ViewSonic ViewMate Slim USB Keyboard Review

The Viewmate is extremely thin, lying almost perfectly flat with a slight arch in the center of it. It measures only one inch tall at the top of the keyboard and less than 1/2" tall at the bottom.

Summary

The keyboard is an absolute joy to use and look at.  It is extremely comfortable to use even for hours at a time.  The keyboard lays so flat on the top of a desk or in a tray that if you are use to the awkward bump and wrist position of older keyboards, the Viewmate could require some time to get used to.  The key travel on the Viewmate is very minimal.  For someone who is used to having to bang away at a keyboard to type, this keyboard requires very little effort. If you are prone to wrist strain and carpal tunnel syndrome, this keyboard dramatically improves the overall typing position.  All the Hot Keys are easy to access and activate their respective functions instantly.  The USB ports are very convenient and provide an easy location for hooking up your digital camera or MP3 player for a quick upload or download.  Aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and the hands, this keyboard is also pleasing to value-conscious shoppers; available at several E-tailers for $35 or less.

Introduction

Amidst all the hype about gigahertz, gigabytes and bandwidth, it’s ironic that the part of a computer we spend the most time and effort using is the part that has changed the least over time. The keyboard is arguably the most overlooked and outdated component of a computer.  Fashioned from designs that have been around for years, even today’s modern computers are sporting ergonomically-poor, uninspired and unstylish keyboards.   Most of them are still manufactured in that plain old off-white plastic.  Then, along comes Viewsonic with a new take on the old keyboard. 

The company made famous by its monitors and its trademark trio of tropical birds, in recent years, has embarked on a mission to diversify its product line and bring to market some of the most innovative, smart and stylish products. One of Viewsonic’s least known products lines is its keyboards.  One of the four individually unique keyboards stands out among the rest, because of its stylish simplicity and functionality.  The Viewsonic Viewmate Slim Keyboard Model KBM-KU-201 is manufactured in a silver metallic plastic with a mix of black and gray keys.  The clean lines and refined appearance of this modern-looking keyboard make it a very complimentary addition to any existing system or monitor manufactured in black or metallic tones.

Features and use

The Viewmate is extremely thin, lying almost perfectly flat with a slight arch in the center of it.  It measures only one inch tall at the top of the keyboard and less than 1/2″ tall at the bottom.  Tucked into this compact little package, is a bevy of features.    The keyboard features 18 Hot Keys; 8 Multimedia, 7 Internet, and 3 Power Management.  What makes this keyboard so different from other keyboards with similar features is how it incorporates them without gaudy, different shaped and different colored buttons and without consuming a great deal of desk space.  This keyboard maintains an artfully simplistic layout. The Hot Keys, made of a soft-touch rubber-like material, are arrayed in line across the top of the keyboard.  The keyboard itself should be considered a hybrid, a cross-pollination of a standard keyboard and a laptop keyboard.  It does take some adjustment to become familiar with this condensed arrangement.  The black and gray tactile feedback keys provide exactly that, tactile feedback.  It is hard to envision how it could be done without increasing the overall size of the keyboard, but the placement of the arrow keys and the “DELETE” and “END” is somewhat awkward.

One of the nicest features of this keyboard is the fact that it is a USB Plug & Play device.  When used with Windows XP, the device drivers were not even needed for this device to function.  However, it is still recommended to install the drivers.  The drivers are a breeze; install in seconds and work seamlessly without incident.  Because the keyboard already connects to a computer via USB, Viewsonic had the enlightened foresight to add in a 2-port USB hub to provide even more versatility.  There is one USB port on either side of the keyboard, an ideal place for connecting a mouse for left-handed or right-handed use or for connecting any USB device with ease.   

Conclusion

The keyboard is an absolute joy to use and look at.  It is extremely comfortable to use even for hours at a time.  The keyboard lays so flat on the top of a desk or in a tray that if you are use to the awkward bump and wrist position of older keyboards, the Viewmate could require some time to get used to.  The key travel on the Viewmate is very minimal.  For someone who is used to having to bang away at a keyboard to type, this keyboard requires very little effort. If you are prone to wrist strain and carpal tunnel syndrome, this keyboard dramatically improves the overall typing position.  All the Hot Keys are easy to access and activate their respective functions instantly.  The USB ports are very convenient and provide an easy location for hooking up your digital camera or MP3 player for a quick upload or download.  Aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and the hands, this keyboard is also pleasing to value-conscious shoppers; available at several E-tailers for $35 or less.