Logitech HTPC keyboard K400 $25 with Free Shipping

[Roland00Address]

I have the exact same keyboard and it is my favorite HTPC keyboard (I have several of them)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech...4993&cp=1&lp=1

$19.99 with free shipping.

One day sale is over, Price is $24.99 still is the cheapest price out there according to google shopping (though newegg and some other places are tied)

 

[SithSolo1]

Worth every penny and the batteries last forever.

 

[ivwshane]

I'm in for one. I just did the local puck up though.

 

[formulav8]

I've had 1 for a long time now.

Overall it is a good kb. As mentioned above, it uses very little battery power; plus an on-off switch.

There are a couple failures IMO. There is no scroll wheel, no right click or middle-click button at the top left with the left-click button. To scroll you have to use 2 fingers on the touchpad. They really could have make this an even better kb.

I use a script program to allow me to hold down F1 while using the touchpad to scroll and I used the escape key as a right-click button. Not the best way to add those features, but it helps.


Jason

 

[Firsttime]

I've used one of these for like 3-4 years now with my HTPC it's pretty solid. Range is pretty decent, batteries last forever as others have noted. Like Jason I did notice the lack of scroll wheel, I've become well acquainted with the Page Up/Down buttons on it. For the price though it's pretty awesome as per usual with Logitech stuff.

 

[Roland00Address]

It was a one day sale so the price is now $25. I would gladly buy it again for $25 but $20 was even better.

I've had 1 for a long time now.

Overall it is a good kb. As mentioned above, it uses very little battery power; plus an on-off switch.

There are a couple failures IMO. There is no scroll wheel, no right click or middle-click button at the top left with the left-click button. To scroll you have to use 2 fingers on the touchpad. They really could have make this an even better kb.

I use a script program to allow me to hold down F1 while using the touchpad to scroll and I used the escape key as a right-click button. Not the best way to add those features, but it helps.


Jason

I am not disagreeing it can be improved, but for $20 dollars it is a steal, and I have yet to find a better keyboard and I have spent over $200 maybe $300 on htpc keyboards over the years. I am not doubting it can be improved, I am not doubting there are better things out there, but since finding this keyboard I have stopped looking.

What is better out there right now, not theoretically better but you know through actual use?

 

[Pariah]

It was a one day sale so the price is now $25. I would gladly buy it again for $25 but $20 was even better.


I am not disagreeing it can be improved, but for $20 dollars it is a steal, and I have yet to find a better keyboard and I have spent over $200 maybe $300 on htpc keyboards over the years. I am not doubting it can be improved, I am not doubting there are better things out there, but since finding this keyboard I have stopped looking.

What is better out there right now, not theoretically better but you know through actual use?

What's wrong with pointing out shortcomings to perspective buyers? No one would expect a $20 keyboard to be perfect.

 

[Roland00Address]

What's wrong with pointing out shortcomings to perspective buyers? No one would expect a $20 keyboard to be perfect.

I seriously want to know which keyboard is better, not because this one is bad (it is very very good) but I haven't found the perfect one yet.

I agreed with him on the limitations, just stating that with the limitations this is the best one I have found...yet.

 

[ponyo]

I seriously want to know which keyboard is better, not because this one is bad (it is very very good) but I haven't found the perfect one yet.

I agreed with him on the limitations, just stating that with the limitations this is the best one I have found...yet.

My problem with K400 keyboard is that it doesn't work on the ChromeOS developer boot screen. I use Chromebox as my HTPC. I have it setup to dual boot to ChromeOS or OpenELEC. If I press Ctrl-D, it boots into ChromeOS. If I press Ctrl-L, it boots into OpenELEC. Logitech K400 does not work in the developer boot screen. It only works after I boot into ChromeOS or OpenELEC, not before. So if I want to use K400, I have to have another wired/wireless keyboard plugged in for the developer boot screen to make my choice. Highly inconvenient.

Logitech K360 and K700 works perfectly on the ChromeOS developer boot screen. K700 is the keyboard for the discontinued Logitech Revue Google TV and very similar in design to K400. It has couple more specialized media keys built for Revue.

 

[Denithor]

This keyboard is also available for the same price ($24.99) at Amazon and qualifies for Prime. Just ordered one - have gotten aggravated with the Microsoft wireless keyboard + mouse I have been using, the keyboard constantly loses link or something, doesn't type half the time when I start hitting keys.

 

[Roland00Address]

My problem with K400 keyboard is that it doesn't work on the ChromeOS developer boot screen. I use Chromebox as my HTPC. I have it setup to dual boot to ChromeOS or OpenELEC. If I press Ctrl-D, it boots into ChromeOS. If I press Ctrl-L, it boots into OpenELEC. Logitech K400 does not work in the developer boot screen. It only works after I boot into ChromeOS or OpenELEC, not before. So if I want to use K400, I have to have another wired/wireless keyboard plugged in for the developer boot screen to make my choice. Highly inconvenient.

