Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard - A Short Review

By Vincenzo Akerman


The Rii Mini Keyboard is precisely what it states on the packaging, a mini keyboard. When I say mini keyboard, I am naturally pointing to to how big the device is, as it's not the same size as a regular keyboard. This unit weighs only 3.2 oz., with dimensions of just 5.9 inches by 2.3 inches by 0.5 inches, while a typical computer keybpard is roughly 18in x 2in x 8in. A person who puts a high value on portability will find the compact size and lightness of this mini keyboard a delight, being so handy to have with you. Typing is rather easy on this little unit, which fits snugly between your hands.

The Rii is great for using with your laptop or desktop computer, and also your PS3 or any other gaming system that supports this gadget. Wires are redundant with this keyboard's wireless capability, provided by a Bluetooth USB receiver, so you can quickly connect to other wireless electronic devices. The Rii has the familiar laptop type of touchpad, plus full QWERTY capability. A poorly lit surrounding won't be a hassle as the Rii has 26 LED lights built into it. This mini keyboard operates on two lithium ion batteries, which are included with the product and are also rechargeable.

Most of the product reviewers on Amazon (of which there are a lot) have given 4 and 5 star ratings to this device. But possibly this device's first appearances are deceptive, since there are as well several ratings falling between 1 and 3 stars. One reviewer observed that the keyboard connected to his Ubuntu system without any troubles and worked reasonably well within a 30ft range, but any further than that and it ceased working properly. Nevertheless, thirty feet is quite adequate. Both playlist and volume button controls are furnished on the Rii, which is fantastic if the intended use is multimedia in character. Buttons that aren't frequently used also feature on this mini keyboard, which is superb since they are sometimes needed so it would be an inconvenience if they weren't there.

However, this review would not be complete if it did not mention the negatives. The touchpad works quite well; still, it can be a bit of a pain in the neck as it isn't always precise, unlike most regular laptop touchpads. A further nuisance - which can be circumvented by using the mouse buttons for left and right alternatively - is that the touchpad is a tad insensitive to tapping. It is also worth bringing up that the keys are directly underneath each other, and not 50% offset as we are used to with the bigger keyboards. It's not a real hassle, however; one gets used to it rather fast.

All in all, this device is a nice device if you're looking for a smaller size that also comes with a mouse touchpad. The price is fantastic, and the several upsides make the few drawbacks seem petty.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...