Integrated mouse/pointer for HTPC keyboard...

CHW

Looking to get a wireless keyboard with integrated pointer, and was wondering what the consensus is on the type of integrated pointer is the best/most useful? Seems to be 3 choices:

Stick
Ball
Touchpad

The ones with the touchpad at the front (like half a laptop) look like they would be more comfortable for a bit of typing, or one one was impartial to a bit of emulation.

8kvscdpglqnyr4

A good list of keyboards for HTPCs here.

I have the first one on the list and it's fantastic. It has a ball for a mouse under your right hand thumb ... just where you hold the keyboard. Also has a scroll wheel under the left/right click on the top left corner of the keyboard. People who pick it up for the first time comment on how intuitive it feels.

I can't imagine a touch pad - I think you would need to have the keyboard left on a flat surface to use a touch pad. At the very least, you'd have to have the keyboard on your lap to use the touch pad.

With the keyboard I have, you have pick up the keyboard and use the mouse features easily.

spartacus93

I have this one http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=329469

Excellent keyboards, looks very well, and comes with a handy docking cradle. Battery life is excellent and because it's bluetooth the range is brilliant too.

Highly recommend it

sink

spartacus93 wrote: »

I have this one http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=329469

Excellent keyboards, looks very well, and comes with a handy docking cradle. Battery life is excellent and because it's bluetooth the range is brilliant too.

Highly recommend it

Have that too but it looses connection all the time and I have to turn it off and back on again. Also the volume control has a mind of it's own, it lowers and highers the volume without me going near it. It got so bad that i stuck a sticker over it and don't use it anymore.

spartacus93

sink wrote: »

Have that too but it looses connection all the time and I have to turn it off and back on again. Also the volume control has a mind of it's own, it lowers and highers the volume without me going near it. It got so bad that i stuck a sticker over it and don't use it anymore.

That's not good at all. Did you contact Logitech? OP if you're going down this route you should google Sink's problem to make sure it's not a common problem. I would not be happy with this from a €150 keyboard.

Never had these problems with mine and it has been used daily since June.

This is supposed to be the best keyboard for use with Media Centre http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340181 . however you are getting into serious cash for a keyboard!

Wheeker

Hi there, just to add my tuppence. I bought the Logitech DiNovo Edge last week on eBay & have to say I think it is a fantastic keyboard for HTPC. So far, absolutely no issues with connectivity & all sensitivity etc. is fully adjustable. I ended up paying about €100 incl P&P which going by the komplett price is a good deal. However I only recently saw this on Elara for only €108 + P&P

[html]http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1262472&productID=S3782832[/html]

spartacus93

That's a pretty good price from Elara alright

stevejazzx

the best keyboard set up for media cneter is undoubtedly

gyration

http://www.gyration.com/?l=uk#productDetail/livingRoom/mediaRemote

it has a mouse built into the remote and a very nice keyboard, it's rf so has an incredible signal and range. we import them from the uk

8kvscdpglqnyr4

stevejazzx wrote: »

the best keyboard set up for media cneter is undoubtedly

gyration

http://www.gyration.com/?l=uk#productDetail/livingRoom/mediaRemote

it has a mouse built into the remote and a very nice keyboard, it's rf so has an incredible signal and range. we import them from the uk

This isn't a keyboard, right? It's a remote. There's the usual ABC over number 2, DEF over number 3 ... etc like a mobile phone, but I wouldn't call that a keyboard.

Looks similar to a remote I got with a Dell machine recently.

Funny typo in the features:
"RF technology without line-of-sight limitations and a range of up to 100 feet (30 mm)."
30mm ... that's some range!

stevejazzx

Vienna Melted Yankee wrote: »

This isn't a keyboard, right? It's a remote. There's the usual ABC over number 2, DEF over number 3 ... etc like a mobile phone, but I wouldn't call that a keyboard.

Looks similar to a remote I got with a Dell machine recently.

Funny typo in the features:
"RF technology without line-of-sight limitations and a range of up to 100 feet (30 mm)."
30mm ... that's some range!

comes with this (above) which is easily the best htpc keyboard i've used...
rf is far superior and it really can be used through walls etc without loss of signal


ps i doubt that your dell remote has an inbuilt gyroscopic mouse or is rf so i imagine its nothing like it tbh
once you try it you wouldn't go back..i work for a large media center (home entertainment) installer and we've tried them all!

8kvscdpglqnyr4

From the link you sent on, I still can't see where it's a keyboard. I'm obviously missing something

Sounds neat though I have to say. I'm impressed.

spartacus93

@stevejazzx how much for the keyboard and remote?

can't say i'd consider it over an MCE remote and DiNovo Edge keyboard...

stevejazzx

spartacus93 wrote: »

@stevejazzx how much for the keyboard and remote?

can't say i'd consider it over an MCE remote and DiNovo Edge keyboard...

it'd set you back around 160 euro for the set



what do you mean by mce remote, it is an mce remote, if you mean the crappy microsoft one then your mad this thing is miles better, it's rf nor ir and its got an incredible mouse built into the the remote

heres a video

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=T6Otd-LL9oE

as i said we've used all the mce packs at work and this is the best

DemoniK

I got a Logitech DiNovo Mini for my PS3
http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4YH4

Now hijacked for my new HTPC and works very well
The directional pad top right doubles as a touchpad

More of a thumb-board but is usable for most tasks, particularly browsing, etc. And wifey doesn't mind having it lying around the sitting room since it's smaller than a DVD case...

Wcool

In the Gadget forum this was posted http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16044

Don't know how good it is but it's a hell of a lot cheaper!
That price includes the shipping

stevejazzx

Wcool wrote: »

In the Gadget forum this was posted http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16044

Don't know how good it is but it's a hell of a lot cheaper!
That price includes the shipping

that guy is pretyy good but its flimsy and the rf doesn't work that great..pl

bazwaldo

As pointed out on Bargain Alerts. The gyration set is €42 delivered on ibood today.

See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=66711279

sealgaire

hmm , this is an old thread, anybody know of what is available now?

degsie

sealgaire wrote: »

hmm , this is an old thread, anybody know of what is available now?

Logitech K400

AlmightyCushion

I have the Logitech DiNovo Mini and it's brilliant.

HLF

I found this good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keysonic-ACK-540RF-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad/dp/B002WB1JYQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322825347&sr=8-1

Doubt.It

degsie wrote: »

Logitech K400

This looks like good value. Does anyone know if there's a way the multi-touch pad can be used for zooming browser windows? My TV isn't particularly big or near and I find myself enlarging the text a lot. It would be nice to be able to zoom instead.

Ne

K400 is a great htpc keyboard, mine does the job nicely

tip: if ya wanna zoom use win key and + key