Logitech diNovo Mini keyboard review

28 March 2008 15:13 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Keyboards are big clunky things, so Logitech's idea of shrinking one to use with your PS3 or Media Center PC makes sense on paper, but does it in practice? We get typing to find out.

The size of a large PDA, the Logitech diNovo Mini keyboard is a palm sized keyboard that comes with Bluetooth connectivity so you can control your Media Center PC or PlayStation 3 without having to warrant a full sized keyboard in the living room.

Cased in a black glossy shell with a flip-up protector lid the diNovo is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery and promises a month of charge from just 4 hours plugged into the wall.

While the device can be connected to a PlayStation 3 or PC it can't be connected to the Xbox 360 and users suddenly thinking that this is a great way of getting around the awful onscreen keyboard of the Apple iPhone, don't, you can't.

Open up that flip-up protector and you are presented with a keyboard that is larger than your average smartphone but considerably smaller than your standard keyboard you use in front of your computer.

In practice we found it difficult to use, neither small enough to use with your thumbs or large enough to use with your fingers and you end up having to hold it with one hand and type with your index finger on the other, not exactly the fastest way of doing anything.

Furthermore the keys are on the spongy side with the space bar constantly giving us the notion that we had pressed it twice.

The diNovo Mini works in two modes: Media mode and Cursor mode. Media mode is used for navigating Windows Media Center, while the cursor mode for keyboard and touch pad functions.

Logitech, realising that you'll need a mouse for your sofa surfing using the diNovo mini has added a circular touch pad in the top right hand corner and this also acts as the left click on a mouse (the right click is accessible via another key). When in media mode the clickpad as Logitech call it, becomes a directional pad to navigate menus and make selections. This unlike the keyboard is very easy to use and a great element to the package.

Surrounding the mainstay of the QWERTY keys are a bunch of shortcut offerings and to expand on this offering further there are also a set of keys that are accessed via a function key.

Shortcuts available to you depend on where you end up using the keyboard. Windows users will get shortcuts to Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer as well as a dedicated Control-Alt-Delete button (oh the joy) and a dedicated Windows button.

There are also Page Up and Page Down buttons to allow people to scroll internet pages easily and this double up as change channels while watching internet-based television.

Mac users surprisingly get most of the shortcut buttons including the volume controls and skip track functions while the Windows key doubles as the Apple key for completing commands.

Verdict

On paper the Logitech diNovo Mini sounds great and is the perfect companion to any PS3 or Media Center owner looking to shed the burden of a large keyboard and mouse in the living room.

In practice and it's not so compelling. We never thought we would say this, but the keyboard is just that little bit too large meaning it doesn't sit comfortably between the hands.

Then there are the spongy keys and the price; at £100 this isn't cheap considering you can buy a regular wireless keyboard about a third of the price.

We like the concept, we like the clickpad element but for us to recommend this it needs to be cheaper, smaller and easier to use.

Score

Review Recap

Made by: Logitech
Price as reviewed: £99
Latest price: Compare prices
The good: Small, shortcut buttons, clickpad mouse, concept
The bad: Spongy keys, keyboard too large, won't work with Xbox 360
Quick verdict: We like the concept, we like the clickpad element but for us to recommend this fully it needs to be cheaper, smaller and easier to use
Score