Logitech diNovo Mini

A couple of months ago we looked at the Acer Revo 100 home theatre PC, with its unique keyboard-and-touchpad controller combo. While that controller had its flaws, at its heart it was a fantastic idea. Logitech’s diNovo Mini brings that same flexibility to any Home Theatre PC, and succeeds in areas where the ‘RevoPad’ failed.

The diNovo Mini is bulky but lightweight (just 175 grams); around the size of a Nintendo DS, but with rounded corners. A semitransparent lid protects the backlit keys from dust and spillages, and automatically turns the diNovo on when opened.

To the right of the keypad is a 25mm circular ‘ClickPad’. The pad is extremely responsive, and its flush mounting
with the surface of the keyboard lets you reach comfortably right to the edge as you’re scrolling. You can switch between touchpad and arrow keys, the latter of which are great for getting around Windows Media Centre.

A Bluetooth 2.0 USB adapter is stowed in the back of the device by the battery, and lets you connect the diNovo to any PC with a USB port. The adapter comes pre-paired with the keypad, so there’s no setup process required.
The diNovo Mini recharges via a proprietary cable, which is included in the box. Battery life is stated as up to a month between charges.

Really, price is my only complaint. The diNovo Mini is an excellent HTPC controller, but at $250 it’s an expensive addition to your home entertainment setup.