Hardware Features
The Logitech Revue kit consists of a box that’s about the size of a standard hardcover book and a wireless keyboard with built-in trackpad.
The keyboard isn’t as big as it looks in all the press shots, but it’s definitely not ideal to use as your main TV controller. However, due to the way Google TV works, you can use your regular remote for all your TV watching and then grab the keyboard when you want to do Google TV-type stuff.
Some people may not like having to deal with two “remotes” but if you keep a laptop near the couch to look things up as you’re watching TV, you’ve basically got a serviceable couch computer in Google TV. The keyboard also functions as a big universal remote, using Logitech’s Harmony remote technology. Upon initial setup, I typed in the model number of my TiVo box and the model number of my TV set, and the keyboard recognized both.
The Revue box connects to the internet via an ethernet cable or using the built-in Wi-Fi chip. There’s also digital audio output, two USB ports that can be used to hook up external hard drives or thumb drives, and an IR blaster connection, which you won’t have to use unless the keyboard doesn’t recognize your cable box for some reason.
Everything is powered by an Intel Atom CPU, so you’ve got yourself a little, silent computer for all intents and purposes.