SMK-Link Bluetooth Calculator Keypad for Mac and PC-VP6273

I use a MacBook Air with a Magic Mouse, and needed a Bluetooth keypad. I read the negative reviews of others and ordered this product with some hesitation.I ran into the same pairing issues as other reviewers did. I tried following the manual's instructions, which are quite confusing as others have noted, with no success.Then I called customer service (connected with Philippines, I believe). A rep picked up quickly, and 5 min later the unit worked just fine. The problem turned out to be the batteries which were supplied with the unit -- a minor inconvenience. The rep explained that the batteries were nearly out of charge, likely because of being in a warehouse for an extended period of time. When the unit toggles between its two modes (more on the modes later in this review) without user input, it indicates that the battery needs to be changed. This point is not explained in the user manual. There is a Battery Indicator which plays a minor part during the pairing process (but apparently is not an indication of remaining battery life).When I replaced with a new set of batteries, the unit paired easily and remained paired. The rep mentioned that fresh batteries should last 4-5 months under normal use -- about the same life as Apple's Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse. However, this unit uses two AAA batteries, not the AA batteries used in Apple's units. Another design detail which tells you that this is not an Apple product is that the batteries are inserted side-by-side with opposite polarities (i.e., like most electric/electronic devices), not the end-to-end same polarity insertion used in Apple's products. The side-by-side arrangement also makes the battery compartment thicker than Apple's battery compartments, even though this KeyPad uses smaller AAA batteries. It would have also been more convenient to use AA batteries, so that rechargeable batteries could be shared between the Magic Trackpad and/or Magic Mouse and this Keypad.There are two modes to the unit -- Keypad and Calculator. The Mode button in the top right toggles between the two modes, and the mode you are in currently is identified on the unit's display.In Keypad mode, you use the unit with your computer. There is initially a jarring effect in Keypad mode which passes quickly (also not explained in the manual) -- the numbers you type are not reflected on the unit's display, but are reflected only on your computer (if paired properly). This feature makes sense, as it serves as an alert to the user that your computer is receiving input from the unit.In Calculator mode, you use the unit like a calculator (simple arithmetic calculator). Your numeric key presses are displayed on the unit's display, and your computer is disconnected from the unit. I was able to toggle between the modes and, when returning to Keypad mode, seamlessly continued to type numbers into my computer where I had left off. The Calculator mode is indeed a convenient added touch.Pairing with iPad 2 was also easy (first disconnect from your computer).Construction quality -- matches the MacBook Air in color, but the material is plastic, not metallic. Adequate quality, although not up to Apple quality, as others have noted.It is a rather large unit with big numeric keys -- I like the size, but others may not. I like the fact that you can pick up the unit and use two hands to tap out your numbers, as if using a calculator.If you decide to purchase this unit, have a fresh pair of AAA batteries handy. If you have trouble pairing when using the batteries provided with the unit, replace the batteries and then try pairing again. If you still need to contact customer service, it was a quick and pleasant experience for me.Rating: 3.5 stars, due to construction quality, battery type (AAA instead of AA) and battery compartment design.

This product was easy to set up and use. I purchased this one to use with my MacBook, and due to my job I had to put Windows on another partition. It was advertised to work on both, and it does. In fact for some nice reason, I found out mine works on the Mac side in the windows mode! So no switching over for me. I just leave it in the windows mode for both.Now the reason for only four stars. There is two switches in the back that are a little hard for people with big fingers or short finger nails. One is to switch between a Mac and windows. The other is an on and off switch. Luckily I don't need to use either. As I said before I am able to keep this on windows and still use it on Mac. The keypad has on auto off feature, and I ended up just using a couple rechargeable batteries in it. (which have still been good since putting them in a month ago. One more reason for the four stars is the LCD screen. Used mainly just for the calculator feature it could be more easy to see, and yes, it was just as dim when using regular high price alkaline batteries. Maybe just a defect in mine?, but due to the fact that it still meets, and exceeds my expectations in the other areas. I can deal with that, it can still be seen.

I have only had the keypad for a few days but really like it. I wish it were made of aluminum and had keys to match my Macbook Pro (that would have rated a 5 star review) - but it doesn't.I was a bit concerned when I read other reviews that complained of the keypad sleeping but find that not to be a problem at all. The keypad sleeps after 30 minutes but wakes relatively quickly when you press the "Wake" key. It is battery powered and I would think that having dead batteries all the time would offset the inconvenience of waiting 30 seconds or so for it to wake up. It has 4 rubber pads on the bottom that sit firmly on my desktop and although it is made of plastic - you wouldn't know it by looking - it doesn't feel cheap. I like it and will update if I have any issues.

