10 ms·

Logitech K480 – Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard

339 points by nreece 12y ago

UncleChis 12y ago
The switching button might not be that convenient and comfortable. Why not just a press button and 3 LEDs? You press one, it switches the LEDs?
qzc4 12y ago
I don't get why this is so newsworthy and "innovative". Matias makes a good line of keyboards[0] (even a mechanical one!) based on the same concept, just with 1 wireless and 1 wired connection. Wired is a lot less of a hassle for me anyway, and you don't even have to change the batteries. [0]: http://matias.ca/onekeyboard/ http://matias.ca/onekeyboard/
- DanBC 12y ago
  Matias has some unpleasant keyboard patent stuff in their history, relating to half-keyboards. http://ask.slashdot.org/story/12/08/23/1229240/ask-slashdot-single-handed-keyboard-options-for-coding http://ask.slashdot.org/story/12/08/23/1229240/ask-slashdot-... (Search for Patent)
- icebraining 12y ago
  just with 1 wireless and 1 wired connection That's the innovation part. 1 wireless + 1 wired doesn't help you much if you want to use it with multiple mobile devices (tablet + phone, for example) besides laptops. Personally, your keyboard would be useless to me; when I want to use laptop + tablet, I just use a regular keyboard and the Remote Keyboard app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.onyxbits.remotekeyboard&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.onyxbits.re...
unwind 12y ago
Wow! That's actually rather innovative! As a replacement for a "main" desktop keyboard, it looks a bit on the too-optimized-for-mobility side of things with chiclet-style small keys and so on. I bet it will appear in many people's living rooms though, since seems very well designed (I love the device-selection knob!) for in-couch computing environments to control pads, phones, consoles or perhaps set-top boxes.
- ZenoArrow 12y ago
  "Wow! That's actually rather innovative!" Am I missing something here? To me it's just a bluetooth keyboard, I have one already. People are going gaga over the rotary switch, which is a nice touch but it's not that much quicker over pairing.
  - ZenoArrow 12y ago
    Downvoting me without commenting suggests I hit a raw nerve. To me it's sad that the meaning of 'innovation' has become so watered down.
    - jonalmeida 12y ago
      I think it's because you have misunderstood the convenience of having three separate bluetooth profiles that can be switched with a simple toggle i.e. I bet I can switch from device A to device B faster than you can repair.
      - ZenoArrow 12y ago
        I don't doubt that the switching is quicker, but it's not that much quicker, and considering the frequency that the switch is needed whilst it's a nice feature it's not much of an advantage. How often are you going to be typing on a tablet and a PC at roughly the same time? Perhaps it's for people to get around the Internet firewalls in their workplace, but if the workplace rules are super draconian I doubt you'll be allowed your own gear anyway. I am glad that Logitech are thinking of new features to add to their devices, but I resent such small improvements being seen as innovative and worthy of the HN front page. Is that really what innovation has come to, a bluetooth toggle switch? Are we really prepared to set the bar that low?
        com2kid 12y ago
        > How often are you going to be typing on a tablet and a PC at roughly the same time? Very frequently. A lot of my social communication happens through my phone, SMS and a plethora of mobile only communication platforms means that I am very frequently switching between my laptop and phone all day long. > I don't doubt that the switching is quicker, but it's not that much quicker Turning a knob is much faster than going into the settings menu on a phone (or on a computer!) and re-pairing. Repairing on a laptop can easily take 10+ seconds end to end from opening up the proper setting screen to BT scanning to actually finishing the pairing process. Compare that to less than a second for turning a knob. And again, this is something that I might be doing multiple times per minute.
jraedisch 12y ago
Seems interesting for dual boot environments also.
- DiThi 12y ago
  When dual booting you usually use the same bluetooth receiver, with the same MAC address. For me any bluetooth device work out of the box when switching OS once they're paired on both.
  - jraedisch 12y ago
    How did you get this to work? I did a quick search on the topic and the best resource I could find was this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1479056 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1479056 I will try it out when I get home.
- soebbing 12y ago
  Exactly my thought. I'd buy it for that use case alone. Also, I like the modern chiclet keyboards.
micheljansen 12y ago
Nice! Seems like this should come standard with all wireless peripherals. I wonder if it maintains a connection with all paired devices or if there is a delay when you switch between them. I find that some of my devices take a while to connect/pair when I turn them on.
beyti 12y ago
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480 http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-... (removing the querystring param, for people who can not view the link)
vetler 12y ago
So simple, yet so wonderful.
danielrmay 12y ago
I like this, I just think it's a shame the keyboard quality had to suffer for the device interoperability.
gokhan 12y ago
As a developer, this setup just brings all the distractions right in front of me :) What's going on my phone is not that important during the day, it can most probably wait an hour or so until I check it. A tablet is a pure entertainment device for me, it belongs to couch, toilet or bed, not to my desktop (otherwise that FTL icon will bug me all day). On the other hand, this might be a good gadget for, say, sales people using tablets on the go and sync at the office. I'm most probably out of target audience for this device.
- kshitij-dce 12y ago
  well, im a developer and can see how I'd use this. It'll actually save a lil time when I'm coding and my gf's IMing me and I cant tell her to go away :D. She wouldn't even know I'm doing something else with the fast replies.
  - carlob 12y ago
    Did you know there are IM clients for the desktop? Also, there are girlfriends who respect the space for concentration and work, but I understand that switching girlfriend is not as easy as downloading adium…
    - kshitij-dce 12y ago
      Yes, I tried getting pigdin for whatsapp client on linux to work, but for some reason it doesn't work anymore because the OTP hack thing isnt working. :-/ I'll have another go at it maybe .. Windows and Mac there are plenty.. And its also about the fact that switching between another handheld device back and forth is a pain. I don't want to let go off my keyboard.
      - m_mueller 12y ago
        IM is way worse than 10 years ago. Everybody is on proprietary, locked down systems - Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp and whatnot. Adium was great back in the day but now it's incompatible with most of the chats I need to be in.
nnnnni 12y ago
I loved that thing all the way up until I saw that ctrl and fn were swapped from the standard layout =-( Otherwise, I know of quite a few people who could really use this thing!
- lukasm 12y ago
  Actually, this is standard layout.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - gilgoomesh 12y ago
    There is no standard. Lenovo and Apple place the Fn key to the left of the Control key. Most others place them the other way around. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fn_key#Fn_and_Control_key_placement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fn_key#Fn_and_Control_key_place...
- DiThi 12y ago
  They are correct for me. I stopped using my cheap bluetooth keyboard because Fn is in the corner and I can't remap it. There's no "standard" that dictates where Fn is, and I prefer Ctrl to be always in the same place.
- jsmeaton 12y ago
  I hate having the FN key in the bottom left corner. Hate hate hate. I remap it back to CTRL. I instinctually reach for the last key when aiming for control, and it not being there really throws off my typing, and really really throws off my gaming.
  - miahi 12y ago
