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It also uses Logitech's proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless interface technology rather than Bluetooth, the latter which I find tedious for input devices. The one disadvantage of using 2.4 GHz wireless instead of Bluetooth is the necessity of plugging a USB receiver dongle into USB port on your computer or hub, but at least the one supplied with the K750 is a low-profile type, so it can likely be left in a port when you're operating in mobile mode with your laptop. In my estimation the no-hassle connectivity and stability goodness of 2.4 GHz RF as opposed to cranky Bluetooth with its tedious pairing makes the dongle a lesser evil, and as a bonus, just one receiver dongle is necessary for connecting multiple devices (e.g.: a wireless mouse) provided you use other Logitech Unifying receiver compatible products.
On the other hand, you won't be able to use The Solar Keyboard K750 with an iPad, unless Apple sees fit to add a USB port to the iPad 2, which I hope they will, but it's not an especially lively hope. Speaking of compatibility issues, the K750 is currently only available with Windows/Linux keymapping. It works fine with Macs, although of course Logitech's free desktop app., available from the company's website, that features a lux meter that provides a visual way of checking available light falling on the K750, keeps track of how much energy is currently stored in the K750, and evaluates the current light level for charging purposes, is not supported, being only available for Windows.
I didn't test this, but I expect that if you run Windows on your Mac under Boot Camp, Parallels, or other virtual machine method, the app. would most likely be supported.
To bring the Solar App to the foreground, press the Light-check hot key on the keyboard. The Solar App will pop up, and the Light-check gauge will activate immediately.The Solar App operates in the background and notifies you whenever there is a change (up or down) in the K750's energy reserve. Thge objective is to try to keep the Light-check gauge pointing at 100 lux or higher to make sure the K750 will have plenty of energy.
In terms of keymap layout, there are no radical departures from typical PC keyboard configuration. For Mac users (who, while a Mac version of the K750 is rumored to be in the works, are officially unsupported by Logitech for this product the system requirements specify Windows 7, Vista, or XP) the left command (in this case labeled Windows) key's position is swapped with the option (Alt) key for Mac users, which will require a bit of muscle memory adjustment unless you want to mess around with keyboard remapping software. There is no right-hand command key, but instead the FN modifier key occupies the spot second from the right of the space bar. Personally, I don't find using Windows keyboards with Macs any real hardship, just as I don't have any difficulty switching between automatic and stick shift cars and trucks.
There are only 12 labeled F-keys (I prefer 15, and the three missing F-Key positions are occupied with Windows–oriented key caps, labeled Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break. However, using the keyboard with OS X. I discovered that these keys work just like the F-13, F-14, and F-15 keys would on a Mac keyboard, so it's really not a problem. The F12 key, which functions as a power key on PCs, summons the Restart/Sleep/Cancel/ShutDown dialog sheet under OS X. The navigation keys are pretty much where you would expect them to be.
And even though it is not, at least yet, available with Mac OS labeling and keymapping, the K750, with its short travel black keys and 1/3 inch thick profile, si strongly reminiscent of the keyboards found in current MacBook Pros, and this 'board is actually even thinner than Apple's current keyboard offerings, thanks to there being no necessity to accommodate a battery compartment. At 1/3 inch (7.5 mm) in section, the K750 is claimed by Logitech to be the thinnest freeestanding computer keyboard ever made, which I can't contradict.
Logitech makes much of the Wireless Solar Keyboard K750's claims to "green" credentials, and on more than its power source. It b oasts PVC-free construction, and it even ships in a fully recyclable box with a minimal footprint. On the latter I would venture that Logitech has taken the green theme a bit to extremes by not including any freestanding documentation at all with the K750 -- not so much as a QuickStart pamphlet or CD. You can access some documentation on the Logitech Website, and there are some minimalist instructional diagrams printed on the inside of the recyclable shipping box, so it might not be a good idea to be in a big hurry about schlepping that off to the recycling depot until you're up to speed at least. In general, though, using this 'board is pretty intuitive.
