Keyboard Reviews

The only beef I have with this cable is the one I have will all PS/2 extension cables - the ends become separated too easily. Other than that it's a great product, certainly as good as or better than its competitors.

This works just as well for a PS/2 mouse (not serial of course).

computer

At first, I really want to get an universal IR keyboard, I dont' want to spend anymore money on PDA components everytime I buy a new PDA. But, the problem of IR keyboard is, it drains more battery, and it has trouble communicating with the E700s/300s series Toshiba Pocet PCs (since its IR port is on teh side of the unit). The best part of the this Belkin G700 keyboard is it allows you to charge your pocket pc while you use the keyboard. This feature really maximize the performance of my E740, since I can use wi-fi, icq, check email, listening to MP3s at the sametime when I type, and I don't have to worry about battery life. But the G700 IS NOT a full sized keyboard, so there will be some get used to. Personally I like the keyboard made by ThinkOutside Inc, a former Palm company and they make special keyboards for all Palm pilot models. Their keyboard is not full size, BUT laptop size keyboard. Also the G700 looks a bit flimsy, it uses few sets of springs to push the two sides of the keyboard out, and close. But you don't have any choice, since this is the only special designed keyboard for the TOshiba e700s/300s series PPC. Overall, this is a good add-on for your toshiba PPC, but you need some get-used to.

I got this for my husband because we recently purchased a pocket pc and he wasn't using it to it's full capabilities. He was tired of fumbling with the little on screen keyboard and was becoming discouraged. This did the trick! He now uses this in place of his laptop and really has turned into a pocket pc promoter. Everyone in his office wants one now. This is a must have in my opinion.

If you want to maximize your efficiency without lugging around a laptop or a worse, an actual paper tablet, I recommend a Toshiba Pocket PC and keyboard accessory. It attatches very easily and can be used as a full size keyboard to enter information in programs like Microsoft Word and Excell, and is about the same size as your PDA when it is compacted.

When I first bought this it was great.It has plenty of different sounds and features.One thing I didn't like was that after a while,the display screen grows a little dim.Other than that I thought this product was great.

I was amazed, no, ASTONSIHED by the enhanced sound that this thing makes! It's almost better than owning your own grand piano at such a low low cost! Although I do not own the keyboard myself, I am constantly using my friends system. I love it so much that I am having it purchased for me for Christmas. I love the idea that you can save your compositions onto a floppy and than convert it to midi on the computer. You can even download midis off the internet and have them play right off the keyboard for an easier learning environment. Download the sheet music, and download the song, there you have it folks! Furthermore, there is a WIDE variety of instrumental selection on this monster. I mean, if you select trumpet, it's a TRUMPET! Unlike the older versions of YAMAHA keyboards where every instrument sounds like a computerized immitation. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REAL THING FOLKS! No cheap immitations here! You'll be playing for hours! There is so much more that I could compliment this keyboard for, but I would be typing for years! ... For parents reading this review, this is by no means a TOY, it's worth the money and you'll soon see your children or teens blooming into Mozarts. It's really incredible! I can't stress that enough! It is seriously just as good as owning a piano.

What makes this product even more exciting is the many accessories you can purchase for this musical maham. A sustaining foot switch is one of the many.

For a cost like what Amazon offers, five stars does not even satisfy the rating this product should receive.

I purchased the PSR340 as a Christmas gift for my retired parents. They both have a history with full sized organs and piano's and they simply love the Yamaha keyboard. I was particularly pleased with Amazon.com's ordering process. I was promptly notified via email of the exact status of my order and received it right on schedule.

Yes, I was rather disappointed that Yamaha chose not to include the power supply but Amazon.com DOES in fact sell it.

Yamaha PA6 Power Adapter for Electronic Keyboards and Drums

This is one of the best keyboards on the market for a reasonable price. the good thing is it size. It's small enough to fit in your lap as you send messages to your friends with the control in your hand. It works great with online titles such as socom2 and resident evil outbreak. I highly recommend this product if you play on-line a lot.

This keyboard is basically the same kind you use for school. If you like that then by all means purchase the keyboard. I use a different one for computer but this one is still pretty nice.

The only problem is that this keyboard can't be used in that many games. RPG Maker is the big one. Maybe some online games will utilize it though.

This keyboard is perfect for any online PS2 game. I bought it for Final Fantasy XI and have been very happy with it. If you can afford it, though, I would recommend the Logitech Netplay thing that has the keyboard and controller in one unit so you don't have to switch between the keyboard and the controller.

