Microsoft Wireless Desktop 800
Microsoft offers a very standard model here that does little to impress. Despite being a full keyboard, the Desktop 800 is limited to just five hotkeys. These run on from the F keys, which along with the ESC button, are set lower into the body. The Desktop 800 is another keyboard with a black gloss finish covering most of the product apart from the keys. Again, it's destined to attract finger marks - it is a keyboard after all. Still, things could be worse, as it doesn't irritate too much while tapping away on it.
Yet, despite having a good shape, these keys feel tacky and cheap and heavy-handed typers are likely to make a fair amount of noise on them. There is a battery indicator too and while it's not as cheaply made as the Logik, if your looking for anything other than bog standard, shop elsewhere. It is only £30 though and comes with a very basic mouse.
Reg Rating 70%
Price £30
More info Microsoft
Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
Have a look on-line for a Mini Bluetooth keyboard and you'll generate dozens of results, all very similar looking with samey features. This particular model sent over from Expansys is one of those clones. It's roughly the same size as an iPhone and is perfect for such use, as well as tablets and TVs. Each key doubles up with secondary features and there's even 11 with specific commands for mobile use.
Held like a phone or gaming pad, you end up typing with your thumbs, which can be quite a clumsy affair with fat digits. I often mistyped words by hitting other keys accidentally in the process of typing too quick. It's a nifty little device though that serves its purpose and has separate LEDs for connection and power status, as well as a built-in rechargeable battery, that gets powered from a USB port.
Reg Rating 75%
Price £20
More info Expansys
Ten... wireless keyboards
COMMENTS
Volume
The louder a keyboard is the better... it's not a good keyboard unless your colleagues are forced to wear ear muffs!
A buyers guide to keyboards
Give a tick for each category. Most ticks == best keyboard
1) Can it be used as an offensive weapon.
A good keyboard should be solid enough that you can grasp it two handed (right thumb on ctrl, left thumb on escape), and smash an intruder around the face with it. It should still be fully usable afterwards.
2) Cleaning
A good keyboard should be able to go straight in the dishwasher. An excellent keyboard can go in the washer.
3) Clickety-clickety
When you press a key, there should be adequate travel (there should be enough space between keys, keys should not be small or hard to access) and action (the key should depress noticeably, and should reinforce that the key has been pressed with some sort of click)
4) Abuse (see #1)
A keyboard is your primary interface with a computer. Sometimes you need to show the computer who is boss, and should be able to abuse it by thumping the keyboard.
5) Durability (see #2)
Sometimes, you just don't have time to fix every little thing, so when the reports server has died, your keyboard shouldn't let you down, just because you've poured your latte/coke inside it.
tl;dr? Buy a Model M
you *like* spongy keys? eww! (bet you had a spectrum when you were a kid)
At that point I realised how useful the rest of the reviews were going to be to me, given i'm also happily clattering away right now on a unicomp keyboard. Yea verily the spring doth buckle!
(Having said which, I also like and frequently use the current apple chicklet keyboards; somehow they make it work even for a buckling-spring enthusiast, when most others of that ilk are godawful. Must be that positive non-spongy feel they have.)
Sorry...
but any keyboard without a numpad cannot get 95%. It's a major issues for anyone that deals with numbers.
Is this 2003 again?
I remember when wireless keyboards came out and all us techy types went out and bought them.
Then three weeks later when the batteries ran out during an important moment they then all went in the bin.
I always felt they were a bit of a fad.
Wired forever.
