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Hardware

Wireless Keyboard w/o a Wireless Mouse? 61

Posted by Cliff from the keep-your-rodent-please! dept.
Pampusik asks: "I'm looking for a decent wireless keyboard, but do not need a wireless mouse. Unfortunately, it seems it is nearly impossible to buy a wireless keyboard without having a mouse bundled with it. The only wireless, mouse-less keyboard I've been able to find is an option from Logitech. It is, however, not an impressive keyboard. Are there other options available?"
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Wireless Keyboard w/o a Wireless Mouse? More

Wireless Keyboard w/o a Wireless Mouse?

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  • Solution (Score:3, Funny)

    by Acidic_Diarrhea ( 641390 ) on Friday January 23, 2004 @10:14PM (#8072348) Homepage Journal
    Here's an option, buy the keyboard and mouse package. Then, superglue a piece of string to the top of the mouse and run that string to the back of the computer and tie it onto something back there. Voila, you've got a wireless keyboard and a wired mouse - just like you wanted!

    It should be clear that no one else needs to post in this article.

    • Re:Solution (Score:4, Informative)

      by 0x0d0a ( 568518 ) on Saturday January 24, 2004 @06:30AM (#8074055) Journal
      Note that this is not quite as silly as one might think.

      I had a friend that stopped using a wireless mouse because it kept getting lost under piles of stuff.

      With a wired mouse, you always have a cord to follow.

      I, personally, can't figure out the fetish with wirelessness. If you're using a computer monitor, the size is pretty much such that you must be at your desk. If you want to control music or movies, an IR remote is a much better choice -- more comfortable to hold, can be used without a desk, cheap, and the batteries last until kingdom come.

      The only possibly justifiable thing I can think of might be that a wireless mouse doesn't have a cord moving around and knocking things over. A keyboard doesn't really move too much. I found it *particularly* irritating to find a *wired* optical trackball that I liked (eventually went with the MacAlly QBALL). Who would want a wireless *trackball*? You don't move the thing, and there's just no way for the cord to whack things.

      If you *do* go wireless, you introduce all manner of irritations:

      * Security. Obvious. Probably not a huge issue for most, given that attacking your device means physically planting a monitoring device quite nearby. (Perhaps cracking into another nearby computer using a RF or IR sensor might work, but it would still take some doing).

      * Batteries. This is a big deal in my mind. Batteries add weight. They mean that voltage starts dropping off, and devices get less reliable. You have to change the durn little things, and if you come back home and discover that your batteries are dead, you're in for some charging/replacing before you can do anything.

      * Reliability. Logitech's pre-Bluetooth mice "block" each other when used in the same range. Other RF crap going on can muck with your signal.

      * Performance. I remember folks complaining about performance degredation -- not sure whether it was due to latency increases or sampling rate decreases.
      • 2 cables less in your desk are two cables less.

        And now there are some options in which you connect a little key, similar to memory sticks, to your USB port that communicates with your kb and/or mouse, no cables anymore.

        When you have a printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, phone, organizer, camera and who knows what else, the less cables the better.

      • Re:Solution (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Dun Malg ( 230075 )
        Who would want a wireless *trackball*? You don't move the thing, and there's just no way for the cord to whack things.

        I have my trackball mouse mounted to the arm of my chair. Wireless means I don't have to worry about tripping over the cord. My case is unusual though.

      • I have the Logitex wireless keyboard and trackball FX (the big marble), and would gladly have paid twice what I gave for them.

        None of the issues you mention are issues. Range isn't great (6ish feet), so anyone eavesdropping is pretty damn good, batteries last pretty much forever (several months, at least), utterly reliable, and while there is some performance loss towards the end of the battery lifetime, with modern batteries, that's when they're completely dead anyway.

        In return, I can easily clear my de

  • my suggestion: (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    suck it up and deal with it. it's not worth your time to search for the perfect keyboard-only kit, when a combo-kit may is only few bucks more.

  • Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jcbphi ( 235355 ) on Friday January 23, 2004 @10:18PM (#8072375) Homepage
    Apple's wireless (bluetooth) keyboard. No mouse included.

    http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects /A ppleStore.woa/70702/wo/ul2nAMdvPhM028BKE761R4igMn9 /1.3.0.5.10
    • there is nothing that says you have to use the mouse...

      i bought a microsoft wireless natural keyboard + mouse combo. i am not 100% certain where the mouse is because i never use it. oddly i use a wireless keyboard and cabled mouse.. go figure.
      • oddly i use a wireless keyboard and cabled mouse

        That's the strangest thing I've ever heard. Well not really. Unless your typing from across the room I see no need for it. Unlike mice, keyboard just stay put. The only benefit a wireless mouse has is it unconstrained freedom to move around my desktop. I don't think my keyboard has moved since I plugged it in. How does the wireless keyboard benefit you?

