Surface Keyboard Revisited: Elegantly Mediocre

[@lucyfrye5365]

Just stumbled into this. I have had this keyboard for about a year and a half. In my experience the bluetooth is excellent and so is the battery life, I use it for controlling a PC 25 ft away on my television. I will even go so far to call this the best keyboard I have ever owned. Just my two cents, take from it what you will.

[@hugo9618]

I agree. The back scratches easily. I look at the back every hour and it just bothers me

[@tonyga5]

Awesome keyboard. They need to bring out a TKL version.

[@I3eyond]

Ahh glad i researched it before buying. It was high in price and was hoping it had a metal feel like the apple keyboard and had backlighting. Hopefully they listen to feedback and comeout with something new soon

[@tsuchan]

But a backlit keyboard implies much higher power use, which means we'd have to review those issues of powering the keyboard with 2xAAA batteries. Having to repair to use the keyboard with different devices is a pain. But how would it know, otherwise, which device to connect to? Wouldn't it require some control to switch keyboard, and the LEDs associated with showing the selection?

[@pablo17349]

I agree is expensive. But for me the typing experience is the best there is. If they put out a new version that could connect to multiple devices and came with backlighting, I would buy it eyes closed. And for your wrists the lower the incline the better.

[@TheLevitatingChin]

Why is this so expensive? Back in 2017 I bought the microsoft designer keyboard and mouse set which includes this keyboard in black for only £45!

[@SoundboundOfficial]

Calling the SK mediocre is ludicrous. It's the best typing experience to me BY FAR. And I've tried A LOT of keyboards during my time, including mechanical ones. The lack of backlight is indeed annoying, but that won't make the keyboard "mediocre" by any means.

This seems like a worse deal compared to something like the Logitech MX Keys. Any plans on reviewing that?

[@justinsantiago6077]

I'm very surprised you haven't had an issue with the bluetooth connectivity. Mine is very unreliable and often drops out even mid typing. It becomes very frustrating that I have to have my old logitech keyboard on my desk too as a backup since this one's connectivity is so badl. This is a shame as I like the typing experience of the keyboard and the color of it matches perfectly with the logitech mid grey mx master mouse.

[@23trayn]

ihave had a similar experience ....also my fn key doesnt work any suggestions what is trubleshoot ?

[@justinsantiago6077]

@@23trayn The only troubleshoot I did was buy a new better keyboard. I recommend a logitec MX keys

[@rickharrison6969]

I am trying to decide between this or the designer compact wireless from Microsoft, I’m worried the slant of the keyboard isn’t enough on the compact model so I’m leaning towards this one

[@Abdulrahman-mq3ro]

Hi Rick, did you decide on that ? LOL I'm having the same confusion right now :)

[@rickharrison6969]

@@Abdulrahman-mq3ro I ended up getting the surface keyboard in this video, but had the issues of it not connecting properly so I was forced to return it :/

[@nikluk8790]

You say this keyboard is "Elegantly Mediocre" but you have a monitor BANQ on tbe table. You're very funny. 😂

[@LetsBringThePain]

not backlit - no buy, even though it does look good

[@hoyoungwon]

Yep :/

[@manoharmeka999]

Ho Young Won can you name a Bluetooth 5 keyboard that has good backlit? Couldn't find even a pricey but mediocre one also after extensive search. Don't know how the battery life would be for such a keyboards.

[@frevi3936]

learn to touchtype dude

[@berkayyesildagli1680]

What could you say about the typing sound? Is it silent like any other chicklet keyboard or whisper quiet?

[@berkayyesildagli1680]

Oh you just showed it, sorry 😅

[@hoyoungwon]

Yeah, it's basically like any other chicklet-style keyboard. I show it off at 4:12

[@hoyoungwon]

Haha yup

[@OiVinn-eq1ml]

It's quiet chicklet but not quiet. You can hear the plastic buttons clicking. It's not super loud but you can still hear it.

[@xentric313]

You really shouldn't use your computer in total darkness.

[@1queijocas]

That's a great way to damage the eyes

[@MrRFL69]

Do you know is the a Stadnby Modus ? Does the Keyboard Turn Off after a while ?

[@LVang152]

I would rather go with old school battery for a keyboard instead of USB charging. This is the reason why I hold out on getting an MX keyboard.

[@technician006]

Best keyboard ever made!

