| Very comfortable to use for extended periods of time |
| I was using a standard Dell Keyboard before I received the K300 so it might not be a fair comparison but let me tell you, I can feel a big difference between them.
The first thing that I noticed was that the K300 is much slimmer than I thought it would be, about half the thickness of my prevous keyboard. I often found myself holding my wrist and palms in the air just to be able to reach all keys, the K300 solved that problem, now I can rest them on my desk while typing with no difficulty in reaching any buttons.
The keys are flat (similar to what you would find in a Notebook/Netbook keyboard)smooth and quiet. The plastic frame smooth and shiny but could be a fingerprint magnet, The hand rest is dull plastic though, no fingerprints to worry about there!
There is no setup to run, you just plug & play and you're set to go(I'm using Windows XP)
I tried all the media controls immediately after plugging it in and they all worked perfect. The home button took me to my hompage, email button took me to outlook, calculator to calculator etc. etc.
Note:
-You need to press and hold the "FN" button located between the Ctrl & Alt bottons on either side of the space bar to activate the Media Control button features-
-I noticed that the product description mentions long battery life, just to clear that up, no batteries are needed for the K300 model, it is afterall a wired keyboard...
Overall, I am very happy with this product, I definitely recommend as a replacement to anyone still using a standard keyboard, you will feel the difference right away!
| | Need a compact keyboard for home? The K300 fits the bill. |
| The Logitech Compact Keyboard K300 is the latest mid-range keyboard offered by the long-time peripheral maker. Logitech touts convenience with style and comfort. The primary feature of course is provided in the name of the keyboard. Logitech attempts to differentiate the K300 by offering a compact size for those who would benefit from the size reduction. My review makes some comparisons to my regular keyboard, the Logitech Illuminated keyboard.
PROS:
- Small footprint
- Relatively thin
- Attractive design
- Reasonably comfortable with good feedback
- Layout relatively consistent with standard keyboards
- All F-keys work without software installation
- FN key on each side of space bar
- Spill-resistant design (only 2 ounces of liquid)
- Appropriate value
- Quality construction
- 3 year warranty
CONS:
- Corded
- Small palm rest
- Backlit F-keys serve no purpose and waste energy
- Small design and altered layout can hamper expert typists
INSTALLATION
Installing the K300 was extremely simple. I just plugged it into a free USB port directly to my PC. Within a couple of minutes, my PC recognized the new peripheral and the F-key row lit up orange. I don't usually like to install drivers for my mice or keyboards so I declined to install SetPoint. To my delight, all the F-keys functioned appropriately without having to have SetPoint installed. To my knowledge, the only function required by SetPoint is setting custom F-keys.
LAYOUT
The key layout is not as drastically different as I would have expected from a compact keyboard. They left enough room for a full-size number pad. To save space on this keyboard, Logitech eliminated the standard arrow keys and Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys and reallocated them to other areas on the keyboard. The Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys have been placed at the top of the number pad. The Insert and Delete keys are on the same row as the F1-12 keys and the arrows are located under the right Shift key. The Ctrl keys on both side of the space bar are shrunken as is the
space bar itself. This was necessary in order to fit the miniature arrow keys as well as 2 FN keys. The Illuminated Keyboard only has 1 FN key on the right side of the space bar, which made it difficult to operate it with one hand when trying to reach all the way to the left side of the F-key row. Now with FN keys on both side, it is much easier to perform a one-handed F-key operation. The layout works. It gets a little getting used to where Logitech moved the other keys to, but relearning them should not take too long. The only real annoyance in my opinion, are the itsy bitsy arrow keys.
