Review: Inateck universal Bluetooth keyboard BK1003E

The universal Bluetooth keyboard by Inateck looks good on my desk. The back is high grade brushed steel. The on / off switch is underneath the device and the USB port is subtly situated on the right hand side of the keyboard.

It quickly paired with each device I tested it with. To pair to a new device, press Fn+C. the indicator light blinks whilst the device pairs and then turns itself off.

Connecting to different platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows is really useful for people that work across a range of platforms and need a single keyboard. It is really lightweight at 9.6 ounces but feels well built.

Typing using the keyboard is a pleasant experience. I hate the touch keyboard on my Surface Pro and tolerate the type keyboard only because I have to use it. This keyboard is a real pleasure to use with my tablet. I have now started to use it more as a PC again.

The key press sounds remind me of the old IBM keyboards from my early days in IT. The construction is high quality, solid, and feels expensive. It is not flimsy.

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The keyboard turns itself off when it has been inactive for ten minutes, which is a good thing if you get distracted and move to mouse or touch activities for extended periods of time.

The Bluetooth range is 10 metres which enables me to deliver presentation demos that needed typed input from a different part of the stage - really useful in some room configurations.

There is no hesitation, no lag and it easily keeps up with my rapid typing - something the keyboard on my Surface can not do.

I now do not hesitate and return to the previous part of the text I was typing.

The keys are solid and make a good sound when I type.

The user manual calls this sensation "Chocolate keycap with scissors structure, good touch feeling". It does have a similarity to a block of chocolate and the keys clunk in a pleasing way.

After working with a touch pad for a long time, it is disconcerting to reach for a glide pad that isn't there but I soon got used to using the touch screen for all of my mouse activities.

The keyboard easily paired across my surface, my Dell laptop and my Lumia 1520 Windows Phone - although the Lumia would not recognise the keyboard as an input device.

The only downside is the keyboard is not backlit which could be an issue when typing in low light conditions.

So would I use this device regularly? It has not gone back in its box just yet. I use the Surface keyboard to prop the tablet in the position I want whilst I type with the Inateck keyboard.

This is definitely a device for the road warrior who needs more flexibility for their tablet. At $26.99 this well constructed device certainly gets my vote.