Illuminated Wireless Keyboard Keeps You Productive in Dark Environs

The Logitech Wireless Illuminated Keyboard K800 is a sleek, full-sized desktop keyboard that incorporates Logitech’s proprietary 2.4GHz wireless technology to connect to your PC without any wires, and its backlit keys help keep you up in running in dark environments. The keyboard’s internal battery can be charged via a micro-USB cable (included) for up to 10 days of normal use.

The real highlight of the Logitech Wireless Illuminated Keyboard K800 are its illuminated keys; the laser-etched backlit keys are simply gorgeous in a dark or dimly-lit room. And Logitech designed the K800’s backlight to be adjustable with five levels of brightness, with the lowest setting effectively switching the backlight off.

Like many Logitech products, the K800 sports a streamlined design topped with a clear acrylic edge for style. An on/off switch helps the keyboard last longer between charges, and a three-bar battery gauge lets you know exactly how much juice you have left. And proximity sensors help maximize its battery life by gently fading the backlight on and off based on the presence of hands hovering over the keyboard.

The keyboard uses Logitech’s Unifying receiver technology to connect to PCs via a USB dongle that you plug into your machine, and I was able to quickly pair the two by launching Logitech’s Unifying Software and toggling the keyboard off and on. Once paired, the keyboard worked flawlessly, with none of the intermittent disconnects I often experience with my Bluetooth Apple Wireless Keyboard and Windows 7 PC.

The keyboard also uses what Logitech calls “Incurve keys”, which are essentially concave keys with rounded edges to help users easily position their fingers on the keys. The company’s PerfectStroke key system ensures that typing force is evenly spread across the surface of each key, and Logitech says the system adds comfort and leads to nearly silent performance. I honestly wasn’t particularly impressed with the Incurve keys, though I’ve grown to appreciate the comfort of the PerfectStroke key system . Similar to the “chiclet” keys found on laptops from Apple and Sony, the keys simply don’t ever get “stuck” in the keyboard frame.

And while nice, the illuminated keys had little to no effect on my typing. However, I don’t doubt their usefulness to late-night typist or people who like to work in dim environments or with the lights switched off.

You should, however, be warned that the illumination does take its toll on battery life. In my experience, the keyboards lasts about four to five days on average. This is less than the 10 days of battery life touted by Logitech, though I’ve probably used it more frequently than the average user would. With the backlight switched off however, I noticed a much less significant drain on the rechargeable battery.

If you’re hunting for a backlit, wireless keyboard, the $100 K800 should meet your needs perfectly. It’s also a solid option if you want to switch from a Bluetooth keyboard to one that uses an alternative wireless technology.

A three-bar battery gauge helps eliminate uncertainty about battery life. Note the On/Off toggle beside it.

The height of the K800 can be slightly adjusted. 

The laser-etched keys at its brightest settings.