Logitech K360 and K700 works perfectly on the ChromeOS developer boot screen. K700 is the keyboard for the discontinued Logitech Revue Google TV and very similar in design to K400. It has couple more specialized media keys built for Revue.

Well that just sucks

 

[Brother Ali]

Two fingers on touchpad=scroll wheel

 

[John Connor]

Meh, I need a number pad.

 

[chizow]

This is a solid HTPC keyboard, lightweight with good overall size. The newer white one looks a bit better imo without the crazy touchpad "flair" lines, but it also doesn't drop in price as frequently as the original black one. The black model is frequently on sale for $20-25 from Newegg, Amazon, and Staples especially around the holidays. Not great for typing, but very functional for HTPC use.

Some other good options for HTPC use:

1) Lenovo N5902: Frequently goes on sale for $30-$40 from Lenovo. Kind of a hybrid trackball, BlackBerry typing remote-control experience. The optical thumb pointer is a bit jittery imo, but overall this device works well for those who want more point-click browsing and need less typing.

2) Logitech TK820: much more expensive but much nicer build quality compared to the K400. Feels better overall from typing to using the touchpad, but costs about 3x as much. I'm personally waiting for this to go on sale for $40-50 during BF. Newegg just had a deal on refurbs for $45, but who really wants to buy a refurbed keyboard?

I've been using the K400 and N5902 along with a cheap Windows remote for a few years now on my HTPCs (and now an Intel Haswell NUC) and I use them all depending on context.

One thing to keep in mind with this K400, it has terrible range if you connect the universal receiver directly to the NUC unit. May be some kind of EMI or shielding problems when it is that close to the chassis, but I had to use a USB extension dongle to move it away from the NUC itself. Symptoms will be really sporadic/unresponsive mousing and typing, as if the keyboard is defective (or drunk). Some reports on Logitech forums confirm the issue and acknowledgement by Logitech staff.

 

[Kaido]

Have one & love it.

I also have a Logitech "couch mouse" (M515), which has a sealed, tinted plastic or glass bottom for using on armrests. I use that for gaming or surfing since I hate touchpads. I only use the touchpad if it's light stuff.

 

[VirtualLarry]

One thing to keep in mind with this K400, it has terrible range if you connect the universal receiver directly to the NUC unit. May be some kind of EMI or shielding problems when it is that close to the chassis, but I had to use a USB extension dongle to move it away from the NUC itself. Symptoms will be really sporadic/unresponsive mousing and typing, as if the keyboard is defective (or drunk). Some reports on Logitech forums confirm the issue and acknowledgement by Logitech staff.

That is probably because the NUC's USB ports are 3.0, and that interferes with 2.4Ghz wireless.

 

[juiio]

I've got this keyboard and for me, it doesn't work when sitting on my lap. If I lift it up a few inches, it is fine. Based on reviews, I seem to be the exception rather than the norm though.

 

[Kaido]

That is probably because the NUC's USB ports are 3.0, and that interferes with 2.4Ghz wireless.

Can you expand on that? I haven't heard of that before, but every NUC I've setup is sitting within 5 feet of the Unity devices - have not tried from a further distance.

 

[chizow]

That is probably because the NUC's USB ports are 3.0, and that interferes with 2.4Ghz wireless.

Good catch, haven't heard of this issue but definitely documented by Intel. I guess the mainboard/chassis itself and usb 3.0 connector radiate enough noise to interfere with the Logitech wireless receiver, causing the exact behavior documented in the Intel whitepaper. Moving it away via USB extension cable fixes this.

For K400 users, keep in mind the unit only comes with a ~small thumbsized extender that doesn't put enough distance away from the USB 3.0 connectors so I had to use a 3' extender from one of my many mice/peripherals.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...al-bus/usb3-frequency-interference-paper.html

Can you expand on that? I haven't heard of that before, but every NUC I've setup is sitting within 5 feet of the Unity devices - have not tried from a further distance.

See whitepaper above. I think 5 feet would be plenty, it only occurs when I had the Logitech receiver attached directly to the USB 3.0 port.

 

[ponyo]

That is probably because the NUC's USB ports are 3.0, and that interferes with 2.4Ghz wireless.

It's first time I've heard of this problem. I sit about 15 ft away from my Chromebox. All my Logitech wireless devices work flawlessly, and I've never experienced any loss of signal or input lag problem. I've tried K360 keyboard, M570 trackball, and K700 Revue keyboard. All work flawless with Logitech nano unifying receiver plugged into the Chromebox front USB 3.0 port.

 

[Heloperator]

I've owned a couple small Bluetooth keyboard and thumb pads but ultimately I end up using my iphone with hippo lite.