Inside the box you'll find just four items: the K750 keyboard itself, the unifying receiver dongle, a USB extender adapter for if your available USB port is deeply recessed or closely spaced, such as with an original form factor MacBook air, and a handy soft polishing cloth, which believe me you'll be grateful for if you want to to keep that high-gloss piano-black finish looking shipshape.
The keyboard ships with an initial battery charge, and Logitech says the rechargeable internal battery, which deviates from the Apple way of doing things by being user-replaceable, can hold a charge sufficient for roughly 3 months use when away from a light source. I had no problem getting the test unit up and running - basically just a matter of inserting the USB receiver dongle in a USB port and turning on the keyboard's power switch. Small niggle; the power switch is inconveniently tiny and has a less than smooth and light action, in contrast with the ‘board's general polish and refinement. However, full credit to Logitech for including a power switch. There's also a handy pushbutton indicator to inform you whether current ambient light conditions are adequate to power the 'K750, or not, in which latter case you'll be running on its internal backup battery.
The wireless solar keyboard K. 750 is elegantly attractive, at least to my sense of aesthetics. its most distinctive attribute being that mirror-like black finish that harmonizes nicely with current Macintosh styling. The most likely comparison is with Logitech's own diNovo Edge multimedia keyboard and diNovo Keyboard Mac Edition, which pioneered the glossy piano black theme. I think the diNovo Edge (now unfortunately discontinued in its Mac version) the most visually arresting Mac keyboard I've yet encountered, with the diNovo Mac running a close second. In my estimation the Solar Keyboard K750 doesn't quite match the diNovo 'boards for sheer elegance, only because of the choice of using matte white plastic for the back/bottom and edge panel accent, as opposed to the diNovo 'boards' brushed aluminum look.
The K750 has a slightly smaller footprint in the chord dimension than the diNovo Mac, and no palm rest surface, with the keyboard's keypads shifted down from the top three-fifths of the unit's surface area to the bottom three-quarters, with the balance occupied by two 7-element solar panel clusters (which have a projected service lifespan of 15 years before there is any substantial degradation in performance) to power the charger.
Engineering-wise, aside from the solar power, a major distinction is that instead of the "Perfect-Strike" conventional-appearance keycaps of the diNovos, Logitech has gone with chiclet-type keycaps for the K750, making it even more laptop keyboard-like, and with an even shorter key travel than the diNovos, which happens to suit my taste in keyboard action. Dubbed "Incurve," the keys have a concave keycap design that supports the shape of your fingertips, while helping guide your fingers to the right keys, and soft, rounded edges that make it easier for fingers to glide from key to key. The quiet membrane keyswitches have reasonably light action, with just a bit more &"over-center" feel than I consider ideal, but I still like them better than average for desktop computer keyboards, and I find they even speed up my typing, which can use all the help it can get.
Because the K750 is so thin, the lack of a wrist rest area shouldn't be much of an issue. You can just rest your wrists on the supporting table or desktop. However, I've been using the K750 board with a Contour RollerMouse, which has an excellent padded wrist rest built in. Since the K750 is completely flat in profile elevation, it's nearside is actually tilted slightly up when sitting on the Rollermouse's support pads, which gives me a bit of the reverse keyboard inclination that ergonomic specialists say is ideal, even though it looks "wrong." The 'board also has a couple of fold-down feet that can give it a conventional tilted toward you rake orientation if you prefer.
Just to reiterate, this Solar App. is Windows-only, and does not support the Mac.
In summary, without putting too fine a point on it, I'm a big fan of this keyboard, and would even if it didn't have the solar power feature, but that's icing on the proverbial cake. It's not perfect. I mentioned the stiff off/on switch above, and there's no alert light for the Caps Lock key perhaps as a power conservation measure, but as a non-touch typist I found it tripped me up at times. Other than those two minor criticisms however, I can't think of anything to complain about. This is a nice piece of work, with its inclusion among seven Logitech products that were named winners of 2011 CES Innovations honoree awards for excellence in design and engineering being well merited. It gets a four out of five Applelinks rating.
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750's suggested retail price is $79.99.
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