Logitech Dinovo Mini for PS3 Review
Written by Anthony 
We all know using the PS3 on screen keyboard to type, can be very tedious. So tedious, that I have had people whom I’ve sent a PSN message to, reply via email, just so they could just type on their computer.
I didn’t really want a huge full-sized keyboard and mouse setup, as I game from the comfort of my couch. I don’t have the space for it and its inconvenient.
There is a thumbpad accessory for the PS3. But many have reported that it was a waste of money, even some people claiming it couldn’t even connect to the PS3.
So what is a PS3 owner to do to be able to type with ease? The answer? Logitech Dinovo Mini. Click through for the review…
The Logitech Dinovo Mini is marketed mainly toward Home Theater PC owners who don’t want a huge keyboard in their living room, much like my situation. However it’s not just for the PC. There is a switch on the backside of the mini keyboard that lets you switch from PC to PS3.
This review is only for the PS3 functionality.
This sexy piece of gadgetry goes perfectly with your PS3. It has a glossy (yet easily scratched) transparent black finish. The clamshell design keeps dust and other debris out of the keypad, and overall gives it a nice look. The backlighting gives it some extra wow factor, and is great if you are gaming in the dark.
The Dinovo Mini also syncs perfectly with the PS3 via Bluetooth and it STAYS paired. I have gone through a few headsets because they wouldn’t stay paired with the PS3, and I had to re-pair them every time I turned on the PS3. Want to use it on your PC? Just flip the switch in the back and pop in the included USB bluetooth dongle to your PC’s USB port. Want to go back to your PS3? Flip the switch and you’re ready to go. No need to pair it again.
Typing is easy with the keys being large enough that you arent pressing a few keys at once… a common problem with today’s ‘qwerty’ cell phones. There are media keys such as your normal fast forward, pause/play, volume up/down. It also has your basic keyboard keys as well such as shift, ALT, CTRL, FN. They even thought of the fact it would be hard and very cramped trying to press CTRL + ALT + DEL, so they included its very own key for that.
There is a switch on the front that lets you easily toggle back and fourth from “Mouse mode” which lets you use the touch sensitive pad to scroll like a mouse. Or you can use “Input mode” where the touchpad turns into a dpad which lets you easily navigate through the XMB.
It also works well with Blu-ray playback. Using the media buttons you can launch the BD from the XMB, pause, play, stop, fast forward, and rewind. However there is no triangle button, so you cannot bring up the menu.
Well that’s all of the pros. Here are the cons.
- The price… at $149.99 retail, this isn’t for the average consumer. You can find them cheaper on Ebay, but not for under $100. I bought it because of my need to have something small, and functional. It was worth the cost to meet my needs.
- Lack of PS3 buttons, such as Triangle, Square, Select, etc. If you are browsing the internet this works great, until you need to bring up your bookmarks… There isnt a select button, or if you want to enter a new web address you cant, there isnt a triangle button. However this is easily resolved for most PS3 users, as we already have our controllers handy. You just reach over and press select or whatever button you need.
That’s pretty much it for the cons!
Another thing I haven’t talked about is its use with Linux, it does have a USB dongle so one would assume it would work with Linux, but since I haven’t tried it yet myself, I can’t pass judgment on that.
Once last thing I want to note, is that this thing has a built in lithium ion battery that has a 30+ hour battery life. I have had this item for a week now, and it’s still on its first charge.
PROS – functionality, size, sleek design, use with PS3 or PC
CONS – Price, lack of dedicated PS3 buttons
So I give this device a 5/5. Price shouldn’t affect a review but I knocked off a point because of its lack of dedicated PS3 buttons. But like I said this can easily be remedied by having a PS3 controller on your lap.
Here is a video of me messaging Azariah on the PS3 with ease. Just flip open the diNovo Mini, and start typing. Sorry about the poor video quality, I never make videos.
Here is another video of using the “Mouse Mode” to browse the internet…
May 9, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This is actually pretty sick. I didn’t realize it had the touch-sensitive pad thing. Awesome. I’m going to read this review again later. I still use my controller as text input, with the virtual keyboard. This is OK for now – but once i start messaging more (in-game hopefully), I’d like something like this. Cool to know it controls media and DOESN’T LOSE BLUETOOOTH Synch.
May 9, 2008 at 10:42 pm
awesome review, lots of pros very few cons, price ugh, but I have a hint (well more of I think that would make a very good christmas present comment from my gf) that I may just get something to this effect. Maybe even a price drop by then?
May 10, 2008 at 12:03 am
[...] Logitech Dinovo Mini for PS3 Review [image] We all know using the PS3 on screen keyboard to type, can be very tedious. So tedious, that I have had people [...] [...]
May 10, 2008 at 8:19 am
Other buttons replace triangle/square/X/circle
F1 is triangle I believe, ESC is circle.
May 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm
ESC is circle, but thats it. There is no triangle, no select. There is a home button though. Its the windows icon.
