| IOGear Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel, 2.4GHz Wireless GKM561R (Black) | 
| Brand: Iogear
Category: CE
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $38.99
as of 7/31/2010 04:18 CDT details
You Save: $11.00 (22%)
New (32) from $38.99
Seller: ANTOnline
Rating:  163 reviews
Sales Rank: 305
Format: CD
Platform: Mac OS X
Color: black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows XP Professional Edition
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 2.10
CPU Type: PowerPC G4
Processors: 1
System Memory: 2000
Memory Type: SDRAM
Hard Drive Size: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 16 x 8.5 x 2
MPN: GKM561R
Model: GKM561R
UPC: 881317006790
EAN: 0881317006790
ASIN: B002H0BOBA
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Ultra-slim ergonomic wireless 2.4Ghz keyboard with built in laser trackball, left / right buttons and scroll wheel features. | | • | 2.4Ghz technology offers greater range up to 33 feet away from your computer, Built-in laser trackball with 400, 800, and 1200 dpi selections | | • | Built-in left and right mouse buttons with built-in scroll wheel, 19 hotkeys for multimedia functions | | • | Slip Resistant design on both sides with rubber grip, 78 channels for Keyboard with unique ID to avoid interference (automatically switches) | | • | The perfect solution for Digital Living Rooms, ON/OFF switch for battery saving |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
2.4GHZ WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA KEYBWRLSW/ LASER TRACKBALL & SCROLL WHEEL
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 163
 Almost Perfect HTPC Keyboard October 16, 2009
Ramkumar Balaraman (Boston, MA)
58 out of 59 found this review helpful
I have an old laptop permanently hooked up to my TV. Its my DVD player, Netflix/Hulu player and multi-format Media player. It's worked out great so far, except the part where I need to keep scooting up to the laptop to choose/play the next video, reluctantly giving up the comfort spot on my couch. I've tried hooking up my other wireless k/b and mouse to it, but that didn't work too well; miserable range, k/b too big to leave lying on the coffee table, no convenient surface to use the mouse, etc. but mainly the miserable range was what killed it.
I've been eying the dinovo mini for a while now, but could never get myself to spill a 3-digit figure for a k/b. But all the other HTPC keyboards had mixed reviews, so I had resigned myself to waiting till the dinovo got old and cheap. That's till I spotted the iogear last week. Pretty decent reviews on Newegg and Amazon, good looking design, encouraging feedback on the range and a trackball and scroll wheel to boot. I was sold.
I've been totally enjoying this keyboard the last one week. Excellent range, great size, the trackball works great, and the scroll wheel is a blessing. This is almost exactly what I was looking for, and at a great price-point. Well, definitely more expensive than I would spend on a typical wireless keyboard, but given the selection of alternatives out there, this is probably the best feature-price ratio for a htpc keyboard one can get. Both XP pro and home had no issues recognizing it without needing anything to be installed.
If I were to change some things on this keyboard, they would be:
1. Make it a little lighter; it currently weighs around 2 pounds or so. My full-size wireless keyboard is nearly twice its size but feels way lighter.
2. The track ball has some play to it, i.e. isn't snug in its socket. It doesn't really affect functionality though, just a little annoying at times.
3. The track ball is entirely light-weight smooth plastic. Rolls very smoothly and no problems so far, but I imagine that adding some rubberized coating (such as that on the scroll wheel) and weight would have been great for friction, good tactile feel and more precise pointer movement. The higher DPI settings are currently unusable because there isn't sufficient friction between fingers and trackball to be able to make precise tiny movements, and it rolls way too easily.
4. The design with a trackball in the upper right corner and the mouse buttons in the upper left corner is excellent when you're using both hands, but makes it very difficult for single-handed operation. The mouse buttons (at least the left click) could have been provided on both sides to ease this.
5. Has a lot of keyboard functions that would probably work only on the media center versions of windows. They're useless for me; I might have swapped the extra keys for clipboard operations, zoom, navigation, etc. that could be used in any version of windows.
