Logitech K830 Living Room Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Logitech K8303. Closing Thoughts4. View All Pages

Weighing in at 495 grams, the Logitech K830 is a substantial piece of kit. It has a robust feel, solid in the hand, but not so heavy as to be cumbersome. It's just under 37cm long and just over 12cm high and 1.65cm deep. The touchpad on the right hand side measures 8cm x 5.2cm and is a good size for a control surface.

To use the Logitech K830, you will need a PC with Windows 7 or 8 installed. That PC will need an internet connection. So, basically, almost any modern PC will do.

The keyboard is guaranteed for 2 years, but that does not include your offspring pouring Coca-Cola into the mechanism (something which we have all experienced from time to time).

Logitech claims that a full charge is possible in 3 hours and that this will last 10 days. We tested it on and off for a few days, using a single 3 hour charge, and it ran perfectly smoothly.

    

The external packaging is suitably smart. Given that the keyboard is smaller than most gaming products, the box is also smaller. When you combine that smaller size with the increased weight from the added electronics etc, it adds up to a substantial feeling.

Inside the box, Logitech has gone to great lengths to make sure the K830 does not get scratched in transit.

You get a user guide, warranty card, USB cable and extender.

   

Most of the time, you'll be plugging the USB receiver into your media centre PC and use the product remotely.

   

The keyboard looks perfect for the living room, front and back.

Getting in close to the design, you can see just how smooth everything is. It's all functional as well. Check out the rear.

   

The left shot is a zoom into the ‘left mouse' button – which stands alone on the back of the keyboard – in what would be the ‘top left corner'. Which will be easy to find in the dark.

The second shot is a close up on the mouse pad, complete with a set of 5 buttons. The small silver one on the back is the power button.

Finally, here's an illuminated shot. To be honest, it doesn't glow as strong as a gaming keyboard – but it's not about branding. It's about you being able to find the keys in a darkened room. In that sense, it provides ample illumination and the separation between keys is enough for you to be able to find your way around.

Although it is larger and chunkier than an iMac keyboard, that is the closest experience you're going to find on a desktop. Not only is the key layout and spacing very similar to that of an iMac keyboard, the actual feel of the keys is similar in terms of responsiveness and activation pressure.

If you do plan to use this as a primary keyboard for a PC – and you like to elevate the rear when you're typing fast – then that will be a minor disappointment as it stays flat. There are no feet.

If you are laying flat when using the keyboard, then prepare for a mini-revolution in fingering. We found ourselves doing it two handed, using our right thumb on the pad and our left index finger on the rear-facing left-mouse button. One obvious downside for this method of control would be that it does not suit left handed people at all. Given that less than 15% of the UK population is left handed, Logitech is still aiming for a large chunk of the available market.

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