It was really hard deciding between the Intuos2 4x5 and the 6x8. In the past I've used these tablets both at home and at work. I mainly do photo retouching in Photoshop. The 4x5 is pretty expensive for a little tablet and there is a great deal on the 6x8 Platinum (cheaper than the purple 6x8). At these prices I can only afford to get one tablet. I want it to be the right one. I picked both of them up at a local electronics store and have them side by side in front of me now for testing. I'm only using a single 19 inch monitor. The 4x5 is a little small. You have to be more accurate with it to select menus, click icons etc. This accuracy requires you to make very small and precise hand movements that I'm finding makes my hand a little stressed and tired. You have to remember that a pen is not like a mouse. With a mouse you can move over an icon and hold it there without clicking on it. With a pen you have to have the tip hover over the pad in that location. If you touch the pad it means you clicked something. Any little movement of the hovering pen causes the cursor to move around. You are much more steady with a mouse. The 6x8 tablet is physically twice as big as the 4x5 and thicker. It is a bigger commitment of desk space. I must say that it feels more comfortable than the 4x5. With the 4x5 my hand would have to go off the right edge when I wanted to select something all the way on the right side of the screen. With the 6x8 the cursor isn't as wobbly when hovering over a point. My hand movements are a little looser since the tablet's active area is bigger and my hand is not as stressed when trying to click a tiny button on the screen. If you ever want to go with dual monitors forget about the 4x5. It would be way too small. Don't even think about getting anything bigger than a 6x8 either. Many have forked out the dough for bigger tablet and live to regret it. I'm keeping the 6x8 and returning the 4x5. If you can afford it, get the 6x8. If you can't afford the extra cost, you can make due with the 4x5. Where I would recommend the 4x5 is for laptops.

I was put off by the price of these Intuos tablets. I assumed you'd need a larger-sized one if you wanted to do anything decent, and they are MAD expensive. And supposedly the Graphire, while much cheaper, is also vastly inferior - go figure. It seemed like an instance where you'd have to spend a chunk of change, which I didn't feel like doing - I wasn't convinced it was worth it.

This may have had something to do with the fact that I'd never used one! They had Intuos tablets at my skool, I knew about them, but I never really bothered with them, or with Painter. I always felt like it was simpler to paint with paint and scan it for illustration work. I was keepin it real. I figured Painter was for people who didn't want to get their hands dirty. And as far as Intuos compatibility with other programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, etc, I was used to using the mouse and OK with it, so again, why bother.

However, a couple friends from skool started using Intuos tablets with Painter. Once I saw prints of some of their paintings, and realized that they were totally digital, I had to admit I was impressed. Clearly Painter was developed by people who had a real understanding of the way paint acts, not to mention chalk, ink, pencil, airbrush, crayon, watercolor, etc.

The thing is, you definitely DO need a tablet and stylus to take advantage of it. I started using Painter with the mouse, and right away I realized the extent of that problem. Painter 7 and up includes mouse-compatibility technology that supposedly allows for variation in pressure, etc, but it's still an awkward and clunky way to go. You can make it work, but you're handicapped from the start, and your results will be limited. I can't imagine that anybody would want to work that way. You need the stylus.

I went ahead and bought a 4x5 Intuos. Well, first of all, the small size isn't that big of a deal. You technically only have the 4x5 space to work on, but the fact that you can zoom in and out and move your canvas around on the screen makes this a non-issue in practice. It would be nice to have a larger working space, but I suppose I'll live.

They talk about "1,024 degrees of pressure-sensitivity" (or whatever) all over the box. That means nothing to anybody, but using is believing. Once I got the knack of the tablet (which does take a while - it's not as intuitive as you might think, it's an acquired skill), I was amazed at how exquisite it really is. Different pressures, different angles, everything behaves as you would expect real media to behave; and it's (almost) as expressive, because you're using it the same way - your marks are simply being recorded digitally rather than by pushing matter across a surface. You also have the convenience (within Painter) of being able to change paint color, brush type and size, "paper" type and color, and practically every other variable conceivable to the artist, all "at the click of a button" (like a 50's TV spot). From the point of view of professional illustration, this sort of thing is invaluable.

All I've done so far is talk about Intuos with Painter, but to me that's it's main application. The other one that sticks out is Illustrator and/or Freehand, et al. As you may know, actual "drawing" with the mouse in this program can be mad retarded difficult. The stylus makes it more natural. Same thing in Flash, etc, and 3D apps like Maya, for the same reason. Oh, and of course Photoshop - in which I've used it mainly in making precise selections.

