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Another wireless keyboard and mouse thread. Whats new?

post #1 of 18
5/29/12 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Im sick of my DSI (AKA Adesso WKB-3000UB) keyboard's trackball wacking out and having horrible reception/RF interferance. The right-side mouse button is pretty close to irreplaceable (for fast mouse actions while having the left still on the keyboard "home keys"). It actually the only mouse/keyboard combo design for serious 3D gaming wjole sitting back on the couch. However, no matter how good the design, if the trackball goes nuts half the time due to RF interference, etc its just not worth it.

A while back I had checked; and still didnt see anything suitable enough for full time desktop/gaming/htpc computing for a fast typist/mouse user sitting back on my couch. If there just isnt anything that has a design like this Ill have to just use both hands to do simple mouse actions

The only keyboards I could find with decent trackballs all require both hands to operate the mouse (see below). Maybe some can suggest the best product for me.

Premium Wireless Keyboard w. Optical Trackball
Adesso Wireless Mini Keyboard with Trackball (WKB-3000U)
IOGear GKM561R





, but not if the mouse doesnt wotk half the time. ive been looking for a high qualty mouse and keyboard combo woth right handed mouse button
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post #2 of 18
5/29/12 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmm.... does this product really have a large touchscreen mouse pad?http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._AA1500_.jpg

Oops did see the reviews. It only "looks" good. Its apparently garbage quality.
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post #3 of 18
5/29/12 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone know where I can still find the original X-Gene keyboard. DSI appeared to make a lower quality version of the same design.
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post #4 of 18
5/29/12 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
Well since there are complaints about wireless reception for any keyboard Im interested in, i guess ill end up buying the Adesso flavored version of my DSI keyboard.
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post #5 of 18
5/29/12 at 9:00pm
I plan on getting the Logitech K400, eventually...
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post #6 of 18
5/30/12 at 3:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KevBel View Post

I plan on getting the Logitech K400, eventually...

I have to give this comment a +1 ! . Never used that model before but one thing for sure is Logitech has been the leader for me in key boards and mice.

The linked model seems to be small but not to small . Gets good reviews for ht use and seems about middle of the road in pricing. One thing for sure is that you get what u pay for and for the op (s) use it would seem that being "cheap" is not the way to go here .
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post #7 of 18
5/30/12 at 7:17am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I saw that one. I wonder if its possible to hold this keyboard with your right hand while navigating the mouse with the thumb; like I would with a trackball.
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post #8 of 18
5/30/12 at 7:49am
I've been using the K400 for a few months. It's good.

But I think that using the thumb like that on the touchpad wouldn't be the easiest thing in the world.

Used an IOGEAR GKM561R before that, but my wife hates trackballs so we switched to the K400 and its touchpad. I also liked the Iogear. The K400 is a little smaller and lighter, which is nice.

Either is a good choice.
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post #9 of 18
5/30/12 at 10:39am
@MKANET I just picked up the k400 on sale at BestBuy (Canada) a couple weeks ago. I'm easily able to hold it with my right hand and scroll/click on the touchpad with my right thumb. The nice thing about it, is that it also has the "left click" button on the top left side of the keyboard, so you can easily click while holding the keyboard with your left hand too.

I would have liked media keys on it, a caps lock indicator, and a backlight. But if, like me, you can live without those features, it's awesome!

Just as added info, I plugged the dongle into the back of my htpc and the range is still fine (only tested at about 20').
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post #10 of 18
5/30/12 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JonHoule View Post

@MKANET I just picked up the k400 on sale at BestBuy (Canada) a couple weeks ago.

Just as added info, I plugged the dongle into the back of my htpc and the range is still fine (only tested at about 20').

And it's one of those "nano" dongles, so you can, if you choose, easily plug it into a front USB port for even better reception and it's neither obvious nor in the way of anything.
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post #11 of 18
5/30/12 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
I think I finally found a way to have full keyboard/mouse capability without compromise ...while sitting back on the couch. This looks good enough for even a moderate to serious PC gamer and relatively fast typist. I can't believe I didn't see this before. Good reviews and no weird trackball related issues:




http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Lapboa...sr=1-1-catcorr
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post #12 of 18
5/30/12 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KevBel View Post

I plan on getting the Logitech K400, eventually...

I have the k400 and i don't like it that much. It has a bad reception (for me), and I had to connect the dongle to a usb cable and have it in clear sight of the keyboard. I am about 2 and half yards away.

The keyboard itself is flimsy. The plastic cover is not solid and when I hold it it kinda bends on itself sometimes and makes a noise like you just squeezed an empty bottle of water.

The keys themselves have a bad feel to them when you type. So when you press they sink unevenly. The fact that the keyboard is sitting on my lap when i type doesn't help of course. But that's how we would be using it I guess.

The good thing is that its mouse pad is not bad. It will not replace a real mouse, but it isn't bad. Also the whole keyboard is probably the best in that price range! But I am looking for a better keyboard, maybe the lenovo one.
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post #13 of 18
5/30/12 at 3:46pm
I have the Enermax Aurora Micro Wireless KB008W keyboard with integrated track ball. It is quite solid and works well as a HTPC keyboard. I wouldn't recommend it for gaming.
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post #14 of 18
5/30/12 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
I like that keyboard. However, it doesnt look like it's mean for a person's lap; including the K400.

I am very curious to know how the the Phantom wireless keyboard/mouse solution will be. It seems like the best thing for no-compromise Couch computing. From what I saw in the demo videos, it can pretty easily switch between angled mode and flat for long duration typing. The nice thing about that product is the mouse is interchangeable. i could even swap it out with one of these..
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-910-0.../dp/B0043T7FXE

I think that mouse should fit as a replacement if i dont like the one it came with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kesawi View Post

I have the Enermax Aurora Micro Wireless KB008W keyboard with integrated track ball. It is quite solid and works well as a HTPC keyboard. I wouldn't recommend it for gaming.
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post #15 of 18
5/30/12 at 7:19pm
Thread Starter 
Man... I really hope this works. I just ordered both the Phantom wireless keyboard/mouse combo PLUS the Logitech M570 (to replace the Phantom mouse). Hopefully the Logitech M570 will fit without problems and wont slide around. I might actually be the first person to try this combination...



+


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post #16 of 18
5/30/12 at 8:12pm
I had the K400 for few days, until i returned it. Currently I use Iogear trackball keypad, and love it. Its easy to use two hands one holding the tap keypad, and other using the trackball to navigate like an Xbox controller. However iOgear looses signal, and then i have to juggle with it, moving the keyboard 180 degrees and then make it work.
RMA'ing the keyboard tomorrow to get a replacement through iomega directly, as the warranty supports 3 years
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post #17 of 18
5/30/12 at 9:46pm
I have the K400 & really like it. I get at least a 15' range with it.
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post #18 of 18
6/1/12 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 
I just received my Phantom Lapboard and Logitech M570.

This blows any type of keyboard/mouse pair out the water. Keyboard is top quality. Right away, I knew the mouse it came with was a joke. So, I swapped it out with the Logitech M570 mouse looks like it matches the Phantom Lapboard better than the mouse it came with.

For anyone that spend a lot of time behind a large monitor and sitting back on a couch, there's no better way, trust me.

Its a good thing I waited a while before getting the Phantom Lapboard. The earlier revisions of it weren't built too well.

The only con about this is, you have to pay a lot more than you would for a cheapo wireless keyboard/mouse. But, complete worth it.



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AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › Another wireless keyboard and mouse thread. Whats new?