Looking around my office, I see I have a habit of collecting computers. At least four are within reach of me right now, one an old Chromebook I should probably throw away... er, I mean, recycle. Maybe it's a habit I've carried over from my teenage years building gaming desktops for fun. In any case, I have more computers on (or under) my desk than I have hands, and nothing's worse than cluttering up your workspace with keyboards. My solution is the $70 Logitech K780 multidevice keyboard.
This keyboard can switch between three devices with the press of a button. For me, that means I can seamlessly move between my work laptop and a personal computer, or even type more comfortably on my iPhone.
If you've got a variety of computers or devices around and need to switch between them, a multidevice keyboard or mouse (I use the Logitech M585) might be a more cost-effective or simpler solution than a KVM switch. Here's how I use them.
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One keyboard for several devices
My desk is chaotic enough as it is, balancing several beverages, notebooks, planners and the occasional (OK, frequent) incursion by a cat. Having one keyboard and mouse with dedicated, handy space is key to keeping things from getting too out of hand.
The Logitech K780 can handle three devices. It mostly pivots between my work laptop and my personal MacBook Air, but the third option can connect via Bluetooth or Logitech's Flow system.
Just as important, this keyboard is sturdy. I've been called a loud typer, and this thing holds up to the punishment I give it every day. It's a full keyboard with a number pad, which I use more than I'd expect. (You can get the K380s, without the number pad, for $38.) It connects easily with Bluetooth to Mac and Windows computers. Logitech doesn't stress Linux compatibility -- it can be hit or miss on Bluetooth -- but it connects via a wireless USB dongle to a desktop running Linux Mint.
As for the mouse, the Logitech M585 multidevice mouse I use can switch between two different computers or devices. All it takes is the toggling of a button behind the scroll wheel.
The Logitech K780 multidevice keyboard, when not serving as a cat bed, allows me to work on more than one computer at once.
Does a multidevice keyboard make a good gift?
With of us working from home these days, the need to juggle multiple devices is a lot more pressing than it used to be. A multidevice Bluetooth keyboard is one way to solve that problem for the multiple computer users in your life. It can not only work across multiple laptops or desktops but will generally work with tablets and phones, meaning you don't have to tap away at that touchscreen as much.
It's a keyboard, but it's a good one -- and likely, it may be the only one you need.