Review: Excellent for On-the-go Light Office Use
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 17, 2014
When I purchased my 7" Kindle HDX I replaced an Asus Transformer that came with a snap-on keyboard. I loved that setup and used it for a number of years but the tablet really began showing its age. Since purchasing my HDX I've been on the hunt for a decent BT keyboard and Belkin seems to have delivered albeit with some annoyances.--------------------DESCRIPTIONThe keyboard comes built into a non-leather folio case that adjusts to two different viewing angles. For most lighting situations the preset angles of the case result in a lot of glare. I'm in an advanced degree program and use my Kindle to take quick notes and traditional overhead florescent lighting results in terrible glare on the HDX screen. This can be mitigated with the right screen protector but just be aware that adjustments are limited because of the design of the case.The Kindle itself snaps into a rigid plastic housing that holds the device very snug. Getting the Kindle in and out of the housing can be challenging and I'm constantly paranoid that I'm going to damage my device somehow.The keyboard is small and that's to be expected given the overall size of the tablet. Because of that there are some strange key placements which will slow your typing. I'm using the keyboard for notes and have just adjusted to ignoring certain grammatical devices which are a pain to use with the keyboard.--------------------USE:Pairing the keyboard to the Kindle is a breeze and should be instantly familiar to anyone who's paired Bluetooth devices before. In fact there are no instructions included and just a quick reference card.Aside from the aforementioned keyboard limitations because of the small footprint the keyboard has a decent amount of tactility and is better than some of the cheap rubber-dome keyboards I've used on desktops. But don't expect mechanical keyboard type of feedback here. I use a Corsair K95 on my desktop and there is really no comparison between mechanical keyboard tactility and rubber-dome.The built-in battery lasts for 40 hours, or so claims Belkin. I haven't tested that out but usually go a few days before throwing the keyboard back on the charger. Some sort of battery life indicator would be a welcome addition especially at the price point of this keyboard.--------------------WHAT I LIKE:(+) Attractive design that compliments the HDX perfectly.(+) Good battery life albeit without any way of telling exactly how much battery is depleted.(+) On/Off toggle switch means you're sure of the state of the device.(+) Svelte profile even with the Kindle attached; the device fits easily in a crammed backpack.(+) Magnetic snap closing cover.--------------------WHAT COULD BE BETTER:(-) A battery life indicator!(-) The price is quite steep though I do think that construction quality is good.(-) The keyboard can be difficult to use. Again given the small footprint this will be a challenge to any similar keyboard.(-) Limited viewing angles will undoubtedly limit certain applications where this keyboard/tablet combination can be used.--------------------CONCLUSION:Recommended with some caveats. Belkin delivers a "good" keyboard and the 40hr battery life is the highlight of the device. Some challenges of fitting an entire keyboard into such a small profile are present but can be overcome with patience and learning the layout.