Review: Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless Keyboard

So once in awhile, we like to step away from Mac apps just to take a look at other things going on in our world and the new products being released. I was recently able to get my hands on Logitech’s amazing Bluetooth wireless keyboard, the diNovo Edge.

Sleek and Beautiful design

The design is the thing that stands out the most on the diNovo and the major selling point in my eyes. It’s glossy and it’s thin, what more could you ask for? When I said thin, I meant thin with a height of only 11mm (0.43 inches).

The main surface of the diNovo is a glossy black, similar to that of the black iPods. It does leave a few fingerprints but Logitech has thought of everything and even included a soft cloth designed for cleaning the keyboard. On the other hand, the back is a vibrant orange, which you are almost shocked to see when you turn it over. Fortunately, it looks great and is very scratch-resistant.

One feature of the diNovo I liked a lot was the orange status lights because they look amazing. I actually had to turn the keyboard on and off a few times when I first took it out of its box. They do also serve a function, and make it easy to view what you’re doing in the dark.

Functionality

The diNovo brings some great functionality to the table. Be it the touch volume slider or the built-in touchpad, every single thing was thought out.

The Volume slider on the right side is great, you just run your finger up and down the bar and it controls the system volume; it’s perfectly compatible with Mac OS X. The slider works almost anywhere, be it a well-lit or dark room, though the slider can go a little crazy when it’s too bright. The volume will jump up and down a little.

The built-in touch pad is a great addition to the keyboard, but it still can’t beat a regular mouse. The touch has 2 buttons below for left and right click as well as page-scrolling functionality. The biggest problem I had with the touch pad was the size; it’s just too small and not accurate enough. Though this may just be the fact I have huge fingers.

The keyboard is Bluetooth enabled, so if your Mac has Bluetooth abilities you can easily set it up through your Bluetooth preference pane. Don’t fret if you own an old Mac that doesn’t have Bluetooth functionality, the keyboard comes with a USB Bluetooth dongle so you can join the wireless party too.

Unbeatable Battery

The battery life and charge times of the diNovo have shocked me. When the diNovo is fully charged it can last up to two months; that’s right, two months on a single charge. I’ve had mine for a couple of weeks now and have not had to put it back on the charger.

The diNovo also excels in quick charging, with the ability to throw it on the charger for 5 to 10 minutes and get a day’s worth of battery life out of it. One thing I forgot to mention was that if you want to get two months out of the battery, it’s just a simple two-hour wait.

Likes/Dislikes, Final Thoughts

First and foremost, the diNovo edge is not specifically design for the mac. That means no command (apple) key’s, but instead a windows key. The diNovo comes with Logitech’s Mac software allowing you to change keys, for example, I changed both the “alt” keys on either side of the keyboard to act as command keys. Hopefully Logitech will address this in the future and release a Mac version (*wink wink* *nudge nudge* Logitech).

There are many things to like about the diNovo edge. The thing that stands out the most is by far the design, with the sexy black finish on top and the unexpected orange back that seems out of place, but looks very good. The size of the device is almost perfect and the keys and feel of the keyboard are similar to those found on most laptops.

The diNovo is a great keyboard and I highly recommend you pick one up if you like thin and minimalistic gadgets. The black sort of clashes with the “typical” Mac user setup, but honestly I think it looks amazing with any machine.

The diNovo retails for $199.99, but you can pick it up on Amazon and save yourself $40 or so.