Anyway, here ends my valentine. I know I sound like I'm employed by Wacom, which I hate...lol...but I do really like this stylus/tablet thingy.

[[ WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT ]]

I have a very small desk, so the 4x5 dimensions of this tablet was just the right size for me. The installation tok 10 minutes to set up; it was easy. I really like the "omake" software that it came with. Painter Classic and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 make up a major part of the bundle. The former lets you create art that look like watercolours/oils, and the latter is great for final touchups.

The pen is light and small. I'm a woman, with a small hand; I really like how the pen fits in my hand.

[[ WHAT I DON'T LIKE ]]

The mouse is superfluous: since the mouse only registers when it touches the tablet--and since your tablet is only 4 x5 (about the size of a hard-cover book)--you are not left with much elbow space. I used the mouse once, and then put it back in the box.

I would recommend the official version, over the second-hand ones you can find on EBay. First of all, the sellers on eBay are greedy. The normal asking price is hardly less than the official version. Second, the official version comes with a lifetime guarantee.

BTW, I am NOT a professional graphics artist. I use my tablet to make desktop wallpapers for myself and my friends, to do some art, extract images on PSP 7, etc. For my purposes, I am quite happy with this tablet!

Yep, this is one powerful and relatively easy piece of equipment. This is my first electonic purchase in ages and I am thrilled. The sound is fantastic, better that my home speakers in fact. My only criticism is that the manual assumes that you have read every page previous. For impatient enthusiasts, this can be a hinderance. I am just beginning to understand how to record my own tracks and it's been three weeks since the DJX has enhanced my life. But what about the next series of DJX? They are most certainly more powerful and easier, but for this price I am in love with my new toy.

Why is it that musical critics who are accustomed to using $5,000.00 workstations frequently give the cheap, portable keyboard, the Yamaha PSR-D1 DJX, such rave reviews? Perhaps it is because underneath its tasteless, plasticy exterior looks lies so much uniqueness and potential for both the informal home hobbyist and the serious recording professional. In this price range, one would probably expect a "family" keyboard that entails multitudes of z-grade patches as well as limited effects and little or no MIDI implementation. However, the majority of the presets are deep, complex, and, most important of all, modern sounding. More amazing is that the sounds can actually be edited and implemented into serious recordings since the DSP, reverb, chorus, and arpeggiator effects are quite effective and innovative for a budget keyboard such as this. The MIDI functions of the DJX are also numerous, though it may be tricky for the typical user to program them into sequences at their fullest potential. Still, this keyboard is very unique and is one of the best keyboards, in any price range, for use in dance-techno styles. Overall, its value and its features makes it one of the few keyboards that is certain to please both the curious hobbyist as well as the recording professional.

I will be happy to buy it but I don't know how. Bye Daniele

The keyboard and mouse work well and are reasonable ofr the price but beware!!!!! They are not USB compatible and require ps-2 connections. If your laptop does not have the old ps-2 connectors then you will end up buying an adaptor which costs almost as much as the keyboard-mouse combo itself!

Also, my understanding was that the mouse was an optical device: it is NOT! it works fine but has the usual limitations of the mice using the old rolling ball technology.

So, buy it with your eyes open!

If we are indeed reviewing the KB985W Multimedia Keyboard/Optical Mouse bundle (Black keyboard, silver 5 button mouse) I have one small complaint that may in fact cause a return of the product.

SET-UP: 5 stars - so easy I was sure I missed something

KEYBOARD: 5 stars thus far, quiet & responsive, decent layout too

MOUSE: 3 stars. While set-up was a breeze, the sleep function of this battery powered marvel is a bit annoying. The reaction time is a bit weird too, but this may be due to my being used to the old world Ball And Socket mouse once so en vouge. I would like to know if there are plans for a more detailed control GUI for the Micro Innovations 5 button mouse that came with this set. I would also like to know if the over sensitive pointer function can be fixed in a way I may have over looked. Yes, I went through the control panel/mouse thing but with only limited success. Wait, there's more: It's loud. Unlike the keyboard, this mouse sounds like some sort of hot-wheels launcher. Boing, clik, tak & scrape.

Over all the bundle is a good deal for what I paid ($39.00) but if I cannot acclimate to the mouse it might have to go back.