    What I find strange is that touch typing with the remapped "CTRL in the corner" works great, but when I look at the keyboard and try the same combination (usually for strange combinations), I press the "wrong" (Fn) key.
marban 12y ago
Hate the yellow stripe but still... take my money.
- icebraining 12y ago
  They have a black and white version: http://www.logitech.com/assets/52362/14/bluetooth-multi-device-keyboard-k480.jpg http://www.logitech.com/assets/52362/14/bluetooth-multi-devi...
kshitij-dce 12y ago
I would prefer a switch-key than the knob.. Love the idea though!
petepete 12y ago
This looks good and would definitely make typing long email responses more efficient. But other than that, something I don't do very often on my mobile devices, I don't really see the need. If I was to install a full Linux distro on my Nexus 10 and attempt to use it for development, I'd definitely want to use a 'proper' keyboard. Perhaps something like the Enebrick[0] would be a better fit for me. I can totally see how this could appeal to people who don't need/want a separate notebook machine, keyboard etc and can get by with just a tablet. [0] http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_enebrick.html http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_enebrick.html ; http://enebrick.cerevo.com/en/ http://enebrick.cerevo.com/en/
- chx 12y ago
  Um, ¥ 13,800 ?? That's 130 USD! I have researched this because the keyboards I love & use are wired (I have a veritcal Kinesis Freestyle and a ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint): http://handheldsci.com/kb http://handheldsci.com/kb is only $59. The Aten CS533 http://www.amazon.com/Aten-Technologies-Bluetooth-Switch-CS533/dp/B0094FN81K http://www.amazon.com/Aten-Technologies-Bluetooth-Switch-CS5... is $67.
  - DanBC 12y ago
    People spend all day on the keyboard. They're pretty important pieces of kit. $130 is nothing when you spread the cost over how long you use it.
    - chx 12y ago
      Absolutely -- but I listed functional equivalents for less than half the price.
emsy 12y ago
I'm a longtime Logitech peripheral user and it's fairly disappointing that they always have some shortcomings that keeps me from loving their products. For instance, I write this article on a K760. It's similar to the Apple wireless keyboard but it's solar-powered and has multi-device capabilities. Unfortunately, its build quality is mediocre. I'd rather pay 20-30 bucks more and have a keyboard that feels better. Also, they removed the previous/next track buttons from the top row for no specific reason. With this keyboard, the build quality seems even cheaper. They missed the chance to go solar (though that's debatable) and the fn key is in a different position than my current Logitech keyboards (they don't seem to have a guideline for this).
- dombili 12y ago
  Very much agree on build quality. I mostly use their mouses and their rubber side always wears out after a couple of months and if I'm lucky with that, I get the common double clicking problem with left click. Thankfully their customer support is amazing and they send replacements without too much hassle. (They even sent me a new mouse once even though it was out of warranty.)
  - uptown 12y ago
    Currently dealing with that double-clicking issue. Is there any work-around, or is replacement the only solution?
    - dombili 12y ago
      I believe that's fixable, but I don't know how hard the fix is. I wouldn't advise you to try to fix it on your own unless you know what you're doing, or you've already contacted their customer support. Don't hesitate to contact their customer support even if your mouse is no longer under warranty.
  - qntmfred 12y ago
    I've been using the same Logitech mouse for about 6 years with zero build quality issues. ymmv?
ekianjo 12y ago
I see that they never fail to ignore Linux.
- jeletonskelly 12y ago
  It made me sad to see that too. I'm just hoping it will work like any other bluetooth keyboard for linux because there doesn't seem to be any reason it shouldn't.
  - MrUnderhill 12y ago
    The similar K810 works brilliantly in Linux. Mario Scholz has written a small tool to switch between media and function keys[1], I wouldn't be surprised if it works for K840 too. [1] http://www.trial-n-error.de/posts/2012/12/31/logitech-k810-keyboard-configurator/ http://www.trial-n-error.de/posts/2012/12/31/logitech-k810-k...
darklajid 12y ago
Only available for pre-order and only shipping to the US it seems. They got me interested enough to order one, but.. By the time it arrives in shops that deliver to DE every single supplier will certainly make sure to offer a localized qwertz layout only. Shopping keyboards is hard here.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  I had the opposite, ordered a LT bluetooth keyboard in NL and it was a German version.
- davb 12y ago
  If you go to the bottom of the page and select "Change location", you might find that it's available in your country. I can pre-order for the UK (however unfortunately it's £49.99, a fair bit pricier than $49.99). I've also just found that Currys (our last major high street electrical/electronics retailer that isn't part of a department store and is ubiquitous in most cities) has it available for next day delivery - http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/accessories-and-bags/mice-keyboards/keyboards/logitech-k480-wireless-keyboard-white-10025026-pdt.html http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/accessori... - only the white version, sadly, and it's also £49.99. Edit: Also, when pre-ordering on the Logitech UK website, it asks me to select my layout and color.UK layout is available (thankfully - a lot of Logitech portable Bluetooth keyboards available on Amazon are US layout only).
  - darklajid 12y ago
    Whoa, I totally missed that link. Thanks! Now .. I can order it in various languages, the only English one being the UK layout. ;-) I'm reasonably sure I want the US layout, trying to compare them now to spot the differences. Edit: Yeah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards - I am used to/want the US one. So still no luck unfortunately.
    - davb 12y ago
      For most users the changes aren't too troublesome (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards) but I'm so used to coding on on the UK one I find it difficult to switch. The \, #, " and £ are the ones that cause my most difficulty. And to me, the little US enter key just strange (it's double-height on UK keyboards).
otikik 12y ago
Too gimicky for my taste. I have the Logigech K760 (the solar one) and it's awesome. I prefer it to the default MBA keyboard.
boomskats 12y ago
It doesn't mention whether it runs on MX reds??? Is it easy to change the switches, are they soldered on? Is it easy to change the controller?
- danbee 12y ago
  Wut? Dude, this isn't a mechanical keyboard. It'll be a membrane board or scissor switches.
  - boomskats 12y ago
    I know :(... just figured, you know, it's on HN... maybe it comes with PBT keycaps or something
- highercenter 12y ago
  I expect the keyboards price is high and its build quality low so it will hopefully break within 2 years. Mechanical switches and durability will very unlikely fit in their business model for this product. The target is $$$ and not a great and lasting product for the consumer (as usual...).
atmosx 12y ago
Can someone offer a couple of real-world use cases for the masses? I have all the Apple devices I need (MBA, iPhone, iPad[* 1], iMac) synced through iCloud. Why would I wanna switch between them, to add a notification or send an iMessage?! [1] That's kind false. I don't need an iPad, it's just a perk :-P
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- RaSoJo 12y ago
  I suppose not everyone has devices across an uniform platform. I have a Windows laptop, an Android phone and an iPad. And I hate having to switch between devices to type (say Whatsapping on the phone and coding on the Laptop) As a layman I really like the premise of this Keyboard.
MrUnderhill 12y ago
