Need opinions on a wireless keyboard & mouse combo
 

I am planning on buying a wireless mouse for my wife's PC. I figure as long as I'm spending the money I might as well get a wireless keyboard at the same time. I am hoping a wireless keyboard will come in handy in the future when we decide to hook up a media PC to our stereo/video setup. I am interested in an optical mouse and wireless keyboard with radio rather than IR connection.
I am also wondering if a wireless keyboard is an oxymoron as it has to be powered somehow. Do they use rechargable batteries or something? Do I have to keep buying batteries or do I have to charge the keyboard like I would with a wireless mouse? Any recommendations on a unit? Should I skip the wireless keyboard altogether and just get the mouse?

I have a cordless keyboard/mouse combo and I love mine.

I think the Logitech Cordless MX Duo is the best out there. The mouse has a base that recharges the batteries, and the keyboard does need two AA batteries. I put a pair of batteries in my keyboard back in January when I bought mine and haven't needed to change them. Just get some recharge-ables so you won't have to buy batteries ever again. It'll cost $82, which is kinda pricey, but I think it's worth it.

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...126-124-04.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...126-124-03.JPG
http://images10.newegg.com/productim...126-124-02.JPG

I will second that.

I got mine recently and absolutly love it. The media buttons are especially nice when I'm laying on my bed and wanna change the song or turn it down when the RA yells at me. It saves me all the trouble of walking 3 feet to my computer (dorm room) and doing it. :p

It is kinda annoying when the F-Lock key is on and I don't realize it. And it doesn't have lights for caps/scroll/num lock. I'm assuming that is to increase battery life.

I third the above combo !!

i have a microsoft combo. i bought it on sale @ target for $60. uses batteries. bought it in January and i've only replaced my keyboard batts once and the mouse batts twice. works great, has plenty of media buttons. i don't know if the logitech is better on not but after my 3rd logitech mouse died i started avoiding their products.

I have a hp wirless mouse and keyboard The only thing I don't like is that the mouse times out alot to save the batts My wife thinks the keyboard is too small but they work well

http://www.memorex.com/images/produc.../rf6000_lg.jpg
I'm using the Memorex RF6000, and I really like it.

I have a Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical. It is basically the same thing, sans the base for the mouse.

The Logitech Duo mentioned above is excellent. The keyboard works better than any wireless keyboard I've used before, and the mouse is great for gaming.

I use the Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. They are incredible. Microsoft keyboards have the best feel. These are a little more expensive, but well worth it.

Uhh, gotta go with the Logitech on this one. I have the MX Duo and the only problem I had was rectified by moving the base further from the power supply. I really like the choice I made for the Logitech MX Duo.

http://www.gyration.com/images/UltraGT-MBK.jpg

Gyration Ultra Cordless Optical Suite

Decent keyboard with many media buttons while still being extremely compact.

The Mouse can work like a normal optical mouse on any surface, but by holding a trigger type button the cursor can be moved by shifting ones wrist around. Very cool.

Add another voice in support of the logitech combo...they're great!

My vote goes to anything Logitec. I have not had a single problem with any of their wireless products.

One more thing. Damn, I sound like Columbo. With the Logitech duo we are praising, I can park my ass on the couch, look at the tv, and adjust volume. That is important to me.

I also agree on the MX Cordless Duo.

Seeing as its the best, and the mouse charger base unit is simply one of a kind. If your a heavy user of computers, this will be worth the extra 20$ you spend once, rather on multiple batteries, or the cost of a battery charger.

I'm gonna have to break from the pack and recommend the A4Tech keyboard and optical mouse combo. I replace the batteries in the keyboard about every 6 months (2AA) and the mouse recharges via a power cord that goes where the cord on a regular mouse fits. So you can still use it while charging.

i had a microsoft wireless desktop keyboard and wireless opti explorer mouse and neither of them worked for first person shooter games. i have yet to try the bluetooth ones, but stay away from the ones i mentioned

definately gonna vote for the cordless mx duo from logitech

rechargeable wireless optical mouse = win

I just picked up the Logitech MX duo and it rocks! :thumbsup: Both the mouse and keyboard have a lot of extra buttons which can be customized. Sigh, now I'll just have to get a set for my PC as well. Thanks for all the help everyone.
It may not have lights for caps/scroll/numlock, but after you install the included software, using these keys causes a temporary windows overlay text message saying that the key is locked or not locked. This makes it quite easy to tell if the keys are working in the mode you expect. The F-Lock key is quite interesting to me as it gives each F key a whole new meaning. It's a sweet unit that's well worth the price.

I can't say anything for or against the MX duo, but I have the cordless elite duo (an earlier version) I bought back two years ago and I love it. I belive it is still floating around for about $60. The only difference I can see is the Elite duo uses batteries exclusively. Otherwise the functionality is the same. Either way, I vote for the logitech duos.

edit: looking at the keyboard, they are the same with the exception that the MX duo uses only 2 batteries whereas the Elite uses 6.

Super, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the elite duo has an MX500 mouse as opposed to the mx duo which has an MX700 mouse. The difference being that the MX500 mouse doesn't have the extra scroll buttons on either side of the wheel nor the two thumb buttons all included on the MX 700. 6 batteries for the keyboard seems excessive, but it's still a great mouse/keyboard combination. If anyone is interested, Logitech is offering a $20 rebate until the end of October '03 on the elite duo. A very nice savings. I may have to buy the elite duo for my wife and snag that MX700 mouse for me! :)

I have the above Duo set and I love them. I doubt I'd ever use anything else. Plus, the extra buttons on the mouse are set up on mine to cut, copy, and paste, so it makes my life a lot easier.

If you're cheap, or just need something cheap, then here's a Dell combo at Directron for $30:

http://www.directron.com/reva00.html

We use the Microsoft bluetooth keyboard and mouse in our conference rooms and they work just fine.

Elite Duo comes with a wireless mouse, but it's not an MX-series and many reviewers on Amazon and Epinions and other sites (which I <i>scour</i> before beaming my money across the Internet) say it's not so great. Of course, if you like it, more power to you.

I say get a combo that is bluetooth. It will be more compatible with future products. As for non bluetooth hardware, I have a logitech comfort duo thats works great.

I considered bluetooth options, but the price was quite a bit higher for them. Perhaps I was shopping at the wrong sites. :)

there's no num-lock, caps-lock and scroll-lock lights.. how're we supposed to know?...

Logitech all the way, I have both mouse & Keyboard & love them.