        • that's how I have it too, corded mouse on desktop, when I'm using the computer from the bed I'll use the wireless mouse as well.

          I used to have the corded keyboard in the computer too that I used while sitting at the desk, but switched that to the other computer(usb makes it really easy to have multiple keyboards and mouses hooked up to one computer).
        • Well, I could see where a wireless keyboard could benefit you. You could use it while sitting on the couch/bed/whatever. However, that is a bit harder with a wireless mouse, due to the requirement of a flat surface for it. A keyboard you can use in your lap. However, what WOULD be nice, is a wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad or (preferably) trackball.
  • i've run into a similar problem... i want a good ergonomic keyboard, but could care less about wireless, or bundled mouses. alas, i'm stuck with both wireless and a mouse if i want a _conformable_ keyboard :(

  • More detail, plz (Score:3, Informative)

    by Txiasaeia ( 581598 ) on Friday January 23, 2004 @10:22PM (#8072388)
    What are you going to use the keyboard for? D'ya want a full keyboard or is a compact okay? What's your price range? What specifically do you need in addition to the normal ~104 keys (volume control, navigation, scroll function, etc.)? The keyboard you linked to is actually a great product - it's cheap, has good tactile feedback and gets the job done.
    • Yah, yah... I should've been more clear and less succinct!

      I'm searching for a full-sized (104-ish keys) alternative to my laptop's miniature keyboard for when I have it docked at home. I write a ton and need something that feels like a real keyboard should and won't fall apart too easily. It will be abused.

      • So if it's docked at home, why do you need a cordless? I can understand if you've got your laptop hooked up to a digital TV and you want to type on your bigscreen from your couch, but if you're doing serious typing then a corded keyboard should do the trick. While I'm on the subject, if you *are* trying to use a cordless from your couch, be aware that the max range on some models isn't over a metre or so.

        Cordless keyboards/mice are nifty and convenient (I've got an MX700 logitech), but when they don't w

  • IBM PCjr. Infrared keyboard and no mouse.
    Of course, it didn't have a hard drive either.

  • An easy Google search answers this (Score:5, Informative)

    by dstone ( 191334 ) on Friday January 23, 2004 @10:31PM (#8072442) Homepage
    it seems it is nearly impossible to buy a wireless keyboard without having a mouse bundled with it

    The person asking the question (and the editor who accepted it) are not trying very hard. "wireless keyboard" -mouse [google.com]
  • Just curious why you would want a wireless keyboard but no wireless mouse since it actually moves and the wire actually gets in the way.
  • really.

    the mouse doesn't really cost that much extra(for you), do you really think that they would sell the things for much cheaper than what they're selling right now even if they didn't have a bundled in mouse? that's just not how low-end combo pc hardware pricing goes.

    even in Finland you can get a combo for just 38 euros, with some normal cord keyboards costing more than that(I bought one with optical mouse, rf type, for around 50e in december, I don't 'really' need the mouse but it's handy to have any
    • what I meant of course was 150% price.

      and what the froogle link from another commenter will tell you is that just keyboards tend to cost a good deal more than combos.
    • Quite right. I bought a Logitech wireless kit (the black one with the play/stop/volume/etc buttons on it) and I still use my Intellimouse Optical rather then the optical wireless mouse that came with it (and eats batteries like ). Aside from a useless mouse sitting in my closet, no complaints from me. The on-keyboard controls work with Winamp, and that's pretty much all I ask.
  • Buy the combo, sell the rat on ebay.

    That is of course assuming it isn't permamently attached to the kbd, and both are capable of operating without the other or parts thereof.
    • They always use the same transmitter!
      • Huh? So what? Unless the transmitter for the keyboard is in the mouse why can't he dump the mouse? If you're thinking no one will buy it on ebay because it doesn't come with a transmitter then you don't really understand ebay. If a dude will buy a ghost in a jar or a can of used shaving cream why wouldn't someone buy a transmitterless mouse?

  • Best and Worst (Score:4, Informative)

    by Michael.Forman ( 169981 ) * on Friday January 23, 2004 @10:56PM (#8072552) Homepage Journal

    I must warn you not to purchase the IBM Wireless Navigator Pro Keyboard (SK-8810) [vtama.com]. Although it has a great layout and an integrated mouse, it has usable range of about a meter. Beyond that it starts dropping letters. Nt vry usefl for typng meangfl contnt and evn wrse for the cmmand lne.

