Keyboard Reviews

This is a nice keyboard for those with small hands, such as myself, but there are serious problems as well:

First, the color coding on the multimedia keys is missing, making it very difficult to figure out which one is which.

Second, the USB connectiors are too small to fit any of my USB devices and are, therefore, completely useless.

Third, the push button sound adjustment is a very useful feature, but its increments are rather large, making it hard to fine adjust sound like you could with a more sophisticated round button system.

Beyond these, this is a nice, compact keyboard.

This keyboard is one of the best I have used. You get more for the money than you will with any other Microsoft and Logitech keyboard. This comes with a load of features, including two USB ports(a large plus for those who have only two USB ports), 8 shortcut keys including two that can be customized, DVD and CD playback can be controlled right from the keyboard, there is a back and forward button for Internet Explorer, and the volume can be adjusted also. Try finding a keyboard with features like these, it will be [expensive]. The keyboard itself is extremely comfortable to type with and the buttons take alsmost no force to push down and it has such good response. The black and the look of the keyboard is sleek and nice that will go with any computer. It looks wonderful with a black computer. The only negative is the different keyboard layout that IBM has used. The Insert, Delete, Page Up/Down keys and the Arrow keys are a little bunched up. This saves space but it does get awhile to get used to, especially if you are one of those people who use those buttons a lot.

I was originally looking for a simple cheap keyboard. But then noticed that this USB keyboard cost just a little more then a generic one. And it works great. If you have WinXP, no need to load the driver off the CD. Just plug it in (when power is on) let it load the general driver, then go to Windows Update where it will detect the new keyboard driver needed.

After using the keyboard extensively, I can't say anything bad about it...it's a solid performer with no quirks or hassles. The mouse is a bit on the basic side, but for the price the two combined is not a bad deal at all.

If you can afford to put down a little more cash, I would recommend the same keyboard with a Wireless Explorer mouse or even better the Logitech Freedom Pro Optical keyboard/mouse combo.

Definitely worth getting. I love all the short-cut buttons. Looks great and works great.

Microsoft's customer support has been incredibly well. I called regarding the mouse breaking and in a week, I had a brand new mouse.

I would recommend this package to anyone who's looking for a mouse/keyboard. If you have a big hand, look into their Microsoft Optical Explorer Mouse.

This keyboard/optical mouse combo is an extremely good deal. Your keyboard comes equiped with 2 USB ports, after you use one on your computer, and the mouse, while at times was just slightly confusing to install, works great after everything is setup. I noticed a suddle increase in smoothness while using the mouse, which I really enjoyed, and the keyboard with its "hot keys" makes it easy to utilize the components of your computer at the push of a button. If your purchase this combo pack it will be worth your money. Not to mention the rebate you recieve from Microsoft. Very good deal. Think about it!

This combo pen is a 3-star product in appearance and functionality, but feels cheap. The weight of the pen is fine, but the mechanical function is not crisp. The pencil lead loading function is very difficult and slow. I am not planning on returning the pen, but would recommend against ordering it.

I have looked at other 3-in-1 pens but this is the one that caught my eye. First of all, it looks and feels great. The pen has some substance and it actually helps when writing on your PDA (personal digital assistant) versus the provided stylus. It is also cheap enough that you don't feel that you're making a huge investment in a fancy stylus that you might lose. The pen is also great when using it as a pen or mechanical pencil. Just turn the upper portion and the tip changes from stylus to pen. The pencil is located on the opposite side of the pen. The ink flows very well on any type of paper. The pen even comes with an eraser (located when you unscrew the top of the pen). It is a great gift for any PDA user as well as your favorite gadget fiend, I mean friend.

Before purchasing this pen, I looked at a number of multi function pens, including others available through Amazon as well as those from other makers, i.e. the Cross DigitalWriter Duo. In my opinion, this pen does everything well.

