On the plus side, the smart card reader works very well for a built in feature. It only connects to computers via a USB port, so old computers relying on PS2 ports for their keyboards will have to free up a USB slot to use this keyboard. The design and aesthetics of the keyboard are very basic, making it look quite boring and unimpressive. The keys themselves are bulky, and require a lot of effort to type on. The keyboard layout is the standard 104 key American keyboard layout, and the smart card reader is located in the top right corner of the keyboard, just above the number pad. However, this can also make the keyboard feel very clunky. The keyboard itself is very heavy compared to keyboards of similar sizes, meaning that it doesn’t move around while typing. Pros and Cons of the Dell SK 3205 Smart Card Reader Keyboard In essence, the main selling point for this keyboard is the smart card reader. However, besides the smart card reader, it has no other added features that enhance its performance. This keyboard is great if smart cards are a necessity for the computing jobs that the computer it is attached to performs. Smart cards are a security standard in Europe, preventing theft and fraud on debit and credit cards, and the smart card reader built into this keyboard allows for banking transactions, ID systems, secure logons, or other similar functions. Some credit and debit cards have a smart card built into them, so that payments can be used without swiping the card.
DELL KEYBOARD WITH SMART CARD READER PORTABLE
Now, a smart card is not the same thing as a USB key or portable storage device: instead, it is used to encrypt data. The Dell SK Smart Card Reader Keyboard is a fairly expensive keyboard from Dell that contains a smart card reader.