Hardware Bistro

Product: Flexible Illuminated Full Sized Keyboard
Manufacturer: AirTouch
Supplied by: Brando
Price: 27USD/RM94
Launch Date: NA

 

Have you bored with your classis keyboard which is noisy, bulky? If yes then you should take a look on this flexible illuminated full sized keyboard from AirTouch which is not only illuminable (good for dim environment) but also bendable (easy to be kept). Besides that it doesn't produce any annoying clacking sound during typing.

 

Company Profile

usb.brando.com.hk, member of Brando Workshop, offers a wide range of special, useful and helpful USB products for our customers. We deliver happiness and convenience to everyone.

 

Features

- Virtually indestructible
- Strong and silent
- Washable and hygienic
- Portable and storable
- Dust-proof and water-resistant
- EL illumination on/off
- Simply wipe up any spilled liquid with a damp cloth
- Lightweight, ultra-slim and compact
- Fits in your briefcase, backpack or notebook carrying bag and you do not have to worry any sharp edges
- Size: 49x13 mm
- Weight: 335g

 

System Requirements

- Windows 98/2000/Me/XP
- Available USB or PS2 Port 

Package & Content

 

AirTouch Keyboard comes with a simple rectangular paper packaging box with some interesting pictures at the back for describing its features in much more attractive way. If such flexible keyboard is not a new thing for you then you may notice that some of such flexible keyboard is packed in a much better way where they are rolled and being kept inside a small cylinder box.

 

Besides the AirTouch keyboard itself, it also comes with a simple user's manual and an USB to PS/2 adapter for those older versions of PC where USB keyboard is not supported or limited USB ports. The user's manual has stated some important messages of the AirTouch keyboard such as safety notice, use recommendations, caution and etc.

 

AirTouch Keyboard

 

As we mentioned before AirTouch keyboard is an unique keyboard where it is made by soft rubber material rather than plastic which is hard and causing annoying clacking sound. The clacking noise may not be a problem for most of the users but it could be a problem for those are sitting next to them especially when they are concentrating on their work, study and etc. With AirTouch keyboard, it will provide quiet or zero noise environment during typing!

 

Although AirTouch keyboard is a bendable keyboard but it still comes with 109 keys which is same with standard keyboard. The bottom layer of AirTouch keyboard is in transparent blue color while the keycap is in blue color. The "Space" keycap is separated into two key caps in order to allow the keyboard being bendable. Another great feature of AirTouch keyboard is it can be washable, water proof, and cleaned up easily.

 

On the most right portion of AirTouch Keyboard, there is control device which contains PCB board. Users need to be extremely careful by not bending or damage the PCB board as it isn't protected by any enclosure. All the LEDs such as "Num Lock", "Caps Lock" and "Scroll Lock" are located in this area as well as the EL On/Off switch which is used to control the illumination of AirTouch Keyboard.

As we know that AirTouch keyboard is bendable but the real benefit for having such bendable keyboard is good for those have limited working space and of course good for mobility as well where users can carry this keyboard all around. However AirTouch keyboard can't be bent in Y-axis (vertical way) and no additional object or force should be applied on top the keyboard which may damage the keyboard inner components while bending in X-axis (horizontal way).

 

Besides blue color of AirTouch Keyboard, there are other color options as well; pink, green and white. Pink looks nice for a lady but we don't think white one is a good option as it will be dirtied very easily without any frequent maintenance. AirTouch keyboard can be illuminated by switching on the EL button and basically the illuminating is come from the bottom layer of AirTouch keyboard not the key caps.

 

Installation, Testing & Performance

Test Bed

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8300
Memory: 4GB 800MHz DDR2 Memory
Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Seagate HDD
Graphic Card: OEM Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB
Optical Drive: 16x DVD RW
System BIOS: F7
Operating System: Microsoft Window XP SP2
Benchmark Software: Gigabyte Easy Tune 6
Ambient Temperature: 27 Degree Celsius

 

Although AirTouch keyboard is an illuminated keyboard but it doesn't require any driver or software in order to work, furthermore it is not a multimedia keyboard. Users just need to plug and play the keyboard which it take around 1-2 minutes for system auto detecting then it can be used instantly. Previously we thought this keyboard is damaged when we received it as the EL was not functioning however we found that in order to use the EL function of AirTouch keyboard, it will requires the keyboard to be connected to the system some certain period which will take around 15-20 minutes.

 

Here are the illuminated views of AirTouch Keyboard in no light environment. The illuminated light looks very cool especially during dim environment. However the wordings of the key caps are not strong enough where the key caps are not clear once the EL is on in dim environment. For the typing testing, we found that it is not as sensitive as classis keyboard where users need to press/hit the middle of the key cap more accurately. However users should be used to it after sometime and the silent/quiet typing is great as it doesn't produce any annoying noise at all.

 

Conclusion

If you are looking for a quiet or illuminated keyboard then you should take a look on this AirTouch keyboard. Besides that its flexibility/bendable feature is really great for those are having limited working space. However we don't really recommend this keyboard for office and gaming usage as it will requires much more concentration during typing. Some of the online retailers are only selling this AirTouch keyboard with less than 10USD which is a super good deal with its so many great and nice features.

 

Pros:

* Illuminated light
* Quiet operation
* Bendable
* Easy for clean up, washable
* Light weight

Cons:

* Not good for office/gaming usage

 

Thanks to Brando for providing this sample for us to review.

 

Only registered users may post a comment.

noob (Guest)	5.0 / 5	Mon 5 Jan 09
looks nice but not so good for typing...

Anonymous Coward heh (Guest)	3.0 / 5	Wed 31 Dec 08
I had one that was the same except not illuminated, and the having to hit the center of the key was awful for me! I like to sit at an angle with my desk and keep movin around, but this was just too much. Makes a great gift when you don't want it anymore.