I got this for my wife for a gift and she has been going crazy-go-nuts over how much she loves it for several days. I'll give a quick break down for people who are shopping.
Pros:
1. It works with anything that has Bluetooth, and VERY easily. We hooked up an iPad mini, and two cell phones (both android) in less than 3 minutes. It's that easy. Just activate your Bluetooth on your device, search for devices, select the K480, type the verification code in on the keyboard, and you're up.
2. It actually works as simply as it sounds. In all the devices we hooked up, we just turn the 3 way toggle and it automatically switches to that device, takes away the "on device" keyboard, and you start typing on that device. You can switch between devices on the fly, which takes like 1-2 seconds. My wife has her iPad mini and her phone in the cradle and is online and texting her mother simultaneously, just switching back and forth between devices with 1 flip of a switch.
It's absurdly easy and she loves it with bells on.
Bells on?
No.
More like a whole hand bell choir, playing Beethoven while she sips tea with Emily Gaskell and Jane Austin in a gazebo in 1850's Brittan.
Okay...maybe not that much.
3. It's solid and doesn't feel like it's plastic. It's not too heavy per say, but solid.
4. It has a clever sticker along the top that has full instructions to set things up and connect devices. As a guy, I love that she got to feel all "techie" by doing stuff without asking me for help. I love helping her, but figuring out technology on her own makes here feel somehow like a part of the CIA.
5. It's a laptop sized keyboard. I'm writing this on my Asus laptop and the key spacing is identical to my laptop. The keys themselves are a little smaller with a little more space in between then, but if you can type on a laptop you can type on this. No cramped fingers and no hitting 2 keys with one finger.
6. It has multiple multifunction keys that are pre-programmed (like a "home" key, a "back" key, etc.). She's figured out a bunch of cool shortcuts and has love learning to utilize this thing to actually make her more efficient and productive in the hour she has at the end of the night to get all the e-mail/web surfing time in.
7. It's nicely thought out. There aren't any unnecessary gadgets or needless buttons on this (though that's pure opinion).
8. It's Logitech. They just make decent stuff and they're a brand name that has some credibility, being around the business for decades and decades. I still use 2 Logitech mice that are a decade old. They're not a perfect company, but I have honestly never had serious problems with Logitech.
9. It shipped with batteries, included and ready to go. You just pull out the tab and you're on.
Cons:
1. It was more costly than the alternatives. We got it on sale for $40, and that might seem high for a Bluetooth keyboard. There are other brands online for $15 or less. Then again, half those $15 options all look the same because they're all made in the same sweatshop in China and re-branded by a company that won't be around in 2 years once the money gets laundered.
Now it's true that Logitech's stuff is all made in Chinese sweatshop too, but Logitech has a long-standing name. Still, it probably doesn't need to cost $40. It is definitely more solid and respectable a product than the $15 knock-off stuff, so I paid the fee and don't regret it. As consumers, we're likely getting skinned because of the name "Logitech"...but if we wanted a quality "made in America" product that was produced in a factory where the workers made an actually livable wage, it would cost $140.
What can you do?
2. They keys make noise. Some folks have complained that the keys are loud, and they're about as loud as any regular laptop keyboard. I don't see that as a con, but if you're expecting it to be as quite as the touch pad on you phone, it won't be. If you plan to use this to send text messages in church, you'll get discovered pretty quick.
Then again, if you're taking an external Bluetooth keyboard to church because you plan on texting that much, you have some serious problems.
So, for $40 I made my wife significantly happier for several days. That alone is worth the money for me.
| Brand | Logitech |
|---|---|
| Series | windows, pc, mac, andriod, ios, smartphones |
| Item model number | 920-006342 |
| Hardware Platform | Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone |
| Operating System | Windows 10, 11 or later, Chrome OS, macOS 10.14 or later, iOS 11 or later, iPadOS 13.1 or later, Android 7 or later |
| Item Weight | 1.81 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 12.2 x 1.61 x 7.91 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 12.2 x 1.61 x 7.91 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | Logitech |
| ASIN | B00MUTWLW4 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | September 3, 2014 |