I type in a lot of numbers for some of my work on excel and this worked great at first. Then I realized that my numbers were off and it was because if I typed too quickly. When using the tab button on my keyboard and this number pad, the keyboard would beat the number pad even though it was pressed later. For example, I need to type in 2 numbers in excel that are in 2 different cells. First number is 21.02 and second one is 21.31. I would push tab after typing 21..02 to switch to the next cell. The problem is that the keyboard signal beats the bluetooth and it ends up typing 21.0 and 221.31. If you're not going to use a keyboard in combination with this number pad, it should work without any issues.

This little numeric keypad works great. Easy setup via bluetooth and easy reconnect with my laptop whenever I need it. A lot easier than using the row of number keys across the top of my laptop's keyboard, and I've never been able to get the hang of the weird, slanted, alternate keypad that some laptops offer as an alternative to the number keys across the top of the keyboard. Seems to be holding up well in all the dust here in Baghdad this time of year. Every full-size keyboard that I have tried here develops sticky, glitchy, keys within a few days after exposure to Baghdad dust, but this little numeric keypad is still smooth as it was when new after two weeks in horrific dust. I'm very satisfied. The only improvement that I would like to see would be a change to AA batteries. The AAA batteries are sometimes difficult to find here in Iraq, and they don't last as long as AAs would.

This is a great calculater keyboard for the Mac. I really like that it isn't attached to the computer keyboard. I'm finding it quite a valuable addition to my Mac Computer equipment.

Great item at a knock down price. Think I got the last one! Now superseded at more than twice the price!

A shame that Apple don't make a keyboard with number pad, but this works well and doubles as a calculator.

Diese Tastatur ist endlich das, was ich gesucht habe: ein Tastaturblock, der nicht nur optisch zur Mac-Tastatur passt. Zwar ist das Gehäuse aus Kunststoff, aber matt und wirklich dem Original-Material von Apple sehr ähnlich. Andere angebotenen Artikel hatten eher eine unschöne, glänzende Kunststoffoberfläche. Lediglich der Schriftzug des Herstellers stört etwas mein optisches Empfinden...Seine Bauform ist etwas länger und höher als die Tastaturen von Apple und als Solitär macht es neben den anderen Elementen eine gute Figur. Wer will denn schon alles dekorativ aber unpraktisch in eine Reihe stellen ;o)Die kleinen Schalter für das Ein-/Ausschalten und das Umschalten von Mac auf Win sind ja nur einmal zu betätigen, daher ausreichend stabil in ihrer Bedienung, und das Batteriefach ist sicherlich verbesserungsfähig, wer aber nicht mit Gewalt versucht, die Lasche zu entriegeln, der wird auch nichts kaputtmachen!Die Nutzung als separater Rechner hat sich bereits bewährt.Anfangs gab es Schwierigkeiten, den Tastaturblock auch unter Windows mit Parallels zu nutzen, aber nach einer Softwareinstallation zu Parallels für die Erkennung von Treibern funktioniert es einwandfrei. Schade, daß mir weder Apple noch Parallels in ihren Servicegesprächen dazu weiterhelfen konnten. Erst versteckt in einem Thread habe ich die notwendigen Tipps gefunden. --> [...]

Ich arbeite mit einem Mac-Rechner und nutze eine Tastatur ohne Ziffernblock. Daher wollte ich ein extra Keypad für die Eingabe von größeren Zahlenmengen - macht sich damit halt besser. Nun verwende ich den SMK Calculator und bin sehr zufrieden! Ich habe nicht nur einen Ziffernblock ohne zusätzliches Kabel sondern zugleich auch einen Tischrechner mit allen für mich notwendigen Funktionen wie Speicher und Prozentrechnung. Der Anschluss an den Mac war völlig problemlos. Man muss danach zwischen der Anwednung Ziffernblock für PC und Tischrechner je nach Bedarf mit der Taste "Mode" umschalten. Bei der Verwendung als Taschenrechner kann man nach dem Berechnen des Ergebnisses dieses sofort durch drücken der Taste "Send" an die Stelle des mit dem PC geöffneten Dokuments einfügen. Man drückt nur auf die Taste und schon erscheint das Ergebnis auf dem Bildschirm des PC im geöffneten Dokument - für meine Zwecke ideal. Das Gerät hat ein ansprechendes Äußeres und sieht auch nicht billig aus. Die Tasten haben einen guten Druckpunkt und ich kann damit zügig arbeiten.