Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard

The Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard isn't just a portable keyboard, it's an essential element in making the most of your Windows 8 tablet. The Wedge Mobile Keyboard offers a much better typing experience than the onscreen keyboard, with Bluetooth connectivity and Windows 8 functionality baked right in. Plus, the removable cover doubles as a tablet stand, so you can approximate the desktop experience nearly anywhere.

Design and Features
The Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard is made for use with Windows 8 tablets, and it shows in every detail. The compact design is made to be carried with your tablet?the rubberized cover and contoured battery compartment are actually made to provide a comfortable grip in-hand and against the tablet itself. Pull off the cover, and you'll find that it bends in the middle to also serve as a stand for your tablet. The cover also turns the laptop on when removed, and off when secured to maximize battery life. Powering off of two AAA batteries, the Wedge is about as mobile as it gets.

The Wedge Mobile Keyboard uses wireless Bluetooth connectivity so as not to occupy any of the one or two USB ports on your tablet, leaving them free for other peripherals. And, perhaps most importantly, Windows 8 (and Windows RT) functionality is baked right in. The keyboard puts Windows 8 controls at your fingertips, including Search, Share, Devices, and Settings, the four Charms found alongside the Windows Start logo found on the Charms Bar. These four keys are found on keys F5-8, after which are regular keyboard functions, like PrintScreen, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down. Additionally, keys F1-F4 offer Media controls (Play/Pause, Volume up/down/mute).

Despite being made with Windows 8 (and its lighter relative, Windows RT) in mind, the Wedge is also compatible with other operating systems, including Windows 7, Macintosh OS X v10.6-10.7, and even Android and iOS. It should be noted, however, that when used with these other operating systems, you will lose advanced functionality?Windows 8 controls only work in Windows 8 and Windows RT. Windows covers the Wedge Mobile Keyboard with a three-year warranty.

The small, slim keyboard is easy to carry and hold, weighing only 0.55 pound (1.01 with cover/stand) and measuring 0.9 by 10.1 by 4.0 inches (HWD). That 0.9 inch thickness is a bit deceptive, as nearly all of that thickness is found in the battery compartment?the majority of the keyboard is only 0.4-inch thick. The dimensions alone don't quite indicated how tightly packed the Wedge's 79 keys are. Aside from a narrow band of silvery trim running around the edge, the face of the keyboard is all keys. Even without a centimeter of space wasted, this keyboard is very small, but the result is also too cramped for anyone typing for long stretches.

Set-Up and Performance
Pairing the Wedge keyboard to your Windows 8 tablet is simple, and takes only a few moments. Once the batteries are put in, and the keyboard is powered on, you simply press and hold the Bluetooth button on the end of the battery compartment. An indicator light on the face of the keyboard will begin flashing red and green, telling you that the keyboard is ready to pair. Open the Windows 8 control panel and select Add devices. The Wedge will show up, after which you simply click to select it, and type in the pairing code that will come up on screen.

Typing on the keyboard is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the size of the keyboard makes it virtually impossible to comfortably type, because the keyboard is just too small, with no spacing between keys. On the other hand, the keys offer a fairly comfortable typing feel, with a fair amount of travel and some comfortable resistance. The soft touch finish on the keys is also nice. Most importantly, there was no latency or lag, even when typing quickly.

While the typing experience on the Wedge may not rival the comfort of a premium desktop keyboard, the Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard is a highly portable option that tablet users can pick without having to give up the flexibility of a tablet. Add in the Windows 8 controls, simple Bluetooth connectivity, and the cover that doubles as a tablet stand, and you've got a mobile keyboard perfectly suited to your new Windows 8 tablet.

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