Earlier this year I bought a Logitech MK235 mouse/keyboard combo to replace my ageing Rapoo RP-X1800 that lasted longer than I thought it would but in the end succumbed to a thorough trashing from children using it on the HTPC.
Quick thoughts on the MK235:
Pros
- Battery life so far seems okay. Nearly six months in with daily use, no need to change anything yet.
- Keyboard layout is pretty close to being standard. In order to be compact a lot of wireless keyboards have a non-standard layout which is immensely frustrating.
- Wireless receiver is nice and small — can use it plugged into the front USB port without it sticking out precariously.
Cons
- No LEDs to indicate status (eg caps lock). A common issue with lower end wireless keyboards.
- Mouse has no forward/back buttons.
- The biggy: the wireless connectivity is terrible if you're using it as I am in a HTPC situation. It will often lose connection, but will store up those "lost" strokes, and then apply them all at once when it reconnects...if it reconnects soon enough. It makes for a frustrating experience where you're not quite sure if the keypress will be accepted or not at any given time. Compared to the Logitech K400 — which had a crazy-good wireless implementation — this is a bit of a let down. If it's sitting on a desk with good line of site to the receiver it may not be an issue.