I've been using the K810 [1] for some time for all my computers. I find it absolutely brilliant to type on (being mostly in vim, the awkward home/end, page up/down, arrows etc don't matter very much), and it also has the ability to switch between 3 paired bluetooth devices. There is also the Lenovo Thinkpad Compact Bluetooth [2], which I haven't tried, but allegedly "features a simplified pairing with the system through Near Field Communication (NFC) tag. Simply tap and pair with an NFC-enabled system." It also has a TrackPoint nipple. Of course, neither of these have the slot for phones/tablets. [1] http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/bluetooth-illuminated-keyboard-k810 http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/bluetooth-illuminated-... [2] http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/0B47189/460/60AC6A0372B14F5BA7B12F1FF88E33C7 http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/0B47189/460/60AC6A0...
- gerbal 12y ago
  The K810 is quite a nice keyboard, IMO better than the Apple bluetooth keyboard in terms of feel. It appears to be functionally identical to this new K480 and would appear to have the exact same physical keyboard.
  - celticninja 12y ago
    additionally the K810 is backlit, which this does not appear to be, the backlit function is fantastic.
    - johnnymonster 12y ago
      Really surprised it is not backlit, it seems like all the other keyboard options are.
      - boomskats 12y ago
        Coming from a keyboard geek, their TK820 is by far the nicest keyboard they do in terms of actual keys and switches and the trackpad. It isn't backlit though, that's the only box it doesn't tick. I've got a K830 for the livingroom and it's nowhere near as good.
ahunt09 12y ago
Or you could turn your existing computer keyboard into a bluetooth keyboard for other peripheral devices for a fraction of the cost: http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard
- untothebreach 12y ago
  "fraction of the cost" - assuming you already own a Mac. For us non-OSX users, it is much cheaper to consider the Logitech :)
  - aroch 12y ago
    You don't have to own a Mac to own an Apple keyboard - they're compatible with Windows, OSX and many flavors of nix
    - rakoo 12y ago
      But the app only runs on OSX.
    - untothebreach 12y ago
      Maybe I am just confused then. The link you provided is to an app available on the Mac App Store. EDIT: dialed down the snark
      - aroch 12y ago
        1. It's not my link 2. Running OSX on standard hardware, Apple OEM or not, is not very hard...
        untothebreach 12y ago
        1. I never said it was yours, I said you provided it. 2. I am not a non-OSX user because I can't afford to buy a Mac. I am a non-OSX user because I don't like OSX.
ahunt09 12y ago
Or you could turn your existing computer keyboard into a bluetooth keyboard for other peripheral devices for a fraction of the cost: http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard
deleted 12y ago
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quattrofan 12y ago
Great idea, problem with a lot of the logitech keyboards is because of their low cost construction the keys wear within a year in most cases, I've been through 3 in the past 3 years.
- sireat 12y ago
  Another anecdotal evidence, I am typing on a Logitech Deluxe 250 keyboard from 2008, which has been used every workday for the past 6 years. So, they can make long lasting keyboards or at least used to.
davidbrent 12y ago
Very cool and useful product. I can't help but feel like I'm in some kind of cycle though, because I felt the same way about a KVM Switch 20 years ago.
- bnt 12y ago
  It looks cool, but that round switch isn't as useful as it seems. It would've been better if they simply put three buttons up there - switching between devices would be easier (push of a button instead having to move your hand to the far left and turn a knob) and faster (switching from device 3 to device 1).
- SeanLuke 12y ago
  Funny, I felt the same way about RS-232 switches ~40 years ago. For example, http://tinyurl.com/poo777c http://tinyurl.com/poo777c
- mcguire 12y ago
  Hey, KVM switches are still magic.
fasteo 12y ago
Multitasking in a single screen is not a good idea. Multitasking in three screens can only make it worse. Very nice productivity killer though.
- andrewjkerr 12y ago
  Personally, I wouldn't use this to switch between three screens at the same time, but rather using it to not have to pair it every single time I use the keyboard on a different device. That's quite frustrating.
  - fasteo 12y ago
    That would be also my plan, but once I have this setup, it would be impossible for me not to constantly switch between devices. Pairing every single time is actually a plus for me: It acts as a barrier to avoid multitasking in different devices.
josephcooney 12y ago
I wish there was some kind of dongle I could plug my das keyboard into that would give me the multi-device feature without sacrificing on the actual keyboard part.
- victorhooi 12y ago
  I'm with you. I also have a Das mechanical keyboard, and would love to have the convenience of Bluetooth, as well as using it wiht my phone, but with the same nice mechanical feel.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- insaneirish 12y ago
  Here ya go: http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=cs533 http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=cs533 I haven't used it, but I have looked at it for the same reason.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
  - MrUnderhill 12y ago
    Any idea if the opposite exists: a dongle that appears to the host as a USB keyboard/mouse, but actually pairs with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse? That way you could use a bluetooth keyboard with dumb KVM switches (or other USB hosts) that don't support bluetooth themselves.
    - matt_heimer 12y ago
      You just plug the USB dongle for the keyboard/mouse into a KVM. Works for the Logitech unifying receivers and the Logitech Bluetooth receivers.
      - MrUnderhill 12y ago
cyanbane 12y ago
I think most people here are in a very firm or serious relationship with their keyboard. (I know I am with my Corsair mechanical). Would love to see this as a usb device that the keyboard plugs into. Would think monitoring key presses on the middle man device would not be to hard?
- untog 12y ago
  I wonder what the power drain would be. That keyboard can probably operate on a couple of AA batteries - would running a USB hub take more? In any case, I don't see this as a main keyboard replacement. But I do have a crappy computer that sits under my TV to play video/Netflix/etc. - this would be ideal for it.
  - commandar 12y ago
    >would running a USB hub take more? Well, USB spec (pre USB 3.0 anyway) is 5v @ 100mA per port.
- wastedhours 12y ago
  Yeah, it's a neat idea, but my fingers wouldn't thank the switch from the Ducky.
- JohnBooty 12y ago
  > I think most people here are in a very firm or serious relationship with their keyboard. Some of us are more polyamorous!
billchan 12y ago
My alternative choice: http://kbtalkingusa.com/ http://kbtalkingusa.com/
- ngmaloney 12y ago
  I purchased a KBTalking Pro and it is the best keyboard I've owned, I like it better than my Das. Similar to the keyboard being discussed, it allows you to pair with 10 different bluetooth devices and switch between them via keyboard shortcuts.
  - michaelbuddy 12y ago
    I wish they could just keep this keyboard in stock. the feature of bluetooth isn't so obvious on the site is it?
- prlin 12y ago
  Awesome, thanks for the share. How's the battery life?
  - billchan 12y ago
    At least 1.5 years for 2 AA battery, not yet change since deliveried.
circa 12y ago
The BT switch part is great. I wish I could integrate my existing Synergy setup with it. http://synergy-project.org/ http://synergy-project.org/
suvelx 12y ago
I've been using the Filco Minila Air for a while now. It's /kinda/ the same, in that it allows you to pair it with 3 devices. It fails in regards to having a physical switch for selecting devices. Instead it'll connect to the highest 'ranked' device that's on. It works fine for switching between home/office, but not so much for phone/computer. https://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=1471 https://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=1471
er0l 12y ago
shut up and take my money!!!
deleted 12y ago
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nodata 12y ago
Stupid question: what's the encryption used on this?
- peregrine 12y ago
  If they are using it they have the option for AES as stated by the BlueTooth 4 protocol.
