Throughout my usage of computers, I have always used those standard keyboards with the ten finger number pad and QWERTY layout. Never had I thought about using or even trying a keyboard with illuminated keys. I find keyboards to be similar to mice, once you find one you like it’s hard to move on to a new one.
Just recently, I purchased a new laptop that I have come to very much enjoy. Something I took notice of immediately was the fully illuminated keys. Never before had I experienced such a thing, and now I could easily see every key in the dark and not put any extra strain on my eyes.
After enjoying the keyboard on my laptop, I thought I should consider a keyboard change for my desktop. As a long term user of the Logitech MK700 keyboard, I felt like it was time for a switch. Provided to me by Logitech, I have the opportunity to experience and review their outstanding K800 illuminated keyboard.
Throughout my review, I will be covering the following topics: keyboard overview, my usage, features, and my final thoughts. I would like to thank Logitech for providing me with the K800 for a review.
Figure 1 – The illuminated keys.
Keyboard Overview
When I first unboxed the K800, I was greeted with a premium keyboard that was both sturdy and offered a clean look. The keyboard offers a full wireless experience and Logitech provides a USB to Micro USB charging cable that is exceptionally long. The unboxing also provides you with Logitech’s Unifying receiver, and user manuals.
Straight out of the box the keyboard came with a nearly full battery, which I then filled to maximum power. As this is a standalone keyboard, meaning it does not come with a mouse, I had the opportunity to try Logitech’s Unifying receiver. With a simple download of their software, the program picked up both my new keyboard and Logitech mouse. Afterwards, I then installed Logitech SetPoint, where I had options to customize Fn keys, change illumination brightness and more options.
The K800 offers an 8 degree increase when using the optional rubber feet, which I did end up using. The increase is just the perfect height for me. I did however, find that the feet on the bottom of the unit do collapse if you happen to be moving or cleaning the keyboard; they do not collapse when typing.
Finally, there is the design of the K800. The palm rest pad does not have a foam padding, but I found it to be comfortable while typing. The K800 also offers the full standard QWERTY keys along with a ten finger number pad. Something I am also a fan of is the long backspace, enter, and shift keys. Unlike the MK700, the K800 has just a simple and yet premium look to it, no LCD display like the MK700. The keyboard is thin, light and its wireless design is outstanding. In fact the keyboard is so thin it measures no taller than a quarter when the feet are not in use.
Figure 2 – The keyboard from the side.
My Usage
Going back to my MK700 for a moment, something I did not like was how loud the keys were when typing. You could be in a different room and still hear how loud the keys were. The K800 doesn’t have this issue. With Logitech’s PerfectStroke key system, the key switches distribute typing force evenly across the entire key surface. Not only does this make the keyboard extremely quiet, but offers a comfortable and fluid typing experience. The keys themselves also are incurved, meaning each key is concaved and allows your finger to be placed right into the center of the key. This is also helpful when moving from key to key.
As I have mentioned, this is a wireless and illuminated keyboard, you may ask yourself how good the battery life is. Logitech claims that with a short three to six hour charge the keyboard will last ten days. Sure, you can keep the charger in the keyboard and continue typing, but that defeats the wireless purpose. Well, I have had this keyboard for three weeks now, and I am happy to say that the battery indicator has yet to decrease from three bars! I am pleasantly and extremely glad to see that I won’t need to be charging the keyboard every few weeks. My usage of the keyboard is not light either, it gets used every single night for a few hours which includes the illumination and typically all day long during weekends.
Speaking about the illumination, the K800 has a unique feature in that the palm rest holds a hand proximity detector. Not using the keyboard? The K800 senses so and turns off the backlight, or when you begin to move your hands to type again the keys light right up! This feature can be turned off, but I find it to be extremely useful. The illuminated keys are helpful during the hour’s of darkness and the key lettering is large so you can read from a distance. To save on battery life, let’s say you’re gaming and hold the “w” key to walk forward. Instead of keeping the backlight on, the K800 turns the light off until you begin to type again.
Figure 3 – The K800 can be placed standing up for storage.
Features
Beginning with the keys themselves again, the lettering found on the keyboard are laser-etched keys allowing years of usage without hopefully the keys print wearing off. My old MK700 had this problem where key lettering would fade away. The backlight only shows through the keys, this way you’re not blinded by the light.
Depending on the lighting conditions, the K800 will automatically adjust the brightness to suit the best lighting. Or users can use the two dedicated keys to adjust the lighting to a setting they like.
If you happen to sit far away from your PC, you need not worry about the connection. With its 2.4 GHz wireless connection to the Logitech Unifying receiver, the K800 never dropped out, had delays, or any interference while I was using it. The keyboard’s responsiveness was spot on.
Last but not least, is the standard three year warranty found on the K800. Logitech has always stood behind their products, and offering a three year warranty proves that.
Figure 4 – The front face of the keyboard.
My Final Thoughts
After my three weeks of usage, I am happy to say that this keyboard will become my main keyboard for my desktop. The backlit keys, PerfectStroke, outstanding battery life, and other features are just outstanding. For a $99.99 keyboard, it comes in a little high on price, however, I believe it’s well worth it. Logitech has once again offered a premium product that should meet general expectations.
Buy it Now:
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2 Comments
Only reason I bought a Logitech backlit was because I finally killed off all my MS Natural boards and wanted to see if the benefits of light would outweigh the loss of, litterally, natural typing.
If anyone wants it, it popped the first key in my eye on day one, and two more are around here somewhere. the fourth is sliding under Backspace bit by bit so… enjoy, you have light!
the wire ,as it leaves the keyboard gets pinched ,have been through two already for this,good board love the long chord but nearly impossible to stop the wire from getting pinched at that point and become unstable, despite all my tape and stuff.had to give it up!