Logitech DiNovo Edge - A rubber dome KB that actually feels good!

[Rob27shred]

So I had this KB collecting dust for quite some time. I had originally gotten it back in 06 when they released for an HTPC setup I had in my living room at the time. It served it's purpose well for a few years but got put into storage after I sold that particular PC. Back then I had yet to discover the joys of mech KBs so when I found this in my closet I decided to pull it back out to compare it to some of my mechs for ****s & giggles. The results kinda surprised me TBH.

The DiNovo edge is actually very nice to type on & it's feel is a far cry from most rubber dome KBs I have tried. This is attributed to the fact that the keys all have a special scissor switch made by Logitech called the perfect stroke system. Which gives each key a travel distance of 3.2mm vs the more common 2mm or less of most scissor switch styled KBs. It also gives the keys a very snappy back stroke & eliminates most of the mushy feeling associated with rubber dome actuated KBs. IMHO it really feels more like a very light linear mechanical switch than a rubber dome under a scissor switch. It even has a little bit of clackiness when typing on it!

While this may technically be a rubber dome KB I have decided to keep it in use. It makes for a very good night time KB as it is fairly silent & with it having a touch pad for mouse function it makes for a great couch KB! Don't get me wrong this can not replace a good mech KB in terms of feel & longevity, but it is a high quality KB that can have it's place in a mech KB lover's collection. 

All in all I would say the DiNovo Edge is surprisingly a very solid KB. TBH it is still a step down from a mech & definitely not worth the $200 to $300 I've seen them listed at on ebay, amazon, etc. Although if you have one or access to one I would definitely say it's worth a try & IMO worth keeping around. Have any of you guys tried a KB with Logitech's perfect stroke scissor switches & what do you think of them compared to mechanical switches? I would love to hear some other opinions on it, since it genuinely shocked me at how nice they feel compared to other rubber dome actuated KBs & the fact that it has more of a mechanical feel than RD feel IMO.                                      

[Leslieann]

There are two versions of these, and both were considered quite good in their day,  the price always kept me from owning one, even today they fetch stupid prices.

The Logitech Illuminated also have scissor switches in them, that was a favorite of mine for a while (also not cheap by dome standards). They're a bit delicate though, don't accidentally drop a hard drive on them or your shift key may go flying. Not that I have any experience with that or anything...

I would probably still be using it if they made a TKL version that wasn't bluetooth only.

[Hyde]

The Logitech PerfectStroke technology (not even joking, look it up) were quite good at the time.  Not sure why they haven't made any new keyboards with it lately.

But yes Logitech Illuminated Keyboard had it and it was amazing.

[Findecanor]

The special thing about the PerfectStroke is that the key travel is very high for a scissor switch at 3.2 mm. Compare that to Alps which is 3.5 mm.
I also find the integrated wrist rest and bulging of the Space Bar row works well with the low-profile keys.

I first used and started to like one of these in the showroom where I used to work a few years ago.
I have been watching domestic auction sites, and the second-hand price has remained quite high for quite a while. I finally picked on up this summer at a flea market to have in my collection and for writing a Wiki article on it.
Previously, have I got a "regular" DiNovo with full-size layout but with the dongle missing that I may convert to USB or Bluetooth some day.

There are two versions of these, and both were considered quite good in their day,  the price always kept me from owning one, even today they fetch stupid prices.

Were there two version of the DiNovo Edge?

Not sure why they haven't made any new keyboards with it lately.

Is the Illuminated Keyboard line still not produced, and with this switch? (but with worse keycaps)
I see several keyboards in Logitech's catalogue that are marked as having "The PerfectStroke Key System", but I don't know if the switches are comparable in feel and key travel or if it is just marketing fluff.

[Leslieann]

The newer Wireless Illuminated K800 still uses Perfect Stroke.
Not cheap though, $99.

There are two versions of these, and both were considered quite good in their day,  the price always kept me from owning one, even today they fetch stupid prices.

Were there two version of the DiNovo Edge?

There was the Edge and the Media Desktop.

Update:
Also a notebook variant, Russian model, a mini keyboard and a Mac edition.

[Findecanor]

I forgot the Mac edition...

The "DiNovo Mini" was not comparable. It was like a Blackberry keyboard.

[Leslieann]

I forgot the Mac edition...

The "DiNovo Mini" was not comparable. It was like a Blackberry keyboard.

I know, I just listed it because I was kind of surprised at just how many Logitech "DiNovo" keyboards there were.

[mushman]

I tried the Logitech Illuminated wired fullsize at one point and while it was nice the keys became oily looking very quickly; much more so than other keyboards I own with ABS.

My favorite Logitech keyboard was the Ultra X.  Sadly they are very difficult to find; however the Cherry Stream XT fills it's shoes very nicely.

[wodan]

Fook me then ... found one of these at the recycling center recently, spit on it and called it a dirty rubberdome and threw it back into the trash.

[Laurel]

Fook me then ... found one of these at the recycling center recently, spit on it and called it a dirty rubberdome and threw it back into the trash.

So edgy.

[mushman]

Fook me then ... found one of these at the recycling center recently, spit on it and called it a dirty rubberdome and threw it back into the trash.

