The Verbatim Speaker Keyboard: Really? Someone Would Buy This?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.verbatim.com/products/detail.cfm?product_id=9DDCEBEB-1143-3415-5F69B71ECB435DA4&cat_id=9EC0B93D-1143-3415-5F47E3484B346DB6' target='_blank'>http://www.verbatim.com/products/de...F47E3484B346DB6</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Whether you use your computer to watch videos on YouTubeTM or listen to your favorite tunes, the Verbatim Speaker Keyboard for Windows is a great choice. With integrated dual speakers, this keyboard gives you stereo-quality sound at your fingertips - without cluttering up your space with speakers and cords. It also has easy keys to control volume and boost bass and a media console designed to help you manage your music. For an extra cool experience, this keyboard offers backlight illumination you can turn on or off - depending on your surroundings or your mood. With integrated speakers and backlighting, this Verbatim keyboard lets you turn down the lights, turn up the volume and enjoy the ultimate music experience."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1245188419.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>A lot of different technologies pass by my Inbox, and I try to keep an open mind about them - because, after all, what might seem useless to me might be exactly what someone else is looking for. This keyboard from Verbatim might be a rare exception to that rule - speakers? On a keyboard? The price of $69 softens my opinion somewhat - at least Verbatim isn't trying to charge $199 for this product - but I again have to wonder in what scenarios someone would need speakers in their keyboard. The sound quality is described as "tin-like" in an Amazon.com buyer review, so it's not like Verbatim has done some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacoustic" target="_blank">psychoacoustic</a> magic to make them sound better than their small size would indicate. Does this product interest any of you?</p>

[follick]

The usage case would seem to be:
basic speakers without cable clutter for people who don't already have them built into their monitor.

There are plenty of computers out there that are not used for listening to media but nevertheless need basic speakers. My office computer for example. I can see that for some people getting rid of the significant cable clutter that comes with a cheap set of speakers might be more important than the sound quality.

Obviously these would not be for a home media center.

[buckyg]

I could see some folks using it as follick describes, I suppose...

Funny that you should post this now, Jason. Just got back from my local Micro Center and saw this very keyboard and wondered the same thing you did :)

[Jason Dunn]

There are plenty of computers out there that are not used for listening to media but nevertheless need basic speakers. My office computer for example.

Perhaps...but the marketing text talks about music - and listening to music on a set of speakers integrated with a keyboard seems like an awful idea... :eek:

[randalllewis]

When I convinced my wife we needed a computer in the kitchen a few years ago, one of the selling points was that it would have fewer separate components than my big workhorse computer in the home office. It was for e-mail, video calls, quick web work and the like. I found a small flat screen monitor with built in speakers, so the only peripheral other than the keyboard and mouse was the webcam.

If I had found a small monitor with both speakers and webcam- that would be ideal. A small monitor with webcam and this keyboard might have been a possibility too.

As for listening to music: it is not too surprising they mention that in the ads as it is an obvious use even if the product's performance is such that you and I would be very unhappy. There are still lots of people out there with no audiofile desires at all- playing casette tapes, listening to AM radio and the like.