Thin and flat keyboard that helps you save space on your office desk (Logitech Ultra-Flat Keyboard)

Member Name: cognition

Product:	Logitech Ultra-Flat Keyboard
Date:	14/05/09 (289 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Frees up some space

Disadvantages: Keys squeezed together so much that the placement does not correlate with a normal keyboard

INTRODUCTION
The Logitech Ultra-Flat Keyboard sets out to compress the size of a standard computer keyboard into a flat and thin design, incorporating the very same keys as a normal keyboard, but utilizing less space. I figured I could use more space on my desk, so I ordered the keyboard from Amazon.

MATERIAL:
The keyboard is made of shiny black plastic. It looks good, but you can very easily see if it is dusty because of the glossy finish. The keyboard has the feel of a laptop keyboard. If I had been able to try out the keyboard before buying I would not have ordered it. I am used to standard desktop computer keyboards, and I find I make more spelling mistakes on laptop style keyboards because they require a different amount of pressure on the keys.

DESIGN:
I compared this Logitech keyboard to my old standard keyboard, and I would say the Logitech takes up about 75% of the space my old keyboard did. Standard keyboards are somewhat thick and bulky in comparison. However, the price you pay for this is that the keys have all been squeezed together within a rectangular area. There is no spacing under the F1-F12 keys, no spacing around the arrow keys, no spacing around the keypad, etc. You save a slight bit of space, but at the cost of having to completely re-learn where the keys are. I have always been an extremely fast and efficient typist, and would usually type without even looking down at the keyboard. However, with this keyboard I find myself having to look down every time I want to press the 'Delete' key, or 'Page up', 'Page Down', etc. In fact, this is so much of an issue for me, that I have never been able to get used to the keyboard. I regret buying it, and I will be looking to replace it.

QUALITY
The actual keyboard itself seems study and solid. The keys have never come off, and I don't have the impression that any of the major parts of the keyboard are particularly weak. The exception is the supporting legs that are found on the back of the keyboard and can be flipped down to support the keyboard and bring it up from the desk. They are made of very thin plastic, and mine broke when I dropped a (closed) plastic bottle of water on the keyboard. Arguably, this is something that might have had an impact on a more sturdy keyboard as well, but that doesn't defeat the fact that when you look at the legs they are made of very thin plastic, and it would definitely not take much of an impact to break them.

CONNECTIVITY
The keyboard supports both PS2 and USB connectivity, which is a big plus. It comes with a USB connector and PS2 adapter that can be attached to make the keyboard work with a PS2 connection. The main gain of a USB connection is that you can plug the keyboard into any computer without re-booting. In theory this could be done, for instance, to quickly gain more comfort when working on a laptop computer, although in this case, the Logitech keyboard does not offer any additional benefits over the keyboard of a laptop computer. I personally use the PS2 plug. PS2 has been the standard for keyboard to PC connectivity since 1987. The reason I prefer PS2 is because I like to keep my USB ports free for other devices that require USB ports, such as external hard drives.

PRICE
I paid £10 including free delivery from Amazon March 2009. Personally I don't think the keyboard is worth as much.

Summary: If you don't mind the feel of a laptop keyboard and can handle all the keys being squeezes together.

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