10-23-2002, 11:59 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth Review
http://hardware.earthweb.com/peri/article/0,,12094_1482071_,00.html
The first reviews of the Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard and mice combos are starting to roll out, and the results seem to be pretty impressive so far. This isn't the model I'd buy personally (I need the natural split keyboard), but the functionality looks great.
I'm a huge fan of Microsoft hardware, and I use their mice and keyboards exclusively, but I have to say this: Microsoft's branding team must have been sleeping at the wheel the past few months though - first up, they release a new line of keyboards and mice that are a nice deep blue colour...but they don't have Bluetooth. Then they release a new line of wireless products, dubbed the Wireless Optical Desktop...but it's radio frequency-based, not Bluetooth. This is the cause of a lot of confusion, which surprises me - Microsoft usually has a pretty good handle on branding and product naming.
"Microsoft's Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth is expensive ($159), and works only with Windows XP (either Home or Professional) PCs. But it has two things going for it: First, its swank USB transceiver supports not only the mouse and keyboard but up to five other Bluetooth devices at distances up to 30 feet, putting you in a position to clear away cable clutter with present and future printers, PDAs, and other peripherals or use a Bluetooth phone as a wireless modem with your laptop." Source: Derek Mitchell.
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10-24-2002, 12:12 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 275
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built-in drivers?
forgive my ignorace but I need to ask this also:
:?: will these keyboards and mouse have a driver that comes along with it for pocket pc? its pretty much useless if the pda can see the mouse and keyboard but doesn't know what to do with it. just curious.
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John Cruz
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10-24-2002, 12:17 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Re: built-in drivers?
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Originally Posted by johncruise
:?: will these keyboards and mouse have a driver that comes along with it for pocket pc? its pretty much useless if the pda can see the mouse and keyboard but doesn't know what to do with it. just curious.
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No, I highly doubt it - using a desktop keyboard and mouse with a Pocket PC is the kind of insanity that even I don't dabble in. :lol:
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10-24-2002, 01:24 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 106
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I must admit I didn't even really care about this thing until finally this review stated the mouse is available outside the package. I have a notebook so it's rather pointless to have a different keyboard. Though I could attach another one, I'm too used to the layout of the notebook's keyboard to switch every evening.
Now that I know the beautiful blue IntelliMouse Explorer is available with the same receiver without the keyboard, it is definitely on my christmas list. Might want to mention that, since I didn't consider buying it when it was packaged with the keyboard.
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10-24-2002, 01:41 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 160
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Re: built-in drivers?
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
No, I highly doubt it - using a desktop keyboard and mouse with a Pocket PC is the kind of insanity that even I don't dabble in. :lol:
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Why? My two main wishes are for BT keyboard and a heads-up display!
That way, when I need to write a paper, I can sit at my keyboard without fiddling with wires or connectors.
Most of the time the stylus is all I need. 8)
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Common Sense is Not Common
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10-24-2002, 02:11 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 566
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Re: built-in drivers?
[quote="Jason Dunn"]
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Originally Posted by johncruise
No, I highly doubt it - using a desktop keyboard and mouse with a Pocket PC is the kind of insanity that even I don't dabble in. :lol:
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This from the guy who's been raving about what a great product 'Pocket Controller' is? Heresy my man, just plain heresy. :lol:
BTW, I couldn't agree more about PC. It may well be the single 'kewlest' app I've purchased for the PPC. Everyone that sees it on my desktop at work comments along the lines of "Now THAT'S a really good idea".
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-= Sass =-
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10-24-2002, 03:46 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Re: built-in drivers?
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Originally Posted by SassKwatch
This from the guy who's been raving about what a great product 'Pocket Controller' is? Heresy my man, just plain heresy.
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Actually, that was Andy - you guys gotta' learn to read the bylines. :lol:
I think Pocket PC drivers would be cool, don't get me wrong, but that's the lunatic fringe and you never see stuff like that in a 1.0 product. :wink:
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10-24-2002, 04:47 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 37
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sorry i have to disagree with you Jason but microsoft optical mouses arfe the worst in the market. The best are Logitec.
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10-24-2002, 05:29 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gmelfissg
sorry i have to disagree with you Jason but microsoft optical mouses arfe the worst in the market. The best are Logitec.
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Thanks for sharing your OPINION (you always seem to forget that word when you post) - you may not like Microsoft mouse products, but I prefer them over Logitech. It's nice to have a choice though, isn't it?
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10-24-2002, 05:31 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 433
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which one a better deal, the microsoft bluetooth combo or the logitech wireless freedom combo?
by the way what about the battery consumption of the bluetooth keyboard?
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