Anyone use the MCE2005 Keyboard?

[bigdic]

Pretty simpe this one, does anyone here use the wireless MCE 2005 Keyboard:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=038

Just thinking of getting one but I'd have to be positive it was worth the cash to justify the expenditure to "her indoors" :nono: Who is understandably questioning any decision I make with my talent for purchasing completely useless and overpriced items.

I'd just like to know the pro's and cons of the keyboard.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.

[stuartmc]

There are two versions, retail and OEM, guess which is cheaper. You'll find lots of people happy with them but you'll find almost unanimous dislike for the joystick/mouse which is difficult to operate. In MCE of course you don't need to use this so it shouldn't be such a problem. If you have a lot of music or search for TV programmes a lot it is much easier to type in than trying to use the numeric keys a la texting.

[bigdic]

Aha, i'd mainly be using it for surfing the net and stuff like that so it would seem not to be the best idea for that.

Currently use a HP wireless mouse and keyboard but the mouse is as much use as an arthritic tortoise! Anything over 3 feet and it refuses to work. I should really use the ones in the office cause they seem to work each other from over 3 miles away!!!

[OneEleven]

Got a BTC9116 here - that's quite nice - 3m range.

There's also a keybaord with a 15m range that has a trackball. can't remeber the name of if though

[Embarker]

Love mine - it replaced a gyration keyboard and mouse as moved to MCE.

Mouse does take some getting use too, speed is pressure dependant, as for value, there are remote, receiver and keyboard bundle out there for £65.

My mate has the mce trackball one and it drives me nuts!!!!!

[Skunkpipe]

Got a BTC9116 here - that's quite nice - 3m range.

There's also a keybaord with a 15m range that has a trackball. can't remeber the name of if though
Cerratec Saturn

[stuartmc]

Or the Freeboard SPR-8696WT

[Logan09]

I've had the MCE keyboard for the past month or so and I really like it. Picked it up for Scan.co.uk for about £35, much cheaper than most other places. As has been mentioned above the thumbstick is no substitute for a mouse. If you're not planning on having a mouse as well I'd have to say don't buy this keyboard as the pointer device is very poor. If you're gonna use it with a mouse then it's an excellent keyboard.

[homethx]

The mouse on the keyboard is complete and utter crap i really hate the damn thing :thumbsdow
the rest is ok though.

[HiZ]

Gyration Suite..... reet propper bo a tell thee

[GrahamC]

Gyration Suite..... reet propper bo a tell thee

Mummy.....mummy......... that man has stood on his own tounge..... :rotfl:

[unique]

i presume this works as a standard keyboard and mouse so if you dont have media edition you can use with standard xp?

can anyone confirm this? anyone using it with xp?

[Skunkpipe]

Yup, it's just a USB HID device so will work fine. No sure why you would though it's plus points are all MCE centric.

[evolution400]

I have had 3 WIFI keyboards so far the
*Microsoft double pack of mouse and keyboard
*The BTC19 It hink it was with the joystick built in instead of mouse.
*The microsoft MCE keyboard.
The double pack had a good optical mouse the keyboard was too big and typing problems due to location of IR transmitter.
BTC19
The all in one feature was very good handles were easy to grip and navigate but again typing was rubbish du to location of IR tranmitter and joystick was too slow.
The best by far is the microsoft MCE keyboard you can actually type properly with this one !
MS have done it right this time typing is flawless its slim enough to slide into most places, having the remote on the keyboard aswell as the mouse is a great bonus.
Bad points about the keyboard is the mouse nipple can take a bit of getting used to and if I am honest the joystick module like on the BTC would be better except needs to be speeded up the BTC was ever so slow.
You cant use the keyboard pre-windows i.e you can't get into the bios you need to plug in another keyboard to do this due to the drivers.
I bought the 3 pack box set and have 2 left I will be putting them up in the for sale section later on today if anyone is intertested.

[unique]

Yup, it's just a USB HID device so will work fine. No sure why you would though it's plus points are all MCE centric.

ah, thanks. i have a pc that once plugged into my pio505xda is pretty much a media pc, just without the tv card facilities (although it does have a tv card, and seperate hardware mpg capture card for putting vhs-dvd pre my standalone dvd recorder days). i'm also considering getting another cheap dell that i might use instead. i have a hdmi dvd player and a component connected dvd recorder for playing or recording stuff (which i rarely do)

my main requirement is that i have a lot of cds and basically can't be arsed trying to find what i want when i want, but as i've ripped many to mp3 i've turned one of my pc's into a jukebox, plus i have a few video clips and bits and bobs on there. so by putting that pc into my pio and av amp i have a music jukebox in the living room, which is great for entertaining friends who come round for dinner or a drink and laugh. i have a wireless keyboard and mouse already, but thought if the price isn't too steep, the MS keyboard might be a better option, doing away with the mouse. some little touches like the key lock are also appealing

before, anyone says anything, i know the sound quality is not going to be hifi quality from mp3s off a pc, but for it's intended purpose it fits the bill, and impresses folk when i can ask them to name a song, and use exporer to find the track and play it in winamp. the quality of sound is far better than any setup any of my friends or family have, and when people are talking and laughing etc and had a drink they don't really care too much anyways. and it saves me having piles of cds lying around all over the place and having to get up and swap discs

[Snash]

<snip>

My mate has the mce trackball one and it drives me nuts!!!!!
I didn't realise there was a trackball version :confused:

[fallwood]

Complete garbage, the mouse pointer is totally unuseable, you'd be much better off buying something else.

[Skunkpipe]

I didn't realise there was a trackball version :confused:Neither did I - maybe the Cerratec or the Freeboard?:confused:

[Sy1441]

I use this with my media centre,

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0009WHSYK.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

The mouse works well without a mat and the keyboard is excellent

Sy

[Dan L]

I bought the 3 pack box set and have 2 left I will be putting them up in the for sale section later on today if anyone is intertested.

Did these go up for sale? I couldn't find them. Could be interested.