  - nodata 12y ago
    Any easy way to check?
silver1 12y ago
Nice but keys are so tiny -- why dont anyone get inspired by IBM/Lenovo non-chicklet keyboards ??? sometimes OLD is GOLD and Simplicity is blessings :)
dharma1 12y ago
can anyone recommend a smaller, tablet sized BT keyboard that would have this kind of a "slot" for making either a phone or tablet stand on it? I just need something super lightweight that works as both a stand and a keyboard with my phone or tablet (hate phone touch keyboards)
jmt7les 12y ago
Yet it still uses AAA batteries...
rishabhsagar 12y ago
Shame that this has no back-light; One of the most common setup I can imagine, is a laptop on some kind of riser (with IDE open), A propped up iPad (to watch tutorials / documentation). Often this kind of setup will be situated in a dark room where user will greatly benefit from a backlit keyboard. :(
- Nexxxeh 12y ago
  I think the majority of the users of this probably won't be looking at the keys as they type...
  - rishabhsagar 12y ago
    Hmm.. but I feel because of the non standard layout and the size, most touch typists will still take some time before they can adapt.
    - vanderZwan 12y ago
      Fair point. The keys have quite a different shape to regular keys though, that might actually make it easier for the brain to distinguish it from regular keyboards.
VeryVito 12y ago
Add a solar cell to power it, and I'm in. The K760 and K750 are amazing, simply because I never have to worry about cords or batteries.
- Someone1234 12y ago
  I'd take batteries over a keyboard which might not work in low or no light. Seems like a gimmick.
  - reportingsjr 12y ago
    Reviews are actually pretty good with regards to that. The complaints I have seen is that the battery dies after a couple of years and is not easily replaceable. This would mean a new keyboard every couple of years.
  - pgl 12y ago
    The K750[1], which I've been using for a month now, works in very low light, and on a full charge the internal batteries should last without light for "up to 2 months". It's impressive. And a really nice keyboard to boot! [1]http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard
burnt1ce 12y ago
YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
crawrey 12y ago
Am I the only one who barely has enough time to interact with one PC after work (if I even feel like turning it on after a full day of programming), that the thought of interacting with multiple devices at once is overwhelming?
- Someone1234 12y ago
  I don't think that is really the point. The point is that it can store the settings for 3x devices and you can switch between each one of them individually as needed. For example, if you had an iPad and iPhone you can have them both configured as the 1 and 2 positions, and switch the switch as the relevant device was docked. With a lot of existing Bluetooth keyboards you would need to re-sync it each and every time you switched devices.
  - pdpi 12y ago
    First thing I thought was that having both my PC and my Mac Mini on the same keyboard would be cool (and this is a fair bit cleaner than a KVM)
    - ChrisClark 12y ago
      Check out http://synergy-project.org/ http://synergy-project.org/ you can share your keyboard and mouse between the computers. Just move your mouse to a screen edge and it jumps over to the other computer. I use it for work, OSX on my left Windows on my right, single keyboard and mouse. It will even let you copy-paste text between computers.
silasb 12y ago
That rotary knob looks awfully easy to break. There has to be a better interface than physically moving your hand up to the knob to change which device has focus. Also if this could also charge your devices that would be awesome also.
- yasth 12y ago
  Rotary knobs are much more rugged than almost any other common switch type if they are well made. They are commonly specified on military and industrial gear for this reason (and a few others). Also honestly given the location and the likelihood of multitasking (say typing something on an HDTV, switching to a phone to type out a lengthy text message, and then back to a tv) I can't see an automated solution working well. You could do some NFC so that the slot would recognize a new thing being placed, but you'd still need an a way to switch away from it. Charging would be a useful feature though.
- ertdfgcb 12y ago
  How is that easy to break? It protrudes like a quarter inch from the surface of the keyboard, and that's only the top third or so of the knob. I guess you could turn it too hard, but you're switching between three options, you really shouldn't be torquing it hard at all.
jaebrown 12y ago
I really like the idea of the product but the idea of looking at three screens gives me anxiety. I know the product can be used for a single device but the video scared me off by showing its potential. I'll stick with what I got.
jaxn 12y ago
Has anyone used the Kanex Multi-sync keyboard [1]? Feature-wise it looks much better, just not sure about the reliability. Turning a knob to switch devices seems terrible. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Multi-Sync-Bluetooth-Keyboard-QWERTYX/dp/B00F9VPDJI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409761956&sr=1-2&keywords=multi-device+bluetooth+keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Multi-Sync-Bluetooth-Keyboard-QW...
- mcguire 12y ago
  "Turning a knob to switch devices seems terrible." I was thinking it was kind of brilliant. Easy to do, easy to see which device you're talking to at a glance (especially if you have it labelled.)
  - jaxn 12y ago
    I guess I am envisioning frequent switching. If I had to turn a knob to Cmd+Tab between apps it would be terrible.
Kjeldahl 12y ago
Logitech never bothered to fix the driver problem on the similar/previous OSX Bluetooth keyboard K811 where switching between Cmd-Tab and Cmd-Shift-Tab does not work correctly (you can not change direction while the app selector is open). If this is important to you (it is to most devs at least), make sure you check/verify that this bug has actually been fixed in the driver they ship with K480.
- pooriaazimi 12y ago
  Ordinarily, Cmd+` switches between windows, but when you're Cmd+Tabbing (when the switcher is active), Cmd+` is essentially the same as Cmd+Shift+Tab (i.e., it selects the previous application). It's actually much more convenient to press Cmd+`, if you get used to it :)
  - Kjeldahl 12y ago
    That's possibly a valid workaround (can't test - my K811 keyboard is at the office) which on my international keyboard is not nearly as convenient as just depressing shift with my pinky, but it does not change the fact that the K811 keyboard is not able to do what the standard Macbook keyboard does. And the fact that Logitech is aware of the obvious bug but is not interested in fixing it.
  - Kjeldahl 12y ago
    Well, the good news is that at least the alternative method you mention works fine, even on the K811.
fuzzywalrus 12y ago
Certainly a cool product to have a KBM (minus the m) for multiple devices but I see limited potential. rd. For iOS / OS X users, if you're using using an iOS device + OS X computer, you're able to carry over conversations and even e-mail between devices in iOS8 + OS X 10.10. It sorta eliminates some of the necessity of having a keyboard for your touch screens. This may be useful for testing but even when I'm doing development, (and we have a fistful of devices) I'm rarely using the keyboards and with the limit of 3, it wouldn't really be enough.
api_or_ipa 12y ago
Cool, when can we see a mechanical switch version of this?
mkoryak 12y ago
"Type in comfort"... and then ... "11.7 Inches" Those 2 things can't happen at the same time.
milkers 12y ago
K760 is a better choice.
schainks 12y ago
The K760 is awesome for typing, and solar powered. The K480 switches between devices and can mount a mobile device. The K810 has a backlight. Can these three things be conveniently combined? Make it the size of the k760, but with the backlit keys and a longer mobile device mount. The result might not be pretty, but would definitely be something I'd use for my multiple mobile devices + development use case. Edit: typo
- StudyAnimal 12y ago
  Plus it needs mechanical switches. Otherwise it is just a low-end device.
skyhatchash 12y ago
Fastest way to drain my phone's bluetooth

