SMK-Link Wireless Ultra-mini Touchpad Keyboard (VP6364)

First we had a full sized bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo for our HTPC, but that was just too unwieldy and bulky (this is in our closet now). Then we had a "gyro" mouse controller similar to this, but returned that since the mouse was really awkward to use and inconsistent. We got this instead and have stuck with it for almost a year, so that's why I doubled the stars given.

I can't recommend it to anyone. We don't sit that far away from the HTPC; maybe 12-14 feet. Even if I stand up and walk close to the receiver I might have to press buttons repeatedly to get them to work. Maybe 20% of the times we try to use it the connection will be stable and it'll work like a dream. The rest of the time you have to press 1 button, check to see if it registered which could take up to a second, then repeat the press, or press the next key. We mostly resort to using our XBox (as a media extender) instead and try to avoid typing things into this PC.

This market is still wide open as far as I'm concerned. Maybe that Lenovo thing will be the next try, but I'm very hesitant to drop another $60 on this HTPC controller experiment.

For reference, I'm using it with a Windows 7 machine that has a 1st gen core I5 and 8GB of RAM. The machine runs like a dream except for our wireless keyboards so far.

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I have been remodeling the main bedroom of the house and have a Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color waiting to go in. I also am using the entire South wall to house music home studio gear I have been compiling for quite some time. Pro Tools 9 Software which is a Digital Audio Workstation utilizes a split screen function so you can place your mixer full screen on one screen, and the recording console on the other. I run Windows Media Center PC in the other room which is my main entertainment experience, but since I am running the free over the air waves antennae on roof, getting the highest resolution possible due to Cisco-Linksys Media Center Extender with DVD with its up scaling built right in, I don't get a lot of movies, or should I say none at all. So rather than subscribe to Net Flix or whatever I decided to join Amazon Prime so I get 1000's of free movies to download and watch on the set plus unlimited free 2 day shipping.

What does this have to do with the Wireless Ultra-Mini? In a word, everything. When I am sitting at the console, or getting ready to record a track, I can use the Wireless Ultra-Mini (WUM) to key in a track. I don't have to race across the room and pick up my instrument. If I want to stop and do a retake, just hit the mini for complete control. I can create new tracks, redo old ones, everything a full blown keyboard can do and from across the room. The WUM is small enough to sit on the side of a music stand. Since I am viewing the recording controls on a 46 inch big screen as my PC monitor, across the room computing is a sweet option.

Also when I am in bed and want to watch a movie, I have the WUM sitting on a night stand not taking up much space. It's a Windows Media Center controller. I can conveniently surf the web on the big screen also is to pick up the TV remote and choose the PC input. I have HDMI output on the PC, and then from the bed the WUM acts like a full blown keyboard and Windows Media Center controller. If I am importing recorded TV into the bedroom Media Center PC right from the living room WMCPC I can control that from the WUM as well. So all of the options are open.

Ok so that is a few of many options that are opened up and made convenient from the WUM. Now about the function. It sits very comfortably in your hands. It has replaceable batteries and an on-off button on the back so you can preserve battery life when you are not using it. I have another unit like this that only has a built in rechargeable in it that you cannot access and that requires you to constantly recharge it which takes an overnight charging; so you could be stuck without a remote when you need it most. The WUM is only a quick battery change away.

I find the built in touch screen mouse pad to be ergonomically positioned properly and has a very nice feel to it with the mouse behaving just the way you would hope it would. I am not a fan of laptop mouse pads with their touch sensitivity but this one does the job so well you wouldn't mind using it.

Some of the features built in will take some getting used to, but I find the form and function to be very intuitive. Of course, just like anything else there is a tiny learning curve to working any keyboard with lots of remote functions. So the WUM is just the right size for kicking around on top of the covers, and it has a range of 30 feet so that will suit all but the largest rooms in range. I love it and for the price I am thinking about getting one for the living room as well. Highly reccommended.

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If wanting to use this in place of a larger, wireless keyboard as a "remote control" for your computer, as I do when I stream wideo to my TV, it does just about everything well EXCEPT the touchpad does not have the capability to tap or double-tap to select an entry, such as opening IE. You always have to use one of the "mouse" buttons at the top. Rather than just comfortably resting the devise in the palm of your hand, this makes you have to grasp it with your left hand in order to click the left "mouse button." The ability to select and tap is what touchpads are all about and to not have that capability, again IMO, makes it an imcomplete product design. I called product support to be sure I wasn't overlooking something and they confirmed that the touchpad was not "tap" capable.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The product was a great idea and a good layout but ... I tried using it for several weeks with my Android PC-on-a-stick for my 50 inch TV I have setup in my livingroom with a few disappointing performance shortcomings. The problem was the range was not good at all. I had the receiver out in the open but still could only get a couple yards/meters. I found that I had to walk up to the TV to get closer to the receiver.

I also found the buttons on the front edge of the keyboard was not a good idea. I often would accidentally click them. Then when I handed it to my non-technical wife she had no clue what the buttons were for as they are not marked.

The other buttons were a good layout but they are kind of too small. When I handed it to my father in-law he could not consistently press the right button ... and it would often register the key press mulllllllltiple times, if you knnnnnow whaaaat III mean :)

I am sorry but I don't recommend this product. But I do give it three stars because it is a good first revision.

Happy Shopping!

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If you are looking for a small keyboard / mouse to run your HTPC then this device should work for you. If you need something to not only run your HTPC but use for general web browsing activities this probably is the wrong product.

Pros Small, works out of the box with Windows 7, mouse pad is very functional and if you play console video games it will feel very comfortable in your hand.

Cons Limited range and easily blocked by objecs such as your computer case, your leg or your small child. I have the nMediapc HTPC 8000 case (very nice, looks like an old radio) so I had hoped to have the usb receiver in the back of the case. Unfortunately that is not possible as the signal gets completely blocked.

If you plan on surfing the web for long periods of time or general computer usage then this device is not ideal. Due to it's size your hands will start to cramp (say after 35-45 minutes of use). It's also important to note that it is not back lit so if you keep your room dark while watching movies it may be hard to navigate.

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