HTPC keyboard

[Badwrench]

I am setting up an HTPC in my living room after recently letting go of regular tv and need advice on input devices.  The rig is across the room and I would rather not have cables running all over the place.  I would also like to keep in inexpensive as it is highly likely that my 2 year old will want to play with it. 

I am leaning toward the Microsoft all in one media keyboard or the Logitech KB 400 which is currently on sale at Bestbuy for $26.  Has anyone used either of these?  I am not concerned about typing quality, but more about usability and quality. 

[inanis]

I'm sure either would work well. Back in the day I used a Logitech diNovo keyboard for my media PC setup, similar to yours. It worked for years just wonderfully. It was a bit big at the time, but did the job. I used it in several versions of Linux and Windows. It still works too! So, all things considered you shouldn't have any trouble with the Logitech, but I'd probably go with whatever is cheaper!

[boTy]

I personally have the KB400, the features are pretty nice, it has the tiny USB receiver, media keys, built in trackpad and it is really light.

The typing experience, however, is among the worst i've every had. It is quite heavy, and extremely mushy.

The trackpad isn't terrible, the upper left thump mouse button is really nice.

[Dernubenfrieken]

I am setting up an HTPC in my living room after recently letting go of regular tv and need advice on input devices.  The rig is across the room and I would rather not have cables running all over the place.  I would also like to keep in inexpensive as it is highly likely that my 2 year old will want to play with it. 

I am leaning toward the Microsoft all in one media keyboard or the Logitech KB 400 which is currently on sale at Bestbuy for $26.  Has anyone used either of these?  I am not concerned about typing quality, but more about usability and quality.

I have the Logitech one in white: No complaints so far. Works well, media controls function how they should, nice weight to it.

[Findecanor]

Back in the day I used a Logitech diNovo keyboard for my media PC setup, similar to yours.

It has excellent key feel. There was also the diNovo Edge which was tenkeyless and had a built-in trackpad - but which has also a quite large footprint.
Unfortunately, these are discontinued but could still fetch some price in the second-hand market.
Note that they use a separate USB receiver - they do not have Bluetooth.

Do stay away from the DiNovo Mini - it is not a proper keyboard. It has the size and feel of a Blackberry.

[inanis]

Back in the day I used a Logitech diNovo keyboard for my media PC setup, similar to yours.

It has excellent key feel. There was also the diNovo Edge which was tenkeyless and had a built-in trackpad - but which has also a quite large footprint.
Unfortunately, these are discontinued but could still fetch some price in the second-hand market.
Note that they use a separate USB receiver - they do not have Bluetooth.

Do stay away from the DiNovo Mini - it is not a proper keyboard. It has the size and feel of a Blackberry.

Yes, that is the one I have/had. With the track pad. It was great! I also had a Logitech MediaBoard Pro, which was meant for use with a PlayStation 3, but worked perfectly fine as a Bluetooth capable HTPC keyboard. That had an integrated track pad too. That may have been the first Bluetooth thing I've ever owned!

Good times, those memories. Now I have one of those fancy RF remotes that will control just about anything that can get an RF or IR signal. If that doesn't work, I can use my phone, which is a horrible experience, but it works.

[JaccoW]

I have the logitech one as well but I have to say it's range is horrendous. More than once I had some of the keys simply not registering at all.
But I've had similar issues with logitech mice in the same area so it might be that my living room has some interference is on some occult fault line.

[Badwrench]

Cool, thanks for the feedback.  Found a KB400 on CL for $20.