339 points by nreece 12y ago

The switching button might not be that convenient and comfortable. Why not just a press button and 3 LEDs? You press one, it switches the LEDs?

qzc4 12y ago

I don't get why this is so newsworthy and "innovative". Matias makes a good line of keyboards[0] (even a mechanical one!) based on the same concept, just with 1 wireless and 1 wired connection. Wired is a lot less of a hassle for me anyway, and you don't even have to change the batteries. [0]: http://matias.ca/onekeyboard/ http://matias.ca/onekeyboard/

DanBC 12y ago
Matias has some unpleasant keyboard patent stuff in their history, relating to half-keyboards. http://ask.slashdot.org/story/12/08/23/1229240/ask-slashdot-single-handed-keyboard-options-for-coding http://ask.slashdot.org/story/12/08/23/1229240/ask-slashdot-... (Search for Patent)
icebraining 12y ago
just with 1 wireless and 1 wired connection That's the innovation part. 1 wireless + 1 wired doesn't help you much if you want to use it with multiple mobile devices (tablet + phone, for example) besides laptops. Personally, your keyboard would be useless to me; when I want to use laptop + tablet, I just use a regular keyboard and the Remote Keyboard app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.onyxbits.remotekeyboard&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.onyxbits.re...

unwind 12y ago

Wow! That's actually rather innovative! As a replacement for a "main" desktop keyboard, it looks a bit on the too-optimized-for-mobility side of things with chiclet-style small keys and so on. I bet it will appear in many people's living rooms though, since seems very well designed (I love the device-selection knob!) for in-couch computing environments to control pads, phones, consoles or perhaps set-top boxes.

ZenoArrow 12y ago
"Wow! That's actually rather innovative!" Am I missing something here? To me it's just a bluetooth keyboard, I have one already. People are going gaga over the rotary switch, which is a nice touch but it's not that much quicker over pairing.
- ZenoArrow 12y ago
  Downvoting me without commenting suggests I hit a raw nerve. To me it's sad that the meaning of 'innovation' has become so watered down.
  - jonalmeida 12y ago
    I think it's because you have misunderstood the convenience of having three separate bluetooth profiles that can be switched with a simple toggle i.e. I bet I can switch from device A to device B faster than you can repair.
    - ZenoArrow 12y ago
      I don't doubt that the switching is quicker, but it's not that much quicker, and considering the frequency that the switch is needed whilst it's a nice feature it's not much of an advantage. How often are you going to be typing on a tablet and a PC at roughly the same time? Perhaps it's for people to get around the Internet firewalls in their workplace, but if the workplace rules are super draconian I doubt you'll be allowed your own gear anyway. I am glad that Logitech are thinking of new features to add to their devices, but I resent such small improvements being seen as innovative and worthy of the HN front page. Is that really what innovation has come to, a bluetooth toggle switch? Are we really prepared to set the bar that low?
      - com2kid 12y ago
        > How often are you going to be typing on a tablet and a PC at roughly the same time? Very frequently. A lot of my social communication happens through my phone, SMS and a plethora of mobile only communication platforms means that I am very frequently switching between my laptop and phone all day long. > I don't doubt that the switching is quicker, but it's not that much quicker Turning a knob is much faster than going into the settings menu on a phone (or on a computer!) and re-pairing. Repairing on a laptop can easily take 10+ seconds end to end from opening up the proper setting screen to BT scanning to actually finishing the pairing process. Compare that to less than a second for turning a knob. And again, this is something that I might be doing multiple times per minute.

jraedisch 12y ago

Seems interesting for dual boot environments also.

DiThi 12y ago
When dual booting you usually use the same bluetooth receiver, with the same MAC address. For me any bluetooth device work out of the box when switching OS once they're paired on both.
- jraedisch 12y ago
  How did you get this to work? I did a quick search on the topic and the best resource I could find was this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1479056 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1479056 I will try it out when I get home.
soebbing 12y ago
Exactly my thought. I'd buy it for that use case alone. Also, I like the modern chiclet keyboards.

micheljansen 12y ago

Nice! Seems like this should come standard with all wireless peripherals. I wonder if it maintains a connection with all paired devices or if there is a delay when you switch between them. I find that some of my devices take a while to connect/pair when I turn them on.

beyti 12y ago

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480 http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-... (removing the querystring param, for people who can not view the link)

vetler 12y ago

So simple, yet so wonderful.

danielrmay 12y ago

I like this, I just think it's a shame the keyboard quality had to suffer for the device interoperability.

gokhan 12y ago

As a developer, this setup just brings all the distractions right in front of me :) What's going on my phone is not that important during the day, it can most probably wait an hour or so until I check it. A tablet is a pure entertainment device for me, it belongs to couch, toilet or bed, not to my desktop (otherwise that FTL icon will bug me all day). On the other hand, this might be a good gadget for, say, sales people using tablets on the go and sync at the office. I'm most probably out of target audience for this device.

kshitij-dce 12y ago
well, im a developer and can see how I'd use this. It'll actually save a lil time when I'm coding and my gf's IMing me and I cant tell her to go away :D. She wouldn't even know I'm doing something else with the fast replies.
- carlob 12y ago
  Did you know there are IM clients for the desktop? Also, there are girlfriends who respect the space for concentration and work, but I understand that switching girlfriend is not as easy as downloading adium…
  - kshitij-dce 12y ago
    Yes, I tried getting pigdin for whatsapp client on linux to work, but for some reason it doesn't work anymore because the OTP hack thing isnt working. :-/ I'll have another go at it maybe .. Windows and Mac there are plenty.. And its also about the fact that switching between another handheld device back and forth is a pain. I don't want to let go off my keyboard.
    - m_mueller 12y ago
      IM is way worse than 10 years ago. Everybody is on proprietary, locked down systems - Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp and whatnot. Adium was great back in the day but now it's incompatible with most of the chats I need to be in.

nnnnni 12y ago

I loved that thing all the way up until I saw that ctrl and fn were swapped from the standard layout =-( Otherwise, I know of quite a few people who could really use this thing!

lukasm 12y ago
Actually, this is standard layout.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- gilgoomesh 12y ago
  There is no standard. Lenovo and Apple place the Fn key to the left of the Control key. Most others place them the other way around. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fn_key#Fn_and_Control_key_placement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fn_key#Fn_and_Control_key_place...
DiThi 12y ago
They are correct for me. I stopped using my cheap bluetooth keyboard because Fn is in the corner and I can't remap it. There's no "standard" that dictates where Fn is, and I prefer Ctrl to be always in the same place.
jsmeaton 12y ago
I hate having the FN key in the bottom left corner. Hate hate hate. I remap it back to CTRL. I instinctually reach for the last key when aiming for control, and it not being there really throws off my typing, and really really throws off my gaming.
- miahi 12y ago
  What I find strange is that touch typing with the remapped "CTRL in the corner" works great, but when I look at the keyboard and try the same combination (usually for strange combinations), I press the "wrong" (Fn) key.

marban 12y ago

Hate the yellow stripe but still... take my money.

