Adesso AKB-320UB Multimedia Keyboard & Optical Trackball (USB)

Comments about Adesso AKB-320UB Multimedia Keyboard & Optical Trackball (USB):

4 stars only because of three things: one, the small grip pads on the bottom aren't glued well and came off within a week (part my fault, as the keyboard was not on a smooth surface all the time, but still...); two, the laser under the mouse trackball can occasionally be seen through the number pad and messes with the eyes, especially at night, annoying; and three, the keys can't be programmed, which would be extremely helpful for those of us who don't use the more popular programs.

Other than these three things, the keyboard's great! The positions of the trackball on one side and the left-right mouse buttons on the other, along with the scroll wheel, took some getting used to, as it was unusual using 2 hands to navigate. But it's easy after a while once you learn the feel of the layout and I click away without looking down. According to some reading I've been doing, this is good for using both brain hemispheres instead of just one (hmm, hidden IQ booster?)

The shortcut keys on the left side are big time savers, even though it's a bit of a stretch for the pinkies. On the rigth side, the Ins and Del keys are at the bottom row, and the Home is at the top. I thought this would be awkward, as I use these keys often, but it turns out to be very mistake-proof when typing. The keys on the lower right side are also made smaller, and this I'm still getting used to, even though I don't normally use this side. The number pad is made well, with the frame around the keys slightly raised up so you can tell by feeling if you need to punch in a quick set of figures. This raised section is also great for finding the trackball.

The cord is a nice length, not like the shorties that come with other keyboards. But, with the built-on mouse, the convenience factor would increase by bounds if if were 2 feet longer for the times I want to back away from the screen and watch a movie or just lazily mouse around a site wheer no keyboard is required.

As for noise factor, this keyboard is quiet! The keys have a nice smooth feel and a muted, reassuring stroke for each key. The loudest noise is the swishing sound as you navigate with the trackball. So far, so good, with the test of napping people less than 2 feet away not even stirring during a session of internet research.

The best thing, above all the great things about this pleasing piece of essential computer equipment is that there is none like it for compactness combined with the most convenient and useful keys one could need for efficient internet and document navigation.

Comments about Adesso AKB-320UB Multimedia Keyboard & Optical Trackball (USB):

I like the fact that the trackball because it gives me the freedom to sit back away from my computer and still be able to control the cursor! It takes a while to get used to the buttons being on the left but it's fine after that. love the compact-ness because i have small hands. the keys are a little harder to press than my old one but also, once you get used to it it's fine.

wish the shortcut keys could be programmable though. maybe i just need to google that but there weren't any instructions that came with the product manual.