COMFORT
Given the compact nature of this keyboard, you might expect it to be uncomfortable to type on, but on the contrary, it is at least adequate for long typing sessions. The keys are very soft with good feedback. It is also very quiet so for those of you who have spouses that stay up late on their computer, fear not. Now you only need to figure out how to dim the giant night light they stare at. The integrated palm rest is quite small and my small hands barely rest on them. Logitech advertises that the ultra-flat design shifts your wrists toward a more neutral position, yet includes height adjustable feet that would counteract this neutral position. If anything, the adjustable feet should be at the bottom of the keyboard, not the top, in order to further create a neutral position. All things considered, I can type very well and comfortably on the K300 but also bear in mind that I am used to the laptop-style keys on the Illuminated keyboard. Now that I have gotten used to these type of keys, I prefer them over the standard keys on most keyboards today and are more comfortable than any laptop keyboard I have ever used.
MISCELLANEOUS
At first glance, I thought the K300 was backlit. The F-keys are brightly lit orange and the space between the keys are also orange. Hah! An illusion to my eyes. The space between keys on most keyboards are black or match the keys. The K300 uses an orange background so in photos, it appears it is backlit. It does make for an attractive look, but this is not an illuminated keyboard. Which brings me to the backlit F-keys. Why? If it were dark and you needed to see anything, I'd think you'd want to be able to see the QWERTY layout, not the rarely used F-keys. Additionally, you would think if they went to those lengths, Logitech would have also decided to backlight the actual FN key that activates the F-keys. Nope. I think the backlight on the K300 is just eye candy and serves no useful function. In fact, I wish it didn't have it at all as I am becoming more conscientious of devices in my home that use unnecessary energy.
The K300 lists spill-resistant design, but recommends only 60ml of liquid spillage as the maximum. This is about 2 ounces so if you spill even half your can of soda on it, you can forget it.
The K300 is certified for Microsoft XP/Vista and is USB-only.
SUMMARY
The K300 is a fairly priced, corded compact keyboard. If space savings outweigh the altered layout, then you may want to give the K300 a try. Many compact keyboards are typically used in server racks and can get quite expensive or are very cheap and not worth the investment. The K300 is geared more for the home user and has the comfort and convenience to match. If space is not an issue however, go with a non-compact keyboard, like the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard.
| | Good appearance and touch, but compact design is a compromise |
| The Logitech K300 compact keyboard sports an elegant appearance with a matte finish where fingerprints are likely to be a problem, and a glossy finish around the sides and top where fingers are unlikely to tread.
As other reviews have stated, this keyboard is not backlit. Even though there is no mention of a backlight in the description, a casual observer may think so from viewing the photos in the product description here. The alternate functions of the Function keys are displayed in a backlit fashion, showing icons for such shortcuts as opening your web browser, E-Mail, calculator, music program, and controlling volume, mute, and even powering down/hibernating the PC it's connected to.
One of the confusing things about the photos of this product is that the inside of the keyboard behind the keys is orange instead of the traditional black. This may lead a casual oberver to believe that there is a backlight when there is none, especially when the function key icons are backlit and appear in the same photograph.
The description here also mentions battery life. You don't need to worry about this, as there are no batteries. This is a wired keyboard and therefore, no need for batteries of any kind.
Probably the most important aspect of any keyboard is how easy and comfortable it is to type with. The good news is that the keys are very easy to use and comfortable to the touch. They are quiet and well-spaced, and I had no trouble using this keyboard (in fact, I'm using it to write this review).
The bad news is that the compact design forces a compromise in that the arrow keys are minimized and placed below the right shift key, and the rest of the keys that normally reside between the alpha keys and the numeric keypad are relocated. That means that commonly used keys, like Delete, Home, End, and PgUp/PgDn are now located on the top row to the right of the function keys. This relocation will require the user to invest some time into relearning their new position, and then dealing with using other keyboards with different layouts. Laptops have messed with the locations of these keys for years, so perhaps Logitech feels like people will become accustomed to the new layout without too much trouble.
