Comments on: Microsoft Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 not very wireless!

By: John Braine

John Braine — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:50:08 +0000

@Mark, I’ve been enjoying my Goldtouch adjustable split keyboard. But it may not be for everyone. Particularly if you don’t like the v-model. It’s compact and adjustable though - which in my mind makes it the msot ergonmomic keyboard out there.

I’ve just written a review at http://www.beatingrsi.com/2008/08/25/goldtouch-split-keyboard/

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:30:24 +0000

What gets me is that all the manufacturers want to get on board and produce wireless keyboards, making it impossible to find a good wired ergonomic keyboard. All I really wanted was an ergonomic keyboard, and I ended up buying this piece of crap! I do not like the “v-model” type like the Microsoft Natural, so my choices are few and far between. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good wired ergonomic keyboard?

Mark

By: Tim Blake

Tim Blake — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:10:29 +0000

Tom, I have just come across your issues with the Microsoft keyboard & mouse and you have my sympathy! I bought this set about 18 months ago, I ditch the mouse around six frustrating months later after running out of throw-able objects within reach of the computer following many painstaking issues with the mouse freezing in Photoshop. I replace it with a Bluetooth Logitech mouse following the pain free experience of a similar one I use with my lap top.

As for the keyboard I have been searching various oracles in the hope of finding the mathematical formula that gives the exact distance required between the keyboard and dongle thing so that when I type I get words rather than a random series of letters and spaces! Obviously the formulae needs to take into account the humidity, ambient temperature, the thickness & material of your desk, what day of the week it is and what your best friends cat had for breakfast 2 days ago…. Good luck!

By: Paul M. Watson

Paul M. Watson — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:14:12 +0000

@John B: It’s not the mouse and keyboard that need to be apart. It is the wireless transmitter that needs to be more than a few feet from the keyboard and mouse.

By: John B

John B — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:46:07 +0000

>@Paul thanks for that - I have moved them further apart now.

Sounds like you’re defeating the purpose now though

Ergonomically speaking, your mouse and keyboard should be as close to each other as possible.

By: Howard

Howard — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:06:39 +0000

I agree - my second keyboard and mouse and for no apparent reason the keyboard fails. The utility tells me that signal is fine and that it is working properly - but it aint.

By: Andrew Daniels

Andrew Daniels — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:56:48 +0000

DO NOT BUY THIS KEYBOARD!!!

I have one and I have a nightmare of a time with it. Harvey Norman say the issue is with Microsoft, Microsoft say the issue is with the retailer (Harvey Norman).

It’s still under warranty, yet I cannot get my money back.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:42:24 +0000

Well I am not havina low signal problem what I am gettins is when I type the STUPID thing is goin back to the beginning all on its own so what a mess I am having heck no one can even understand what I am typing when this happens. I will be typing along and all of a sudden I am back at the beginning and still continuing along with the same sentence.. I have already returned one keyboard n mouse now this new one is doin the same thing.. HELPPPPP!!!! Has any one else had trhis problem ?? I am running Good Ole Vista..

By: Ivan | JobsBlog.ie

Ivan | JobsBlog.ie — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:44:56 +0000

Tom, there is a bug in your theme (most likely). Under the text
Leave a Reply
there es a line:
Welcome back Ivan | wwww.JobsBlog.ie (Change)
When you click ‘Change’ a funny thing happens. Your name,email, and hte URL appear, but as soon as tehy do, they disapear as well.

So one can not really Change.

Notthat one would really need to, but just a strange behaveoir
Ivan | http://www.JobsBlog.ie

By: paul - Eir Jobs

paul - Eir Jobs — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:08:00 +0000

Tom there are some ergonomic keyboards for the Mac, Here is the one a friend of mine has

http://www.keyovation.com/pc-63-2-goldtouch-for-mac-adjustable-keyboard-white-usb.aspx

sadly it’s not the cool design of stuff direct from Apple.

Paul

By: Tom Raftery

Tom Raftery — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:07:33 +0000

Ooooooh! Nice Stewart. Gotta try that out, thanks.

By: Stewart Curry

Stewart Curry — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:09:31 +0000

It’s OT but you say you have an Xbox360 and use Macs - I use this http://www.nullriver.com/products/connect360 to hook my iMac up to my TV via the 360 - you might want to check it out.

By: Michael Flanagan

Michael Flanagan — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:35:16 +0000

I’ve got one of these MS ‘Wireless’ yokes too. Another problem I’ve noticed (on top of the ones you’ve already mentioned) is when using both wireless mouse and keyboard at the same time — shift+click, for example, or running around with the keyboard while aiming with the mouse in a computer game — often just doesn’t work. Like it can only accept one signal at a time.

Useless.

By: Tom Raftery

Tom Raftery — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:32:52 +0000

Oh, for God’s sake!

Mind you seeing as I couldn’t get my Microsoft XBox360’s WLAN adaptor to see my wireless router, I shouldn’t be surprised at Microsoft’s inability to get their wireless hardware to work.

By: Paul M. Watson

Paul M. Watson — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:23:57 +0000

hmm good point about BlueTooth on Mac OS X. I was using it with my old Windows XP box, not my MacBook Pro and don’t have it around anymore to test.

Even a foot-or-more apart I found the USB dongle susceptible to all sorts of interference. Mobile phones, microwave ovens, other computers (especially rack servers) and even the neighbour’s electric mower. I had to use the “change/sync channel” buttons often, twice a day sometimes. At one point it became unusable as my co-workers Dell desktop emitted something that completely confused my keyboard. I’d end up with a screen full of the letter K. Switch off his computer and it worked fine, switch it on and the keyboard went nuts. I switched to the BlueTooth version at that point which solved all issues.

By: Tom Raftery

Tom Raftery — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:18:29 +0000

@Paul thanks for that - I have moved them further apart now.

I looked at a Bluetooth version but it didn’t have any indication on it that it would work with Mac OS X whereas all the other dongle ones had a Mac OS X icon on the side of the box

By: Paul M. Watson

Paul M. Watson — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:11:55 +0000

I had one and you shouldn’t have them so close together. A foot or more apart is best.

There is also a BlueTooth version of that wireless keyboard/mouse. It is much better than the USB dongle one (I had the USB dongle one and switched to the BlueTooth one.)

By: Jonathan Brazil

Jonathan Brazil — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:38:07 +0000

I’ve had similar issues with the MS kit I bought in the past, ended up checking the box in Windows to tell it not to report the problem any more and it seems to work alright butI don’t get low connectivity warnings. Sadly Apple haven’t yet gotten around to that curvy keyboard.