Logitech rests on the cutting edge of keyboard design

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Product: Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless Keyboard
Website: WWW.LOGITECH.COM
System Requirements: PC with spare USB socket or
Price: €180, £130, $180

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NO MATTER what other opinions you may have about Logitech's new diNovo Edge keyboard, I defy anybody to say it isn't as sexy as hell. Cut from a single piece of black Plexiglas and set into a thin brushed aluminium frame this keyboard just exudes class and a sense of minimalist chic.

Standing there in all its glory

So we know it looks good, but of course that doesn't necessarily make it any good, for that we need to spend some time playing around with it. Because so many INQ hacks suffer from RSI due to our tireless efforts to bring you the best news in the industry, we're used to using ergonomic keyboards so going back to a standard straight layout can take a bit of getting used to.

Being only 11mm thick it sits very flat on the desk and with its black casing can even look embedded into the desk at first glance. As with most keyboards there are two legs underneath that can be flipped up to set the board at an angle, but unlike most other keyboards it lies completely flat if the legs are retracted. If you're used to working at an angle, especially the strange angles you often get with 'natural' keyboards then it will feel strange at first, but after a while it does become quite comfortable.

So very very thin

Installation is pretty simple, in the box is a CD from which you install the SetPoint software that will allow you to configure all the shortcuts and so on, there is a stand for stowing and charging the keyboard and a small USB Bluetooth receiver that is pre-paired to the keyboard. Incidentally if your PC already has Bluetooth built in you can connect the Edge via that and leave the provided receiver in the box. There is also a small power switch to look out for on one side which took us a few moments to locate the first time we tried to use the keyboard.

This latest member of the diNovo is packed full of multimedia functions such as the increasingly common shortcut keys to easily access your favourite applications and control your media player. There are also dedicated buttons that control zoom, standby and launching a media player as well as a touch sensitive control to adjust the volume. In the bottom right hand corner you'll find what Logitech have dubbed the TouchDisc which acts as a touchpad and also allows you to scroll vertically and horizontally through screenful's of information.

Setpoint software

We can't help shake the impression that the Edge is best suited to rather disparate groups of users, the first is of course the high end corporate types for whom form is as important as function and the other is the HTPC user. Everything about this keyboard, except possibly the price tag, makes it ideal for an HTPC type setup. Its lightweight design, integrated touchpad, shortcut keys and even the charging stand make it a great choice for the living room as well as the study or office. The lack a number-pad also adds to the feeling that this is more of an accessory than designed for serious work.

As great as the Plexiglas looks it does pick up smudges, fingerprints and dust like a magnet, in fact in the box you'll find a cleaning cloth to help keep it keep its edge. Similarly we reckon the tightly packed keys and slim design will make it a bastard to clean as the inevitable gunk piles up below the keys, so you'll wan to have a good brush around to clear it out from time to time, or at least a thorough cleaning company if that's the way you do things.

One thing that does strike you using this keyboard is the distinct lack of lights, even indicator lights like Caps and Num Lock. There are some lights dotted around the place but they're all very discrete and only light up when summoned to do so, for instance when you use the volume slider a row of LED's follow your finger and if you hold down the 'function' button the options light up invitingly.

As mentioned earlier the Edge is quite comfortable, especially for anyone used to using the keyboard on a notebook, the design of the keys and the tactile feeling of typing is almost identical. If you're using it at a desk it takes some time to remember to use the TouchDisc rather than reaching for the mouse, but if you get this keyboard to use in the living room or lounge then the integrated touch pad is very intuitive and welcome addition.

The battery life is remarkable, according to Logitech a full charge takes around two hours and will last a month. After several days of pretty intensive usage the battery is showing no signs of waning and according to SetPoint there is still 61 days worth of battery power left so I guess theoretically we can expect two months of use before we need to recharge the battery, but the reality is likely to be lot less. Even if it averages out to a two weeks between recharging, that's still pretty impressive. The charging stand, that effectively puts the Edge on display, reinforces the idea that this is ideally a keyboard that belongs to an HTPC or similar setup where it is 'brought out' to be used rather than lying ready to hammered on at any time.

In Short
Keyboards are one those devices that tend to get treated rather poorly in general and everyday use will end with either reaching for the cleaning cloth every five minutes or result in it getting scuffed and sullied and losing a lot of its appeal and as such the price tag starts to look very steep.

There is no doubt that is a classy keyboard, but we have to say not one designed for mainstream use. Its ideal setting is in lounge connected to very respectable HTPC that allows the user to play a plethora of media, send and receive email, surf the web and chat over the internet or in a nice meeting room to be used for presentations. ?

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The Good
Beautiful design
Excellent battery

The Bad
No number pad
Very expensive
Touch sensitive controls can be unresponsive

The Ugly
Smudges and fingerprints appear almost instantly

Bartender's Report