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Kensington Ci70 Wireless Desktop Set

This smart desktop set is a Mac users dream. In theory

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Last reviewed: August 22nd 2007

Sadly, all those handy shortcut keys will be useless when you connect to a Mac

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When we first saw pictures of the Ci70 Wireless Desktop Set on Kensington's US site, it looked like the perfect keyboard and mouse set for Mac users. In smart silver to match or complement any modern Mac, it was not only Mac-compatible, but it had a Mac-only [Eject] key and other quick-launch buttons.

When we got a review model in from Kensington in the UK, however, we were disappointed. Not only was it a different colour - one we could charitably call champagne; we're assured both colours are available here - but the box makes no mention of Mac compatibility.

And the Mac-only [Eject] key has been replaced with a calculator shortcut button that does nothing when pressed. Indeed, none of the quick-launch buttons - search, email, internet and music - do anything, and there's no software available to map these to Mac applications. In fact, the only dedicated buttons that work are the volume control ones.

Which is a shame, as this is a nice set. Okay, so the build quality is a little more plastic than you might guess from the pictures, but the keyboard, though a little cramped, mimics a laptop's low-travel action and is very pleasant to type on.

As a PC-specific product, some of the symbols appear to be in the wrong place - @ and " are transposed, for example - and, though you can remap them in the appropriate System Preferences pane, C and O's positions are swapped by default.

The mouse is responsive and closely mimics Apple's own range of mice, though the LED-based tracking system is a little more fussy about surfaces than a laser.

The mouse can be docked in the keyboard - which does nothing other than switching it off - and a single USB dongle that slots into the mouse connects the system to your Mac.

There is one last party piece: on the underside of the keyboard, which can be propped on its edge, is a frame that can hold a 6x4-inch photo.

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Additional Features Set one receiver for both devices
Colour Silver
Compatibility Mac, PC
Description Keyboard and Mice
Device Type (Keyboard/Mouse/Trackball) Mouse
Dimensions Keyboard: 406 x 19 x 178mm, Mouse: 114 x 19 x 64
Movement resolution 1000
Wireless Yes
Price at Launch 65
Audio Volume Keys Yes
Hotkeys Yes
Multimedia keys Yes
Palmrest Yes
Scroll Wheel Yes

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Product Summary

Ci70

Price at launch

£35

Key specs

Device Type (Keyboard/Mouse/Trackball) Mouse | Price at Launch 65 | MPN | Wired/Wireless |

Full spec

For

>

Light, pleasant keyboard action

>

Compact; could be transported easily

>

Single USB dongle connects both parts

Against

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UK version isn't that Mac-friendly

>

None of the quick-launch keys work

>

The colour here seems a little grubby