Penclic has released a mini wireless keyboard with normal size keys that can be used with either battery power or connected to your Mac via USB for continuous use. There are a lot of really good things to say about this keyboard, but there are also a couple of important issues that Penclic could have addressed to make it much easier to use.
Penclic Wireless Keyboard.
The keyboard is stylish, attractive and features Quiet-touch, full size keys. It is available in several language variations (US, UK, Scandinavian, German, French, and Swiss). Information about the layouts and costs can be found here. The keyboard is available in black or white. (They call it white, but it's really a soft beige rather than a glaring white.) The wireless connection is via a 2.4 GHz USB dongle. The design is ergonomically friendly. The keyboard can sit flat on a surface or be raised an inch using the two fold up feet located on the bottom.
The keyboard measures 13 x 9 x 2 inches (33 x 23 x 5 centimeters) and weighs about two pounds (907 grams). The size of the keyboard is the same as the key function portion of my Apple keyboard. There is a two year warranty, and contact information for the company is available on the box. And, speaking of the box, it is a nice bright red, constructed of heavy cardboard and includes a lift-up top that allows buyers to touch the keys.
Size is equal to standard Apple keyboard's primary keys.
This wireless keyboard has an MSRP of US$79.96. I found the US version on Amazon (in the black color) for $76.98.
Using The Product
This keyboard has a nice feel to it. There was a period of adjustment for me as there is with any different keyboard, but I was quickly typing with my usual speed and accuracy. It did not take but a couple of hours to charge the batteries from empty to full, and it stayed charged for two days. Charge time will vary, of course, depending on how much it is used.
There are two things about this product that I find to be an annoyance. The first concerns the charge port on the back of the keyboard. It includes a small rubber protector that sounds like a good idea, but it makes it difficult to get the cable pushed all the way into the port. I recommend that users just remove the protector. A covered port is not an expected feature of a product that is not waterproof.
Port cover is a problem.
The second annoyance has to do with all the added features. There is nothing in the accompanying manual or on the product web site that lists all the extra things it will do. As one example, if you tap Command (called Alt on this keyboard) and R, you get ®. There are a number of function (Fn) keys, but you have to figure out what does what. It is clear that there are keys that are set up to blind type numbers using the the function key, because they are marked in red on the keyboard. However, I discovered that by trial and error. I had to go through all the keys and test each one to see what the extra features were.
So despite the availablility of the OS X keyboard viewer in Yosemite (System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard tab > Show Keyboard Viewers….) I think the manual should include a visual presentation.
Red keys function as a keypad when used with Fn key.
There is a row of function keys across the top of the keyboard, and there are three of them that are particularly helpful. F3 and F4 will turn the sound on your Mac up or down. F2 will instantly mute the sound, helpful when the phone rings.
Do I Recommend It?
I do. It is sturdy and well built, and I like the fact that I can plug the charging cable into a USB port for continuous use. It requires no set up. As soon as the dongle is in place, it's ready to go. The size of the keys and the ease of typing is a plus and all the extra function key options are a nice addition once you figure out what does what.