On-screen keyboards of tablet PCs, smartphones and TV games attachments are not a gift at all. Most likely many users, who have had to face such gadgets in real earnest, will agree with it. SVEN Comfort 8300 Bluetooth mini-keyboard will enable to get rid of all the problems relating to the absence of convenient built-in control elements.
There are two approaches to keyboards for “intelligent gadgets”, which have captivated the market. In such cases some developers suggest using a big wireless full-fledged keyboard with a touchpad, which substitute a mouse. It is more convenient for TV-sets and TV games attachments. Other people, on the contrary, consider that, first of all, it is important to create a keyboard as mobile, as the touch screen. They create the most compact models, which tend to the remote control by size. This variant is more preferential for tablet PCs and smartphones. SVEN Comfort 8300 Bluetoothwireless keyboard is a prominent example of the second strategy. In addition to a compact size it has another important advantage: the device does not need any USB port for connection. It is connected using Bluetooth technology, which is available in every gadget having self-respect.
Package content
The device is packed in a cardboard white-and-blue small box of a surprisingly modest size.
Two batteries (AAA form-factor), a warranty card and User’s Manual (which is quite not superfluous there) are included in the package content. A receiver is not available, the keyboard is perceived to be connected to the built-in Bluetooth module. But if you want to connect the keyboard to a desktop computer, then it is not a problem at all to buy a little dongle in a shopа.
Appearance
Everybody, who saw the keyboard in our laboratory, had the same first reaction: “How little it is!” Well, such tiny keyboards are not found at every step – you begin to feel as Gulliver or Alice in Wonderland against your will. The device size is 20 × 2 × 8 cm, and its weight is comparable with a bar of chocolate – 100 g. The length of the device is comparable with a medium-sized tablet PC.
The keyboard is thorough, simple and practical; it is made of nonspottable black plastic. There are no decorations on it at all; keys and only keys occupy the whole face surface. Developers removed even collars for greater compactness.
The rear side is a base for keys; a bulge is visible from above. On one side, it provides more useful inclination to the keyboard and on the other – it serves as a compartment for batteries.
From the constructional point of view everything has been thought out well in this keyboard. By the way, SVEN has a much alike model – SVEN Comfort 8500 Bluetooth, which has a stylish metal case – it can catch somebody’s fancy much more.
Connection, communication
As the keyboard operates via Bluetooth, it will be necessary to spare a pair of minutes to the simple setting during the first switching on. In order to connect the device to a tablet PC (smartphone, PC, TV-set, etc.), it is necessary to activate or start searching of a new equipment in the parameters of Bluetooth, switch on the power supply and press the Esc+K key combination on the keyboard. After that it will suffice to follow instructions on the screen. From here on the device will be recognized by the system and connected at once, on the uptake. The keyboard can be also connected to those devices, which do not have the built-in Bluetooth module. It suffices to buy an external USB transmitter to them, which costs several US dollars.
As it turned out during the test, wireless connection with the module is operable from the distance up to 7 meters. It is even too much to control a tablet PC, but if you want to use the keyboard as a remote control for a player, desktop computer, then it will be to the point very much.
Keys
Keys of SVEN Comfort 8300 are good, keystroke is clear, there is no sticking. You may seize upon a small play, but during typing it is not felt – it is noticeable on close examination only.
As may be seen, there are both Latin and Russian symbols on keys, it is convenient, even though you have already got used to touch-type. The keys are smaller a little bit. The keyboard layout as a whole is classic, but the location of keys is also slightly changed to please the compactness. Thus, the right digital block is not available, it occupies too much place, but numerals are duplicated all the same above a keyboard row. Keys of the alphabetical block from the right side slightly went downward to the space bar. The new location, of course, is unusual a little bit, but you will get accustomed to the made changes quickly.
This is an upper key row worthy of being noted. Some additional keys, which facilitate the control of multimedia abilities, are hidden in it. There are 19 keys there in total – one-size-fits-all. It is a very appropriate thing, because tablet PCs are often used just for entertainment-multimedia purposes.
As it is seen, the keys of the device are the compromise between compactness and comfort. The result turned out to be expected, acceptable. Such a keyboard, apparently, will not be used to type novels, but for episodic typing of a text it is fit perfectly.
In operation
In practice the keyboard turned out a pleasant “trifle”, which really facilitates to control devices. Of course, it cannot be regarded as a main keyboard for a desktop computer or notebook. But as a convenient supplement to a tablet PC or smartphone, remote control to a TV-set or player on your desktop it looks perfectly. It is nice that if required one gadget can be used easily with all devices without reconnection of a receiver, at that there are no problems with the search of a vacant USB ports for it.
It is not so comfortably to type on the keyboard as on big desktop variants, but in comparison with the on-screen keyboard it looks splendidly. It is great, that the gadget is fitted in a cover for a tablet PC – it is convenient to take it along. Remarks: it would be even better, if the keyboard is provided with a removable “travelling” cover; we hope such solution will find its realization in future versions of the device.
Conclusion
SVEN Comfort 8300 Bluetooth is an excellent companion for a tablet PC. This keyboard enables to turn a mobile gadget into a full-fledged working place and extends its functionality. Such compact wireless model is topical for those people, who use actively a tablet PC for Skype, e-mail, or would like to facilitate the process of documents editing. Its dimensions makes it possible to take the keyboard along easily, multimedia keys facilitate to control “entertaining” functions. And the connection via Bluetooth is the special, and maybe the main advantage, from the point of view of saving ports. Not to put too fine a point on it, in principle ordinary USB ports are not available on every tablet PC, but there are no problems with the Bluetooth at all.
It is worth noting that the keyboard can be also used for notebooks, PCs and other devices. The gadget will be useful in each case, when a remote control is required in a space-saving case.
Advantages:
- Size
- Bluetooth
- Multimedia keys
Disadvantages:
- Small play of keys and ON/OFF button
Photos from TECHLABS studio, photographer Kirill Kruchinin
