Friday 10 June 2011

Bluetooth Keyboard - htpc, bluetooth keyboard


This is a great little Bluetooth keyboard. As other reviewers have stated it's a little tricky to set up the phone on android (and Windows 7). The instruction booklet that came with the keyboard said there is an "android.apk" to install on Android, this isn't true (they are only drivers for Windows Mobile and Nokia). It's an easy work-around though.



Pairing Android:

1) Turn on the keyboard and long press the bluetooth key on the top left till the indicator light starts blinking

2) Click scan for devices on your Android device

3) Select the newly found Macro Keyboard

4) Enter "0000" as the pairing code on your android

5) Enter "0000" and then the "Enter" key on the keyboard to complete the pairing process.



When pairing with Windows 7 if your Bluetooth drivers create a pairing code automatically for you just enter the code shown in Windows on the keyboard followed by the enter key (or just type whatever pairing code you want in Windows and repeat it on the keyboard).



All-in-all this is a great little keyboard. I would have given it 5 stars if it did actually come with the android drivers and had better documentation.



I'm looking for a driver that will create a visual mouse cursor on my Droid X to make better use of the touchpad. If I find one I'll post it here!



Also, to go back a page in Android hit the Esc key not the Back key... just fyi... ProMini Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard (Build-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black

I bought the ProMini wireless keyboard to control my "low tech media center". I say low tech because my media center is just a spare computer hidden in my entertainment center connected to my big screen tv.



For this the wireless keyboard works PERFECTLY! I can watch streaming videos from the internet on the big screen while lying on the couch.



*** Note ***

THE PROMINI BLUETOOTH WIRELESS KEYBOARD COMES WITH A BLUETOOTH ADAPTER.



It doesn't say this in the description or in the documentation. The manual mentions an "optional" bluetooth adapter. It's embedded in the side of the keyboard.



Unfortunately I found it a couple of hours AFTER I ordered the bluetooth adapter recommended to buy with the keyboard. Too late to cancel the order.

***UPDATE: So I've been using this thing for a couple of months now and I really have to say that the range that they are claiming is just a farce. As long as you have a direct line of site and don't cover up the antenna (which is located above the track pad) then you might get 20 feet, but it's very doubt full. you'll start getting a lot of miss-keys and the track pad becomes almost useless. However, this is the only feature that I think was over stated. The rest is absolutely perfect and I just bought another one. Just please don't think that it will work through walls or from more than 10-12 feet. *****



I'm writimg this review usimg my new Rii Mini. First there seems to be a little confusion about the name of this product. the description calls it a ProMini, on the web you will find it referred to as the MagicPro Mini and the box it comes in calls it the Rii Mini. So for the purposes of this review I'm just goimg to refer to it as the Rii.



next, just as a piece of background, i got this for use with my HTPC. my monitor is my 46" plasma in my livingroom and i wanted something that would mean i didnt have juggle my mouse and keayboard around on the couch.



Lets talk about the CONS first, because that list is much shorter.



RANGE: so i found that the "30" feet claim is pretty much bupkiss, but who can see from 30 feet? at a range of about 10-12, the distance from my couch to my TV it works like a dream.



SIZE: this is both a pro and a con. i love how small it is but the placement of the trackpad on the right make typimg very difficult unless you an avid txt'er, which i am, so ive adapted pretty quickly. but its definitely something that could have been better thought out. also, the trackpad is just a shade too small so there's a lot of repositioning. finally, im not proof readimg this review because im illustrating the point that if you're going to be typimg a great deal, you're prolly goimg to end up with som significant typos.



BACK-LIGHT: finally, i have very little bad to say about the backlight. it just needs a timer and most importantly YOUR BACKLIGHT WILL NOT WORK IF YOU ARE OUT OF RANGE OF THE BLUTOOTH RECEIVER... no its not defective, its just made that way. im really glad i figured that out before trying to return it.



Now to the pros.... all i can do is say i really love this thing. the backlight makes it perfect for use in the dark, im kind of a cave dwelling techno nerd so i never have any lights on. the buttons on the keyboard are big enough and resposive enough to accomodate even the largest fingers, my friend "tiny" who is 6'7 was able to use it passably. i love that it works just like a normal keyboard. if you hit alt+F4, it closes windows just like its supposed to and Ctrl+c and +v copy and past just like they should. Alt+Tab works perfectly as well.



the built in media keys seem to work great with VLC, i never use WMP because its the devil. the track pad is actually pretty well made. its a little touchy and does have a built in acceleration. but once you adapt to it, its really pretty nice. you just have to get used to the fact that you're going to be using two hands for a lot of things. the 90 degree flip is kinda neat too. not sure its really usefull unless youre presenting, but its a cute idea.



i love the laser pointer, but then thats because im a cat owner and there is no better cat toy. otherwise i think it would be a feature that most people wont ever use.



set up is really pretty simple. since its bluetooth, its a little more complicated but you just habe to tell windows to do a seach for bluetooth devices when the icon appears in your system try and then mash the bluetooth button on the keyboard so they sync. all-in-all, not real tough.



In shourt i got this because i didnt wanna shell out the $100+ for the diNovo Mini and so far im really happy with it. i would definitely recomend it. the only reason it isnt 5 stars is because my wrist is really startimg to get sore from all this typing. but if your looking for somthing to make your HTPC a lot more fum, this is the business. - Bluetooth Keyboard - Wireless Keyboard - Touchpad - Htpc'


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