The keyboard does provide for a full number keypad, but I'm not sure how much value that really has. Unless you're dealing with numbers a lot, how much use does the numeric keypad get compared to the arrow keys and aforementioned Delete/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys? Maybe it would be easier to turn off the NumLock and use the numeric keypad for its Arrow and Delete/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys instead...
One last note concerning those function keys with the web and media functions: they work without any special driver software to be installed! This is quite welcome, as I do not like to have dozens of helper applications running in the background doing the most mundane tasks, waiting for events that may never happen. I was able to open a web browser, run the calculator, and adjust the volume (master volume in Windows XP) right out of the box. I guess there is additional software from Logitech that allows you to remap the function keys as well.
Another nice touch from Logitech is the inclusion of velcro straps on the keyboard's USB cord, which makes it easy to wrap up and store. I wish more device makers would adopt this simple addition on their products.
I see this keyboard as a replacement for using a laptop/netbook's keyboard, or perhaps in cramped quarters where size trumps usability. I found myself wishing for a backlight so that it could be used while I watched and reviewed movies, and a touchpad or j-key joystick would be a very welcome addition, but most likely beyond the scope of this product.
A full-sized keyboard will suit those looking for maximum efficiency better, but this keyboard definitely has its place in the world. I can see this being useful in a server rack environment, a cramped kitchen counter/desk space, or as a way to hold a keyboard in your lap without the heft of a laptop frying your legs.
I was impressed enough by this keyboard and tempted by the appeal of having a backlit keyboard that I purchased the Logitech Illuminated Ultrathin Keyboard with Backlighting. It has a similar appearance and touch, it's full-sized, and it has a backlight. I look forward to putting that through its paces and writing a review soon.
If you're willing to relearn the position of the aforementioned keys, I think this keyboard is a fine piece of equipment worth its price.
| | Great Entry Level Compact Keyboard |
| I've been a fan of Logitech products for almost as long as I've owned my own PC. In my home I have everything from Logitech 'mice' to the iPhone music player to my Harmony Universal remote. I've always had great fortune with Logitech products; they work with little hassle and are built well in my experience.
With my K300 I was intent on replacing my Dell XPS multi-media keyboard which is over-sized for my computer desk. Dimensionally the K300 is very slim in both profile and footprint. It's perfect if you own a computer desk with a sliding keyboard drawer and have found full sized keyboards too large. With the K300 I can easily fit both the keyboard and my mouse on the drawer with space to spare.
What I like about the K300:
- Slim profile
- Integrated wrist rest
- Fully featured keyboard including a number pad
- The keys are a cross between a regular keyboard and a laptop keyboard... in other words the keys feel just right
- The "Fn" function key quick launches apps like the calculator, web browser, and has basic multi-media controls
- The back-lit functions glow brighter when you press the "Fn" key
What I dislike about the K300:
- Some of the keys have been shifted due to space constraints. For keys like 'Delete' I find myself having to glance down to the keyboard in order to find them
- Several of the keys have been shrunk in order to fit... For this reason people with large fingers/hands should probably avoid this keyboard
- Not fully back-lit, only the top row "Fn" functions are backlit
My keyboard also arrived with factory flaw. The entire top row plastic strip was coming unglued from the keyboard itself, exposing the LED lights underneath. Not a major flaw but still something that required me to purchase super glue to fix.
All in all for the price you're getting a nicely designed, fully functional keyboard without a lot of bells and whistles.
| | Excellent Slim Wired Keyboard |
| This is good if you are looking for a small wired keyboard. It's about the size of a laptop keyboard, plus the number pad keys. The keys are quiet and soft. They make a soft click noise, like on a laptop keyboard, instead of a loud clack. An Apple computer will also recognize the keyboard (as with any USB IBM 101 keyboard), but you'll be missing a few function keys that are exclusive to Macs. All of the keyboard does not illuminate, only the top of the keyboard. The top light does intensify when you press the Fn key(s). I use this keyboard on both a Dell and Mac Mini via a TrendNet KVM switch and it has worked very well.
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