Logitech Wireless Keyboard And Mouse (Source: clickmaldives.com)

Tired of the feeling that something's missing in my input devices, I have finally decided to go for a bit more expensive solution, the Logitech MK220 wireless mouse and keyboard kit. The kit wasn't too expensive, taking just $35 out of my pocket, but still it's the largest amount I have ever spent on a keyboard and mouse. My previous keyboards mentioned above cost less than $10 each, while the mice even less, not more than $5 each.

I won't lie, the MK220 wireless keyboard and mouse kit from Logitech is the cheapest wireless kit from this manufacturer and it clearly shows. When I first put my hands on the keyboard and mouse I was surprised to find many imperfections on the edges of larger plastic components. Both on the keyboard and mouse there were small and sharp bits of plastic sticking out where the top and bottom parts meet. This is very disturbing, considering the fact that none of my previous cheap keyboards and mice had this problem.

After I carefully removed these annoying pieces of plastic with a cutter and installed the batteries (included in the retail package) the devices instantly came alive. There was no need for installing drivers or switching something on or off, just pure plug and play.

Logitech Wireless Keyboard And Mouse (Source: theitdepot.com)

My first impression quickly faded, after I tried out the keys, mouse movement and buttons. I have to say that everything works perfectly. The keyboard's keys aren't as silent as I hoped, but are easy to press and the overall feel of typing is very pleasant. It takes some time to get used to the compact keyboard layout of this specific Logitech keyboard, as most function keys are moved to the top and their size is significantly reduced (below 40% of a standard key). The manufacturer corrected this problem by raising these keys about 2mm above all the others, so they are actually easier to find and press than on standard keyboards.

Users who have never used wireless mice or keyboards may find the mouse very heavy, as it uses two large AA batteries. Nevertheless you can easily get used to it and forget all negative aspects of the mouse, as it works perfectly. You don't need to switch it on and off (like many wireless input devices require), as it has an auto sleep function that will make sure that battery life is extended up to 2 years in the keyboard and up to 6 months in the mouse.

All in all I definitely recommend this Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse kit to anyone who's not offended by small plastic impurities and does want dependable wireless input devices.

Most people still use these large projectors (seen in the picture below) because they require a lot of power for large surfaces or simply didn't hear about the latest developments in this field.

Computer Projector (Source: trendygadget.com)

This is a so-called professional computer projector, capable of displaying 1024 x 768 pixels with a 210Watt light bulb on a surface 1 to 11 meters away. Contrast ratio is at about 500:1 and the lamp life is limited to just 2500 hours in standard mode or to 3500 hours in ECO mode. Fortunately the lamp can be replaced many times before the projector becomes unusable, although manufacturers usually don't specify such time estimates.

Such professional computer projectors have a lot of signal input options from analog S-video and VGA to digital HDMI or DVI. Some are capable of producing signal on their own from a network attached device or USB storage device.

Computer Projector (Source: kitguru.net)

In the picture above you see a much more advanced computer projector, based on LED lighting. Most characteristics match those of the light bulb based models, except for the brightness, which is usually about 10 times lower, just 200 lumen in the case of the ASUS P1. Lamp life is also different on LED-based projectors, as these advanced light sources don't generate a lot of heat. This particular LED projector model can function for up to 30,000 hours with less than 20% brightness loss at the end, but it can be used a lot more until it becomes non-functional. The power consumption of such a projector is just 50Watts, while smaller models require around 8-10Watts, so they are a lot more economical than light bulb projectors.

Acer's SK-9625 keyboard is a traditional wired keyboard, compatible with USB ports. It also offers a few Internet related and multimedia control keys and one special, yet extremely primitive volume control wheel.

Acer Keyboard Sk-9625 (Source: img1.classistatic.com)

The first analog TV and radio sets already had this exact same feature (volume or channel tuning wheel), so what Acer has put on its keyboard isn't a new invention at all. What I have to admit is that quick volume control is very important in offices and homes today, but unfortunately on this Acer keyboard there's only partial volume control, as the MUTE button is missing.

The rest of the keyboard looks and feels pretty standard, although the keys are slightly thinner than average. Because this Acer keyboard was released such a long time ago, today you'll only find it used or if you're really lucky – in an unopened retail box for a high price.

