Share To
I've probably spent a good 5 hours, at least, this week searching for the ideal replacement for my Logitech K811 keyboard to no avail.
I have 3 or 4 of them. At the time, I paid about $60-$70 for each. Now? $239.99 on Amazon (and everywhere except for used ones on eBay). I-N-S-A-N-E-!!!
"So I have 3 or 4 of them, what's the big deal? I'm all set, right?"
One problem.
Since I first got on a computer I've always installed my operating system, got it the way I want it, and made a disc image backup. We're talking Ghost back in the day, Acronis, and in Windows 10, the built-in disc imaging that came around in Windows 7. 'Get a virus?' No problem--restore in 10 minutes, you're back to your last backup, which I always keep a list of updates from the last image update to the next. I'm literally OCD about that.
So what's worth all of this time and effort researching new keyboards and why am I veering off to talking about system backups?
Answer: I always have to keep a 2.4g-connected keyboard handy to do a system restore because you can't pair Bluetooth at a BIOS level--at least on my motherboard--and the K811 pairs with Bluetooth only. So every time that I have to a do a system restore, I gotta go find my crappy Logitech 2.4g keyboard to put in the password at the admin login. I just want ONE keyboard to do it all regardless, so that would require a keyboard that does both 2.4g and Bluetooth connections all in one. Oh--and I want to pair with my iPhone & my iPad and be able to switch between them as well, like I can with the K811 during normal operation.
There are a ton of devices out there, but everywhere I look, they ALL get. It. Wrong!
I don't want a non-compact keyboard. I don't need a number pad; much less do I need a number pad that has that extra stuff in between the main keys and the number pad that puts your keyboard at the size of a racetrack. Maybe if I didn't game on a PC it wouldn't matter, but I don't like a lot of separation from my keyboard hand to my mouse hand when gaming.
A compact keyboard with a number key without that huge spread--eh, maybe, but not ideal. I want my K811 with 2.4g capabilites. Give me that, I'm happy! But it ain't gonna happen.
I've found some in my research on Amazon--even WalMart when I got desperate. But this is the caveat.
- 78-key keyboard? Great! Compact? Yes! Can switch between Bluetooth and 2.4g devices? Yes, great! Triple A battery powered. Not rechargeable? Ugh! (Pukes)
- All the above, rechargeable, 2.4g and Bluetooth compatible, but doesn't switch between devices. It just means that you can pair with either 2.4g or Bluetooth, but you can't switch between them. Ugh!
- All the right specs, but looks like a cheap, noisy build. I wanna type on my table without waking up the neighbors, get it? I don't want high risers, stilts, weird slots for iPads or phones. I just want it SIMPLE like the K811--just with a 2.4g option!
There are so many ways to get it wrong. And even if they had all the specs in order--um, "how's it feel to type on?" Uuuggghhh! The K811 is a DREAM to type on! I type words like some people type letters on it.
About the Author
Currently a Lakewood Ranch, Florida resident, Philip has authored various interactive blog websites since the early 2000’s. Most content will be based primarily on matters of opinion as usual.