Wireless Desktop 1000 on sale now for 24.99 still not worth it! (Microsoft Wireless Media Desktop 1000)

Member Name: Matt Davis

Product:	Microsoft Wireless Media Desktop 1000
Date:	28/05/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: the zoom button comes in handy

Disadvantages: no range

Recently, I moved my computer from the family room to my bedroom and hooked it up to a 42 inch LCD. I was still using the standard keyboard and mouse that it came with. As I quickly realized, having usb cables streched out across the room on to my bed, was not only a tripping hazard, It's a good way to damage your keyboard, mouse, wires and your ports with just one incedent.
So I went shopping for the one obvious answer....Wireless! Where to go was easy, now that the local Circuit City closed its doors. Best Buy didn't dissapoint me, they had quite a selection to choose from and a price range to fit just about any budget. Buying a keyboard that comes with a mouse seems to be the most cost effective (and it's nice when things match) with sets starting at just $19.99 and working all the way up past $200.00
I chose the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 1000 because of all the features and the nice price point ( $44.99), along with the fact that 95% of the progams and software and hardware that run on my computer is from Microsoft, how could I go wrong, right? right? Wrong!
The very !st step you must take when instaling hardware is to load the install disc that it comes with but in my case the software could not download due to a recognition error. So I searched online for an answer and found out that other peaple were having the same issue, however I did find a patch, either through the Microsoft web site or one of the muliple Tech forums that I went to ( I was bouncing around from link to link and lost track). The install completed after adding the patch and I was on my way. Wait...not yet. Now, in order to use all the nifty features on the keyboard, I needed to program the keyboard the way that I wanted it to work for each program that I would be using( It did come with a default setup but It seemed like it catered to internet explorers' basic functions. After going through all the features and saving the configuration I was ready to go online, wireless style. The boxed set comes with one more important piece of equipment, the device that plugs into the usb port gathering the signal from the keyboard and mouse. I laid the device on top of the tv stand and sit back on my bed, 10 or 15 feet away from the computer and Whoola! No Signal. There is a button on the device that recieves the signal that you push and it will search for the inital contact of the mouse and keyboard. There is a small button on the mouse and keyboard that you push sending out a signal that the device locks on to. After trying first with the keyboard to get the signals locked in, I found myself inching toward the computer. Closer and Closer I got....until I was off the bed and standing 2 feet away. THe mouse was a little better, about 2.5 feet. Now what do I do? How ironic that the device that plugs into the computer has an extra long cord that streches out to about 8 feet. So, picture this. here I am writing this review kicking back on my bed with my wireless keyboard and mouse...and an 8 foot usb cord with a reciever on the end of it......It's attached to a 6 foot usb extension cable that plugs into the back of my computer. the signal recieving device lays on the foot of my bed 2 feet from me. But it's working. I would have taken it back, but my son happened to throw the box away that night and the trash man came the very next morning. I didn't want to go through the hassle.....Is it better that the corded mouse and keyboard?
Yes.

Matt Davis

Summary: Should have spent more money

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