With a simple twist, it goes from a black ballpoint to a PDA stylus to a mechanical pencil. I differ with the previous reviewer in that the mechanism feels solid and of good quality. The pen can be customized of sorts by replacing the pen or stylus with a red ballpoint or a fine point highlighter. The PDA stylus that comes with the pen is red in color, thus preventing mistaking for the ballpoint and scratching the surface of your PDA. Also, all three options are stored unexposed, thus preventing any damage.

The top of the pen has a cap that screws off with an eraser underneath. The black ballpoint that comes with the pen is of very good quality and is a fine point. The stylus is much better than the ones that come with the PDAs.

The pen has a very good "presentation" quality about it. It looks very professional. I use both a pen and stylus equally in my job and this one has a very nice balance of form and function at a great price.

I did not like this keyboard. For one thing if you want to use the function keys (F1-F12) you have to press a button on the keyboard every time you start your computer. Two, the keyboard sits relatively flat making all the keys the same height. It's especially bad on the bottom row where the Control, Windows key, Alt, and space bar keys are. Due to the design of the keyboard those keys actually appear to be higher than the row of keys above them. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to hit the SHIFT key and hit the Windows key instead. As far as the other features of the keyboard go I can't comment on them since I really only wanted a good basic keyboard. This wasn't it. I suggest to anyone thinking about purchasing a new keyboard to try it out first before buying it.

While this keyboard is reasonably priced and seemed easy to type on, wound up returning it due to its quirky behavior. The F1 through F12 keys only work normally if the keyboard is in "F-lock" mode which you have to activate every tiem you turn the computer on. Otherwise these keys do another function specified by the software.

I didn't like the software driver for this keyboard because it didn't let you set a fixed application for the media key to launch. Pressing the Media key brings up a MENU on screen where you have to pick what media player you want to open. I would have liked to program this button just to run Winamp when I hit it but no, the software was more complicated than it needs to be and wouldn't let me.

If you're looking for a cheap keyboard I'd look for something else.

nice keyboard. very silent except oddly for the right shift key and spacebar which makes as much noise as any other keyboard. I'm guessing probably because they are long keys.

Yo, let me just say that this keyboard is off the shelf, hee zee, chain, or whatever. I plugged it in right out the box and was instantly comfortable with this product. If you are new to the music world and want some lessons/foundation, then you will want to buy this one over much of the other keyboards available. It has a great learning program that even the most non-musically inclined individual will be able to benefit from. Also, there are tons of songs stored on the thing that you can learn to play. Good stuff, go buy one.

What a great keyboard! I am learning to play the piano in my spare time! The built-in lessons really work. I am learning at my own pace. I played back all 100 songs and put a star by the songs I want to learn. There are a lot of great songs built in. By the time I get through all of them I should be able to read music and play the piano very well. I am on the 5th song and it is easier with each new song I learn. I love lesson #2 for the right and left hand. You have to hit the right keys for the keyboard to work and after finishing the song the keyboard tells you how well you did.. either "OK", "Good", "Very Good", or "Excellent!" There are all kinds of voices, styles, songs and the DJ mode that make it fun and entertaining. I haven't learned all of it yet. I also like the fact that the keyboard is very portable so that I can take it places easily. I ordered the keyboard with a stand and AC adapter which are essentials. This keyboard is not touch sensitive which I think makes it easier to learn. The only small complaint is that the song book does not have the words to the songs in it which I have complained to Yamaha about. The PSR-170 is an affordable, versatile, quality product. I would buy it again without hesitation.

THIS KEYBOARD ROCKS!!!!!!

WE have had this keyboard for 2 years and it is still as good as new!!!!!!!

I purchased the Wireless Intellimouse Explorer w/ Tilt Wheel because I LOVED how the wheel scrolled. I was not thrilled with the price (I mean really - it's only a mouse!) but I spent the $50 anyway even after denying myself a new mouse for many months because this was something I just couldn't go home without.

