Wireless Keyboards

hamster · 01-11-2005 8:13pm #1

Hey all....

I picked up a wireless usb keyboard today from PC World (included a cordless mouse). It's made by Belkin (no frills). I had to get one when my ps/2 keyboard controller went awall. A rare disease where I get random characters when I hit certain keys, ie, hitting "n" would give "ng". Tested this under XP first and then under Redhat I still have lying on another partition. Same problem. Anyone ever get this issue? Replugged..changed to 2nd ps/2 keyboard etc. Happened to me once 11 years ago on a 486 I had... had to change the board then... no ps/2 then just serial.

Anyway all fine now. Just curious to know what ye think of them? Seems fine and responsive so I'm happy with this cordless keyboard. For €30 to get a mouse/key cordless combo is great. Only three years ago microsoft were asking for €40 for the mouse alone. One question though - How are linux users faring with no name cordless keyboards? More importantly, does this affect your fresh xp reinstalls? I noticed I was able to use straight from the word go to get into the bios screen screen - which is good. Guess I am wondering did anyone have any issues with these keyboards?

BopNiblets · 02-11-2005 1:54am

I got the new Logitech MX5000 + MX1000 Laser mouse and it's pretty damn cool, cost me ~€150 though, but compared to my old keyboard which had it's own living ecosystem growing between the keys, it's worth it.
There's ocasional lag from both (more mouse lag in games, lucky I didn't throw out my wired Intellimouse Explorer) but I suspect that's because I only have two processes running to handle the hardware (instead of the original 11 after install).

Other than than occasionally waiting a few seconds for the characters to appear on screen, I can't fault it, it's got great media buttons, all customized the way I want them, same with the mouse, and the LCD with clock, playlist display and temperature feature is nifty.

hamster · 02-11-2005 8:25am

I got the wireless mainly for the keyboard - the mouse is fine if a little heavy with those 2xAA batteries at the back. I'm used to a dead light weight mouse. I'll continue to use the other wire optical mouse but the keyboards fine. One nice feature is controlling the sound from 2 new buttons. Good when watching full movies and stuff.
Another thought is that these are ideal for laptops... I wore out the arrow keys on it.

Duffman · 02-11-2005 10:18am

Very random question but how secure are wireless keyboards?

Surely someone who was close enough could sniff the radio signals?

Tom Dunne · 02-11-2005 3:07pm

Any radio signals are susceptible to interception. But wireless keyboards and mice have fairly low range (5-10 feet?) and tend not to use any kind of standard (apart from Bluetooth, of course which has it's own security).

I have a Logitech mouse/keyboard that I bought a few years back. Does the job with my HTPC set up. Crap for games, though.

gline · 02-11-2005 3:26pm

im using a Microsoft bluetooth desktop. Its really cool, keyboard is great with all the extra media keys and shortcuts etc, but the mouse annoys me sometimes, lags and jerks a bit, think il have to use a wired mouse for games etc.

Voodoo2 · 02-11-2005 4:19pm

bluetooth is prob the best, very good on batterys and the Microsoft one prob the best

SolarNexus · 02-11-2005 5:33pm

Cant do better than the Microsoft Wireless optical Desktop Pro, aka the _only_ wireless ergonomic keyboard; its fantastic, no more repetitive strain injury (RSI) and an optical mouse included. Though, it is quite pricey for a keyboard.

hostyle · 03-11-2005 1:54pm

Once you go diNovo you never go back.

JPA · 03-11-2005 2:21pm

I have this:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=302990&cks=PRL

Can't fault it really. Good for controlling movies/music in bed.

Comes with some annoying software but I soon realised I didn't even need it.

gline · 03-11-2005 2:27pm

JPA wrote:

Comes with some annoying software but I soon realised I didn't even need it.

thats what i like about the microsoft ones also, no annoying software, intelli software is unobtrusive

SolarNexus · 03-11-2005 5:27pm

JPA wrote:

I have this:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=302990&cks=PRL

Can't fault it really. Good for controlling movies/music in bed.

Comes with some annoying software but I soon realised I didn't even need it.

creative do one thing and one thing alone well, and that is sound cards (and arguably speakers too, but thats more peripherals), but even at that they bloat them with useless drivel. I wouldnt bother with anything 'Creative' unless it made me' music magical, heh

Wireless Keyboards

You use a wireless keyboard? 22 votes

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