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Logitech Wireless K270
by tomc91
When I first un-boxed this keyboard I thought it might be a little too small. Although the keys are full size, overall the keyboard is quite compact, and therefore somewhat similar to a laptop keyboard. This was a disappointment for me as I like the big clunky 'model M' type keyboards, but this particular wireless keyboard has won me ... round.
There was no fuss at all setting it up: insert batteries, insert receiver and it's done. No driver install needed on Windows 7, and all the hot-keys worked automatically. Typing feel on the K270 is very much standard, it doesn't feel cheap like some. With the flick-out stands the keyboard is held at a 8 degree angle (apparently) and this means your wrists rest (somewhat) comfortably on the desk. The build quality seems okay. If you try to bend or abuse the keyboard it doesn't feel solid, but that isn't normal usage I suppose. One big plus is that apparently the K270 is spill resistant (liquids drain out of holes in the bottom rather than into the electronics), but I haven't had cause to test that.
There are only a few complaints from me. Firstly there are no scroll-lock or num-lock indicators, and the Caps-lock light can be a little temperamental in my experience. There's a keyboard on/off switch on the front that is a tiny bit fiddly, but is also a bit useless anyway as apparently the power-draw when not in use is very low. Also, amongst the hot-keys at the top of the board is a key to power off or put the PC to sleep. Through clumsiness, this gets knocked a fair amount causing an annoying wait to wake the computer up. My final, but perhaps more important issue is that the signal to the receiver isn't the strongest. The advertised working distance is 10m, but I've found this is very reliant on line of sight.
Overall though the keyboard serves it's function well. It's a proper full sized keyboard with wireless connection that can be set up in seconds. It isn't the absolute best for typing, but few keyboards are and this one is still pretty good. Rather than the office, this model does well in a modern home environment. An example of this is if I finish typing a document, I can then easily move to the sofa, switch PC output from monitor to TV and use the keyboard as the remote. In that sort of situation, the compactness and media hot-keys are especially useful. Read the complete review |
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Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000
by NotMyToothbrush
I amr eally struggling to see how Microsoft can market this keyboard and mouse combination as a comfort set. I have owned this desktop set for a little over 6 months now and regret buying it. As I am sure many people did, I purchased this set as I wanted interacting with the computer to not put strain on my wrists, hands, fingers etc... ... Considering I use computers for most of the day, I am at high risk of developing Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and ergonomic desktops are supposed to prevent this. I find that if anything, this set will increase my chances due to how UN-comfortable it is!
The mouse is designed to fit in either hand (To boost Microsoft's profits) however, it seems that somehow they managed to make it fit poorly in both hands. If you hold it with your hight hand, a groove in the mouse housing a Forward button digs into your 4th finger. On your left hand you have to deal with the back button doing the same on that 4th finger!
The keyboard has a slight curve which is supposed to let the hands sit at a better angle. Although some may like this, I do not, I miss keys constantly as they are not where I feel they "should be". A small complain that I do have, which can actually be a real hassle is the tiny shift key - I have just measured it as being a little over 1cm in width, this means that I must get my little finger to hit it perfectly or have to put up with hitting the key which will produce "\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" over and over again.
The lack of a sleep function for the keyboard makes batteries run out extremely fast also. Luckily I have rechargeable ones so it costs me less but it is still a cost. Read the complete review |
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Logitech Deluxe 660 Cordless Desktop
by TheRostifer
The Logitech Deluxe 660 Cordless Desktop is a simple wireless keyboard and mouse. The USB receiver is great for general use and is sufficient for the average PC user, as the range is pretty good and generally works even if the receiver is hidden away. Installation is very simple and easy, you just plug in the receiver to your USB port, ... insert batteries into the keyboard and mouse and you're ready to go. The only problem with having a USB receiver is that in certain motherboards (including mine) the advanced user cannot access BIOS functions because the USB ports aren't activated until after boot-up, and this can cause problems when trying to upgrade hardware.
AAA batteries power the wireless keyboard, and while other people have said the battery life is very long lasting I find that after a month of daily use the keyboard starts to miss letters as you type, and you have to press the letter a few times before it works. This can be very frustrating but a quick change of the batteries rectifies this problem, so I am putting it down to the battery power being low. The mouse uses AA batteries, and the battery life of these are even shorter so I have resorted to using a generic mouse that I had lying about. Generally I think the battery life is poor but bearable for the average user.
The keyboard is bulky and the buttons are pretty stiff, and the basic choice of button functions make this a bad choice all-round for the average gamer or advanced user. Saying this basic users will find that the CTRL functions are written on the bottom of keys (such as CTRL + Z for undo, "undo" is written on the "Z" key) and are very useful if you need a reminder of keyboard shortcuts.
In general, the wireless function is very nice to have and can be handy for basic users, but sometimes basic wired set-ups are better compared to this budget option. Read the complete review |