| I have been looking for a good wireless keyboard with built in mouse for some time. I have Media Center and I really wish I could control the PC portion from the couch. When I saw this for sale, I just had to have it. I immidiately took it home, hooked it up, and was sorely disappointed. The keyboard works fine. The Media Center specific buttons work fine. The mouse control is so bad I thought I had a defective unit. Alas, I found other reviews on the net indicating that i did not. The mouse looks like the little pointing device on Thinkpad laptops. It isn't. Rather than just pushing to the side, you have to push down to make it work. It seems that you have to push down in the direction you want to go. This means if you want to switch directions, you have to let up and push down in another direction. Trying to get the mouse onto anything is an exercise in frustration. If you want a good remote keyboard, consider this. If you want a remote mouse too, stay away. Mine will be going back to the store.
| | Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP |
| Used this remote keyboard for 4 days. It's attractive, well designed and easy to use. An earlier reviewer described the mouse pointer as being awful and it is -- BUT ONLY WHEN THE UNIT IS BRAND NEW. Initially the mouse pointer is difficult to use by way of the amount of finger pressure required to get it to operate. During the first few days of operation, it was difficult to place the cursor exactly where I wanted it because of the amount of pressure required. HOWEVER AFTER 3 DAYS OF USAGE THE POINTER HAS BROKEN IN AND NOW WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A TOUCH STICK ON A QUALITY LAPTOP. I can now recommend this keyboard remote to anyone seeking the convenience of wanting a wireless keyboard/remote without having to manipulate 2 separate units. It's easy to use from your own lap, table or computer drawer. JUST REMEMBER WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER -- WHEN YOU FIRST USE A NEW UNIT YOU WILL ACTUALLY HATE IT BECAUSE OF THE INITIAL STIFFNESS AND STUBBORN MOVEMENT OF THE POINTER, but give it a few days and hardly any pressure is required from your finger.
| | Perfect for the Media Center edition |
| A great keyboard with an esthetically pleasing and very ergonomic design. I have a media center in my living room and it completes the experience well. All the shortcuts keys to for the media center are right there. As many reviewers, I had a hard time with the pointer to control the mouse but by going to the control panel -> mouse and reducing the cursor speed (nearly to the min) it ended up working nicely.
| | Does not come with the receiver! |
| Buyer beware, this is the keyboard only. I bought this thinking that I could have the best of all worlds for my home built MCE machine: a wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control all in one.
However, you must have a Media Center machine with the IR Receiver. It doesn't come in the box, although this is not listed anywhere on the Amazon site (it is on the side panel of the box). Seemes pretty nice other wise, however I can't tell for sure since I don't have the IR on my machine. Looks like I have to return it or buy the remote control too. Also note, that according to some of the reviews on other computer sites that this keyboard won't work outside of Windows MCE, eg. you can't enter the bios, it won't work on regular Windows XP, etc.
| | Must have Media Center accessory |
| This keyboard is great for MCE. The range is the best of any wireless keyboard (Gyration keyboards are just as good in this regard); you will actually be able to use it from the couch without problems.
The MCE buttons are great, I don't use the standard MCE remote anymore at all. You can also program it to turn on and off your TV and control the volume on your amp. Unfortunately there are only a couple of programmable buttons which is truly unfortunate. One more and I would have been happy. As it is I can't turn on and off the amp. Really about 5 more programmable buttons would have been perfect.
The mouse thing, the mouse thing does suck especially at first. I've learned how to use it now though, but I only use it for simple stuff. I recommend buying a Gyration mouse. They seem to be the best out there. If you have a Gyration mouse and this keyboard you have the ultimate MCE set up.
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