Microsoft MCE Keyboard - The Missing Link?

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20050815/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20050815/index.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Microsoft seems to have decided that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. The Remote Keyboard for Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) was developed specifically for PCs equipped with Media Center. (By the way, I don't know who comes up with the names for Microsoft's products, but he or she ought to change jobs.)"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/mlink.jpg" /> <br /><br />This is a very nice looking keyboard that would fit naturally in the living room. Microsoft has a pretty good reputation for making good hardware and like the reviewer, the only con I can see is the price. So if you really want to fill in the weak link in the MCE, this looks like the way to go.

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This is IR, not RF. :( I can't imagine i'd ever have line-of-sight from my sofa to my TV-stand. When using a regular remote I always have to put it up in the air or under the sofa table.

Oh well, I'll just have to get a glass table when I fanally sell a kidney for the Hush M MCE Mobile.

[Mike Temporale]

:( I thought it was going to be Bluetooth enabled. While IR is fine, it requires that you be facing the receiver while using it. Bluetooth would be much better because you could face anyway you want and it will still work. Oh well, I think I'll still get one, I just won't be as happy with it as I was expecting.

[Mike Temporale]

When using a regular remote I always have to put it up in the air or under the sofa table.

You can get IR extenders that solve this problem. I have my MCE in the corner of the room, and a 12 foot extender runs over to the top of the TV. And they're cheap - I think it was $6 or $7.

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Another thing that make it less hot, no support for extenders.

Thanks for the tip Mike!