icebraining 12y ago
They have a black and white version: http://www.logitech.com/assets/52362/14/bluetooth-multi-device-keyboard-k480.jpg http://www.logitech.com/assets/52362/14/bluetooth-multi-devi...

kshitij-dce 12y ago

I would prefer a switch-key than the knob.. Love the idea though!

petepete 12y ago

This looks good and would definitely make typing long email responses more efficient. But other than that, something I don't do very often on my mobile devices, I don't really see the need. If I was to install a full Linux distro on my Nexus 10 and attempt to use it for development, I'd definitely want to use a 'proper' keyboard. Perhaps something like the Enebrick[0] would be a better fit for me. I can totally see how this could appeal to people who don't need/want a separate notebook machine, keyboard etc and can get by with just a tablet. [0] http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_enebrick.html http://www.pfu.fujitsu.com/direct/hhkb/detail_enebrick.html ; http://enebrick.cerevo.com/en/ http://enebrick.cerevo.com/en/

chx 12y ago
Um, ¥ 13,800 ?? That's 130 USD! I have researched this because the keyboards I love & use are wired (I have a veritcal Kinesis Freestyle and a ThinkPad USB Keyboard with TrackPoint): http://handheldsci.com/kb http://handheldsci.com/kb is only $59. The Aten CS533 http://www.amazon.com/Aten-Technologies-Bluetooth-Switch-CS533/dp/B0094FN81K http://www.amazon.com/Aten-Technologies-Bluetooth-Switch-CS5... is $67.
- DanBC 12y ago
  People spend all day on the keyboard. They're pretty important pieces of kit. $130 is nothing when you spread the cost over how long you use it.
  - chx 12y ago
    Absolutely -- but I listed functional equivalents for less than half the price.

emsy 12y ago

I'm a longtime Logitech peripheral user and it's fairly disappointing that they always have some shortcomings that keeps me from loving their products. For instance, I write this article on a K760. It's similar to the Apple wireless keyboard but it's solar-powered and has multi-device capabilities. Unfortunately, its build quality is mediocre. I'd rather pay 20-30 bucks more and have a keyboard that feels better. Also, they removed the previous/next track buttons from the top row for no specific reason. With this keyboard, the build quality seems even cheaper. They missed the chance to go solar (though that's debatable) and the fn key is in a different position than my current Logitech keyboards (they don't seem to have a guideline for this).

dombili 12y ago
Very much agree on build quality. I mostly use their mouses and their rubber side always wears out after a couple of months and if I'm lucky with that, I get the common double clicking problem with left click. Thankfully their customer support is amazing and they send replacements without too much hassle. (They even sent me a new mouse once even though it was out of warranty.)
- uptown 12y ago
  Currently dealing with that double-clicking issue. Is there any work-around, or is replacement the only solution?
  - dombili 12y ago
    I believe that's fixable, but I don't know how hard the fix is. I wouldn't advise you to try to fix it on your own unless you know what you're doing, or you've already contacted their customer support. Don't hesitate to contact their customer support even if your mouse is no longer under warranty.
- qntmfred 12y ago
  I've been using the same Logitech mouse for about 6 years with zero build quality issues. ymmv?

ekianjo 12y ago

I see that they never fail to ignore Linux.

jeletonskelly 12y ago
It made me sad to see that too. I'm just hoping it will work like any other bluetooth keyboard for linux because there doesn't seem to be any reason it shouldn't.
- MrUnderhill 12y ago
  The similar K810 works brilliantly in Linux. Mario Scholz has written a small tool to switch between media and function keys[1], I wouldn't be surprised if it works for K840 too. [1] http://www.trial-n-error.de/posts/2012/12/31/logitech-k810-keyboard-configurator/ http://www.trial-n-error.de/posts/2012/12/31/logitech-k810-k...

darklajid 12y ago

Only available for pre-order and only shipping to the US it seems. They got me interested enough to order one, but.. By the time it arrives in shops that deliver to DE every single supplier will certainly make sure to offer a localized qwertz layout only. Shopping keyboards is hard here.

jacquesm 12y ago
I had the opposite, ordered a LT bluetooth keyboard in NL and it was a German version.
davb 12y ago
If you go to the bottom of the page and select "Change location", you might find that it's available in your country. I can pre-order for the UK (however unfortunately it's £49.99, a fair bit pricier than $49.99). I've also just found that Currys (our last major high street electrical/electronics retailer that isn't part of a department store and is ubiquitous in most cities) has it available for next day delivery - http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/accessories-and-bags/mice-keyboards/keyboards/logitech-k480-wireless-keyboard-white-10025026-pdt.html http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/accessori... - only the white version, sadly, and it's also £49.99. Edit: Also, when pre-ordering on the Logitech UK website, it asks me to select my layout and color.UK layout is available (thankfully - a lot of Logitech portable Bluetooth keyboards available on Amazon are US layout only).
- darklajid 12y ago
  Whoa, I totally missed that link. Thanks! Now .. I can order it in various languages, the only English one being the UK layout. ;-) I'm reasonably sure I want the US layout, trying to compare them now to spot the differences. Edit: Yeah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards - I am used to/want the US one. So still no luck unfortunately.
  - davb 12y ago
    For most users the changes aren't too troublesome (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards) but I'm so used to coding on on the UK one I find it difficult to switch. The \, #, " and £ are the ones that cause my most difficulty. And to me, the little US enter key just strange (it's double-height on UK keyboards).

otikik 12y ago

Too gimicky for my taste. I have the Logigech K760 (the solar one) and it's awesome. I prefer it to the default MBA keyboard.

boomskats 12y ago

It doesn't mention whether it runs on MX reds??? Is it easy to change the switches, are they soldered on? Is it easy to change the controller?

danbee 12y ago
Wut? Dude, this isn't a mechanical keyboard. It'll be a membrane board or scissor switches.
- boomskats 12y ago
  I know :(... just figured, you know, it's on HN... maybe it comes with PBT keycaps or something
highercenter 12y ago
I expect the keyboards price is high and its build quality low so it will hopefully break within 2 years. Mechanical switches and durability will very unlikely fit in their business model for this product. The target is $$$ and not a great and lasting product for the consumer (as usual...).

atmosx 12y ago

Can someone offer a couple of real-world use cases for the masses? I have all the Apple devices I need (MBA, iPhone, iPad[* 1], iMac) synced through iCloud. Why would I wanna switch between them, to add a notification or send an iMessage?! [1] That's kind false. I don't need an iPad, it's just a perk :-P

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
RaSoJo 12y ago
I suppose not everyone has devices across an uniform platform. I have a Windows laptop, an Android phone and an iPad. And I hate having to switch between devices to type (say Whatsapping on the phone and coding on the Laptop) As a layman I really like the premise of this Keyboard.

