Due to the pandemic, my company started staggered shifts, and working from home (WFH) left me with only a laptop. One day, while working from home, my fragile back was on the verge of breaking, so I decided to purchase additional equipment to protect my delicate spine during WFH days.
Why Do You Need a Bluetooth Keyboard?
Realizing Home Equipment Isn’t Suitable for Long Hours of WFH
Previously, I only used a laptop, which made it a bit strenuous to view the screen. Even though I’m not very tall, I had to look down at the screen all day, causing neck and back pain. Eventually, I decided to buy a 23-inch monitor, and the comfort level increased dramatically.
However, when using the laptop with a large monitor, I encountered the issue of not knowing how to position the computer and monitor. So, I arranged them like this:
The reason is to have the keyboard and monitor in a direct line of sight. If placed side by side, I would need to constantly turn my head to look at different screens. If it really came to that, it would just change the pain from vertical to horizontal. So, I used this top-bottom monitor arrangement and worked like this for two or three weeks but eventually found several drawbacks.
Drawbacks of Laptop Keyboards
Very Hot
Especially now in summer, you know, using air conditioning at home is expensive. Even with it on, placing your hands on a laptop keyboard in use for long periods generates a lot of heat, significantly affecting my work mood. When stuck on a piece of copywriting, every little annoyance in the environment gets magnified, leading to a sense of frustration.
Sometimes Two Screens Aren’t Really Needed
When working on tasks that require extreme focus, I usually concentrate on one screen and rarely use two screens (especially since the laptop screen is so small, it’s not very useful for my work type). In such cases, the laptop screen becomes a distraction. When focusing on the large monitor above, the small screen below just takes up space or draws attention if there are moving ads on the webpage.
Takes Up Space
Sometimes, when inspiration strikes or I need to quickly brainstorm or perform logical deductions, I like to use pen and paper. At the office, I just move the keyboard aside, but at home, I have to move the entire laptop, which often leads to cables getting pulled out—HDMI one moment, power cable the next, and then the power cable pulls the extension cord, unplugging the lamp. Using a laptop as a desktop involves a lot of complex wiring.
Unboxing the Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard
Because things were really chaotic, a few weeks ago, I watched many minimalist lifestyle or room organization videos on YT. I once saw a small Bluetooth keyboard (not sure if it’s the one I bought this time), and after doing some research online, I decided to buy this Logitech K380.
Why Choose the K380
Logitech is a Veteran Brand for Keyboards and Mice
After all, it’s a well-established brand with a reputation for quality. My family has been using Logitech equipment since I was young, and I’ve always had a good impression. After entering the workforce, I tried various brands of mice but eventually returned to Logitech. It’s not that every product is mind-blowingly good, but rather than spending time researching and judging if articles are sponsored, I’d rather choose a familiar brand. At least I’ve never been disappointed using their products (good luck?).
It’s Compact
I debated for a long time whether to buy a keyboard with a numeric keypad. An independent numeric keypad is very convenient, but considering my work type doesn’t require frequent number input, I preferred a larger workspace, so I chose this compact keyboard.
Can Pair with Three Devices
Besides the regular computer, I can use it with my phone and tablet. Having one keyboard for multiple devices without constantly unpairing and re-pairing is incredibly convenient.
Cross-System Compatibility
This is the main point. My computer is a MAC with dual-system Windows. Although most work can be done on MAC, some tasks are more convenient on Windows. Since the shortcuts for both systems are different, mentally switching is challenging. So, having a keyboard that marks keys and supports both systems is a huge help.
Unboxing Experience
During the pandemic, PChome’s speed was too slow. One week, I placed an order hoping to get things before staggered shifts started, so I could bring them home on Friday. But by Friday, they hadn’t even started shipping, so I canceled the order. (Side note)
Because I needed it urgently, I didn’t go to e-commerce this time. After work, I tried my luck at Tsann Kuen next to the company and found the last piece in the desired white color, which I promptly took home. The box is also quite compact, matching the keyboard itself. I used a Mentholatum as a scale reference for everyone.
Inside, there’s the keyboard and a simple instruction sheet. Despite having few words, the instructions are quite clear. It instructs you to peel off a sticker on the back of the keyboard to activate it, reminiscent of peeling a sticker to power a Tamagotchi in childhood. The only downside is the lack of a keyboard riser, so if you prefer a slanted keyboard, you’ll need to find something to prop it up.
The keyboard itself has a premium feel. Whether it’s the texture, keys, or weight, it doesn’t feel like cheap plastic.
The three buttons on the top left are for Bluetooth pairing. Long press one for three seconds to enter pairing mode (the corresponding button light will start flashing). Then, search for Bluetooth devices on your device to pair. Once paired, the light will stop flashing and stay on for about five seconds before gradually turning off.
You can pair three different devices with the three buttons. In the future, just press a button to switch without long pressing to re-pair.
In actual use, it’s super fast and convenient. Currently, my paired devices are a Macbook Pro 2015 and a Google Pixel 2. After setting up, pressing the top left button on the keyboard connects in about 1-2 seconds.
Further Reading: [Unboxing] First Experience with Mac – MacBook Pro Retina 13″ Early 2015 (128G)
Further Reading: [Unboxing] Google Pixel 2 Upgrade, Goodbye HTC M8
The keyboard is also quite thin, but not light. It feels similar in weight to the large plastic keyboards used in the office, giving a sense of concentrated essence. Because it’s so thin and small, it’s convenient to carry around, resembling a larger wallet (even thinner than a wallet).
User Experience
So now, my desktop setup looks like this.
The advantages have mostly been covered earlier. The tactile feel and keystroke sensation are comfortable, and no essential features are missing. This small keyboard even has media keys, and there’s no noticeable delay, even when gaming.
However, there are some drawbacks. Based on my current usage, there are a few points I’m still not used to:
- The keyboard is small, and I’m not used to the key spacing, so I can’t yet achieve the typing efficiency of a regular large keyboard;
- The Function keys don’t always match Mac’s Function keys. This mainly affects me when browsing PTT, as Mac lacks home and end keys, requiring the use of function keys. With this keyboard, I can’t input such commands, but it currently only affects my PTT browsing;
- No touchpad. Macbook users accustomed to the convenience of a touchpad might need an external one or a keyboard with a built-in touchpad if they frequently need it.
Overall, it’s still very useful for me, enhancing efficiency for text-based work (writing copy, coding). However, for heavy entertainment or multimedia design (gaming, video editing, photo editing), I’d recommend using the laptop’s built-in keyboard or finding a keyboard specialized for those purposes.