Home Theatre PCs (HTPCs) can be store brought or home-made. They are quite flexible and powerful means of watching a variety of content. While they are flexible and powerful yet you often have to deal with the operating system that your HTPC is using and if you have a Windows 10, it’s not going to be easy. For that you need to have remote control device or you should keep a mouse and keyboard handy.
What if you get both of them in one? Accessory makers like Microsoft and Logitech are making keyboards that have integrated touchpads. They quite look like laptops without any screen, but are actually designed for home entertainment systems. The following are the best all-in-one touchpads and keyboards for your HTPCs.
Microsoft All-In-One Media Keyboard
Microsoft certainly has a lot of admirers of its keyboards. It has combined trackpad and keyboard. But the trackpad had recessed left-right mouse keys that can be hard to identify in dark. It has volume controls and customized media keys. It also operates on a USB dongle and has a range of 30 feet. It runs on two AAA batteries. It can cost around 40$.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard
Most of you might be familiar with the Lenovo ThinkPad Laptop series that have impressive keyboards and unique and graceful TrackPoint mouse devices. This keyboard combines both of them and are meant for desktop users. It is not actually made for HTPCs but it has a considerably small size as compared to other options listed here and the batteries can be charged with a MicroUSB Cable. It does not have dedicated media keys and you might need a Bluetooth USB Adapter if your HTPC does not have this feature incorporated. It can cost around 80$ and it comparatively expansive, but it can be an ideal choice for people who have to use the keyboard a lot while playing games or typing while chatting.
Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard
Logitech provide one of the best keyboards available in the market and they make ones specifically for HTPCs. The layout is quite impressive incorporating the full number series and function keys and the trackpad has physical left-right mouse click buttons. Dedicate media keys are present and the operating distance claimed by Logitech is 33 feet. The keyboard is powered by two AA batteries. The whole series is quite stylish and you can get a good one out of this Logitech series for around 40$ (we would recommend K400).
Lenovo Multimedia Remote Keyboard
For those HTPC owners who want something close to conventional remote controls, Lenovo Multimedia Remote Keyboard is the best. This handy gadget has a QWERTY keyboard and a small trackpad sensor. It also has unique and slim left-right mouse buttons above the trackpad sensor. The dedicated media keys incorporated in his gadget make it quite easy to use when watching videos or listening to audios. Various versions of this Wireless Touch Keyboard are available in market and all use two AA batteries and USB adapter for power.
Apart from these other options are also available in market but before buying you need to make sure whether or not they have the functions to fulfil your purpose.
What if you get both of them in one? Accessory makers like Microsoft and Logitech are making keyboards that have integrated touchpads. They quite look like laptops without any screen, but are actually designed for home entertainment systems. The following are the best all-in-one touchpads and keyboards for your HTPCs.
Microsoft All-In-One Media Keyboard
Microsoft certainly has a lot of admirers of its keyboards. It has combined trackpad and keyboard. But the trackpad had recessed left-right mouse keys that can be hard to identify in dark. It has volume controls and customized media keys. It also operates on a USB dongle and has a range of 30 feet. It runs on two AAA batteries. It can cost around 40$.
Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard
Most of you might be familiar with the Lenovo ThinkPad Laptop series that have impressive keyboards and unique and graceful TrackPoint mouse devices. This keyboard combines both of them and are meant for desktop users. It is not actually made for HTPCs but it has a considerably small size as compared to other options listed here and the batteries can be charged with a MicroUSB Cable. It does not have dedicated media keys and you might need a Bluetooth USB Adapter if your HTPC does not have this feature incorporated. It can cost around 80$ and it comparatively expansive, but it can be an ideal choice for people who have to use the keyboard a lot while playing games or typing while chatting.
Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard
Logitech provide one of the best keyboards available in the market and they make ones specifically for HTPCs. The layout is quite impressive incorporating the full number series and function keys and the trackpad has physical left-right mouse click buttons. Dedicate media keys are present and the operating distance claimed by Logitech is 33 feet. The keyboard is powered by two AA batteries. The whole series is quite stylish and you can get a good one out of this Logitech series for around 40$ (we would recommend K400).
Lenovo Multimedia Remote Keyboard
For those HTPC owners who want something close to conventional remote controls, Lenovo Multimedia Remote Keyboard is the best. This handy gadget has a QWERTY keyboard and a small trackpad sensor. It also has unique and slim left-right mouse buttons above the trackpad sensor. The dedicated media keys incorporated in his gadget make it quite easy to use when watching videos or listening to audios. Various versions of this Wireless Touch Keyboard are available in market and all use two AA batteries and USB adapter for power.
Apart from these other options are also available in market but before buying you need to make sure whether or not they have the functions to fulfil your purpose.