Logitech diNovo Mini Black 63 Normal Keys Bluetooth Wireless Mini Keyboard - Retail

It works with Linux!

Reviewed By: Stefan on 11/25/2008

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: less than 1 day

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: An elegant, wickedly cool-looking little gizmo that is perfectly suited for home theater PC use.

Cons: Pricey. Fragile-seeming. Tiny keyboard not suitable for typing (as opposed to occasional command entry or menu use).

Other Thoughts: I bought this to use with my MythTV PVR (Abit/Via mboard, Fedora Core 8). The specs don't list Linux compatibility, so I was prepared for hours of package downloads and config file tweaking. Nuh-uh! It worked right from the get-go. I charged the keyboard overnight, plugged in the USB dongle, and turned on my system. The keyboard and mouse both worked fine.

There's a slider switch that lets you use the click pad as either a mouse or an arrow key diamond. Nice!

I can see entering an occasional Unix command or editing a config file with 'vi', but if I ever have to enter lots of text I'll plug in a wired keyboard and mouse. But

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negative reviewers don't know how to use it

Reviewed By: doublemeat on 9/14/2008

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: * Very small for a PC keyboard and mouse!
* Keys are similar to (but bigger than) a typical Windows Mobile phone with slide out thumbpad.
* Nice key lighting.
* THIS THING --DOES-- HAVE ARROW KEYS, contrary to what many seem to think. There is a switch at the top that converts the mousepad to a 4-way arrow pad, also in normal mouse mode, you can hold fn to turn the mouse pad temporarily into arrow keys.

Cons: * Completely illogical key layout.
* The square grid layout of keyboard means you can't touch-type. Even with lots of practice, I still cannot.
* No F keys. (E.g. F1, F2, F3, etc.)
* No home/end keys.
* No print-screen, scroll-lock, break, etc.
* Doesn't accept multiple key input for custom Windows hotkeys. (The standard Alt+, Ctrl+, Win+, etc. do work though.)
* Mouse is difficult to adjust to, but with practice it's OK (an eraser stick, mini-trackball, or "mini-joystick" would have been better).
* STUPID placement of the Windows key.
* Esc is not it's own key. You have to hit fn+tab.
* There is a standalone round button with the Windows logo on it; however, I don't know what it does and is most definitely NOT the Windows key. (That is under the Tab key.) And I'm not about to install the drivers to find out. hate stuff that acts as STANDARD USB DEVICES, that you nevertheless have to install drivers for.

Other Thoughts: In spite of it's many and egregious flaws, this thing is a actually fantastic couch-potato media accessory, and pretty much a must-have if you can afford it without breaking the bank. But warned, this thing will *NOT* replace a real keyboard and mouse for "real" PC usage. It's great for casual youtube couch surfing / remote control (e.g. launch movies or play music). But when you really need to use your computer as an actual PC (as opposed to an entertainment system device), you WILL need a "real" keyboard and mouse. Otherwise you'll be frustrated and disappointed.

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Great for HTPC

Reviewed By: xsven on 11/24/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: Small hand held keyboard that works good and looks great on your coffee table. I have this DiNovo mini linked up with a nice Gateway laptop that has HDMI output and a 256M dedicated Nvidia card. The laptop was just sitting doing nothing under my night stand. So I made a quick easy HTPC out of it with the help from a cheap HDMI cable and this wonderful hand held keyboard.

I find for myself the device works fantasic! The mouse is tricky at times but all in all tameable. I made my fonts large and resolutin large. Now I just sit in my Lazy-Boy and watch Hulu with ease on my big TV. When needed I can check my email or do a web search from my big comphy reclined chair.

I did find this unit alot cheaper somewhere else at a popular auction site. It was a refurb so I paid alot less. It works as if where brand new though.

Everything you can do on your standard keyboard you can do on this thing.

Cons: My wife just can't get the hang of the mouse pad. I hand it to her and try to teach her how to mouse around and it's just so painfull to watch. Is this because she is not a gamer, just a regular noob? Why do I find it so easy to do but she has a problem?

I see how I am with it and how she is with it. My review on it will be totaly different than hers. Just in this aspect alone.

I feel they could have also gave this deice a small joystick or nub type of a mouse. You know the ones I'm talking about, they looked like little pencile eracers in the middle of the keyboard. But in this things case off to the side just the way it is.

Other Thoughts: If you like watching movies from the net and TV and stuff than this is for you. If you enjoy surfing from your sofa this is great for you. If you like doing alot of typing then this is not for you. Not that you cant, just better to do on a full size board.

If your looking for something small that can control your HTPC all in one unit, then get this. But bewarned, you may or may not get the hang of the mouse.

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Reviewed By: JG on 11/20/2009

Tech Level: average - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Works great with windows 7 so far. great as a media center remote

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: Would be nice if it had a left and right scroll bar. Only has up and down scrolling built in

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Outstanding HTPC solution

Reviewed By: on 11/3/2009

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week

Pros: Tiny, sleek, sexy. Rechargeable. Replaces the function of all input devices (remote control, mouse, keyboard). Dedicated media keys. Light-up keys, and lights change color with mode (via a switch or holding the Fn key).

ALL FUNCTIONS WORK flawlessly in Ubuntu 9.10 (given a $5 generic USB dongle, the included dongle reportedly won't work properly).

Cons: I'd like some shoulder buttons (or shoulder scrollwheel) but that's a minor gripe. The mousing is sometimes a little janky but turning the sensitivity all the way up helps, and if you use a media center like Boxee or XBMC you can get away with only using the arrow keys. Also a dedicated right-click button would be nice. I'd prefer it to use rechargeable AAA's. Pricey, but this was a gift anyway.

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