Assembly

Putting together the Corsair LAPDOG is a relatively simple task, but I would recommend taking a look at the included instruction manual just to make sure you are familiar with the steps it necessitates.


As the Corsair LAPDOG can only be used with the K70 and K65 series, Corsair was kind enough to send us a K70 keyboard and an M65 mouse to ensure we could conduct a full review. Thanks!


First of all, take the hex key from its holder. There are 7 screws that need to be undone if you are using the K70 or 6 screws if you are using the K65; the difference is that an extra plate for the K70 needs to be removed to allow for the keyboard's extra length over the K65.


Once all the covers are removed, we can see the space we have for the keyboard and all its cables; we also see a little bag with zip ties Corsair hid here. I would have preferred Velcro straps, quick clips, or something else a little less permanent to make removing the keyboard easier, but zip ties do the job just fine.


With the cover removed from the LAPDOG, we can see the other side of the USB hub; here, we have two more USB ports for the keyboard and mouse.


Plugging in the keyboard and mouse in is really easy as there is ample space to deal with the cables, even the thick cables of the K70 I was able to fit in just fine.


The cable ties did come in very useful, regardless of whether they are reusable; they made sure the cover could be placed back on without any cables popping up and causing any problems.


With the Corsair LAPDOG reassembled, we can really see why Corsair forces us to use the K70 or K65 series as everything fits together perfectly. The brushed aluminum of the keyboard compliments the brushed aluminum of the LAPDOG superbly, and everything just works. If I didn't know any better, I would think this combination was bought as a single unit rather than them being separate components integrated into a surround; it just looks so sleek.


Here, you can see just how streamlined everything is, each part of the keyboard fitting inside the LAPDOG perfectly. The keyboard is very secure and doesn't move around at all - it just feels like a solid unit and is very impressive, far exceeding my initial expectations.


The mouse works great on the mouse mat, tracking is fine, and even with sensitivity turned up, there are no issues at all. There is a small lip on the bottom and right-hand side of the LAPDOG mouse mat, which is there to stop the mouse from falling off for when you aren't using it. It does help, but certainly isn't perfect. Any movement other than a minor shake will cause the mouse to fall off the pad. The better option would be to shorten the cable to the bare minimum, zip-tying it to the insides of the LAPDOG to restrict how far it can fall, though it could still fall off with a very short cable. A better solution would be to have the cable come in through the rear of the case or, alternatively, over a bungee in the middle of the mouse mat's top. Either would just make things a little neater by putting the cable in a more central location, which would also reduce the amount of cable it takes to make sure it doesn't fall off the mat. It would also ensure that you don't run over the cable - not that it has been a problem yet, but I always use a mouse bungee whilst at my desk, and it just felt a little strange having the cable come in from the left of my mouse rather than the middle.

Performance

Once I plugged the Corsair LAPDOG in and started using it, I was very impressed with what is essentially a large tray. I have done everything for this review from the comfort of my sofa rather than my man cave, and have been very impressed with how close to a desk experience the LAPDOG is. Due to its high-powered USB ports, there were no issues with powering the keyboard, mouse, my phone, and my headset with the cable from my PC to my sofa. That same experience is usually only possible if I have 3 or 4 cables trailing across the living room floor, or if I put up with poor connections due to several wireless options.


One thing I did notice when first using the Corsair LAPDOG is that my left wrist felt as though it needed some kind of support. This is due to your arm essentially floating whilst typing; I ended up putting a small pillow under my wrist, which helped a lot. During the course of the day, though, I realized I had stopped using the pillow as I was able to use the LAPDOG without any support. It is a strange sensation for me, though, as my elbow usually sits on my chair's arm rest and my forearm sits on the desk. Typing with no support took some getting used to. My partner also used the LAPDOG briefly as it was hooked up to our living room TV; she didn't complain or use the pillow at all, so it might just be a personal preference. It is worth mentioning, though, should you happen to require a wrist rest whilst typing.

Other than that, the LAPDOG works flawlessly; I had a good few hours in front of my TV playing fast-paced games such as Overwatch and The Division without any problems, and I have written this review as well as some other work from the comfort of my sofa.