Adesso Antimicrobial Waterproof Keyboard (WKB-2200UB) review: It's made for klutzes

10.06.2016
I’m super-clumsy, so I keep my coffee miles away from my keyboard. But even if I didn’t take this precaution, Adesso’s $30 Antimicrobial Waterproof Keyboard (Model WKB-2200UB) is designed to survive disasters.

The bendable keyboard, for indoor and outdoor use, is covered in a silicone material that resists cooties and fights grime—and you can wash the keyboard by hand with liquid detergents. I rolled up the WKB-2200UB like a rug, which made it a cinch to carry around. This klutz-tolerant unit can also handle unexpected drops—or immersion in water—of up to three feet, says Adesso.

I knocked over a glass of water—accidentally on purpose—and I also submerged the keyboard in water. When I shook out the keyboard, the liquid rolled off in beads. After dabbing it dry, the keyboard continued to work as normal. I then dropped the WKB-2200UB from my standing desk—not quite three feet off a dusty floor—and again, I picked up my typing where I left off.

Typing on the WKB-2200UB was just plain weird, though. The keyboard sits completely flat, like a barely-there placemat, and it felt like I was tapping away on a tray of velvet ridges. (The keys are unbelievably quiet.)

Initially, anything I typed was plagued with errors. Letters routinely didn’t register because I didn’t press the keys hard enough. After plugging away for a couple of hours, I improved. Whenever I returned to the keyboard on subsequent days, however, I was back to square one.

Overall, Adesso’s WKB-2200UB lived up to its durability claims. But expect a breaking-in period before you can type to your heart’s content.

(www.pcworld.com)

Aoife M. McEvoy