Cold Storm
Battosai
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
- Messages
- 15,010 (2.40/day)
- Location
- In a library somewhere on this earth
| System Name | Haro |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD 1700x |
| Motherboard | AsRork x370 Taichi |
| Cooling | EK Custom Loop - CPU only |
| Memory | 32gb G-Skill Trident Z |
| Video Card(s) | EVGA 1080 Superclock 2 |
| Storage | Too Many |
| Display(s) | Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED 24" & LG 32 IPS |
| Case | Cooler Master Cosmos II |
| Power Supply | Cooler Master V1000 |
| Mouse | SteelSeries Rival 500 |
| Software | Win10 Pro |
| Benchmark Scores | i5 750 4.62ghz pi runs // Evga FTW p55 |
My Impressions of the Si Touch Wireless Mini Remote
When you think of Media keyboards, the first thing that comes to your mind is a nice size keyboard with an easy to use mouse/pad/trackball added to it. We’ve seen Logitech, Adesso, Vidabox, and others make their own style, but it still seems too big for use.. The Logitech diNovo Mini comes close to being the prefect media keyboard/mouse set up. But, with the lack of “F” keys, it finds most people still needing/wanting that keyboard that does. Then a new breed of mini keyboards comes to light.
Si Touch Wireless Mini Keyboard, listed at $99 Usd, is the first in its class. It’s a “Candy Bar Handheld Keyboard” that goes with what it says. It’s the size of a normal Hershey’s Candy Bar. It fits very nicely in your hand. It can’t be found at the major e-traders, but if you look hard enough, you can find it and find it at a good price. Like on every order. Make sure to research a site before you buy.
Here is what you’ll get when you receive a Si Touch Wireless Mini Keyboard.
• Keyboard
• USB Receiver
• USB Cable
• User’s Manual
The thing that really jumps out for this keyboard, which many will like, is the factor that it is compatible with basically every OS that is popular.
• Windows XP,Vista,CE,7
• Mac OS X, (10.3.9 or later)
• Linux (Debian-3.1, Redhat-9.0, Ubuntu-8.10, Fedora 7.0 (Tested))
I was able to plug in the USB receiver to my computer & Win 7 & Vista was able to pick up the keyboard without any problems. I did first have to plug it into the computer via the USB cable to get it fully charged first.
Characteristics that will make anyone want this keyboard
• Keyboard has back lit keys coming from the 26 bright leds that are behind the keys. Making the keyboard a perfect fit for those dark places.
• Wireless 2.4ghz with USB receiver. Making it useable for up to 30m/100 feet.
• Innovative Touchpad. Allowing the user to use the touchpad ether horizontal or vertical.
• Built in Lithium-ion battery. Lasting somewhere between 600-700h of standby before needing to recharge.
• Standby mode. Keyboard turns off after 2m of not being in use. Only way to turn on is if you hit a key.
• Window’s Media controls. Second set of keys that allow you to control most all Windows affects. Even a “ctrl+alt+del” button. Yep, a single button.
• Wireless Laser Pointer, E-pointer. As if this thing can’t get any better. You got a laser pointer that can make this the best keyboard for use in even the office!
• Light Weight. Keyboard is weighing in at almost 4ounces. 103g
The keyboard is somewhat easy to use. You hold it in both of your hands and really just use the thumbs. If you can do it, you can even use your two pointer fingers. I’ve even went to as holding it in a single hand and allowing my fingers type as a normal keyboard, or having it laying on my lap and typing that way. It takes some time to get use to the keys, but once you can, you can type about half the speed as a normal keyboard. If your one of those people that type faster with one finger, then you are in the best shape of your life with this keyboard. But, because of how the touch pad is on the right side of the keyboard, it make to which your right hand has to reach in order to get to the other keys. If you are typing a lot on the keyboard, you can get a cramped thumb due to how it is.
At the top left of the keyboard you have the indicator lights.
• Wireless (Orange)
• Charging indicator (stays red till it’s charged and then turns off)
• Battery indicator (stays green till low battery, then red till it dies or charged)
• Caps Lock (Light Blue)
• Red Key (Turns on the Back lit leds)
Once the keyboard is in the “standby” mode, the Wireless indicator will still flash due to it all ways ready at a moment use.
Using Windows is easy to do. The device shows up in your “device” window. That way you can change the properties of the keyboard and mouse/touchpad.
