

So far, I like the keyboard, but it’s not the best for typing. My measure of a good gaming keyboard is how good it is all around, and not just for gaming, because we all use one keyboard per computer (ironically, I use two normally, or three when testing a new one). The keys are high profile and very springy, but spongy, as is expected with rubberized keys. The backlight system is weak for the keys but too intense for the Razer logo, which sits in the center of the keyboard, directly below the right hand when typing.

I do like the design, for the most part. The glossy sides look stunning. The clean look of the light-up Razer logo does too, as does the LED display on the top right. I almost want to keep Caps Lock, Scroll Lok and the G-key all active just to keep their symbols lit up. The Anansi does require a second USB for lighting, which I find odd, and was problematic for me because I already had 5 of 6 USB ports taken.

However, I still need to play around with the Anansi a bit more before giving a full review, so stay tuned! A full review of the Razer Anansi MMO Gaming Keyboard is coming soon.

1.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Adds a physical keyboard to your iPhone
• Mini USB for charging built-in battery
• Large keys are shaped to avoid missteps

Cons:

• Poor battery life
• Bluetooth has trouble staying paired with the iPhone
• On/Off switch is barey reachable unless you’ve got sticks for fingers
• Awkward key layout

At the time, ditching your dumbphone for the iPhone probably seemed like a good idea, that is until you went toe-to-toe with Apple’s virtual keyboard. Some have no problem acclimating to the onscreen keyboard while others suffer through the process and eventually give up on the handset. But if you’re willing to undergo some extra bulk and an added cost you can once again relish in the haptic feedback of a QWERTY keyboard thanks to the fine folks at Thinkgeek.

ThinkGeek’s Bluetooth keyboard is just one of many products the company – which has long sold caffeinated products and other uber geek products – has been built in-house.

The TK-421 doubles the iPhone 3Gs’ thickness

The design of the keyboard leaves little to the imagination and actually begs the question if the person who designed the behemoth of a product had much of one. Let’s not mince words; Thinkgeek’s Bluetooth keyboard is so bulky it more than doubles the thickness of the iPhone and results in a rather large protrusion in your pants that will have your friends making sophomoric jokes that will transport you back to middle school.

The iPhone slips into a cheap plastic case that comes apart in two pieces and contains all the necessary ports to keep your camera, vibrate and volume switches exposed. Directly beneath it is a full QWERTY keyboard that swivels 180 degrees and lines up with the iPhone’s longest side, though it sits about 1.5cm below it; it’s not flush. An on/off switch allows you to save on battery life, but as I quickly learned it’s barely accessible since it’s placed so close to the hinge of the device, on the back, that you’ll need a pen or some sort of tipped item to reach it. On the front of the keyboard, on the top right side, there is a Bluetooth pairing button that requires a fingernail push and sits adjacent to a blue LED light that emits when pairing mode is engaged.

The on/off switch almost inaccessible thanks to the hinge

At this point in the game it’s difficult for me to go back to a QWERTY keyboard, especially after using a virtual one since the iPhone’s launch, which if memory is correct is going on 3+ year’s now. And unfortunately this keyboard doesn’t make it easy to become adjusted to using one. The delete key is unorthodoxly placed adjacent to the space bar key, which it too, is awkwardly small. To submit an apostrophe you’ll need to hold down the shift key and all of Apple’s keyboard shortcuts, such as auto caps at the beginning of a sentence and auto period at the end of the sentence have by default been turned off. The keyboard is not backlit, so as you can imagine it’s rather useless for after hours communication.  Adding to the visibility issues in low light, the secondary functions, such as apostrophes and quotes are marked in red, though the main functions are denoted in white.  However, the keys themselves are large, well spaced, responsive and are shaped accordingly to avoid a mispress of an adjacent key.

Despite its shortcomings, the TK-421′s keys are well spaced, though notice the delete key’s strange placement

Unfortunately, my experience with ThinkGeek’s Bluetooth keyboard was cut short since it was unable, from what I could gather, to hold a charge longer than 30 minutes and struggled to stay paired with my iPhone for more than 10 minutes; this resulted in my having to constantly pair the keyboard with my iPhone.

While I applaud Thinkgeek’s fervor into product development, their Bluetooth Keyboard for the iPhone is riddled with problems, sports an unsightly and bulky design and will hopefully be forgotten just as fast as it was conceived.

You can buy the Thinkgeek iPhone Bluetooth keyboard from Thinkgeek for $39.99.

For the budding musician in you, if that budding musician is extremely ambitious, Akai has made the SynthStation49 iPhone and iPad dock.

Not one of the smaller docks, this is a full-fledged, 49-key velocity-sensitive keyboard. It even has manual pitch control and drum pads. It’s also the follow-up to a previous SynthStation dock, which was much smaller and less, shall we say, professionally done.

My guess is that synching a keyboard painlessly to your iPad has musical recording advantages, in the form of apps, since it’s iOS CoreMIDI compatible. There’s direct in-app MIDI recording, output through ¼” jacks, and if your iPad isn’t handy, you can use the SynthStation49 as a USB MIDI controller.

Having not yet been approved by Apple, pricing details are not available.

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Just when we though Razer had reached the limit of complexity for peripherals, and they would outdo their latest keyboard, which had 139 gaming specific buttons, give or take, here they are making a move into the gaming PC market.

And it’s awesome. The Razer Switchblade is a small laptop with a touchscreen and a dynamic flash keyboard, which as far as we know is completely innovative, at least in the PC realm. The keyboard reconfigures not only its functionality, but also its look based on game concent. Keys are different depending on what you’re playing, with the in-game icons for various actions actually making an appearance on your keyboard, lighting up individual keys.

Unfortunately it’s just a concept, but Razer promises at least some degree of realizing it, as a consequence of “working with selected partners to design and launch products based off the Razer Switchblade concept design.”

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