5 ways to control your living room PC

  • By Peter Svensson Associated Press
  • Friday, March 19, 2010 2:38pm
  • Business

Connecting a PC to a TV opens up the world of Web video in the living room. But to take advantage of the setup you need a way to control that PC from the couch. And you probably don’t want a keyboard and a mouse permanently resting on the coffee table.

Instead I’d suggest using a wireless keyboard with a built-in touch pad, for a laptop-like experience.

Sadly, PC makers overlook this market and don’t offer attractive bundle deals with good wireless setups for people who want to use PCs in the living room. I took a look at some useful peripherals from other manufacturers.

Logitech diNovo Edge, $180

If money is no object, this well-made wireless keyboard fits the bill. It provides the best typing experience of all the options tested. It has a built-in touch pad, but it’s quite small, especially considering that the keyboard itself is as big as the largest standard desktop keyboard.

Logitech diNovo Mini, $150

This is a pocket-size wireless keyboard for thumb-typing. It has a touch pad, a protective clamshell and backlighting for the keys, making it both elegant and practical, at least if you don’t plan to do extensive typing. Too bad the price is exorbitant for something so small.

Adesso Slimtouch WKB-4000, $80

This is a more reasonably priced wireless keyboard, with a touch pad. Unlike the rechargeable Logitech models, it’s powered by AAA batteries. It works quite well, but it’s too flimsy for the living room — after a couple of short drops from the couch to the carpet, it was broken.

Hillcrest Labs Loop, $99

This is a doughnut-shaped air mouse that works much like the Nintendo Wii’s Wiimote: You wave it in the air to control the cursor on the screen. The Loop doesn’t come with a keyboard, but it deserves a mention because it provides much better, more accurate control of the cursor than previous “air mice” and the Wiimote. For full control of the living room PC, pair it with a wireless keyboard. Because you wouldn’t need a touch pad, you’d have a wider range of keyboard choices. However, you’d be juggling two devices on the couch instead of one.

There’s an app for that

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you’re in luck: the Mobile Air Mouse Pro, $1.99, available in the App Store, is the cheapest way to control your living room PC.

It splits the iPhone’s screen into a touch pad and a thumb-typing keyboard. It can control either a Mac or a Windows PC through Wi-Fi, but note that you have to download and install an application on the computer as well.

As a touch pad, the Air Mouse works as well as any of the other options, but as a keyboard, it’s the least attractive solution.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.