Don't feel bad.  I've tossed mechanicals calling them noisy chattering unreliable pieces of crap.

[davkol]

Logitech still makes PerfectStroke keyboards, except chiclet after K740/K800. Namely K810/K810, K830/TK820 etc. Cheaper K750/K760 aren't branded as PerfectStroke, but they feel very similar.

• K740 had loose, a bit rattly keycaps (something unheard of on the original diNovo), but very soft feeling.
• K800 is my favorite in terms of key feel. It's the first model with spherical caps, but not chiclet yet. The key action is very tight in a way similar to the diNovo.
• The newer models are chiclet and it somehow makes them feel harsher or like if they have shorter travel, although it's not true in practice AFAIK. It's not to my liking, but still much much much better than Apple Aluminium IMO, partly thanks to the slightly spherical caps. I returned a TK820, because it had a poor-quality case, but keep a K810, because of the form factor.

All these have very smooth keycaps out of the box.

[Rob27shred]

There are two versions of these, and both were considered quite good in their day,  the price always kept me from owning one, even today they fetch stupid prices.

The Logitech Illuminated also have scissor switches in them, that was a favorite of mine for a while (also not cheap by dome standards). They're a bit delicate though, don't accidentally drop a hard drive on them or your shift key may go flying. Not that I have any experience with that or anything...

I would probably still be using it if they made a TKL version that wasn't bluetooth only.

LOL, don't feel bad I've ruined KBs in similar ways. I also agree that the dinovo edge just being wireless is a drawback, at least to me as well. I think all wireless peripherals should have the option to be used wired as well.

The special thing about the PerfectStroke is that the key travel is very high for a scissor switch at 3.2 mm. Compare that to Alps which is 3.5 mm.
I also find the integrated wrist rest and bulging of the Space Bar row works well with the low-profile keys.

I first used and started to like one of these in the showroom where I used to work a few years ago.
I have been watching domestic auction sites, and the second-hand price has remained quite high for quite a while. I finally picked on up this summer at a flea market to have in my collection and for writing a Wiki article on it.
Previously, have I got a "regular" DiNovo with full-size layout but with the dongle missing that I may convert to USB or Bluetooth some day.

There are two versions of these, and both were considered quite good in their day,  the price always kept me from owning one, even today they fetch stupid prices.

Were there two version of the DiNovo Edge?

Not sure why they haven't made any new keyboards with it lately.

Is the Illuminated Keyboard line still not produced, and with this switch? (but with worse keycaps)
I see several keyboards in Logitech's catalogue that are marked as having "The PerfectStroke Key System", but I don't know if the switches are comparable in feel and key travel or if it is just marketing fluff.

They are quite special, funny it is most attributed to the extra travel. Although I'm sure the high build quality helps overall as well. I was honestly shocked at how much these dinovo edges go for now that they stopped producing them, pretty much what made me start this thread. TBH the KB was not cheap when I bought new either though, I believe I paid around $120 for it from newegg. Glad I never let it go now that KBs have become a hobby of mine! I also wonder why logitech gave up on Perfect Stroke? They are much better feeling than there gamery Romer-G switches & that is saying alot considering one's mech & one is RD. IMHO Logitech has severely went downhill since making these boards anyways. They went from one of the top peripheral companies to serving up gamer garbage (I am a huge gamer BTW so nobody gets the wrong idea ) )

I tried the Logitech Illuminated wired fullsize at one point and while it was nice the keys became oily looking very quickly; much more so than other keyboards I own with ABS.

My favorite Logitech keyboard was the Ultra X.  Sadly they are very difficult to find; however the Cherry Stream XT fills it's shoes very nicely.

Thankfully the keys on this do not pick up oil so easily, but I have seen exactly what you are talking about before . Never got to try a Ultra X, kinda piques my interest to check out a Cherry Stream XT or Ultra X if I was lucky enough to come across one.

Fook me then ... found one of these at the recycling center recently, spit on it and called it a dirty rubberdome and threw it back into the trash.

 ) Can't say I wouldn't have done the same. In fact when I first rediscovered the dinovo edge I have I was gonna scrap it myself remembering it was a rubber dome KB. Not sure what possessed me to give it a try but I am glad I did especially considering the crazy stupid prices they are getting.

Logitech still makes PerfectStroke keyboards, except chiclet after K740/K800. Namely K810/K810, K830/TK820 etc. Cheaper K750/K760 aren't branded as PerfectStroke, but they feel very similar.

• K740 had loose, a bit rattly keycaps (something unheard of on the original diNovo), but very soft feeling.
• K800 is my favorite in terms of key feel. It's the first model with spherical caps, but not chiclet yet. The key action is very tight in a way similar to the diNovo.
• The newer models are chiclet and it somehow makes them feel harsher or like if they have shorter travel, although it's not true in practice AFAIK. It's not to my liking, but still much much much better than Apple Aluminium IMO, partly thanks to the slightly spherical caps. I returned a TK820, because it had a poor-quality case, but keep a K810, because of the form factor.

All these have very smooth keycaps out of the box.

Gonna have to keep an eye for some of those models when I go thrift store/recycling center center KB hunting. If I could pick them up on the cheap it would be pretty cool to give them a try.