Mouse/keyboard recommendations?

  • Thread starter Dougboy
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Dougboy

Dougboy

1,654
dougboyy
Hey Folks,

Im a bit clueless when it comes to computers and computer related hardware. I am in need of a new set of keyboard and mouse. Im using a set of the cheap microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combo.

microsoft_keyboard.jpg


While it has been doing its job for the last 2 years or so, i feel more and more of a need to upgrade. Its not bad in any way, just not very good. :indiff:

Im looking mostly for accuracy and perhaps ergonomics. Will mainly be used a couple of hours each day mainly for web browsing, general purpose computing and photoshop. No intention to play any sort of games.

Any recommendations? :)

Im really considering a logitech MX revolution along with a (non-wireless) apple keyboard. I love the feel of both. But i just havent grabbed them because the combo is quite pricey :scared:
 
I will also recommend the Wave. The only real problem with it is because of the layout it's not ideal for games, but that is not an issue for you.
 
I was going to recommend the Apple keyboard but you're already on the right track. :D As for mice, I currently use a Logitech G7 and MX Revolution....The G7 is identical to the G5 but wireless and without the adjustable weight of the G5, which would go where the battery is. The MX518 and a few others share the same body with different features. Very comfortable, excellent battery life (with an extra hot-swappable battery), and enough buttons.

The MX, despite being a notebook mouse, is really a medium sized one. I purchased it with the intention of getting a Macbook Pro and got a great deal on the mouse used. I've been using it since then on my second computer and its perfect for normal use. Where the G7 is held with the palm, you grip the Revolution with your fingers (I've heard this referred to as palm v. claw grip). It doesn't have the DPI switching on-the-fly, but the scroll wheel tension is adjustable, has a slider for zooming, and three extra buttons. Build quality and functionality of both mice are equal in my opinion. Try to find them in a store (Best Buy usually has a variant of the G7 and the MX) and see which you like the feel of. I nearly made the mistake of buying the MX Nano under the impression that it was the higher quality mouse. They are from from nice...

You'll probably want to try out the Apple keyboard if you haven't already. Its a love it or hate it design when it comes to its function.


Edit: Battery life on the MX is really good, but that is typical when they use a standard alkaline battery, in this case a single AA. Keep a spare around, because it doesn't give any battery warnings like the G7 will before it dies.
 
What about the Logitech MX 400? I love mine. Its simple yet functional. Plus its a laser mouse. None of that silly optical stuff. Search around on ebay for it. I got mine for about 30$
 
I'm currently using a Logitech S510 keyboard (it comes with a mouse but it is horrible) and an MX Revolution combo. The MX Revolution is just awesome, you won't regret spending the money on it. Battery life could be improved, but its rechargeable so it's no real big issue.
 
Just got a quick question, can most old and new Apple USB keyboards work with a PC (specifically XP) without any trouble? Thinking of getting one.

Robin.
 
Robin.
Just got a quick question, can most old and new Apple USB keyboards work with a PC (specifically XP) without any trouble? Thinking of getting one.

Robin.
Click to expand...

Right. Mine works fine in Vista/XP/Linux. My old (like 2000 old) won't work with it in the BIOS but is fine once the OS loads up. The newer one is fine at all times except from a cold boot.

Edit: The new keyboard anyway...can't vouch for anything else. The Bluetooth one will work as well, but is picky on the BT dongle. Has to be a specific D-link model. Google is helpful for that.
 
Eric.
Right. Mine works fine in Vista/XP/Linux. My old (like 2000 old) won't work with it in the BIOS but is fine once the OS loads up. The newer one is fine at all times except from a cold boot.

Edit: The new keyboard anyway...can't vouch for anything else. The Bluetooth one will work as well, but is picky on the BT dongle. Has to be a specific D-link model. Google is helpful for that.
Click to expand...

Ah right, thanks... so I suppose the newer the model the more luck I will have! I was hoping to maybe pick up an older model like the ones which shipped with the Powermac's around 2003 or maybe the white thick ones which came just before the newest thin aluminum ones.

