84 OCTOBER 2019|COMPUTERSHOPPER|ISSUE 380
THERASPBERRYPIseries of single board
micro PCs has always offered respectable
compatibility with Windows keyboards,
despitethem not being Windows computers
themselves. In other words, if you’re
embarking on aPiproject, you don’t need to
spend extra on proprietary peripherals, and
should be able to get by with any HID (Human
InterfaceDevice)wiredorBluetoothkeyboard.
Even so,toaccompany the release of the
new Raspberry Pi 4Model B(Shopper379),
the Raspberry Pi Foundation has launched its
very own set of peripherals. This includes the
Raspberry Pi Keyboard, aslim little tenkeyless
number that costs only £16.
Despiteits apparent lack of necessity,
compatibility-wise,bringing out an official
keyboard forthe Pi 4Model Bmakes a
particular kind of sense.With its improved
performance and upgraded connectivity,it’s
the most viable Raspberry Pi yet to use as an
everydaydesktop replacement and, unlike
more esoteric uses of the tiny computer
(such as turning it intoaportable games
console,remote-controlled robot or
homemade security camera), desktop duty
demands akeyboard be installed at all times.
The whitetop and pinkish-red underside
also make it aperfect match forthe official
Raspberry Pi case forboth the Raspberry Pi 4
version and previous models.
LITTLE BY LITTLE
The rock-bottom price also appears to be in
keeping with the traditions of the Raspberry
Pi. However,while the small outlayfor these
computers has always been amark of great
value considering how faryour £34 would
stretch otherwise,there are no surprises as
to why the Raspberry Pi Keyboard is so cheap.
It’s basic in the extreme,built entirely from
light plastics and having the unmistakably
dull feel of amembrane keyboard.
RASPBERRYPIKeyboard
★★★★★
£16•From http://www.thepihut.com
VERDICT
It’snotmuchgoodasaday-to-daydesktoppartner,butthisdirt-cheapkeyboardisagileandwellconnected
The layout attempts to emulateApple’s
slimline keyboards, with flat chiclet keys.
Credit where it’s due,this helps maintain a
nice low-profile aesthetic, and the keys are
adequately spaced; overall, it’s about the same
width as a13in laptop keyboard. Still, it lacks a
certain crispness. Although chiclet keys such
as this tend to have amechanical element in
their scissor switches, typing long paragraphs
on the Raspberry Pi Keyboard is unsatisfying.
There’sahollownessto thewholething,largely
inflictedbythecheapmaterials,andnothelped
by the lack of tactile or audible feedback.
Oftenthiscanbeagoodthingtothosewho
preferquieter operation, but the Raspberry Pi
Keyboard isn’t fully silent: unless you’re
pressing very lightly,hammering at the keys
makes arattling sound, as if all the internal
components are creaking under your fingers.
SLIDE NOTE
At some points, the Raspberry Pi Keyboard
became actively irritating. There are just two
thin rubber feet on the underside,and one of
them was somehow more effective than the
other; we’d notice the whole keyboard slowly
sliding upwards as we typed, with the leftfoot
losing grip while the right acted as apivot
point. We weren’t using aparticularly slick
surface either,just awooden desk.
There’s also no height adjustment, so the
default typing angle is the only one you get,
and there’s nothing in the wayofbonus keys
or keyfunctionality.Infairness, the latter is
understandable foraRaspberry Pi peripheral
specifically: the Raspbian OS doesn’t support
keyboard media controls unless you make
some tweaks via the trigger-happydaemon.
Still, the option of having volume and mute
controls isn’t even given via the function
keys –worth knowing if you were considering
this as acheap Windows keyboard option –
and there’s alot of doubling-up on key
functions in order to include everything.
F11 and F12, forexample,are relegated to
being sub-functions on the F1 and F2 keys.
Even with its low price,then, the Raspberry
Pi Keyboard doesn’t initially shape up as a
very desirable choice.For use with a
Raspberry Pi specifically,itbeing awired
model (rather than connecting via Bluetooth)
might also seem aproblem –when you’ve
only got four full-size USB ports on the
computer,permanently occupying one with a
keyboard doesn’t sound like the wisest idea.
However,this brings us to what just about
rescues the Raspberry Pi Keyboard: its three
USB2 pass-through ports. Use them, and
you’re actually adding to the Raspberry Pi’s
USB connectivity,astheycan both charge
other devices and transfer data. You’d be
luckytoget two such ports on atop-of-the-
line gaming keyboard, so to have three on a
budget board such as this is outstanding.
MOVINGTARGET
Regarding the keyboard’s own USB cable,you
might have to be mindful about where you
keep your Raspberry Pi (or Windows PC), as
it’s only 1m long. It is detachable,however,
which further improves the Raspberry Pi
Keyboard’s already considerable portability.
Its lightness might not help it keep agrip,but
it’s easy to throw in abag and take on the
road. This, again, ties in nicely with the
Raspberry Pi series, which are all fareasier to
transport than adesktop PC or even alaptop.
That’s where the Raspberry Pi Keyboard is
best suited: not permanently stationed on a
desk, but taken along with asmall computer
fortrips. It’s not up to the task of serious
typing, which is unfortunate, and build quality
could be better even at such an affordable
price,but the Raspberry Pi Keyboard’s
portability and built-in connectivity ensure
it can still be of some niche use.
KEYBOARDS