I would NOT recomend the bundle for anyone working with minute selections like sample-points or graphics needing 'down to the pixel' fixes. If you are simply surfing to find the next Pam Anderson vid, have at it. This baby will more than please you for the investment!

this is a very good keyboard/mouse. the mouse is just like a normal mouse no delay at all! the key board is also very good (as you can tell from all the reviews)over all this is very good for its price! i reccomend it

I purchased Both the set top box & the wireless keyboard 3 Yrs. ago & worked very good;BUT, it is Degrading. Keys stick & set top Box is Failing. I tried to reach Sony but to No Avail.!! I can't seem to find Any Sony W-250 units. I would like to know if they still make them?? The ONLY set top box I can find is that New MSN-TV which the keyboard is 1/2 the size! This may push me into Finally Buying a computer!!!!

Almost thought the webtv would be thrown over the fence after contacting Sony and ascertaining that Sony no longer has replacement keyboards. This unit is actually better than the original; a bit larger and with convenient thumb indentations for ease in holding the keyboard. Price was actually less than the previous board purchased through Sears. Alas, the purchase of a Dell shall have to wait.

I ordered this keyboard as a gift to my mother, but due to shipping problems, I needed to track the order down with Web TV the provider for Amazon. Not only did they answer me within minutes, they immediately sent out a replacement until they could resend the original order. The two guys who helped me were Matt and Dave in Customer service. They were fast and polite. Within a couple of days my mother received the temp keyboard, with a beautiful note and a follow up of the original ordered keyboard projected delivery date. The Web TV customer service is OUTSTANDING! They are the example all companies should follow :)

I was looking for something I could put in my little apartment and be able to move if and when I had to, and I could afford. My girlfriend/roommate was a music major, and thus very picky about the way an instrument feels and sounds. We had our musical choices narrowed down to this keyboard and a digital piano. After playing this instrument in the store, we decided that for the money, you just can't beat it.
This unit runs about half the price of a digital keyboard, and while I agree that the weighting of the keys is not very significant (hence 4 stars out of 5), the sound I think is outstanding. Not only the grand piano sound, but also a good percentage of the voices (out of 614, of course a few of them are subpar).
On top of all this, the lesson feature is wonderful. I don't know how to play piano or read music or anything, but the lesson feature teaches you how to play any of the 100 songs pre-programmed into the keyboard. I've only had it about 3 days, and I'm learning a lot faster than I would have thought.
So if you're looking for an extremely versatile instrument that won't break your bank, this is definitely for you. If you want something that plays just like a piano, then buy a piano. But I can't recommend this product enough.

I bought this for my wife. This is most certainly a great product. I do agree however, that the keys are not as weighted as they should be. My wife mentioned that they feel as though they spring back unlike a standard piano.

A terrific instrument, pound for pound, than any out there for sale. With 88 keys, educational software, many voices, etc. there's nothing better for the money plus you get Yamaha quality.

We bought the psr280 at another store. They didn't mention that we needed an adaptor. They did however tell us about the headphones we wanted, and then sold us the wrong set.

For some reason, I have this keyboard in my room, when I don't even play it. But the first few weeks I had, I discovered a great amount of stuff on it.

-DJ- you can play around with lots of voices and maybe even pretend you're a DJ!

-Touch- I don't really like this option, but I know that many people do because they like the feel of the grand piano.

-YES!- What that is is a program that helps you play 100 different songs with the help of the LCD display.

-Voices- Tons of voices, most of them sounding lifelike. There are even sound effects, like applause, helicopter, and the ocean.

-Recording- Record anything you want, and store 5 songs. You can easily record over anything.

-Metrophone- With the metrophone, you can set the beat of the song your playing to learn to play steadily.

-Volume- The volume ain't no button. You can manually set it to precisely anything, like a good home stereo.

-MIDI- Get yourself a MIDI cable and connect it to your pc. You can send your songs to the computer.

-Harmony- There are many touches you can add to the voices, like a large or small room and many others.

-Styles- Not the best styles in the world, but play your songs to a background tune.

This is an incredible keyboard especially for beginners, but not too much for pros. I suggest getting a more expensive model for pros, but they know what they're doing.

I've had a casio CTK-541 and a yamaha psr260, but this is the one i wanted all along. I liked it because of its song recorder, sound effects, voices, etc.... When i got it, i couldn't wait to go home and try it out. It sounded so real that it felt like i was on stage. The yamaha education suite 2 helped me learn all 100 songs. This keyboard is worth 100 times more than its price