Acer Keyboard Sk-9625 (Source: 3ctown.com.tw)

Despite all the innovations manufacturers try to force into keyboards, the Acer SK-9625 keyboard can still satisfy the typing needs of the average user. The QWERTY keyboard layout dominates the market and I don't think it should be in any other way. Laptop keyboard usually have a slightly different layout when it comes to function keys, but you can get used to them, assuming that you don't buy a new laptop frequently.

Trying to replace typing with voice recognition is also unrealistic, as a person who talks for 8 hours in one day will surely suffer some kind of throat problem. Typing on the other hand can be continued even for 10-14 hours / day, assuming that the user sits in a comfortable chair in an adequate position.

Acer Wireless Keyboard Wil 172u (Source: i.ebayimg.com)

As you can see its compact design doesn't differ much from today's wireless keyboards, in fact it has exactly the same key layout as the most popular laptop and compact wireless keyboards. The navigation button isn't the most inspired solutions, but it gets the job done (it moves the pointer around on the screen) and some compact keyboards still use it (ex: Microsoft Arc keyboard).

At the time of the Acer WIL 172U keyboard's release Wi-fi, Bluetooth and USB ports weren't popular yet, so the PS2 to IR adapter uses its own wireless transmission protocol. This offers zero flexibility (you have to use the keyboard with its own IR module), but for use with desktops this can hardly be considered a problem. With laptops you wouldn't use it anyway, as the keyboard with all its accessories takes up as much space as the laptop.

Acer Wireless Keyboard Wil 172u (Source: lakeviewcompusales.com)

When this wireless kit was first released, it sold for around $50, but today you'll find it for under $10, because it's absolutely impractical, even if it's fully functional and new. First of all desktops have begun to abandon PS2 ports; some motherboards have kept one while others have only USB ports for input devices.

Users who still want to connect an Acer WIL 172U wireless keyboard to their computer can use USB to 2xPS2 adapters or USB to Serial COM adapters, but personally I wouldn't recommend it. In the last few years I have encountered many compatibility issues with the latest USB-PS2/COM adapters and older devices, mostly because operating systems don't have drivers for them any more. The keyboard itself supports Windows 95, 98 and NT, so you'll probably have problems installing it on a Windows XP machine.

All in all the Acer WIL 172U wireless keyboard has more historical value than practical. It demonstrates the importance of a good design, but also underlines the importance of computer accessory compatibility.

My old keyboard is a cheap Delux K1000, which costs around $10 in my country. It is a full size keyboard with some additional multimedia controls, but in principle it resembles a laptop keyboard. The buttons are flat, travel very little when pressed and are separated very much like on Apple's famous keyboards.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (Source: i.clubafaceri.ro)

This is the best keyboard I have ever had, but I would still like to upgrade to a softer and more silent keyboard. Naturally I have turned to Microsoft and Logitech product, so I ordered a couple of models to the on-line store's showroom in order to try them before I decide.

I have tested most keyboards from these two manufacturers below the $60 price point and went home empty handed. They all looked very nice and had a lot of features (multimedia buttons, wireless connection …etc.), but when I tried to type, they were just as bad as my old keyboard (some were much worse). The keys were hard to press and very loud, while the so-called Microsoft Ergonomic keyboards also had a weird and uncomfortable shape.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (Source: microsoft.com)

Most models are simpler than this, but the keys come at you in waves, just like on the one in the picture above. Maybe most people can get used to such designs, but in my opinion the minimalist Delux keyboard (and all similar products) is much more practical.

There were two keyboards I would have considered buying if the keys were in a standard layout (in which they were surely not!). The Logitech K360 is an excellent keyboard from a mechanical point of view. All the keys are very silent and easy to press, but unfortunately the INSERT and DELETE buttons are in an awkward place, above the BACKSPACE key. Their size is also reduced, increasing the chances to miss them and press another button.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (Source: connect.ro)

My second choice would have been a bit more expensive Microsoft ergonomic keyboard named Microsoft Arc J5D-00015. It's a very small, silent and relatively practical wireless keyboard, as you can see in the picture below.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (Source: alsen.pl)

Needless to say that it offers an excellent typing experience, right up to the point when you have to delete something or move the cursor with the arrows. This ergonomic Microsoft keyboard has a very small DELETE key above the backspace and the directional keys are crammed into one joystick-like button that reminds us of mobile phone navigation keys.

For all these reasons and more: always try it before you buy it!

The aluminum Apple keyboard was one of the first input devices I have seen that were just perfectly designed. It had elegant flat keys on a solid keyboard body, thus making it easy to use and clean.

Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (Source: g-ec2.images-amazon.com)

In the picture above you can see the smaller version of the Apple Bluetooth keyboard. It's basically a laptop keyboard with an added chassis and Bluetooth transceiver, nothing extra. That's the way a keyboard should be. The extra power and multimedia buttons have always annoyed me on big fancy keyboards, because they always do something unexpected and irreversible when you hit them by mistake. There's a good reason why the Sleep, Wake and Power buttons are on the computer case: so you don't shut down your computer by accident. Of course on could argue that the power buttons can be disabled from the power options, but then you'll have three useless buttons on your keyboard. The Apple Bluetooth keyboard doesn't have one extra key, thus increasing its practicality level and with it the customer satisfaction also grows.

Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (Source: newlaunches.com)

The full size Apple keyboard unfortunately uses wires, but it's built with the same minimalist concept. The keys are very slim and pleasant to touch, while in the space where the batteries are on the wireless model, an added built-in USB HUB can be found with a USB port on each side of the keyboard. This is very practical if your computer is out of reach and you need to plug in an external hard drive, USB drive or any other kind of USB device. Some high-end Bluetooth keyboards may offer this option too, but integrating such a feature lead to high power consumption and increased Bluetooth data traffic.

All in all these wireless and non-wireless Apple keyboards are all very practical. Their price is a bit too high (>$69), but in the end it's all worth it, as they increase user comfort and overall productivity.

A relatively new improvement – backlighting – is welcome in keyboards, as long as it doesn't change the shape and movement of keys. Most keyboard manufacturers have done their job well and launched different types of backlit keyboards starting from about $27 price.

Backlit Keyboard (Source: i-rocksusa.com)

Newegg has an i-Rocks White 104 key backlit gaming keyboard in its price list for $27. When the backlight is turned off, the keyboard looks like any other standard wired keyboard. The big difference is seen when you need to use the computer in the dark and you turn on the keyboard backlighting. Its color isn't too pleasant for the eyes, as it uses blue LEDs and the brightness level cannot be set, but it allows you to clearly see every key in 0 lumen darkness. The blue LEDs light up the semi-transparent key descriptions, but also the area between the keys, making it seem less professional. In practice the users needs to see just the key description (letters and function abbreviations), so the bright lines between the keys may even bother the user.

The same manufacturer also makes a black version of this keyboard and this one is backlit by red LEDs.

Backlit Keyboard (Source: multimedia.fnac.com)

As you can see less light escapes from between the keys, but it can still be irritating for some users to look down on such a keyboard in the dark.

A much more professional (and more expensive) solution came from Logitech, one of the leading high-end PC I/O device manufacturers.

Backlit Keyboard (Source: blogcdn.com)

The digital camera they have used for taking this photo is arguably mediocre, but you can clearly see that the white light only illuminates what it should, just the key descriptions. It is a wireless keyboard model, named Logitech K800, which sells for $84 at Newegg.com. Even though the extra LED lights add to the total power consumption of the keyboard, you can still expect the long battery life you're used to with high-end Logitech wireless keyboards and mice. I definitely recommend this product to those who want many problem-free nights, concentrating exclusively on work or gaming. I don't want to alarm anyone, but I have seen very cheap wireless keyboards that barely last one day on one charge, so the keyboard and mouse are not the peripherals you want to buy cheap.

Apple's wireless keyboard is one of the best mini keyboards that use Bluetooth wireless technology. It looks really good and connects to most computers and gadgets that have a Bluetooth module and of course the appropriate software/drivers for it.

Mini Bluetooth Keyboard (Source: old.onestop.ro)

In a very stylish aluminum casing the flat keys look very nice and function perfectly. You don't have to press down too much or too hard on the keys and the smooth surfaces allow you to very easily clean the keyboard. Knowing that the keyboard and mouse are usually the most bacteria infested places in an office or home, it's a really good idea to use easily cleanable input devices with your computers.

Officially the battery issue in no longer present in the latest versions of Apple's wireless mini keyboard, but users report very different battery autonomy ratings, anywhere between 2 days and 6 months. On Apple's website this wireless mini keyboard costs $69, but in local retail stores you'll probably find slightly higher prices.