Its a pity Lenovo doesnt make desktop keyboards because which thier Think Pad reputation it would be great to have something that high quality.

Robin.
 
Every single person who uses my Apple aluminium keyboard comments on how nice it is to use. I have to agree, it feels amazing. The keys are spot on in every single way for me.
 
Thanks for the replies folks. Just wanted to post to see if there are any cheaper alternatives before i bite the bullet and get the apple+MX.

I dont know if i will regret it because $150 is a lot to spend on a keyboard and mouse. The fact that im not exactly "well off" doenst help. :nervous:

But yes i love the feel of the apple keyboard. The sleekness is also a plus :sly:

BTW, this will be used on a macbook with an additional monitor hooked up (a sort of two screen setup), if that changes anything
 
On a Keyboard/Mouse combo, I have been enjoying the MX3200 series. Both feel and features are working out nicely.

I would recommend it if it fits your budget.
 
Once again, thank you to all who've contributed and gave me helpful advice.
i considered the mx3200 because of what Pako said. But once i had the mouse in hand, it felt a bit weird and elongated to me. Also tried the wave. While it was supposed to be more ergonomic, the "wave" keys felt chunky and somewhat clumsy.

So i walked out the store with this :sly: and $150 gone from my wallet :indiff:

I hope it was money well spent.

DSC_0435.jpg


Figure i'd post it here instead of the showofflatestpurchase thread
 
Bubble Bunny
Hey Folks,
Im really considering a logitech MX revolution along with a (non-wireless) apple keyboard. I love the feel of both. But i just havent grabbed them because the combo is quite pricey :scared:
Click to expand...

Exactly what I use. It's the best mouse/keyboard combo I've ever used. Very highly recommended. 👍 👍

Eric.
I was going to recommend the Apple keyboard but you're already on the right track. :D As for mice, I currently use a Logitech G7 and MX Revolution....The G7 is identical to the G5 but wireless and without the adjustable weight of the G5, which would go where the battery is. The MX518 and a few others share the same body with different features. Very comfortable, excellent battery life (with an extra hot-swappable battery), and enough buttons.

The MX, despite being a notebook mouse, is really a medium sized one. I purchased it with the intention of getting a Macbook Pro and got a great deal on the mouse used. I've been using it since then on my second computer and its perfect for normal use. Where the G7 is held with the palm, you grip the Revolution with your fingers (I've heard this referred to as palm v. claw grip). It doesn't have the DPI switching on-the-fly, but the scroll wheel tension is adjustable, has a slider for zooming, and three extra buttons. Build quality and functionality of both mice are equal in my opinion. Try to find them in a store (Best Buy usually has a variant of the G7 and the MX) and see which you like the feel of. I nearly made the mistake of buying the MX Nano under the impression that it was the higher quality mouse. They are from from nice...

You'll probably want to try out the Apple keyboard if you haven't already. Its a love it or hate it design when it comes to its function.


Edit: Battery life on the MX is really good, but that is typical when they use a standard alkaline battery, in this case a single AA. Keep a spare around, because it doesn't give any battery warnings like the G7 will before it dies.
Click to expand...


You are getting the MX and VX Revolutions confused I think. The VX is the notebook mouse, and the MX Revolution does not use disposable batteries.
 
Just realized that. ;)

Oh well, similar enough. :lol: Glad to see you picked up the Apple keyboard.
 
Congrats on making your decision... looks like a very sweet setup 👍

Anyone know if its better to go wired or wireless for the new Apple keyboard? Ive heard from reviews that the wired one is better (also cheaper) plus it has USB ports. Is this true?

Also is it easy to get used to such short 'depress travel' after typing with chunky keyboards for 10 years?! Im not particularly a fan of laptop keyboards but this one looks well spaced between keys.

Robin.
 
The reason i didnt go for the wireless one was because i didnt really need the wireless-ness. And i dont like the fact that its missing the number pad part. While i dont often use the numbers, its nice to have on a "desktop" setup. Also, the wired one has two USB ports discretely hidden on the two sides. Very useful, especially for me MX revolution dongle. Plus, the wireless one was $30 more.

