That solar powered wireless keyboard for Mac from Logitech sure would have come in handy last weekend when Hurricane Irene hit my state. I was all hunkered down and not planning to go anywhere for the next 24 hours or so, when the dreaded low battery alert for my wireless keyboard flashed across the screen – and of course we were fresh out of AA’s. Happy ending: somehow the keyboard lasted through the storm, dying batteries and all, and we didn’t even lose power — come to think of it, what’s the point of having a solar powered wireless keyboard if the power goes out and you can’t use your computer anyways? And what if there’s a hurricane and you can’t get any sun to power your wireless keyboard to begin with?
Three Months of Solar Power: There’s an App for That
The first thing to know about this particular solar keyboard is that once it’s charged up, it’s good to go for three months in full darkness. So if you’re the kind of person who goes around filling your gas tank and stocking up on batteries before a hurricane (in other words, not like me), charging up your solar keyboard will be second nature and you will have plenty of power — for the keyboard, anyways — to last through any kind of weather. Logitech also pairs it with a free downloadable app that keeps you up to date on power levels.
Ambient Light for Your Solar Keyboard
Another thing to keep in mind about Logitech’s solar keyboard is that it can charge on ambient light (not artificial light, ambient light). Ambient light-charging makes a lot of sense when you pair a solar keyboard with a desktop computer, because then you don’t have to worry about positioning the keyboard (and your computer) in a sunny window to keep it charged.
What’s So Great About a Solar Powered Keyboard?
Ok, so if there is a really big storm and your power goes out and you can’t use your desktop even though your neat-o solar powered keyboard is still functional – yeah, in that case a solar powered keyboard is pretty useless. However during non-hurricane periods there is always the big plus of not having to buy batteries, and not having to run out to buy batteries late at night, or run BACK to the store because you forgot the batteries. I call that a win for solar.
Image: Solar Powered Wireless Keyboard courtesy Logitech.
h/t: earthtechling
Twitter: @TinaMCasey
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