    If you are fortunate enough to have invested in Apple hardware, I cannot recommend enough the new Apple Bluetooth keyboard and mouse [apple.com]. They're flawless.

    Michael. [michael-forman.com]
  • ...and toss the mouse in a drawer. That's what I did.

    Picked up the OEM edition of the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop from newegg.com [newegg.com] for a little over $50. I use a corded Logitech mouse.

    I stuck the Microsoft mouse in the drawer within arm's length of my desk, so when my right-handed friends are visiting and want to check their e-mail, they don't have to suffer the mental anguish of mousing with their left hand. They just grab the wireless out of the drawer, use it, and toss it back in when done.

    I lik
  • I remember reading that wireless keyboards were very prone to sniffing and that it was trivially easy for most wannabe haxz0rz to grab your keystrokes passively.

    Is there any proof behind this and/or does anyone have experience trying to do this? How easy/hard was it?
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re:What about Safety (Score:3, Informative)

      by gl4ss ( 559668 )
      afaik all logitechs newer keyboards at least support some advanced cryptography or another.

      at least they come with a funky app which you can use to turn it on(involves writing some stuff on the keyboard the program says, pressing buttons). the very least thing you have to do is to pair the receiver to the keyboard(by pressing a button simultaneously on device and the receiver, dunno if this includes crypt of any kind).

      most older keybs used to be IR so that solved it naturally right there.

      if you're skept
    • Unless the wannabe haxz0rz are hiding under your desk, I don't think it will be a problem.

      But just give the space under your desk a little kick to make sure. If you hear an "Oof!", there may be a security breach.

      ;)

  • This keyboard [xopenonline.com] is IR wireless, small enough to set comfortably on your lap, and even includes a rocker-thumb-mouse thing. I use mine all the time to control my NES computer.
    Caveats are the PS/2 connection and some teensy keys (Control, Alt). Other than that, though, I highly recommend it.

    They go for about $30; I selected the store featured in the link above at random from a Google search for "Solidtek ACK-580" [google.com].
    • I have one like that, a Motorola SK-7100. The cool thing about IR keyboards over radio ones is that my Sony RM-VL900 remote can learn the keystrokes, so I can use it to control the PC too.
  • Check out the wireless keyboards (and mouses sold separately) by MacAlly [macally.com] and their partners in crime PCAlly [pcally.com]. Both make high quality peripherals.
  • Take the 6 nuggets and throw 2 of them away. I'm jus t wanting the 4 nugget thing.

    I'm trying to watch my calorie intake.
  • I've seen wireless Mice for sale without the keyboards. Just write to the company that sells the these wireless mice and see if they'll send you a keyboard for the cost of shipping. After all, they probably just throw them away otherwise.

    Karma: desrever
  • I've noticed that no matter how organized you attempt to be, the sheer number of wires can be one of the biggest problems to deal with. I've found that wireless solutions can make things much neater and more managble.
    Just going wireless on the keyboard/mouse and network can save quite a bit of wiring mess.
    The twist tie option can work, but in my experience this tends to work well behind the tv (console cords, dvd player, stero etc), but no so well with computer wires, as the wires tend to be of various
  • This is kind of off topic but I was currious if any of the wireless keyboards out there are even slightly secure. I haven't read the Bluetooth spec, does it include any sort of encryption (even if it does I'm not sure that I would feel comfortable trusting a vendor to properly implement it).
    • Hmmm... That's a strange question. Is it any more secure than someone standing over your shoulder watching you type? The Bluetooth spec has a small, limited range. Someone / some device would have to be placed within a few feet of your work area. I mean, shoot, put a wireless webcam up and get the monitor as well... Really, why go to the trouble to place a bluetooth sniffer in place when you can set up a wireless webcam instead?
  • Maybe we need to hold a 'Wireless Mouse Refund Day' rally, and DEMAND that the vendors not force us to buy an un-needed mouse when we just want a keyboard. Demand a refund for the un-needed mouse. Stand up for your rights.

    Should we get the DOJ involved?

  • think it's only $79.

    And lot's of people seem very happy with it.

  • Buy the combo with your favourite keyboard and do not use the rodent.

    How difficult is that?
  • There are several available at a decent price at www.ebuyer.com They range from GBP5.99 - GBP60 + VAT & P&P
    Richard
    www.sccc.biz
  • I have one of these and like it pretty well. It doesn't have a separate mouse, but has a mouse-like controller on it, but can be ignored. It doesn't require line of sight, and has a nice range. I bought it for use in a media station type application. My one reservation is the hackability of the unit - security is supposedly an issue (listening in on your typing).

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