One would think that is more than enough to turn heads on a keyboard, but that just wasn't enough for them. They had to one up it and place a 2-port USB hub on the backside. Why should that be exciting? Well some of us have a couple of USB devices like mice, camera's, joysticks, etc. that we like to swap on occasion. Having to reach the back of the tower, or a multiport hub on the desktop to trade devices can be a pain for those of us belonging to the lazy persuasion. I have to admit it is a nice feature and one that should make life a bit easier for many users out there.
Some basic system requirements must be met in order to use these features. I went over the software requirements needed for use of the hotkeys, and so here are the system requirements just for those that might need to concern themselves with such things.
Requirements for the Intellitype Pro software and hot keys:
A 486(he he.) or Pentium Processor (read as any current x86 processor on the market) Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 (tested fine in Windows ME and 2000) 16MB of RAM (he he again.) 35MB of free hard disk space A CDROM drive(working preferably) A free working USB port
To use the multimedia keys you will need one of the following:
A Creative PC-DVD Player
Creative CD
Creative Labs Soundo'Le
Microsoft CD Player
Microsoft Media Player
Microsoft Deluxe CD Player
Nullsoft Winamp
Realplayer Ver. 4, 5, or G2
Toshiba DVD Video Player
Toshiba Audio CD Player
Voyetra AudioStation
Yamaha Ystation 32
Now this doesn't mean that other media products won't work, it just means these were the ones tested and supported for the features. The sleep function requires Windows 98 or later on a system with power management capabilities. Without the power management capability, the sleep hot key will provide screen saver, log off and shutdown functionality, but not suspend and resume. I personally don't use the suspend or sleep function on any of my systems, they like to run at all times. But it does work. Also provided is a detachable wrist rest. It's plastic, not as comfortable as the gel or foam ones, but does elevate the wrists to a more normal angle.
Press release on this and the other
keyboards in the Internet family (including the Internet Keyboard, and the
Natural Keyboard Pro) was put out on June 22, 1999. The Internet Keyboard Pro
reviewed here was slated to be available earlier this year, so all should be
available for you to get your grubby little paws on. For an estimated retail
price of $54.95, this is not a bad deal at all. It does it's job, affords the
user lots of keys to get things done more efficiently, and has the added bonus
of the two USB ports so it is no slouch for power users. The wife is due home
anytime now, so I need to get this beauty back in it's place or bad things will
happen for sure. Take my word for it; a happy wife with nice toys to play with
is a very good thing!!!