I will keep tweaking around with it, and try to figure it out.
I tried F1 like you said and it did nothing.
May 12, 2008 at 10:23 pm
try f4
one logitech keyboard my triangle was esc
different wireless usb keyboard f4 worked
May 14, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Great review, thanks.
A bit steep price but if I find it for relatively cheap, I might pick it up.
Definitely sounds useful.
May 14, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Glad to see you here Masteratt.
thanks for visiting.
May 16, 2008 at 1:24 am
SWEET!
Ive known about this thing through POPULAR SCIENCE magazine…
Too bad I ignored it until I was looking only for the Logitech diNovo keyboard/mouse combo because I want all of my laptop accessories to be bluetooth
Know ive found diNovo and diNovo mini… WOW great pairs! Dont know but I have found the diNovo mini for $90 on google checkout and the diNovo for $100
The only thing missing now is a bluetooth gamepad… hopefully the diNovo mini will do the job for now… mhmm Track Mania nations shouldnt require anything else other than the directional pad
But im looking at playing many other games…
ANYBODY KNOW OF A BLUETOOTH GAMEPAD?! Something thats not cheaaap and made for ppc’s or smartphones?! Since thats the only thing I keep finding
Ive tried pairing my sixaxis to my laptop with drivers and all but no success… and still… I want bluetooth capability…
SONY AND MICROSOFT BETTER RELEASE A DRIVER FOR SIXAXIS ON PC
June 9, 2008 at 5:42 am
[...] However there is one KB/M combo that was designed for the PS3, that is the Logitech diNovo Mini. Read our full review here. You can use the keyboard and mouse combo to move about the XMB, as well as for typing messages [...]
June 9, 2008 at 11:07 pm
If it has the F1 button..that is how to bring up the side browser menu and on that menu you can also find the part to input the site…hope I could help
July 9, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Push FN + OK button (upper left corner) = Triangle. That brings up menu during video clip and options when you are using the internet browser.
September 23, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Your review staes that you can switch back and forth between computer and PS3 without repairing, but that hasn’t been my experience. In fact, I find myself repairing almost every time I use it. Is there something magical I’m missing or something else I’m doing to screw it up? -Thanks if you can reply
December 3, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Like Dan said, FN+OK=triangle. Also I have a question, have any one found the zoom in/out buttons on the PS3? Really nice to use when on the web. That is my only complaint about the dinovo so far (bought it yesterday) and that it doesnt have like a manual that shows wich buttons do what on the PS3.
December 3, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Also the stop button works like circle aswell as esc witch is FN+TAB
December 9, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Hi,
I’m planning to buy one for my PS3, and just need to answer one question before : Is it capable of powering on the ps3 ?
Thanks for the answer !
January 7, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Hey fellas, I’m getting a PS3 here very soon, and honestly I’m not gonna be using it much for gaming, I’m a PC Gamer and that’s where I play the games that interest me, plus the power of my PC is beefier then that of the PS3 anyway lol. (ok maybe a little guitar hero, can you blame me?)
So I want Blu-ray, I want to get Internet Media on my TV (like streaming Hulu.com) w/o moving my PC to the living room so I decided on the PS3. I’m mostly going to web browse, and play movies on this.
So for those of you who have this device, does it function well as a good remote control/input output device for the PS3, IE can you easily use it to browse and play movies, have all the functions needed without being overly cumbersome and hard to use (like when my wife needs to use it) and without having to have the controller right there, Id rather stick that thing away since I wont use it much. Can you turn off/on the PS3 with it?
Basically if not I’ll have to buy the wireless keypad and universal remote and Id rather just have one nice looking device on my living room table then a clunky controller and another (this will make 4) remote control.
Just curious, can you use the diNovo as a universal remote for other devices, tv, audio, etc?
I appreciate your feedback on this, as the diNovo looks awesome but seems like it might not be fully functional as a full replacement for the PS3 controller/keypad attachment and remote control.
January 7, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Whoops forgot, I haven’t seen anywhere stating that this can zoom in-out, which seems extremely important for web browsing, please let me know! Thanks!!
January 14, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Hey Rich,
As discussed, the negatives are the lack of the ’shape’ keys on the keyboard. (It would have been cool if there was SOME way to map the codes. Who knows. Maybe one day.) Anyway…
What I do is just keep either a controller or the PS3 Bluetooth remote handy. So it is a bit of a hassle to switch, (for example, to use the remote to select Options, then View to Zoom), but not that terribly different then when you take your hands off the keyboard to use a mouse. The main thing is text entry. While it’s a hassle to switch remote devices, there’s nothing better for typing when you have to then a real keyboard. I’ve got the full size one btw.
As for pairing? I recently moved. Both devices were unplugged for days. When I plugged everything back in, everything just worked. Not too shabby. As for just plain looks, the keyboard itself is almost a work of art and sits neatly in its cradle on the tv stand.
Scott