I really wish they would update the decade old DiNovo Edge.
Slim profile, charging dock, lithium battery, Bluetooth, excellent layout and overall design, premium materials and assembly.
Update it with a multitouch trackpad (although the touch disc, to this day, is pretty amazing for content consumption) and full backlighting (not just media functions, volume, etc) and it could potentially sell for more than the original did at $150. To this day they sell used for $100 and new for $300-$400. There is a reason why.
Is this a review? All I see is a (more thorough than usual at launch) description of features and design. Oh, and numbered scores for ergonomics and the like? With no description, explanation or discussion? That's nigh on useless. I can see the use of a score as a comparison tool or intro to the general quality, but without an explanation it's pretty useless. How do the keys feel? How do they sound? What's the resistance like? Are the keys tall, short, in-between? Do large keys feel the same as smaller ones? Are they wobbly? Does the plastic in the keyboard flex or creak? Does it stay in place during vigorous typing? Those are the kinds of questions I want answered in a keyboard review. If it doesn't approach them, it's really not a review at all.
Dictionaries define a 'capsule review' as a short critique — ranging anywhere from a single sentence to a few hundred words in length.
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If the plastic flexes or creaks, the build quality score would not be that high. This keyboard is meant for heavy office use and is built accordingly. It is NOT a mechanical keyboard, so the keys are soft-touch and don't make much noise. You can get the height and spacing info from the linked spec page in the last paragraph.
While I understand that a capsule review is short and (usually) provides a much more superficial view of the product than a full one, I would still argue that this reads more like a feature run-down than a review. To me, a review of something meant to be interacted with like a keyboard and mouse _must_ focus on just that: interaction. A feature run-down is well and good, and going into further detail about the usability perks from unusual features is great, but without _describing_ what it's like to use (beyond giving simple numbered scores without any explanation) that doesn't really get you any further than reading the manufacturer's product page. I don't expect per-key force measurements like in your mechanical keyboard reviews (even if that would be interesting), but I do expect an informed opinion (based on the reviewer actually using the product, which is the one thing potential buyers can't do) on the less easily summed-up features of the product.
We have been having numerical ratings for all the keyboards / mice reviewed with this methodology so far (you can check the table that can be used for 1-on-1 comparison). This has been in place for the last 2 - 3 years.
In terms of scope for improvement, I would love to see a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left side. As a right handed person, this would allow the mouse to be much closer to the right edge of the keyboard, and for those rare instances in which I need to type a lot of numbers, my left hand is perfectly capable of doing the job. Or is this keyboard intended for left handed persons?
Being able to split the keyboard in half and having a set of Dvorak keycaps (not stickers) would be bonuses, but I realize not many people are interested in such features.
I second that. Current keyboard layout was invented when mice were uncommon. Detachable keypad would be the best option so that it can be attached to the left or right! I have used smaller keyboards and it is much more convenient to modern workflow when you need to switch between mouse and typing alot.
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19 Comments
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Xajel - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Finally, new successor to MK810... although I would much like a new successor to the brilliant Backlit Wireless K800.Samus - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I really wish they would update the decade old DiNovo Edge.Slim profile, charging dock, lithium battery, Bluetooth, excellent layout and overall design, premium materials and assembly.
Update it with a multitouch trackpad (although the touch disc, to this day, is pretty amazing for content consumption) and full backlighting (not just media functions, volume, etc) and it could potentially sell for more than the original did at $150. To this day they sell used for $100 and new for $300-$400. There is a reason why.
BurntMyBacon - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
I second this motion.ViperV990 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Can you switch devices as a combo or do you need to switch the keyboard and mouse individually?pookguy88 - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 - link
that's what I want to knowmidoreigh - Monday, August 23, 2021 - link
I will let you know in few daysmidoreigh - Saturday, August 28, 2021 - link
You have to switch the keyboard and mouse individually.JoeyJoJo123 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
>nonstandard keys on the bottom row.blegh... Why can't they just make ANSI/ISO keyboards without trying to make their own unique/funky keyboard layouts?
Valantar - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Is this a review? All I see is a (more thorough than usual at launch) description of features and design. Oh, and numbered scores for ergonomics and the like? With no description, explanation or discussion? That's nigh on useless. I can see the use of a score as a comparison tool or intro to the general quality, but without an explanation it's pretty useless. How do the keys feel? How do they sound? What's the resistance like? Are the keys tall, short, in-between? Do large keys feel the same as smaller ones? Are they wobbly? Does the plastic in the keyboard flex or creak? Does it stay in place during vigorous typing? Those are the kinds of questions I want answered in a keyboard review. If it doesn't approach them, it's really not a review at all.ganeshts - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Dictionaries define a 'capsule review' as a short critique — ranging anywhere from a single sentence to a few hundred words in length.---------------------------------
If the plastic flexes or creaks, the build quality score would not be that high. This keyboard is meant for heavy office use and is built accordingly. It is NOT a mechanical keyboard, so the keys are soft-touch and don't make much noise. You can get the height and spacing info from the linked spec page in the last paragraph.
Valantar - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
While I understand that a capsule review is short and (usually) provides a much more superficial view of the product than a full one, I would still argue that this reads more like a feature run-down than a review. To me, a review of something meant to be interacted with like a keyboard and mouse _must_ focus on just that: interaction. A feature run-down is well and good, and going into further detail about the usability perks from unusual features is great, but without _describing_ what it's like to use (beyond giving simple numbered scores without any explanation) that doesn't really get you any further than reading the manufacturer's product page. I don't expect per-key force measurements like in your mechanical keyboard reviews (even if that would be interesting), but I do expect an informed opinion (based on the reviewer actually using the product, which is the one thing potential buyers can't do) on the less easily summed-up features of the product.boozed - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I feel like I'm reading a press release.And the only thing I really wanted to know was whether it was mechanical or not...
fanofanand - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Can we expect the numerical ratings to continue in the future so we have a point of reference?ganeshts - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
We have been having numerical ratings for all the keyboards / mice reviewed with this methodology so far (you can check the table that can be used for 1-on-1 comparison). This has been in place for the last 2 - 3 years.Ktracho - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
In terms of scope for improvement, I would love to see a keyboard with the numeric keypad on the left side. As a right handed person, this would allow the mouse to be much closer to the right edge of the keyboard, and for those rare instances in which I need to type a lot of numbers, my left hand is perfectly capable of doing the job. Or is this keyboard intended for left handed persons?Being able to split the keyboard in half and having a set of Dvorak keycaps (not stickers) would be bonuses, but I realize not many people are interested in such features.
Zingam - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I second that. Current keyboard layout was invented when mice were uncommon. Detachable keypad would be the best option so that it can be attached to the left or right!I have used smaller keyboards and it is much more convenient to modern workflow when you need to switch between mouse and typing alot.
Dug - Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - link
I thought it was a time capsule review.The picture looks like it was something from the nineties.
damianrobertjones - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
I see that Anandtech has, once again, descended into the amateur space for photo taking. Come on guys... Keep it 'Pro'.Ian Cutress - Saturday, April 20, 2019 - link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MULMbqQ9LJ8