Oh and i love the short depress travel. Ive always felt macbooks and macbook pro's have the best keyboard feel of any laptop, and thats pretty much how i feel about the apple keyboard. And you dont really have to "get used to" the keyboard. Its almost the other way around... you have to get "used to" clunky keyboards after using apple :)
 
Grats on the purchase! :cheers: Money very well spent.

On the key travel:

It's amazing. I HATE using regular keyboards now. Ironicly, I do not like using the actual keyboard of my Macbook Pro.
 
Robin.
Anyone know if its better to go wired or wireless for the new Apple keyboard? Ive heard from reviews that the wired one is better (also cheaper) plus it has USB ports. Is this true?
Click to expand...

I think the wired is better. I didn't like the idea of not having a numpad, even though I hardly use it. Also, the extra USB ports are very handy. It's the best keyboard I've ever used, the keys are so responsive. I can't stand other keyboards now, they're just too chunky and I feel like I have to hit the keys as hard as possible just to get any response.
 
I have need of a new mouse, and I can't find a decent one. I posted on here for a keyboard recommendation, and boy did that work out great (das keyboard). So I figured I'd go back to the well.

Here's the catch... I use the mouse with both hands. Sometimes I switch to the left hand to give my right hand a rest. I used my mouse left handed almost exclusively for the last year, and I just switched back to the right. So having an ergo right-hand-shaped mouse is not ideal.

What I use right now is the microsoft intellimouse

41NNgzF%2BV5L.jpg


It has a button on either side and a scroll wheel (in addition to the main two buttons). I like that configuration, partially because i switch hands. I also like that it's wired, I use a KVM switch that screws up wireless occasionally. So I guess those are my requirements: wired, mostly symmetrical, button on both sides. Any ideas?

The intellimouse that I use now (and I've been through like 5 of them) has some minor manufacturing issues. Basically it's just cheap, I've had a number of different problems with scroll wheels with it (glitchy inconsistent scrolling, or refusing to register scrolls, or getting stuck and not wanting to scroll). In one case (the most recent one) it's a bit glitchy right out of the box.
 
I've got a G903 (if that's the most recent wireless Logitech one), it's symmetrical but has magnetic buttons/blanking plates so you can put the side buttons on the left, right, both or neither. It's a great mouse (IMO), it's a bit expensive at full price but I got mine at a discount on Amazon. It's also compatible with their inductive charging mat if that kind of thing is interesting to you.

Downsides: it looks a bit sci-fi and the software, Logitech G Hub (IIRC), is beyond awful but luckily the older Logitech Gaming Software supports it - so far I've only used that to turn off the LEDs though.
 
Terronium-12
Roccat Kova. I use one and it's great.

https://en.roccat.org/Mice/Kova
Click to expand...

I tried to beat that by doing a bunch of research and I couldn't so I bought it. So far I like it except that it doesn't play nice with windows 10 (my work machine, which I cannot install anything on). Which means that in order to go forward and backward in a browser I'm stuck right clicking and selecting back from the popup menu. I'm not sure if that's a deal breaker... I'll play with it.

Edit:

LOL j/k! The mouse learned the settings I gave it from linux and imported them over to windows 10. This thing is a win.
 
Last edited:
Terronium-12
Roccat Kova. I use one and it's great.

https://en.roccat.org/Mice/Kova
Click to expand...

I did not realize that I needed extra mouse buttons for page-up page-down so badly, but honestly it has been wonderful to have those. I also mapped a macro for closing browser tabs to the top button, and the mouse carried that one internally to the windows machine as well.

Thanks again, I'm enjoying the mouse.
 
Danoff
I did not realize that I needed extra mouse buttons for page-up page-down so badly, but honestly it has been wonderful to have those. I also mapped a macro for closing browser tabs to the top button, and the mouse carried that one internally to the windows machine as well.

Thanks again, I'm enjoying the mouse.
Click to expand...

Happy to have helped. :D 👍
 

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