MrUnderhill 12y ago

I've been using the K810 [1] for some time for all my computers. I find it absolutely brilliant to type on (being mostly in vim, the awkward home/end, page up/down, arrows etc don't matter very much), and it also has the ability to switch between 3 paired bluetooth devices. There is also the Lenovo Thinkpad Compact Bluetooth [2], which I haven't tried, but allegedly "features a simplified pairing with the system through Near Field Communication (NFC) tag. Simply tap and pair with an NFC-enabled system." It also has a TrackPoint nipple. Of course, neither of these have the slot for phones/tablets. [1] http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/bluetooth-illuminated-keyboard-k810 http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/bluetooth-illuminated-... [2] http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/0B47189/460/60AC6A0372B14F5BA7B12F1FF88E33C7 http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/0B47189/460/60AC6A0...

gerbal 12y ago
The K810 is quite a nice keyboard, IMO better than the Apple bluetooth keyboard in terms of feel. It appears to be functionally identical to this new K480 and would appear to have the exact same physical keyboard.
- celticninja 12y ago
  additionally the K810 is backlit, which this does not appear to be, the backlit function is fantastic.
  - johnnymonster 12y ago
    Really surprised it is not backlit, it seems like all the other keyboard options are.
    - boomskats 12y ago
      Coming from a keyboard geek, their TK820 is by far the nicest keyboard they do in terms of actual keys and switches and the trackpad. It isn't backlit though, that's the only box it doesn't tick. I've got a K830 for the livingroom and it's nowhere near as good.

ahunt09 12y ago

Or you could turn your existing computer keyboard into a bluetooth keyboard for other peripheral devices for a fraction of the cost: http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard

untothebreach 12y ago
"fraction of the cost" - assuming you already own a Mac. For us non-OSX users, it is much cheaper to consider the Logitech :)
- aroch 12y ago
  You don't have to own a Mac to own an Apple keyboard - they're compatible with Windows, OSX and many flavors of nix
  - rakoo 12y ago
    But the app only runs on OSX.
  - untothebreach 12y ago
    Maybe I am just confused then. The link you provided is to an app available on the Mac App Store. EDIT: dialed down the snark
    - aroch 12y ago
      1. It's not my link 2. Running OSX on standard hardware, Apple OEM or not, is not very hard...
      - untothebreach 12y ago
        1. I never said it was yours, I said you provided it. 2. I am not a non-OSX user because I can't afford to buy a Mac. I am a non-OSX user because I don't like OSX.

ahunt09 12y ago

Or you could turn your existing computer keyboard into a bluetooth keyboard for other peripheral devices for a fraction of the cost: http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard http://www.eyalw.com/1keyboard

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

quattrofan 12y ago

Great idea, problem with a lot of the logitech keyboards is because of their low cost construction the keys wear within a year in most cases, I've been through 3 in the past 3 years.

sireat 12y ago
Another anecdotal evidence, I am typing on a Logitech Deluxe 250 keyboard from 2008, which has been used every workday for the past 6 years. So, they can make long lasting keyboards or at least used to.

davidbrent 12y ago

Very cool and useful product. I can't help but feel like I'm in some kind of cycle though, because I felt the same way about a KVM Switch 20 years ago.

bnt 12y ago
It looks cool, but that round switch isn't as useful as it seems. It would've been better if they simply put three buttons up there - switching between devices would be easier (push of a button instead having to move your hand to the far left and turn a knob) and faster (switching from device 3 to device 1).
SeanLuke 12y ago
Funny, I felt the same way about RS-232 switches ~40 years ago. For example, http://tinyurl.com/poo777c http://tinyurl.com/poo777c
mcguire 12y ago
Hey, KVM switches are still magic.

fasteo 12y ago

Multitasking in a single screen is not a good idea. Multitasking in three screens can only make it worse. Very nice productivity killer though.

andrewjkerr 12y ago
Personally, I wouldn't use this to switch between three screens at the same time, but rather using it to not have to pair it every single time I use the keyboard on a different device. That's quite frustrating.
- fasteo 12y ago
  That would be also my plan, but once I have this setup, it would be impossible for me not to constantly switch between devices. Pairing every single time is actually a plus for me: It acts as a barrier to avoid multitasking in different devices.

josephcooney 12y ago

I wish there was some kind of dongle I could plug my das keyboard into that would give me the multi-device feature without sacrificing on the actual keyboard part.

victorhooi 12y ago
I'm with you. I also have a Das mechanical keyboard, and would love to have the convenience of Bluetooth, as well as using it wiht my phone, but with the same nice mechanical feel.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
insaneirish 12y ago
Here ya go: http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=cs533 http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?model_no=cs533 I haven't used it, but I have looked at it for the same reason.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- MrUnderhill 12y ago
  Any idea if the opposite exists: a dongle that appears to the host as a USB keyboard/mouse, but actually pairs with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse? That way you could use a bluetooth keyboard with dumb KVM switches (or other USB hosts) that don't support bluetooth themselves.
  - matt_heimer 12y ago
    You just plug the USB dongle for the keyboard/mouse into a KVM. Works for the Logitech unifying receivers and the Logitech Bluetooth receivers.
    - MrUnderhill 12y ago

cyanbane 12y ago

I think most people here are in a very firm or serious relationship with their keyboard. (I know I am with my Corsair mechanical). Would love to see this as a usb device that the keyboard plugs into. Would think monitoring key presses on the middle man device would not be to hard?

untog 12y ago
I wonder what the power drain would be. That keyboard can probably operate on a couple of AA batteries - would running a USB hub take more? In any case, I don't see this as a main keyboard replacement. But I do have a crappy computer that sits under my TV to play video/Netflix/etc. - this would be ideal for it.
- commandar 12y ago
  >would running a USB hub take more? Well, USB spec (pre USB 3.0 anyway) is 5v @ 100mA per port.
wastedhours 12y ago
Yeah, it's a neat idea, but my fingers wouldn't thank the switch from the Ducky.
JohnBooty 12y ago
> I think most people here are in a very firm or serious relationship with their keyboard. Some of us are more polyamorous!

billchan 12y ago

My alternative choice: http://kbtalkingusa.com/ http://kbtalkingusa.com/

ngmaloney 12y ago
I purchased a KBTalking Pro and it is the best keyboard I've owned, I like it better than my Das. Similar to the keyboard being discussed, it allows you to pair with 10 different bluetooth devices and switch between them via keyboard shortcuts.
- michaelbuddy 12y ago
  I wish they could just keep this keyboard in stock. the feature of bluetooth isn't so obvious on the site is it?
prlin 12y ago
Awesome, thanks for the share. How's the battery life?
- billchan 12y ago
  At least 1.5 years for 2 AA battery, not yet change since deliveried.

circa 12y ago

The BT switch part is great. I wish I could integrate my existing Synergy setup with it. http://synergy-project.org/ http://synergy-project.org/

suvelx 12y ago

I've been using the Filco Minila Air for a while now. It's /kinda/ the same, in that it allows you to pair it with 3 devices. It fails in regards to having a physical switch for selecting devices. Instead it'll connect to the highest 'ranked' device that's on. It works fine for switching between home/office, but not so much for phone/computer. https://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=1471 https://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=1471

er0l 12y ago

shut up and take my money!!!

