Review: Adesso Rubber Keyboards

Adesso has rolled out a line of keyboards that are flexible for just about any environment and won't stretch your wallet.

Though keyboards rarely fail, many times they're subjected to contaminants like liquids, dirt, dust or corrosive elements. So for industrial environments, hospitals, indoor and outdoor kiosks, automotive and marine applications, and anyplace else that dust and liquids are a threat, specially made keyboards are often required. The problem is, keyboards that resist the elements can cost a lot of money.

Enter Adesso. The Walnut, Calif.-based company's new full-size and miniature USB rubber keyboards run around $30 and are made of silicon-based rubber with flexible circuitry inside, making them suitable for almost any venue.

The keyboards are water-resistant and contaminant-proof, and they come with a USB-to-PS/2 adapter for use with systems that lack USB ports. The flexible material provides tactile feedback and remains virtually silent as users press the keys.

What's more, Adesso's rubber keyboards are slim and lightweight, making them extremely portable. The keyboards are so flexible that they can be folded or rolled up to fit into a jacket pocket or an accessory pouch of a travel bag. The devices also have no crevices to collect dust or dirt, so they're practical for health-care environments as well.The keyboards come in black with white lettering on the keys as well as in white with black lettering. Full-size models weigh 12 ounces, and they feature 109 keys and measure 17.5 inches wide, 5 inches deep and half an inch high. The 85-key miniature models weigh 7 ounces and measure 13.7 inches wide, 5.3 inches deep and a half-inch high.

All models include LEDs and cost $29.99. They're available through Ingram Micro, Synnex, Tech Data and other distributors.

MARC SPIWAK is a technical editor for the CRN Test Center.