Mini Bluetooth Keyboard (Source: dsi-keyboards.com)

Newegg.com offers a lot of smaller and cheaper solutions for Bluetooth input devices. This particular keyboard in the image above caught my eye, as it is significantly smaller than an Apple keyboard and also has a very reasonable price, just $44. It's called Ergoguys KB-OR-1500BT Black and it has 56 normal keys (letters and numbers) and 11 function keys, just enough for everyday computing. It can be used with your smartphone, Pocket PC, PDA, Windows or MAC computer.

Mini Bluetooth Keyboard (Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com)

VisionTek's Candyboard keyboard is a bit smaller than the previous mini keyboard, but it offers separate directional keys and a small touch pad too. It has a total of 69 keys, back lit with 26 LEDs for use in dark environments. The price of this input device is $69, but the retail package also includes a small USB Bluetooth adapter (seen in the picture above).

The mini keyboards mentioned above do improve the user experience with gadgets the don't have their own keyboard, but don't forget that for real productivity in an office or at home you'll probably need a comfortable full size keyboard and a precise optical mouse.

If you click on the link, you can see that the on-line store has about 75 Gear Head products, starting from a simple piece of memory foam wrist rest for keyboards – right up to very stylish wireless keyboard and mouse combo kits.

Gear Head Computer Accessories (Source: images10.newegg.com)

As simple as this Gear Head accessory may seem, it is essential for computer users who type many hours everyday and may suffer wrist injuries. It costs just $8, but can save your health and even your job, which you wouldn't be able to do with hurting hands.

Personally I don't see how a key chain with a digital photo frame would be practical in the era of mobile phones, smart phones and tablets. Any one of the three mentioned gadgets can store and show photos, so it's hard to imagine a user who has none of the above, but desperately needs a key chain with a tiny screen. Anyway, newegg.com sells this small Gear Head gadget for $7, it may be a great gift idea.

Gear Head Computer Accessories (Source: productwiki.com)

For $15 you can get a much more practical computer accessory, like this USB mini keyboard. On a large computer desk you would probably have space for a normal size keyboard, but when there's less space for example on your lap, a smaller keyboard is much better specially for typing. Yes, just typing, because for most kinds of home/office work you also need a numeric keypad.

Gear Head Computer Accessories (Source: priceguidenetwork.com)

The most expensive Gear Head computer accessory sold for $63 at newegg.com is the Bluetooth mouse and keyboard kit, seen in the picture above. Both accessories have a very simple design and lack all multimedia functions (like Apple keyboards for example), so they are more appropriate for environments where no multimedia files are allowed (ex: schools, offices …etc.).

To find out more about Gear Head computer accessories, check out the official PCGearHead.com website.

Dell computers have always supported the most popular operating systems and they also used (mostly) industry standard hardware. This meant standard PS2, COM, LPT and USB ports for accessories and support for standard processors, expansion cards, memory modules and storage units.

Dell Computer Parts And Accessories (Source: shopsland.org)

The latest Dell computers are 100% compatible with IBM parts, but there's still a compatibility issue with the motherboard and power supply in these stylish computers. From the outside they look like any store-built computer, but when you open a Dell computer you see that everything is upside down, as the motherboard has a BTX layout instead of ATX.

Dell Computer Parts And Accessories (Source: img.tomshardware.com)

Yes, this is an important problem, because if you want to change a Dell computer's motherboard, in computer stores you'll mostly find ATX ones (~99%) with very few exceptions. As a consequence, you're tied to Dell for the rest of your computer's life, as only they can provide an appropriate replacement motherboard.

Some Dell motherboard even have additional connectors coming from the power supply, so the whole system won't work perfectly if you install an ATX power source or a motherboard from another manufacturer. For example the power button and frontal LED indicators won't work as they should, or some other minor annoying problem appears like fans spinning uncontrollably.

Dell Computer Parts And Accessories (Source: cdn2.iofferphoto.com)

I have recently repaired a couple of older Core 2 Duo-based Dell computers, and I have noticed other limitations too. In one of these computers the video card has burned out, so seeing that there's a standard PCI-Express 16X slot on the motherboard, I simply bought a Radeon 5450 video card and tried to install it. Naturally it didn't work, as it displayed a text error message and locked the system. The only solution was to obtain an older, Dell-approved video card, that didn't support the latest DirectX of course.

In conclusion, my advice for you is to buy Dell desktop computers only if you don't intend to make any significant changes in hardware with store-bought parts. About accessories you don't have to worry, most of them are 100% compatible with Dell computers and you'll easily find drivers for them too.