Ratings: Ease of Use, Performance: 23/25, Look & Feel: 24/25, Features & Software 25/25, How much I enjoy 25/25 Total: 97/100
Although it is billed as a Wireless Notebook Keypad and Mouse Set for the Notebook I found the Kensington Wireless Notebook Keypad/Calculator and Mouse Set perfect for what I was looking for. This is the second article about my search for a keypad due to my keyboard not having a keypad on it, hence a new word “keypadless”. The current standalone keypads available are not many and yet there is more than a few keyboards out there that do not include the handy and for gamers indispensable keypad.
The Google search that started my Internet hunt for a keypad only came up with a few selections and I lucked out in getting two to review. The Toshiba, see other article, is a nice corded add on but this Kensington not only has the added feature of a wireless mouse but I really do like the calculator. When reviewing things I add up and average the scores and I am not as smart as my kids, so having a calculator handy is a necessity.
The Kensington Keypad/Calculator is handy as long as I don’t misplace it somewhere in my office. Changing from calculator to Keypad for the PC or notebook is a matter of pressing the PC/Cal button on the front. If the keypad has gone into auto shut off to save on batteries it is a matter of simply pressing the AC/On button to start up your routine. It may not be as handy as the always on Toshiba USB keypad but I kind of like the convenience of the Blue Tooth cordless technology. Plugging in the Mouse and Keypad is as simple as attaching the Blue Tooth unit to an available USB port and inserting batteries into both the mouse and keypad. The mouse is a little tricky getting the cover off to insert the two AAA batteries because you have to push down on the cover as you push forward but it works pretty well. The keypad also takes two AAA batteries but the package comes with four for you to start off with.
The mouse works well being one of those smaller designs for notebooks and works just as well on a desktop computer. You do need to get used to a smaller mouse but everything works out in the end. The connection is easy, just press the button on the Blue Tooth unit if you do not get it to start off when you plug it in. I have seen a few times when inserting the Blue Tooth into the USB and my laptop or desktop does it’s simple plug and play install that the mouse and keypad work off the bat. Other times I have had to press the buttons on the Blue Tooth and the mouse and keypad. Sometimes a couple of times for one of them to find the other but it never took more than two or three tries to get working. I am not sure if this is normal for Blue Tooth but it works fine for me.
The keypad is a normal keypad, almost the same as a conventional keyboard one, the addition of a backspace and 000 made moving the keys around a bit but the numbers and such are the same. The calculator functions work well and there is no problem with going from one to the other, the keypad and calculator simply complement each other. If you do use the keypad with a keyboard or notebook that already has a keypad you simply turn off the Num Lock on the keyboard or notebook. The Keypad/Calculator and Mouse set from Kensington is a very handy and convenient set with the three main features of a wireless mouse, extra or added keypad and calculator. The convenience of Blue Tooth with its plug and play simplicity is the handiest feature for me due to the fact that I can use the Keypad on my desktop or take it with and quickly use it with my notebook computer on the run.
The Kensington Wireless Keypad/Calculator and Mouse Set comes with the Blue Tooth unit, the mouse, keypad/calculator, a handy carry pouch, four AAA batteries and instructions in several different languages. I found the keypad and the mouse easy enough to use that I did not have to refer to the instructions at all but it is nice to have some. The pouch is a nice added touch so you don’t have the three items sloshing around in your briefcase or notebook bag and can quickly find and use the set.
The calculator works just like a regular one and switching to the keypad is extremely simple with the touch of a button. The slick rubber sides and feet on the keypad ensure you don’t slide around with it or loose your grip. The mouse has the Teflon feet for free movement but still with the rubber coated plastic on the sides for grip.
Overall I was very impressed with the Kensington Wireless Notebook Keypad/Calculator and Mouse Set. It is a handy and convenient way to add not only a wireless keypad/calculator to your keypadless keyboard but a nice addition to a notebook computer.
