It will come as no surprise that I am a gadget geek.
I work all day on a desktop computer. At home, I'm either working on a PC or a Mac laptop. When I'm away from home, I usually rely on my tablet computer or smartphone to do work when necessary. Yes, I work quite a bit, and no, I don't like to be confined to an office all day.
where it’s @
The Satechi Bluetooth Wireless Smart Keyboard requires Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.0 or later or iOS 6 or later. The keyboard also requires two AA batteries or a powered USB port. The keyboard retails for $59.99 but is on special for $54.99 through Satechi. More information is at satechi.net.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to being a gadget geek. Moving from computer to tablet to smartphone and back can put a strain on the eyes and fingers, especially when going from a large computer keyboard to the tiny one on a smartphone screen.
Satechi provides a great solution to this with one of its latest products, the Bluetooth Wireless Smart Keyboard.
The Satechi keyboard features full-size keys, function keys that double as multimedia keys and a numeric keypad attached on the right. It also has rubber feet underneath to prevent slippage, as well as two tabs that flip out to prop the keyboard up for a better typing angle.
The keyboard works on two AA batteries, which are included. The package also includes a micro-USB cable for those who wish to use the keyboard wired directly to a computer. The advantage to using the wire is the keyboard will work without batteries, so long as the USB port is powered, as those on a computer usually are.
Although the wire is handy, the main appeal to this keyboard is its Bluetooth capabilities. There certainly are many Bluetooth keyboards available. So what makes this one different?
The Satechi keyboard doesn't just connect to one Bluetooth device -- it can connect to up to five devices, and it can switch from one to another almost instantly.
The keyboard has a function key in the lower left that activates the tasks signified in blue on the keyboard's number and function keys. The first five numbered keys across the top include a blue Bluetooth symbol.
Keyboard users connect to each device by pressing the function key and number key to which the device will be assigned, then connecting to the device via Bluetooth in the usual manner. I connected my laptop to key "1," my smartphone to key "2" and my tablet to key "3." I was then able to switch from one device to another simply by pressing the function and corresponding keys.
I expected some lag while the keyboard switched from one device to another, but it was a lot less than I anticipated, taking only a second or two. I could type on the computer, switch to the smartphone to type a text and switch right back to the computer without any problems. I could even hit the "6" button and switch the keyboard to its wired USB connection.
The keyboard also has a shortcut for those needing to switch quickly from one device to another without having to remember which number keys to press. The tab key has a Bluetooth symbol and an "A-B" on it in blue. Holding the function key and hitting the tab switches the keyboard to its previous connection, and hitting it again switches it back, enabling users to toggle quickly from one device to another.
The keyboard has versions for both PC and Mac computers, but the Mac keyboard includes a few extras for iPhone and iPad users. Three keys on the top right are made specifically for iOS devices. The magnifying glass pulls up the search function, the empty square returns the phone or iPad to its home screen and the eject button pulls up the device's on-screen keyboard while disabling the Satechi keyboard.
The keyboard also has special keys for Mac or Windows computers. The function keys double as media keys, such as play/pause and volume control, while others show an application's windows or windows for each open program, making it easy to move from one to another. The Mac keyboard is white, and the Windows keyboard is black.
The only awkward thing about the keyboard are the keys that usually sit between the numeric pad and the main keyboard: the Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys. In this case, they're down the right side of the main keyboard, making them a stretch to reach. I also accidentally hit the Home key a time or two while trying to hit the Backspace key. Still, there really isn't anywhere else to put them, especially since there had to be room left for the numeric keypad.
I love that, by the way. After working in a bank in my very early days, I find the numeral keys at the top of a keyboard awkward, so I much prefer to use a numeric keypad. Most wireless keyboards don't have such keypads, so I really appreciate that the Satechi keyboard has one.
I love this keyboard. It's so easy to switch from one device to another, making it incredibly convenient to use. While it's a little wide as far as portability goes, it's very thin so it should slide into a suitcase fairly easily. It does seem pretty durable, although the instructions warn against subjecting it to drops, vibrations and dampness. It's still an electronic device, after all.
It's great to have something to help me move from one device to another. It makes work a little more portable and a lot easier on the eyes and fingers. That's a good thing for a gadget geek like me.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at mljones72@me.com.
SundayMonday Business on 09/08/2014