If you want to only read the Cons and Pros and why it works, please put a find (ctrl + F) on: [summ@ry]I purchased this awesome keyboard + trackball after many failed attempts to control my HTPC from the comfort of my couch and bed.
My Setup:
I actually have my HTPC in the basement and connect it to my surround sound receiver in my living room with an HDMI cable. To control it I have a USB cable from my computer to a tiny USB hub where i plug in the Periboard's little USB 2.4ghz dongle. I have a 50inch LCD and my couch is about 11 feet away.
Attempts:
As i was building my HTPC i never realized controlling it would be such a hassle. I tried Logitech's best and expensive wireless keyboard with trackball. I don't understand why but it didn't work well. No matter where i positioned the receiver. I returned the expensive keyboard/trackball and got the Logitech Dinovo Mini. I thought i was the ultimate solution...but pretty pricey. The problem with the Mini was that i lacked basic functions. No F keys, no CTRL and the mouse control was very hard to get used to. It either moved to slow or too fast making it super hard to click on small links (with a 50inch tv everything looks smaller). The PS3 function wasn't all that great either. You have to switch a little button in the back from PC to PS3 which is incipiently placed. No way to Alt + Tab, get the task manager up, all you could basically do is type (keys are cell phone size), and point and click to a link.
I also had a Noah Company MediaGate GP-IR02BK Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate MCE Remote Control, 2 Channel IR (Black). In short...no mouse capability.
The Perixx Periboard:
This keyboard is nothing short of spectacular. Incredible range and most importantly you can place the dongle receiver anywhere and get impeccable reception. The QWERTY keys are surprisingly large considering the small footprint of this keyboard, which is great for typing a quick email. Has all the F keys including ESC and Windows button. The trackball is precise and very easy to control. If you want to go fast you slide the ball hard and then you can drag the ball at a snails pace to get the mouse to point to the small VLC Player command buttons (VLC is the best media player for MKV files). I can ALT + Tab to switch between programs...i can ctrl + Alt + Delete to get the task manager...hold CTRL and then up and down arrows to zoom quickly...everything is possible with this keyboard. Everything!
[Summ@ry]
Pros:
All the F keys!!!!
Can press CTRL + ALT + DEL
Can Use CTRL + F
dedicated Windows button
Can use ALT + TAB
Press Alt + F4
up, down, left, right keys
Number lock button
hide receiver dongle and still get optimal reception
Trackball is very responsive making it easy to operate
Left and Right click buttons optimally placed
Small enough footprint to just leave at the coffee table
Battery saver mode when not in use simply click or scroll the mouse
QWERTY keys are almost as large as a full size keyboard.
Plug and play into Windows 7 64bit
Cons:
No dedicated on/off button
Pricey. although way cheaper than the Dinovo and any other good wireless Keyboard/trackball combo
I feel like the mouse couldt have been place a little better (i still can just slouch into my couch and use the trackball with no problem) i just feel it could have been smaller
Buy this product over the Dinovo Mini. Yes it doesn't look like a stylish handheld device but do you want to control you PC with full functionally or look like your playing video games with a PSP?
I typed this full review with the Periboard...it was a little harder than i thought considering i typed a lot and you really shoudln't with a device like this. I kept on pressing extra keys, i think i just got careless since the keys feel like a normal keyboard.
Other Recommendations:Ez Commander
I also own the Commander (which is cheaper) for my bedroom's HTPC. I choose the Commander over the Periboard because all i do in my bedroom is either use the Slingplayer or play movies (Netflix or MKV files), maybe go on youtube which i can type using the commander, and it is nice to have a one hand controller looking device.
Due to a snafu with transfering my CarPC to a new vehicle, I no longer had a USB port in the cab of my car (2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T). So I put the USB dongle on the PC in the trunk, got in the cab of the car, and expected to have no reception. Well, I was wrong. This keyboard and transmitter work perfectly from that distance and through all the car interior, sub-box, and amplifiers! Color me impressed. Given this and the fact that it works in the pre-OS Motherboard BIOS screen; it is an essential CarPC component. I still wish they would have improved the trackball as well as place it on the right side. It would make for a smaller, sleeker unit. Then it would be absolutely perfect.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This keyboard is rediculously small. Take a sheet of notebook paper, fold it in half, and you have the footprint of this keyboard. It is nearly perfect for where I'm using it. I needed a keyboard for my CarPC. The CarPC touch screen is handy, but a wireless keyboard with a built in mouse is more effective for other tasks including entering navigation directions and or accessing the computer BIOS.
The keyboard is a QWERTY style keyboard with all the keys where you'd expect them. The layout is very similar to that of a laptop keyboard. There's a small inverted T cursor tree for navigation that really helps. There is a full compliment of function keys as well as the specialized windows key. The trackball is a great addition, but it is a little hypersensetive, so dial back the sensetivity in Windows to make the mouse more controllable.
PROS
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1. Small size for use in areas / situations with limited stowing options (CarPC)
2. Built in trackball mouse for navigation.
3. Wireless RF connection, doesn't require line of sight to work. 10' ft range.
4. The USB RF adaptor fits securely into the keyboard base, so it won't get lost.
5. Works on motherboard BIOS screens, doesn't need Windows or OS drivers.
CONS
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1. The trackball ball doesn't fit firmly in its holder, so the movement isn't quite as smooth as it could be.
2. The keys are quite small if you have large hands like me (6'2", 250lb), but it is better than the Logitech Dinovo Mini.
3. Pricey. While it is nearly half the price of a Dinovo Mini, it is still pricey for a nitch item.
4. No dedicated on/off button which could save battery life.
OTHER
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A tweak to the keyboard layout could have made the keyboard smaller and the keys larger. Too bad they didn't place the trackball in the upper right corner and the mouse buttons in the upper left corner like on Microsoft and Adesso wireless media keyboards I own. There is quite a bit of wasted space in the curent design.
All in all, this is an excellent solution for people with specific needs, like my CarPC. I can simple store the keyboard in my door pocket and pull it out when either myself or my passenger(s) need to use it.Good keyboard but lacks media control. The keyboard lacks buttons to control media. Good for basic tasks and is portable.Nice keyboard for controlling remotely my laptop set under my TV. Great value for the price. I like the power saving option as well as the on and off switch.The keyboard is very small and excellent for its intended task as a remote control for a media center PC. The trackball buttons can stick sometimes due to the case design and position of the button switch, but overall good for the price.
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