Mice & Keyboards by stefan @ 2013-04-15
The Athera is a new Bluetooth keyboard from SPEEDLINK which sports high-quality scissor-key technology and comes with a new feature meaning that we can connect up to five Bluetooth devices and switch between them by using the function keys. As an extra, the keyboard can be also used as a regular desktop peripheral by connecting it on USB.
At first I would like to thank SPEEDLINK for offering a sample of their ATHERA Multi-Profile Keyboard for testing and reviewing.
"SPEEDLINK is one of the leading brands in computer and video game accessories in Europe. The products combine new technologies with excellent design and outstanding functionality.
SPEEDLINK has enjoyed continuous growth since its founding in 1998. Today, the company′s products can be found in over 30 countries in Europe. The over 10 million sound systems and over 15 million game controllers sold impressively demonstrate SPEEDLINK′s market presence.
SPEEDLINK product development is based on a willingness to innovate and an eye for the trends of tomorrow. The fast pace of the market demands great vigilance and a high degree of flexibility. Constant supervision of development work and production as well as the company′s representation on the market guarantees excellent product quality and forms the basis for continuing success.
SPEEDLINK products are manufactured by the internationally active company Jöllenbeck GmbH. Founded in the year 1974, the company can look back on a long tradition in the fast-paced electronics industry. Jöllenbeck has contributed to the development of this sector with exceptional energy and creativity. The company has done true pioneering work. Over 200 employees at the headquarters in Germany alone are working to continue the company’s success story."
• wireless Bluetooth® keyboard
• cutting-edge Bluetooth® wireless technology for up to 10 metres of wireless freedom (maximum line-of-sight range)
• use up to five Bluetooth® devices in parallel
• rapid switching between devices directly using the keyboard
• for PC, Mac®, smartphones and tablet PC use
• supports Windows®, Mac OS®, iOS® and Android®
• additional cable (1.8m) for USB-mode use on PCs without Bluetooth®
• low-profile keys with scissor technology for responsive keystrokes and maximum reliability
• full-size keyboard layout including arrow keys and numpad
• twelve practical multimedia functions and hotkeys for assorted operating systems
• rubberised feet for non-slip grip
• integrated height-adjustment system
• up to 6 months’ battery life
• batteries included (2 x AA) driverless installation
• dimensions: 472 × 144 × 27mm (W × D × H)
Mobile phone, tablet PC, PC or Mac® – the ATHERA Multi-Profile Keyboard lets you work comfortably and wirelessly using a huge range of devices. You can connect the keyboard to up to five Bluetooth® devices and switch between them with lightning-fast speed at just the press of a button. You have everything at your touch without needing to take your hands away from the responsive and comfortable low-profile keys. What’s more, the high-quality scissor-key technology delivers an excellent typing experience and maximum precision. On top of that, state-of-the-art Bluetooth® wireless technology offers you up to 10 metres of wireless freedom.
The new ATHERA Multi-Profile keyboard from SPEEDLINK was designed to function with multiple Bluetooth devices at once and, if needed, it can be also connected via USB. The product is shipped in a medium-sized cardboard box, with some drawings, which show us the compatibility with a wide range of devices:
Some more product details can be found if we lift up the top left side of the packaging:
On the back side of the box we get the list of product features, written in multiple languages:
After lifting the top cover, we will see the product, along with the bundle placed in separate compartments:
The documentation can be found wrapped inside a transparent plastic bag, and we also get an USB cable and a set of batteries:
The manual comes with a nice presentation and it acts as a product catalog and quick installation guide. For each operating system we get different instructions and screenshots:
The keyboard is also wrapped inside a transparent plastic bag:
ATHERA features scissor-key technology and the rest of the top body is made from a shiny black plastic; initially, the shiny plastic surface is also covered by a transparent plastic film:
Here a closer look at the texture of the key cover:
The F1-F4 function keys have dual functionalities, as well as the 1-to-5 digits and TAB key:
F1- Home Screen/Homepage
F2-Search
F3-Picture Frame Mode
F4-On-screen Keyboard
With the help of the TAB key and 1-to-5 we can switch between mapped devices:
From F5 to F7 we have multimedia keys and the F8 comes with a Lock Screen functionality:
On the top right corner, we will find the Calculator button, Volume Up, Volume Down and Mute:
Nearby we will find the Micro USB port, along with the On/Off button and Reset, which is used for pairing:
The keyboard is really slim, only on the top side we will find a protuberance, where the battery compartment is also found:
The battery compartment is easy accessible:
In the center we will also find a small sticker with some serial numbers:
To make sure that the keyboard won’t slip on the table, the manufacturer has included some rubber feet in different areas:
The top feet can be also raised:
Inside the battery compartment, we will see a drawing of the battery polarity:
After installing the batteries and turning the keyboard on from the switch, we can easily pair the ATHERA with most computers/tablets/mobile phones/laptops which support Bluetooth technology. After selecting one of the Bluetooth slots (1 to 4 with Fn+1-4), we will have to press the Reset button for about two seconds to put the keyboard in a “discoverable” mode. While the keyboard is in this mode, a blue LED located on the top right side will blink. Some of the devices may require entering a code, like we have seen on laptops or computers with Windows 8 installed, and sometimes the code was not required and the pairing was done in a snap (iOS 6.1.2 on an iPhone 4S).
The keys have a short travel thanks to the scissor switch technology. The keys are being attached to the keyboard via two plastic pieces that interlock in “scissor”-like fashion and snap to the keyboard and the key. These types on switches are usually found in built-in laptop keyboards and require little force to be pressed. This type of keyboards have usually a downside and this is because they are harder to clean, but are also less likely to get dirt particles under them since the gap between the keys is really small.
ATHERA is a full-sized keyboard and while it is quite light, it might get a little difficult to carry around because of its dimensions. For users on-the-go, we would have liked to see a multi-touch pad in the numeric pad area, so we wouldn’t have the need of plugging in an additional mouse.
The idea of using multiple Bluetooth-enabled products at once is interesting and SPEEDLINK has also thought of the desktop PCs (which usually do not feature Bluetooth connectivity) so has included USB connectivity as well.
The ATHERA keyboard can be found online for about 65 Euros.
I would like to thank again to SPEEDLINK for making this review possible!