Touchpad is just like a normal laptop touchpad. You have double tap, drag/drop, & all the other functions that a laptop touchpad would . The buttons under the touchpad allows for your “mouse buttons”. You got a left/right mouse button, and a middle button that acts like your scroll & arrow keys.
You press two buttons “FN+ALT” to make the touchpad rotate from horizontal or vertical. I’ve found that using the touchpad vertical is easier to use. Fits just like a remote in your hand. So, it is almost like your really just using a remote to do things.
The factor that they have a full set of “F” keys is great to see on such a small keyboard. Along with having the “F” keys, you have media buttons on them so you can easily control the sound, & 0 play back of your media. Then when you have to type. Just press the buttons again and it reverts back to horizontal. Making it easy to use via web browsing. You even have a “prtsc” button (FN+F2) which allows for easy ScreenShot use.
Now, if you know your way around a keyboard, this is great to use. Short hand keystrokes work really well. The only thing that I found it hard to use, is if you are in the “vertical” style of the touch pad, it’s hard to use “Alt+arrowpad” to go “back a page-forward a page” while web browsing. It’s easy to do while the keyboard is “horizontal”.
The laser pointer is the one thing that just jumps out at you when you look at it. The beam is strong so it can reach the other side of the room with no problem. So, if you have a dog/cat that freak out at the lights.. Boom, great toy! Not to mention that its great for the business man/woman.
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Backlit Led keys
• One handed touchpad making it easy to use as a remote
• First ever touchpad that can be used both horizontal & vertical
• Can be used for pretty much any OS that is used out there
• 30m/100 range makes the 2.4ghz wireless a thing of beauty
• Windows Media controls make it a one stop shop product.
• You got a full useable laptop style touchpad
Cons:
• Price at around $100 dollars can make anyone want to go away from it. But, with a 25% code, you can get that baby shipped for $74ish. Or, if you want the thing faster than ground shipping, you pay $14.99 for 2 day shipping.
• Keyboard can get your thumbs cramped if you type on it for too long.
• No Bluetooth. It’s not a problem with me, but a lot of people are into the “blue” style of products. Use of multiple dongle, make people crazy.
• Not at every e-trader. Still a new product that needs to move before the big dogs see it.
For me, I believe that this Mini Wireless Keyboard is a great product that anybody would want to have for their htpc. Heck, even if you’re a business person.
*There is one thing that I couldn’t find out while writing this up. There is a Brando, usb.brando.com, version of this keyboard called Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard. It looks to be the “overseas” version of this keyboard. Sitouch is located in California. I wasn’t able to find out which version is the real makers. To me, it looks like Brando since all internet sites talk about their product.*
When you think of Media keyboards, the first thing that comes to your mind is a nice size keyboard with an easy to use mouse/pad/trackball added to it. We’ve seen Logitech, Adesso, Vidabox, and others make their own style, but it still seems too big for use.. The Logitech diNovo Mini comes close to being the prefect media keyboard/mouse set up. But, with the lack of “F” keys, it finds most people still needing/wanting that keyboard that does. Then a new breed of mini keyboards comes to light.
Si Touch Wireless Mini Keyboard, listed at $99 Usd, is the first in its class. It’s a “Candy Bar Handheld Keyboard” that goes with what it says. It’s the size of a normal Hershey’s Candy Bar. It fits very nicely in your hand. It can’t be found at the major e-traders, but if you look hard enough, you can find it and find it at a good price. Like on every order. Make sure to research a site before you buy.
Here is what you’ll get when you receive a Si Touch Wireless Mini Keyboard.
• Keyboard
• USB Receiver
• USB Cable
• User’s Manual
The thing that really jumps out for this keyboard, which many will like, is the factor that it is compatible with basically every OS that is popular.
• Windows XP,Vista,CE,7
• Mac OS X, (10.3.9 or later)
• Linux (Debian-3.1, Redhat-9.0, Ubuntu-8.10, Fedora 7.0 (Tested))
I was able to plug in the USB receiver to my computer & Win 7 & Vista was able to pick up the keyboard without any problems. I did first have to plug it into the computer via the USB cable to get it fully charged first.
Characteristics that will make anyone want this keyboard
• Keyboard has back lit keys coming from the 26 bright leds that are behind the keys. Making the keyboard a perfect fit for those dark places.
• Wireless 2.4ghz with USB receiver. Making it useable for up to 30m/100 feet.
