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Kensington Ci70 Wired Keyboard with USB Ports, Mini-USB Connector (K64396US) | List Price: $57.99
Discount Price: $34.99
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Brand: Kensington
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 5 years warranty
Features: - Two easy-access USB 2.0 ports allow a quick connection to cameras, MP3 players, thumb drives and more
- A built-in mini USB connector with cable allows easy downloads of content from your camera or mobile phone
- 35% smaller footprint and low-profile design saves desk space and reduces clutter
- Five keyboard hot keys for instant access to mail, media, search and more
- Media keys offer volume control, track control, play and pause
Poor Quality Control [Posted on 2008-07-09]
The unit arrived with a Tab key that did not function. The over all typing experience is sluggish. I have contacted Kensington for a replacement to the DOA keyboard and they claim this is a discontinued model. I am waiting to see what they replace it with.
Russ Walkowich MyMac.com Review [Posted on 2008-08-22]
I'm a pretty fast typist but the one thing I kept hearing while I was typing at home was "Why are you typing so loudly?" Hey, it wasn't me, it was just the keyboard responding to my fingers flying over the keys. I've always, for the most part, used an Apple keyboard hooked up to my Macs. You know, the big, almost sounds like a typewriter, keyboards.
Now when I purchased and started to use my new MacBook in January, there were no longer any complaints of my banging the keyboard to death. Why, maybe because of the change in the keyboard style from the larger keys to the shorter, chicklet-like, keys on the MacBook. So when the chance came around to get a new Kensington Keyboard, with added USB ports, for my regular desktop Mac, I couldn't resist.
Kensington's new Ci70 keyboard (wired) provides the user with a smaller footprint than most of the other keyboards. The keyboard has been reduced in size by 35% and presents a lower and much more laptop-like keyboard for the user. The keyboard is very lightweight, comes only in black and typing is easy and enjoyable. One thing you have got to know from the start, Kensington decided that one model fits all, so the keyboard also has Window keys (or to a PC user, it has Mac keys) and it has also been tweaked to prevent any wasted space. If you take a look at the picture below, you'll get a good idea of what I'm talking about in regards to there not being an inch of wasted space.
Here's the other interesting point of Kensington's Ci70 keyboard... they've added USB ports to the keyboard. I know, even Apple has USB ports on their keyboards. But Kensington's keyboard, besides the two standard USB ports (one on top, one on the back) also has a mini-USB cable that hides on the top of the keyboard under a sliding cover that permits a digital camera user to hook up directly to the keyboard without having to go searching for their USB cable to hook up and download pictures. Kensington has put the cable right up on top for you to hook up, download, disconnect and then continue with whatever you were typing.
Under the same sliding cover, you will also find five control buttons that, from left to right, permit one to open up their CD/DVD drive, conduct a search of their Mac, open up the default email program, open up the default web browser, and finally, open up iTunes, or whatever your default music app is. Speaking of iTunes, Kensington also has five controls on the right side of the keyboard, right above the number pad, allowing you to start/pause your music app, move up and down your playlist and finally, raise or lower your volume.
As you can see above, the keyboard presents a very low profile. There are two small feet on the back of the keyboard to raise up the board, but it will no be well off the desk. However, I found it very easy to get used to and it did not present a problem at all.
Using the keyboard is great, it produces very little key noise. (scissor-key mechanism) Once you get used to the compressed keyboard, you'll really enjoy it. The one thing that threw me for a loop was the fact that there is no Caps Lock indicator. I thought maybe I had a bad keyboard so I checked. It seems the caps lock function was intentionally left out in the keyboard's design of a 35% smaller footprint. Once you get by that, unless you're typing in a password and you've inadvertently now gone into Upper case and you can't access what you need, it's okay and not a big deal. Hooking up a camera to the mini-USB cable is fast and simple, just be aware it's only five inches long so it will be close to your keyboard or on the top portion. I encountered no problems with syncing my iPod to my Mac. All in all, a great little keyboard.
So to review:
Pro: Easy to use, Mac/PC compatible, low profile, reduced size, provides 2 USB ports and one mini-USB cable. Looks good. Keyboard size: L 16.0" x W 7.0" x H 0.25"-1"
Cons: The only problem that I had with the keyboard was the lack of a Caps Lock indicator. (You'll adjust to it)
Warranty: Kensington 5-Year Warranty and free technical support.
Highly recommended!
My Mac rating: 4 out of 5
Good keyboard but... [Posted on 2008-09-16]
I like the fact that this keyboard has additional usb drivers but from a gamers perspective when i plugged in my gaming mouse (ms 3.0a) into one of the given usb's it only detected an average of 80hz (avg is 125hz) on the mouserate checker. i tried both the usb in the keyboard and both gave the same results. not really a con for most but just letting you guys know what you're getting before you buy. cheers !
USB hub on the keyboard [Posted on 2008-09-17]
I bought this keyboard because of the USB hub built in. The keys are a little small for bigger fingers but otherwise the keyboard is nice and the USB ports are very handy for your thumbdrives or camera connections.
good keyboard, exactly what i was looking for and usb ports were a plus. one glitch with my sansa clip mp3 player [Posted on 2008-10-25]
i love how quiet typing is now, and i love how small the footprint on this is. i have limited space on my keyboard/mouse tray and i havent been able to find a keyboard that would fit properly for years, not one that included a 10-key. anyway, works out great and looks sleek. only problem ive had with it is that the attached mini usb cable has had a weird reaction to my mp3 player. when i connect it and transfer songs, my keyboard no longer works, and i have to disconnect it and reconnect. this doesnt happen when i connect the mp3 player directly to my pc instead. weird. im using windows vista. that doesnt happen with my digital camera, though, only my sansa clip mp3 player. thats the only reason im putting it at 4 stars, otherwise id give 5. oh, another thing i dont like is no mute button, no power button. and i dont know how to customize the buttons on it or if its even possible. included docs dont say. those are minor though, but still... im just happy its black, quiet and fits on my tray without sacrificing buttons.
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