Brando USB Flexible Keyboard

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

February 18, 2005

Product Requirements:
PS2 or USB port on your laptop, Tablet PC or Windows 98/2000/ME/XP Desktop computer. Should also work with Mac computers.

Are you one of those people that can't sit in front of a computer without something nearby to eat or drink? I admit that I always have a diet coke in the near vicinity of my left hand. Being something of a klutz, I am not very proud to tell you that I have managed to completely fry no less than three keyboards over the last five years, because I accidentally knocked over my drink. Bummer...

So while I have had pretty good luck since I have been using my current Atech keyboard, I was still quite interested when Brando offered to send us his Flexible Keyboard, which as the box states is "virtually indestructible."

This keyboard is actually available in two sizes, the Mini with 85 keys and the Full size with 105. I was sent the Mini, which measures approximately 13.7" long x 5.25" tall x 0.5" on the end which holds its "brains".

The keyboard has a USB cable with a PS2 adapter on the end, so that it can be used by just about any computer out there.

The entire item is made of fully sealed translucent blue flexible silicone. This keyboard is dustproof, waterproof, and safe to use in just about any climate for that reason.

Photo courtesy of Brando

The keyboard is extremely flexible, which you can see in this picture where I have it rolled up like an enchilada.

Typing on the keyboard seems strange at first! To begin with, the keyboard is very flat, with the keys only poking up about ⅛ of an inch. While the keys are perfectly silent as you tap on them, you can still feel a very satisfying tactile feedback. With that said, I did feel like I had to press the keys a little bit harder than I am used to, especially the space bar.

When the "Caps Lock" is engaged, a red LED will shine on the right side of the board.

The only caveat to using the Flexible Keyboard is that for the entire time I was testing it, I couldn't help but wish that it was on a platform of some kind. It is just too flat for comfortable long-term data entry. However, just the fact that the user can't "kill" it may be enough to make some people get one.

Who needs this keyboard? Well, someone that has a track record for killing traditional models. Someone that works in a harsh environment, where there is dust, sand, or rain all the time. This keyboard would be perfect in a dusty warehouse, a feed yard, the middle of the desert, the middle of a rain-forest. Anywhere that a typical keyboard would be in danger of failing. In fact, while I was writing this review, I couldn't help but think that this would be the perfect companion to a Tablet PC in an Otterbox Tablet PC Case.

Price: $22 for the mini, $26 for the full-size

Pros:
Virtually indestructible
You can spill drinks on it, drop food on it, whatever
Very silent keyboard
Extremely portable
Excellent for harsh environments

Cons:
So flat that it isn't comfortable for long-term use