• Innovative Touchpad. Allowing the user to use the touchpad ether horizontal or vertical.
• Built in Lithium-ion battery. Lasting somewhere between 600-700h of standby before needing to recharge.
• Standby mode. Keyboard turns off after 2m of not being in use. Only way to turn on is if you hit a key.
• Window’s Media controls. Second set of keys that allow you to control most all Windows affects. Even a “ctrl+alt+del” button. Yep, a single button.
• Wireless Laser Pointer, E-pointer. As if this thing can’t get any better. You got a laser pointer that can make this the best keyboard for use in even the office!
• Light Weight. Keyboard is weighing in at almost 4ounces. 103g
The keyboard is somewhat easy to use. You hold it in both of your hands and really just use the thumbs. If you can do it, you can even use your two pointer fingers. I’ve even went to as holding it in a single hand and allowing my fingers type as a normal keyboard, or having it laying on my lap and typing that way. It takes some time to get use to the keys, but once you can, you can type about half the speed as a normal keyboard. If your one of those people that type faster with one finger, then you are in the best shape of your life with this keyboard. But, because of how the touch pad is on the right side of the keyboard, it make to which your right hand has to reach in order to get to the other keys. If you are typing a lot on the keyboard, you can get a cramped thumb due to how it is.
At the top left of the keyboard you have the indicator lights.
• Wireless (Orange)
• Charging indicator (stays red till it’s charged and then turns off)
• Battery indicator (stays green till low battery, then red till it dies or charged)
• Caps Lock (Light Blue)
• Red Key (Turns on the Back lit leds)
Once the keyboard is in the “standby” mode, the Wireless indicator will still flash due to it all ways ready at a moment use.
Using Windows is easy to do. The device shows up in your “device” window. That way you can change the properties of the keyboard and mouse/touchpad.
Touchpad is just like a normal laptop touchpad. You have double tap, drag/drop, & all the other functions that a laptop touchpad would . The buttons under the touchpad allows for your “mouse buttons”. You got a left/right mouse button, and a middle button that acts like your scroll & arrow keys.
You press two buttons “FN+ALT” to make the touchpad rotate from horizontal or vertical. I’ve found that using the touchpad vertical is easier to use. Fits just like a remote in your hand. So, it is almost like your really just using a remote to do things.
The factor that they have a full set of “F” keys is great to see on such a small keyboard. Along with having the “F” keys, you have media buttons on them so you can easily control the sound, & 0 play back of your media. Then when you have to type. Just press the buttons again and it reverts back to horizontal. Making it easy to use via web browsing. You even have a “prtsc” button (FN+F2) which allows for easy ScreenShot use.
Now, if you know your way around a keyboard, this is great to use. Short hand keystrokes work really well. The only thing that I found it hard to use, is if you are in the “vertical” style of the touch pad, it’s hard to use “Alt+arrowpad” to go “back a page-forward a page” while web browsing. It’s easy to do while the keyboard is “horizontal”.
The laser pointer is the one thing that just jumps out at you when you look at it. The beam is strong so it can reach the other side of the room with no problem. So, if you have a dog/cat that freak out at the lights.. Boom, great toy! Not to mention that its great for the business man/woman.
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Backlit Led keys
• One handed touchpad making it easy to use as a remote
• First ever touchpad that can be used both horizontal & vertical
• Can be used for pretty much any OS that is used out there
• 30m/100 range makes the 2.4ghz wireless a thing of beauty
• Windows Media controls make it a one stop shop product.
• You got a full useable laptop style touchpad
Cons:
• Price at around $100 dollars can make anyone want to go away from it. But, with a 25% code, you can get that baby shipped for $74ish. Or, if you want the thing faster than ground shipping, you pay $14.99 for 2 day shipping.
• Keyboard can get your thumbs cramped if you type on it for too long.
• No Bluetooth. It’s not a problem with me, but a lot of people are into the “blue” style of products. Use of multiple dongle, make people crazy.
• Not at every e-trader. Still a new product that needs to move before the big dogs see it.
For me, I believe that this Mini Wireless Keyboard is a great product that anybody would want to have for their htpc. Heck, even if you’re a business person.
*There is one thing that I couldn’t find out while writing this up. There is a Brando, usb.brando.com, version of this keyboard called Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard. It looks to be the “overseas” version of this keyboard. Sitouch is located in California. I wasn’t able to find out which version is the real makers. To me, it looks like Brando since all internet sites talk about their product.*
