ReviewColumn’s rating :

The current market is not short of attractive and stylish-looking keyboards. Brands like Razer, Everglide and Aevoe Moshi have their own good-looking keyboards equipped with various functions. However, Logitech’s latest multimedia keyboard is the undisputed pinnacle of multimedia technology crafted into a functional yet stunningly elegant keyboard - Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

First impressions matter a lot to me and judging by first impressions alone, the diNovo Edge trumps all competition. Crafted from a single slab of Plexiglass and then mounted on a sleek aluminum frame, it has truly breathtaking design. It sports a very attractive glossy black finish on the keyboard main pane and also a sleek aluminum palm support. Beware though; the glossy panel attracts more fingerprint smudges than you ever thought possible. The Edge is only 11mm thick but is sturdy, considering how delicate it looks. Also, instead of the conventional number pad on the right, Logitech replaced it with a circular ‘TouchDisc’. It functions basically in a similar fashion to laptop touchpads, with the striking difference being that it is circular. Although this may seem strange, the TouchDisc is rather friendly to use, not for just moving your cursor, but also to scroll documents.

This keyboard has an edge (pun intended) over rival keyboards as it is one of the rare rechargeable wireless keyboards. The diNovo Edge is a Bluetooth-operated keyboard, with a range of a good 30 metres. Installation is a breeze - just plug in the USB Bluetooth receiver into your PC and you can start typing. The rechargeable stand of the Edge is also crafted to be an ornament. During charging, it holds up the Edge vertically a la an exhibition display. A solid 2 hours of charging can allow the Edge to function for more than a month on moderate usage.

Each of the keys has up to 10 million keystrokes and the each individual is equipped with Logitech’s PerfectStroke technology. Typing on the Edge requires getting used to though, due to the ultra slim profile, the keys do not travel by much when depressed. It was also disorientating initially to be typing on such a low ascent. This is not that much of a hindrance compared to the TouchDisc and other touchpad functions. The sensitivity of the TouchDisc and touch-sensitive volume control is diametrically opposite to that of the Razer Lycosa’s. While there were many complaints about the Lycosa’s touch panel being hypersensitive, I anticipate the equal amount of complaints about the diNovo Edge’s touch panel being too insensitive. One would assume that the TouchDisc would do away with the need for a mouse, however, the TouchDisc was overwhelmingly cumbersome to use. Just to move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other required 3 full brushes across the diameter of the TouchDisc. The concept of this touch panel on the diNovo Edge is indeed creative and innovative, but it is a downright annoyance to use.

The other significant reason why the diNovo Edge is not as popular in real life than in concept is the extravagant cost. With a US$200 price tag (or thereabouts), it is a greatly prohibitive price for the average user. Furthermore, for such a price, I would have expected Logitech to further refine their touch-sensitive interface. Also, I felt that the inclusion of backlight illumination for the keys would have boosted its reputation as an all-rounded multimedia keyboard exponentially. For regular typists, you would do better off with a lower-end Logitech keyboard. For gamers, a keyboard from the Razer family would be much more practical; besides, I would not want to subconsciously pound away at my delicate Edge keys during intense gameplay.

For the fashion savvy, who wish to use this in the study as well as the living room, US$200 would be a reasonable price for a flashy and decently functional keyboard. Just remember, do yourself a favour and buy yourself a Logitech Bluetooth mouse along with the Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

Buy this keyboard
Rate this keyboard, give us your rating:
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
 Loading ...

ReviewColumn’s rating :

Usually, I would not use the adjective ’swanky’ on something as dead as a piece of electronic hardware, but in this case, ’swanky’ perfectly describes the Moshi Celesta Keyboard. All over the web, other superlatives have been lavished on the Celesta, and from the very first glance, it’s easy to understand why.

The Moshi Celesta Keyboard is the new, uber-sleek keyboard from Aevoe Moshi and comes in two colour themes - silver perimeter with white keys and blue LED, or all-black with red key labels and LED. It is exceptionally slim, even when compared to Apple’s aluminium keyboard. It has two USB 2.0 ports on the right side and is compatible for both PC and Mac. The mere connecting of the USB cable would allow the keyboard to function, without the hassle of having to install drivers and software through CDs. When powered up, the Celesta exudes class and sophistication, with the top of the keyboard giving off a warm glow, illuminating the Moshi logo.

The keys are flat and knitted closely together, resembling the built-in keyboard of a laptop. Keys are easily depressible and they actually have less ‘travel’ than those on a normal keyboard. This basically means that the key travels a smaller distance downwards when depressed. This might be a good or bad thing, depending on user preference. Users who are fond of pounding their keys would not be accustomed to typing on this surface, whereas users who lightly tap on keys would adore the feel of this keyboard. Typing will not require much force, making it, in fact, a very comfortable activity. The layout of keys are pretty much standard, with QWERTY keys arrayed neatly. There are two multimedia buttons directly above the navigation keys, below the ‘delete’ key, which allows for volume control. Also there is an ‘eject’ key, for opening the disc drive.

The Moshi Celesta Keyboard offers a flip-down panel to adjust the height at which the keyboard is elevated, but it can only be elevated at two fixed heights. According to Aevoe Moshi, the keyboard’s two tilt angles are specially designed to provide ergonomic support for the wrists. For users who prefer to keep the keyboard far from the edge of the tray, the keyboard’s incline would allow forearms to rest comfortably on the tray and for wrists to rest on the support. For those who like to keep the keyboard to the edge of the table/tray, the flip-down panel tilts the Celesta to an angle where your wrists and forearms are aligned comfortably. The Celesta comes equipped with rubber feet, so the lightweight aluminium frame does not slip and move around when typing.

One thing I really liked about the Celesta is the presence of not just one, but two USB ports on the right side. It makes it that much more convenient to dock thumb drives or even charge an iPod, when compared to connecting it to the computer’s USB ports. Typing is pretty much hassle-free, but comparatively, it is not much different to that of a standard keyboard.

The biggest attraction of this keyboard is the eye-candy factor. This keyboard is such a ravishing sight. Complete with the cool hues from the LED glow, the Celesta oozes poise. The downside of this is the extravagant hole that this gadget will burn in your pocket. Priced at US$120, it is more than double the price of Apple’s new wireless keyboard, and a good 20% more expensive than Razer’s lauded Tarantula gaming keyboard.

If you have the cash to splash out, the white version of the Moshi Celesta Keyboard would be a perfect match for that iMac, while the black one will go with almost any other PC. Fundamentally, this is a very basic keyboard for daily use. Users such as gamers might want to give this a pass, especially when there is a need to program keys for certain functions. Otherwise, this is a big ‘yes’ for office executives or home users who are looking for a simple yet elegant design and basic functionality in a keyboard.

Where to buy a Moshi Celesta Keyboard?

Rate this gadget, give us your rating:
(8 votes, average: 3.88 out of 5)
 Loading ...