6. Some keys are disproportionately sized - like the return key and the arrow keys - almost like the key layout was designed in a hurry. Don't care much for the fonts either. But overall the keyboard has a real neat, sleek look with an obsession for straight lines and angles. Very good-looking.
7. Not very pick-up-able. You cannot pick it up from a flat surface (table) with just one hand in a reasonably quick manner without the risk of knocking your shiny new keyboard right off the table. The bar running under the top edge of the keyboard would be a prime location for adding a gap where your fingers can slip underneath to grab it. Not cool to always need to reach for it with both hands.
These are all just minor nitpicks though - I really, really like this keyboard. If you have a HTPC, you should get it; you won't regret it. I might still get the dinovo mini when its price drops to this range (half the size and has a touchpad; touchpads are much more versatile pointer controllers for me), but until then, this iogear is the perfect fit for my needs.
Works Great in Ubuntu! September 15, 2009
Hiram Viera (USA)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
This keyboard is exactly what I needed. I got tired of trying to type more than two words on my Adesso WKB-3000UB. The Adesso worked well enough, but typing on it for more than 2 minutes would give my finger joints a pounding.
The IOGear keyboard, in contrast, is much easier on the fingers. I can type for much longer periods of time without cramping up. It functions on the same RF frequency as the Adesso so range is pretty much the same. The IOGear keyboard is definitely much better looking than the Adesso, although the glossy top and bottom panels are fingerprint magnets so it's good they included a cleaning cloth for it.
The scroll wheel, clickers, and trackball perform really well and are placed in intuitive places.
And last but not least, for all you Linux users; this works flawlessly on Ubuntu intrepid and jaunty.
Really a 4.5 Star rating November 8, 2009
D. Clarke (Lafayette, CO USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I bought this keyboard for my HTPC after seeing good reviews on other sites.
Setup was a snap--plugged in the RF receiver and the keyboard worked right away with no other steps required.
I like the compactness of this device--it has full sized keys without the number pad on the right side. The on/off switch helps with battery life.
My HTPC is in the basement and the TV is on the 1st floor so the RF signal has to go through a wood floor and no problems to date. I am inside the 30' radius that's recommended.
I'm subtracting 0.5 stars for the trackball. It works good enough but feels cheap.
I use this only a few times a week to look for TV on the internet and it's great for that. For full-time use I'd probably look for a keyboard with a higher quality trackball.
I'm completely satisfied with this device but only because it gets limited usage. Can't beat the performance for the price paid.
Works as advertised, no install disk needed on WinXP September 20, 2009
K. Lam (San Jose, CA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I love it when a product works as advertised without any fuss. This IOGear wireless keyboard is just that. On a WinXP MCE 2005 machine w/SP3, it was pure pluge 'n play without any driver installation whatsoever. I was literally setup in under a minute from opening the box to the keyboard working. And the for the price (~$41 off Amazon), it's unbeatable. I've had the keyboard 4 hours as of this writing; I'll update this review as needed.
UPDATE: After a month of use, I continue to feel this product deserves 5 stars. The trackball does not produce smooth motion when you flick it too quickly, but that's no problem. I never turn off the keyboard (it goes into stand-by after a bit of non-use), and the batteries have held up. And I've not had to re-sync the keyboard with the receiver at the computer. Highly recommended.
Does its job December 29, 2009
E. Gomez (New Jersey)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased this keyboard because I needed a wireless solution for my media center PC connected to my 42 inch LCD. I gave serious consideration to the Logitech diNovo Mini but I just thought that paying $150 for a keyboard was just too much. Paying $40 for this keyboard was not going to set me back by a lot and it would make my experience a lot more enjoyable.
So far I have no regrets. It works from every point in the room where I can see the TV. It is easy to type on it and the mouse buttons and trackball are well placed. The only thing I don't like is sometimes if you are not gentle putting the keyboard down, the battery cover falls off and so do the batteries. Put a little piece of tape on it and problem solved :-)
All in all, I am very satisfied with the purchase of this product. It gives you great return on your money.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 163
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