The tilt wheel (for side to side scrolling) is nice, but not a huge selling point for me. The feel of the regular wheel scroll (up and down) was way cool though (very smooth feeling), I liked how the mouse looked, and most of all I liked that it was wireless. It is also a lighter mouse, weighing in at 5.25 oz with batteries in it, and the ergonomic design fit my smaller hand better than some of the other ergonomic mice. (Note: I had the three button version first, - Wireless Optical Mouse w/ Tilt - but returned it in favor of this five button version - Wireless Intellimouse Explorer w/ Tilt. The back and forward browser buttons on the Explorer mouse are very convenient, and the three button is scalloped for the thumb a bit differently which made it uncomfortable.)

So I bring my new mouse home and install the software, got everything hooked up very easily. (God bless USB!) I go to define my wheel button to "delete", same as I had on my plain and simple Microsoft Wheel Mouse, and WHAT'S THIS? No button definition for delete? Are you kidding me? It was just on the last version of the Microsoft mouse software! No way to define your own keystroke either! I depend on my wheel button as "delete" because I go through so much spam, so I was a bit panicked. $50 for this mouse and I can't make my second-most used button do what I want.

I spent two hours researching on the net how to define that button but alas, they have deleted the delete option. And from what I read, you can't define different keystrokes for different programs anymore either (not that I ever used that, but apparently it was an option before). All the other options are still there... you can set any button to copy, paste, enter, autoscroll and half a dozen other useless things, but you are limited to the keystrokes Microsoft has already defined and you get no more.

I kept the mouse for use on my Macintosh since strangely enough you CAN define any keystroke to any button with this mouse on a Mac, just not on a PC (thank you Mactopia! Apparently you're the only smart ones in GatesLand!), but I ended up buying the Logitech MX700 for my PC instead, so now I'm out $100 on mice and while the Logitech is nice, it was not my first choice.

i bought this mouse and was impressed. other reviews claimed that logitech was a better manufacturer but i tried all of the logitechs and none felt as good as the intellimouse. the usual complaints of bad install didnt hit me and setup took less that 5 minutes. i have had the same batteries for a month and the provided battery sensor is still reading full batteries. the mouse's ergonomics are excelent but my 6 year old sister complains of it being too big. i am 6foot tall with fairly large hands and i think it is almost small but is still very comfortable. wonderful features and easy software make this mouse a great pick and for the amazon price it is well worth it.

p.s. sorry about grammar, the caps keys dont work and the keyboard is the next thing to go

This is worth the money. The cordless factor is excellent for use with laptops. Keep in mind, though, that the base unit has a cord, (it is not one of those ones that looks like a USB key) which may become annoying if you want to pick up your laptop and go without disconnecting your mouse. Also, since this uses 2 AA batteries, it is heavier than the average mouse. I like this, but it does take some getting used to. The backwards/forwards thumb buttons work great for surfing the web, and the scroll wheel works better than others as it is smooth, not jerky. Truthfully, the side-scrolling feature is pretty useless for most people, but if you work with large picture files and high resolution images, it is extremely helpful. All 5 buttons are easy to assign and change around. Finally, I have had absolutely no problems with the connection, though several other reviewers have complained about this. All in all, an excellent buy, especially for laptops.

Out of the box and mated to the Logitech i-touch keyboard, this mouse set up in 3 minutes. The taskbar icon makes adjusting sensitivity, etc. very easy. The mouse then works as well as any corded, mechanical mouse. However, I found it a little too big for my hand and, having been an optical mouse user for some time, a bit less precise than I like. I've ordered the optical unit and will report on that when I've gotten it installed.

I got this mouse from the Cordless Desktop Pro package and am very satisfied with it. I use my tv for PC gaming and sit on my futon about 5 feet away so being able to recline on my futon while still having easy access to my mouse is very convenient. The radio technology it uses is pretty effective but not perfect. At times I was able to use my mouse over 15 feet away from my computer and TV, so anyone using a desktop should have no problems. Occasionally certain factors will cause it to stutter for a second(like objects). Another problem is that when moving the mouse at a fast rate, the motion will get distorted because this mouse can't seem to track really fast motions. Also, if you're a gamer who tweaks his gear, you'll notice that the rate of the mouse averages around 50 Hz and can't be raised I believe because of the cordless factor(higher rate=smoother movement). The shape and design are sleek and comfortable. It also has 4 buttons, 2 of which can be assigned to pratically any command. The thumb button is placed perfectly, the wheel also has a nice feel with clicks as you roll it. All in all, if convenience is what you're looking for then this is probably the best mouse you'll find w/o a cord, otherwise an optical mouse would provide much better performance except with a cord.

