Logitech K400 Wireless Touch Keyboard

I will summarize this review to start for those who wish to cut to the chase: I own and still use the last generation (K400r) keyboard. Within 20 minutes of using this "Plus" keyboard I located a reseller offering that last generation keyboard and bought it instead. The K400 Plus is a poor keyboard for its intended purpose. Now, for those who wish a little more info... As you now know, I have the last gen keyboard, K400r. I purchased the Plus because I staged a second home theater PC and wanted a wireless keyboard for it. Had there been resellers on Amazon offering the K400r (new) at a reasonable price point I would have purchased it. Interestingly, the older K400r keyboard, new in box, is more expensive than the Plus version - I should have taken that as an early warning sign. Many here will find the 400 Plus an acceptable keyboard and my 3 star rating is geared toward those who may be less critical of a keyboard. Myself, I am fairly critical of keyboards, working in technology and relying on them as my interface between the physical and digital - for those like me, the true rating is more like 1.5 to 2 stars. Logitech did about 2.5 things right with the Plus relative to last gen, and this count is fairly accurate. First, they placed volume and mute controls above the trackpad (excellent). Second, they resolved a nagging sensitivity issue on the last generation trackpad around accurate detection of a two-finger tap (right click gesture). And, the 0.5, they increased the size of the right shift key. As far as I can tell, the above is the realistic extent of this keyboard's "Plusness". Now. where did things go south? First, in their effort to make the keyboard more compatible with varying decor, they changed the color to grey. What they did not do is enhance the contrast of the lettering on the keys to account for the washing out of the color of the key itself. The result is a keyboard that will be difficult, if not impossible, to read in a dim room. Further, the function key numbers are all but impossible to read in a room regardless of the lighting. Logitech completely ignored the use case for their own keyboard (HTPC). Second, for those who are touch-oriented on a keyboard, sculpted keys are a necessity to give your hands orientation without having to eyeball the keyboard. Logitech chose to reduce the sculpting and flatten the keys of the Plus keyboard - not so smart (not so "Logi", ha). This makes it noticeably harder to navigate the keyboard without looking. Third, that 0.5 benefit I mentioned above - widening the shift key, came at the expense of the arrow keys, causing two of them (up.down) to become 1/2 size. Depending on how you use the keyboard, you might prefer larger nav keys or a larger shift key. Personally, I would have made the "Plus" keyboard a tad wider to accommodate both and call it a day. Fourth, Logitech reduced the size of the trackpad "mouse" buttons while reducing their sculpting as well - result? It can oftentimes be difficult to know if your thumb is even positioned over a mouse key. What's worse, Logitech stiffened the mouse keys and it can be fairly tiring clicking, and clicking and holding. I fear a bit for a repetitive use injury, that's how bad it is. Once again, Logitech ignores that this keyboard user is likely not ergonomically oriented and stiff mouse keys are exactly what you DON'T want on a keyboard like this. Fifth, Logitech removed the dedicated row of quick access feature buttons. Combine that with the fact that the new keys are difficult to see and you have another annoyance. Sixth, Logitech removed the ability to enable a key to launch a program of your choosing; e.g., the Media Player key on the Plus keyboard launches Microsoft Groove. While I'm sure we all agree that it's the most popular media player out there I don't use it. By contrast, on my K400r the Media Player key launches my Amazon Music app - easy peasy. That said, one can customize many keys on the Plus to use pre-defined functions but removing the ability to launch an app of one's choosing is a major step backwards. Seventh, the Plus doesn't play nice with the K400r software so you can't efficiently use both on the same machine. No backward software compatibility, tsk tsk Logitech. Eigth, markedly reduced build quality. I fear for that first keyboard drop, and don't fool yourself, your keyboard will hit the floor many times. Ninth, the keys are less decisive and feel mushy. Tenth, I could go on but will stop here as a kindness to those who've read this far. Summation - Logitech should've called this keyboard the 400p, not to represent "Plus", rather, to signify that it is more than a step backwards from the 400r. To Logitech - number one rule in manufacturing, and clearly you need someone to explain this to you, when you take a strong initial offering and then update it as "Plus" you don't take away what it was that made it good to begin with. I say this knowing you will not heed that obvious advice as you are more "Profitech" than "Logitech" these days. I offer this keyboard a relatively generous 2 stars. It will be a backup to my two 400r's.