[@danybackstone]

To me : Best overall keyboard 1987-2022 : Apple Wired A1234. Period. Any keyboard taking the same approach can only be good, as the Apple KB is discontinued. It costed 50€/$. The BT version of magic keyboard, without numeric keypad costed 80€/$. This one is the variant of Wired A1243, with numeric AND bluetooth (thus not only PC), and it is regularly at 75€ so... Personally I don't write while watching a movie, the rest of time, the screen lights the keyboard itself, so backlight is pretty useless anyways

[@dumitrufelesco1893]

works with Adaptor USB Bluetooth Active v4.0 alb (dongle)?

[@craumm]

Use it with my MacBook because this is the closest to the Mac chiclet keyboard and cheaper than Magic keyboard. There are some button mismatches mac vs PC. Could have been cheaper. No Backlight is not a big deal for me since its on my work table

[@alexgrodvideo]

Hello, how did you connect the keyboard with your MacBook? To me it's impossible, it's a headache. Can you help me please?

[@devenlad]

logi MX Keys vs MS Keyboard

[@rfguys2206]

I own this keyboard and it constantly drops blue tooth connections. Can not get pairing back even I tried to reconnect. I tried 3 different PCs and it happens to all of them. Huge disappointment on this product.

[@changminrhee7419]

So how much is this product? Can't find the price details on the link you provided

[@hoyoungwon]

Sorry about that! Looks like it just went out of stock on Amazon. It's $99.99 on Microsoft's website.

[@changminrhee7419]

@@hoyoungwon Oh great, thanks! Nothing to be sorry about 😁

[@Technocrat.]

No back-light?

[@hoyoungwon]

No backlights :/

[@tiffanytseng_]

Hey I have that ring too!!

[@hoyoungwon]

Wow. Wanna date?

[@tiffanytseng_]

Ho Young Won sorry I have a boyfriend

[@hoyoungwon]

@@tiffanytseng_ 😢😢 me too

[@extrabass287]

@@hoyoungwon tiffany you wanna date him now?

[@isuke01]

Can I pair it with multiple devices?

[@bid-build]

No you can't

[@tareksmn]

how to pair with android phone

[@DenisBissonExplorerchess]

Well, respectfully, I slightly disagree with a few points of this review. And I am not particularly a fan of Micro$oft. I use this keyboard at works on a desk station and I also use personally the same, since August 2019 (so 2 years and 11 months).I don't feel it's a "$40 keyboard". If you can make a keyboard like that for $40, give me your contact, and I'll buy some! Scratchy? I bring mine everywhere in my backpack for years now, and it does not have scratches, even on the back of it. Pressing the wrong keys? Confuse with the backspace and the insert keys? Well… Is it really a keyboard's problem at this point, or a user's one? Illuminated keys are nice the first week, but after that, who cares? When it's YOUR keyboard, you're not really suppose to look at it anyway, otherwise you should not spend $100 on a keyboard. There are other LEDs by the way on that keyboard like for the Num Lock, Scroll Lock and Caps Lock. There is even one for the Function Lock in the lower left, which is nice. They located the LED on the matching key instead of being grouped together in a corner, which is nice since in a dark area you don't have to read labels next to them. I use it for programming and am very satisfied. I like the pop-up menu key in the lower right. Furthermore, I've momentary switch to a Logitech MX Keys but I missed too much that key. In fact, it has it, but they placed it totally on top right corner which is according to me a very wrong spot. The interesting matter of having a popup menu key is to avoid your hand to leave the keyboard to reach the mouse. But now having to move your hand totally to the right to press a key, at this point you are just three inches away to grab the mouse, so it's a waste. I came back to this Micro$oft keyboard, so I can quickly access the popup menu with it. No, I agree it's not a premium keyboard, but others are selling much less durable stuff than this little buddy. But I respect your opinion.

[@namesdom]

I thought the Logitech Keys keyboard was an Apple Magic Keyboard knock off, but this reaaalllyy is an Apple knock off

[@rafikialmaudi]

what benq monitor is it?

[@hoyoungwon]

BenQ EW3270U

[@TheBryanJun]

"Elegantly Mediocre" hahahahaha

[@hoyoungwon]

😎

[@fallinginthed33p]

No multi device pairing? That's kinda dumb because the MS Folding Bluetooth Keyboard supports pairing to two devices at once.

[@annakoren1626]

I prefer batteries

[@ibitaRaptor]

Mx keys are better for almost same price.

[@afssalim1669]

Scratchy plastic......corwow.....?