I bought this mouse bundled with a natural keyboard (also wireless) and I have been happy ever since. No wires to worry about, the responsiveness is like that of a conventional device. Right after the purchase, out of curiousity I took both the keyboard and the mouse to another room, about 20 feet away, and they both worked just fine (as I use it, the mouse sits 3-4 feet away from the receiver). The battery life has been also amazingly long, I forget when I changed battery. I'd say battery lasts about 6 months.

I bought this product because I wanted a cordless keyboard. This item is cute and small, built in mouse and number pad. The pros: Small, attractive, cordless, wonderful hot keys. Cons: The keyboard better be pointing towards the infrared box in close range (worse than a cheap remote!) the mouse takes time to get use too! (2 tiny buttons next to a micro joystick) The number pad is part of the key pad! (must press the FN key all the time)and worst of all the hot keys stopped working after 3 months! My friends at first say "WOW" when they first see it, but in minutes they start screaming "I hate your stupid keyboard!" "A" for effort, but "D" for performance!

Pros I love the size (I have small hands) and it's easy to switch off the num lock. Infared is no problem.

Cons. Be careful! If you have only one serial port you may have to make compromises. My Palm uses it also.:(
You can't have a mouse AND use the pointing device. One or the other! ( I'm hooked on the scroll feature of my mouse) Good luck. Get this at a cheaper price or look at newer keyboards.

I bought this key board at a Computer Show at first I didnt like the joy stick mouse connection. Now I cant live with out it having that feature on the key board makes it more mobile so I can sit any where in the room with out a desk or flat surface. I wish that more cordless key boards had mouse control on the key board.

If you drop it, the cover and the hinges could come off. Good luck finding the hinges again! Now when I use my keyboard with my jornada, i have to do without a cover becasue those flimsy little hinges are long gone. And I overpaid for mine because I bought it ... at my local Brandsmart. Should have come to [Amazon.com], but it was an impulse buy. The keyboard also seems to add a lot a heft to the pocket pc, even though it doesn't feel that heavy on it own. Other than that, it's great. It beats the hunt and peck method you would otherwise have to use! And it lights up so you can use it in the dark.

The HP Jornada "thumbboard" has a nice feel, quite comfortable for long typing. The accompanying software driver is stable, and installation is simple.

Unfortunately, the method used to attach to the Jornada is ungainly - remove the lid, then shove the little pins on the keyboard face into the old hinge slots. To make matters worse (much worse), the keyboard blocks the sync/power cable connections, so you have to at least partially remove it in order to put it on its cradle to sync or recharge. I'd expected better from HP.

After 2 weeks using my Jornada 568 with the pocket keyboard, I can honestly say it is one of the best accessories I have ever purchased for any handheld. As a former owner of several Palm and Handspring units, I tried nearly all of the available keyboards -- the Palm/Targus stowaway keyboards, the GoType models, and even the Seiko Thumboard for Palm 505. My favorite was always the Palm foldaway -- it had a tiny form factor for easy storage, but opened up to a near full size keyboard, with excellent tactile response to the keys. It also worked without a hitch, everytime! The only problem with it was that you needed a flat surface to place it on in order to use it -- you could not set it on your lap.

With this pocket keybaord, HP has really come through with a great product. After a quick install of the driver, I connected the PK to my 568, launched the PK software to configure the device, and was typing away -- all in a matter of minutes. The keyboard works for all applications that take text entry, and I've so far had no problems whatsoever. The keys are spaced just far apart enough for me to type relatively quickly, and with few errors. The keys have a nice feel to them to, with a slight tactile response that signals you've properly pressed and released each key. I'm 6 feet tall with fairly large hands -- if I can type on this with ease, most folks will likely have no problem.

