Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard And Mouse

[Julia]

I'm interested to buy one of these, and I was wondering if someone could recommend me a good price, or tell me of any reason why I shouldn't buy it.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Julia

[Julia]

The best price so far I've found at Savastore.com 119 pounds (including VAT and delivery).
http://www.savastore.com/products/?CsOp=15&code=10259009

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Julia

[halephil]

Hi Julia, have you considered the Gyration Ultra Suite? Significantly better range than the Logitech combo (my other favourite) and probably similar to that of the Bluetooth one you're considering but in a much more compact package than either of the Logitech or Microsoft offerings.

Cheers, Phil

[Julia]

Hi Halephil,

It sounds like a very good idea. I've found it at zionmedia.co.uk

http://www.zionmedia.co.uk/acatalog/Gyration_Ultra_suite.html

It costs about 103 pounds (including VAT and deliery), so moneywise it's not a very big difference. Does it perform better than MS bluetooth?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Julia

[halephil]

Hi, I was planning to try the new Microsoft Bluetooth combo when I discovered the Gyration product which has proved to be a far more suitable HCPC combination than the Logitech combo I've supplied to date. It has an increased range, compact size and unique gyroscopic mouse action (which takes a bit of getting used to - it's still a regular optical mouse as well) that is particularly useful if your using a projector. If you don't need a full size keyboard then I'd go with the Gyration.

Cheers, Phil

[homethx]

you can get it cheaper here (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=3026&PHPSESSID=9c489306c0d7d899c14788cbf8403f07) and only £2 pp

[Julia]

Phil, HomeTHX,

Thanks for your help. So you guys think that Gyration is a better alternative than MS Bluetooth (and a bit cheaper too).

Cheers,

Julia

[homethx]

Yes is is a better bet, you can't go in the bios with the microsoft keyboard either with out a second keyboard as it only works with xp fully loaded up.

[dvdbrowser.com]

HomeTHX,

Can it also be used to turn on the PC from it's off state using the USB connection (is the USB port active when the PC is off, not in stand by, or hibernation mode)?

I plan to use the wake from keyboard or mouse function on my motherboard.

Steve.

[Jeff]

I have the Gyration combo, it works great. Occationally the mouse isn't a responsive as it should be but other than that it works really well.

[homethx]

I dont know about that steve ain't got a clue ,so i can't help sorry.

[geordie_blerk]

There's review of the MS kit on VNU.net (http://www.vnunet.com/Products/Hardware/1137875) and although it looks great and is bluetooth, unless you are going to be running XP it won't work.

[dvdbrowser.com]

Okay HomeTHX, no worries.

Does Jeff or anybody else know the answer to my question above ?

Steve.

[Jeff]

Steve,

I just did a quick test, it doesn't appear to work but my motherboard is a bit old. Newer boards might be able to do this.

Jeff

[dvdbrowser.com]

Jeff,

Have you got an option in your bios to wake on mouse or keyboard.

Steve.

[Jeff]

I used to use the old wake on keyboard with the space bar trick with my Airboard (and then learned by a pronto) but it doesn't work with the Gyration keyboard.

[dvdbrowser.com]

OOh its getting late, one more.

Was the airboard reciever USB, if not what connection was it on Jeff?

[Jeff]

The airboard uses 2 ports, a PS2 for the keyboard and com port for the mouse.

[dvdbrowser.com]

Okay,

That maybe explains things then.
I wonder if the gyration will work with a PS2 to USB adapter and plug it into the PS2 port and then try the WOK method.

Still looking for a method for remotely starting the PC from off state. :(