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

nodata 12y ago

Stupid question: what's the encryption used on this?

peregrine 12y ago
If they are using it they have the option for AES as stated by the BlueTooth 4 protocol.
- nodata 12y ago
  Any easy way to check?

silver1 12y ago

Nice but keys are so tiny -- why dont anyone get inspired by IBM/Lenovo non-chicklet keyboards ??? sometimes OLD is GOLD and Simplicity is blessings :)

dharma1 12y ago

can anyone recommend a smaller, tablet sized BT keyboard that would have this kind of a "slot" for making either a phone or tablet stand on it? I just need something super lightweight that works as both a stand and a keyboard with my phone or tablet (hate phone touch keyboards)

jmt7les 12y ago

Yet it still uses AAA batteries...

rishabhsagar 12y ago

Shame that this has no back-light; One of the most common setup I can imagine, is a laptop on some kind of riser (with IDE open), A propped up iPad (to watch tutorials / documentation). Often this kind of setup will be situated in a dark room where user will greatly benefit from a backlit keyboard. :(

Nexxxeh 12y ago
I think the majority of the users of this probably won't be looking at the keys as they type...
- rishabhsagar 12y ago
  Hmm.. but I feel because of the non standard layout and the size, most touch typists will still take some time before they can adapt.
  - vanderZwan 12y ago
    Fair point. The keys have quite a different shape to regular keys though, that might actually make it easier for the brain to distinguish it from regular keyboards.

VeryVito 12y ago

Add a solar cell to power it, and I'm in. The K760 and K750 are amazing, simply because I never have to worry about cords or batteries.

Someone1234 12y ago
I'd take batteries over a keyboard which might not work in low or no light. Seems like a gimmick.
- reportingsjr 12y ago
  Reviews are actually pretty good with regards to that. The complaints I have seen is that the battery dies after a couple of years and is not easily replaceable. This would mean a new keyboard every couple of years.
- pgl 12y ago
  The K750[1], which I've been using for a month now, works in very low light, and on a full charge the internal batteries should last without light for "up to 2 months". It's impressive. And a really nice keyboard to boot! [1]http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard

burnt1ce 12y ago

YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

crawrey 12y ago

Am I the only one who barely has enough time to interact with one PC after work (if I even feel like turning it on after a full day of programming), that the thought of interacting with multiple devices at once is overwhelming?

Someone1234 12y ago
I don't think that is really the point. The point is that it can store the settings for 3x devices and you can switch between each one of them individually as needed. For example, if you had an iPad and iPhone you can have them both configured as the 1 and 2 positions, and switch the switch as the relevant device was docked. With a lot of existing Bluetooth keyboards you would need to re-sync it each and every time you switched devices.
- pdpi 12y ago
  First thing I thought was that having both my PC and my Mac Mini on the same keyboard would be cool (and this is a fair bit cleaner than a KVM)
  - ChrisClark 12y ago
    Check out http://synergy-project.org/ http://synergy-project.org/ you can share your keyboard and mouse between the computers. Just move your mouse to a screen edge and it jumps over to the other computer. I use it for work, OSX on my left Windows on my right, single keyboard and mouse. It will even let you copy-paste text between computers.

silasb 12y ago

That rotary knob looks awfully easy to break. There has to be a better interface than physically moving your hand up to the knob to change which device has focus. Also if this could also charge your devices that would be awesome also.

yasth 12y ago
Rotary knobs are much more rugged than almost any other common switch type if they are well made. They are commonly specified on military and industrial gear for this reason (and a few others). Also honestly given the location and the likelihood of multitasking (say typing something on an HDTV, switching to a phone to type out a lengthy text message, and then back to a tv) I can't see an automated solution working well. You could do some NFC so that the slot would recognize a new thing being placed, but you'd still need an a way to switch away from it. Charging would be a useful feature though.
ertdfgcb 12y ago
How is that easy to break? It protrudes like a quarter inch from the surface of the keyboard, and that's only the top third or so of the knob. I guess you could turn it too hard, but you're switching between three options, you really shouldn't be torquing it hard at all.

jaebrown 12y ago

I really like the idea of the product but the idea of looking at three screens gives me anxiety. I know the product can be used for a single device but the video scared me off by showing its potential. I'll stick with what I got.

jaxn 12y ago

Has anyone used the Kanex Multi-sync keyboard [1]? Feature-wise it looks much better, just not sure about the reliability. Turning a knob to switch devices seems terrible. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Multi-Sync-Bluetooth-Keyboard-QWERTYX/dp/B00F9VPDJI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409761956&sr=1-2&keywords=multi-device+bluetooth+keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-Multi-Sync-Bluetooth-Keyboard-QW...

mcguire 12y ago
"Turning a knob to switch devices seems terrible." I was thinking it was kind of brilliant. Easy to do, easy to see which device you're talking to at a glance (especially if you have it labelled.)
- jaxn 12y ago
  I guess I am envisioning frequent switching. If I had to turn a knob to Cmd+Tab between apps it would be terrible.

Kjeldahl 12y ago

Logitech never bothered to fix the driver problem on the similar/previous OSX Bluetooth keyboard K811 where switching between Cmd-Tab and Cmd-Shift-Tab does not work correctly (you can not change direction while the app selector is open). If this is important to you (it is to most devs at least), make sure you check/verify that this bug has actually been fixed in the driver they ship with K480.

pooriaazimi 12y ago
Ordinarily, Cmd+` switches between windows, but when you're Cmd+Tabbing (when the switcher is active), Cmd+` is essentially the same as Cmd+Shift+Tab (i.e., it selects the previous application). It's actually much more convenient to press Cmd+`, if you get used to it :)
- Kjeldahl 12y ago
  That's possibly a valid workaround (can't test - my K811 keyboard is at the office) which on my international keyboard is not nearly as convenient as just depressing shift with my pinky, but it does not change the fact that the K811 keyboard is not able to do what the standard Macbook keyboard does. And the fact that Logitech is aware of the obvious bug but is not interested in fixing it.
- Kjeldahl 12y ago
  Well, the good news is that at least the alternative method you mention works fine, even on the K811.

fuzzywalrus 12y ago

Certainly a cool product to have a KBM (minus the m) for multiple devices but I see limited potential. rd. For iOS / OS X users, if you're using using an iOS device + OS X computer, you're able to carry over conversations and even e-mail between devices in iOS8 + OS X 10.10. It sorta eliminates some of the necessity of having a keyboard for your touch screens. This may be useful for testing but even when I'm doing development, (and we have a fistful of devices) I'm rarely using the keyboards and with the limit of 3, it wouldn't really be enough.

api_or_ipa 12y ago

Cool, when can we see a mechanical switch version of this?

mkoryak 12y ago

"Type in comfort"... and then ... "11.7 Inches" Those 2 things can't happen at the same time.

milkers 12y ago

K760 is a better choice.

schainks 12y ago

The K760 is awesome for typing, and solar powered. The K480 switches between devices and can mount a mobile device. The K810 has a backlight. Can these three things be conveniently combined? Make it the size of the k760, but with the backlit keys and a longer mobile device mount. The result might not be pretty, but would definitely be something I'd use for my multiple mobile devices + development use case. Edit: typo

StudyAnimal 12y ago
Plus it needs mechanical switches. Otherwise it is just a low-end device.

skyhatchash 12y ago

Fastest way to drain my phone's bluetooth