I also like the way the keyboard comes with its own protective cover for the unit -- it slips on over the Jornada in place of the cover the unit comes with, and only adds about a quarter to half an inch to the length of the unit. It's still slim and short enough to carry in my shirt pocket.

Finally, the unit is just darned attractive -- the Jornada was already a good-looking Pocket PC, but the keyboard gives it a whole new and compelling look -- if you see one, you'll really want to try it out!

On the down side -- for one, you need to remove the keyboard in order to charge or sync. It's a minor annoyance, but if you only sync once a day or so, like me, you can leave the keyboard on most of the time.

My only other minor gripe is that the keyboard covers up the hot keys on the Jornada, and I would have liked the keyboard to have included its own hot keys for just this reason. I've yet to figure out whether I can program the thing to open apps based on keyboard shortcuts, which would greatly enhance my PK usage. The keyboard does, however, include power on and off buttons, and a slider control on the side that allows you to lock the Jornada to keep it from turning on accidentally. That's just more smart engineering, which seems to have been behind this product from the beginning.

I'm fairly new to the Pocket PC world, having spent all my prior PDA time with Palm units. I still like Palms, but my Jornada 568, with the always on, ultra-portable Pocket Keyboard, has become my new favorite PDA. I take it everywhere, and highly recommend both the Jornada and the Pocket Keyboard.

I received my tablet a day after I ordered from Amazon at no extra delivery charge, so great service from these folks, BUT, the tablet has a problem with my OS, WinXP. The tablet's driver doesn't work with a file in the Xp's stand by mode, so whenever my laptop goes into it, the system crashes. It happens daily. Another problem with Wacoms driver is that it fails to load too often. The tablet is great when it works, but right now, with the current Wacom driver I would have to discourage anyone from buying it. The people at Wacom are cordial, but they have NOT fixed the problem, even after I theatened them with posting a negative review here, at Amazon. So, now go and think before you buy.

I bought my Wacom 9x12 Intuos2 tablet last year, and it is a great product. What can I say that has not been said before? So, yes, it is great. But even greatness has flaws.

A reviewer below said that you have a 50/50 chance of the driver booting at start-up. That is true. The driver does boot a lot of the time, but that doesn't bother me much. You just close it and that's that.

Second, one time in every twenty, the tablet won't recognize the pressure nor the eraser. Even if you just brush lightly your stylus in the tablet, it will render the thickest line you're working with. That can be fixed by closing the program and opening it again.

Aside from that, it works like a wonder. Those are the two bad points I can find for it, but the good far outweights the bad.

I've been using the Intuos 6 x 8 for 4 years now and it has been good. It draws cartoons in Flash well (if I zoom it to at least 200%), and lately I'd been thinking of upgrading to a larger wacom and I've found it really difficult to find a good review anywhere so here is my take on wacoms.

I'd always been under the impression that I couldn't draw as well on a 6 x 8 compared to a 9 x 12, but that was purely psychological. The truth is if you zoom in 200% and draw at 200% then the accuracy is just as good as a 9 x 12 wacom at 100% zoom. Only thing is I like to see the whole canvas at one time. I've upgraded now to an Intuos 2 9 x 12 and it works like a dream! Logically it should be no different from a '6 x 8 working at 200% zoom', but somehow the feel of the pen is wonderful, and it draws beautifully and more easily! (or it may just be psychological). For those with 6 x 8 wacoms I found a neat tip that makes them just as good as 9 x 12s (except that the feel is different, or that may just be psychological) and that is, if you change it to the mouse setting, and make the speed to the slowest one possible (turtle), then you should get the same accuracy as a 9 x 12 working at 100% zoom. However because the space is small you'd need to lift the pen when you run out of space. But that doesn't really matter. Actually maybe because my 9 x 12 is an Intuos2 instead of an Intuos (and I don't know the difference between the two), maybe that's why I feel that I like it better. It's hard judging these things. I'd say it's best to find out what works for you.

(...)to see an example of a picture I did using the Intuos2 9 x 12.