My current home theater setup isn’t anything amazing right now, but it’s being improved. I currently have an HTPC that I built last May hooked up to my roommate’s 20” Sharp LCD TV which is fine for a dorm room, but my lease starts in a few weeks and some upgrades will need to be made. I also picked up the Adesso WKB-4000US wireless keyboard with built in touchpad. This is a vital upgrade for any home theater with an HTPC because it gives you access to the computer outside of Media Center.
You may be questioning what’s wrong with a regular Bluetooth mouse and keyboard combo. The issue is that I like to sit deep in my couch and having a 2.4GHz wireless keyboard touchpad in my lap is extremely convenient considering the alternative. The other plus, is that the Adesso WKB-4000US is cheaper than most midrange Bluetooth keyboard mouse combos. It retails on Amazon for about $80, I was able to snag mine off of eBay for under $70 including shipping. I’ve had this now since January and I am very pleased with it. Some of my initial concerns were that since the market for this type of product doesn’t really exist, I was concerned about the build quality. Turns out it is built great. It’s taken some
small falls and has held up great. Nothing is loose and the keys don’t stick. The batteries also last a long time. I haven’t had to change them yet! One thing that took me a while to figure out was that to wake the keyboard up after a period of inactivity is that you need to push a button twice, the touchpad won’t wake it up.
If you are used to working on a laptop, this keyboard will feel like home. Honestly, I struggle to come up with any improvement
s for the Adesso WKB-4000US other than I wish it came in black. I love the reaction of people when they see it sitting around my room. Their first impression was that I hacked a keyboard in half, then I explain what it is, and they fall in love with the concept and its execution. All in all, this will always be a stable of my home theater setup.
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