Santhosh’s Blog

Sorry for not posting lately. I was quite busy with my real life rituals.

Anyway, I bought a new wireless combo for my desktop today and thought of blogging it. I am not interested in writing any reviews for this thing, coz there are already enough reviews available on this particular model. But yet, I like to post my user experience as of now. This is entry level wireless combo that most people can afford easily. In fact, it’s much more than a entry level combo. There are plenty of features that will sure impress you.

I bought this combo for 1,850 Rs (including tax) here in Bangalore at S.P Road.

So far so good, I am having a good experience. The ergonomics is really good. The mouse is bit large compared to my old Wired 500. It is large coz it houses two AA batteries inside it. It’s also heavy coz of the same reason, but you won’t find any issues with the weight, because it is large and fits in your palm very comfortably.

The mouse itself has got pretty good features, but most of the features are accessible only on windows because a software comes bundled with the package called Microsoft IntelliPoint Pro. This CD also has the MAC version of this software. I am not interested in those features, though. The most interesting features are the Magnifier and Instant Viewer. Instant Viewer is like Alt-Tab, but with a twist. There are still plenty of features. All this features can be assigned in the software and can be triggered by pressing the Scroll Wheel.

Just like the mouse, even the keyboard has got pretty good features. Yet again, all the features are accessible with the bundled software called Microsoft IntelliType Pro installed on your Windows or MAC OS. Using this software you can configure the hot keys and assign the programs like media for instance. There are 17 Hotkeys available on the keyboard and has got Media Centre hotkeys, which most keyboards does, but the way Microsoft has arranged in this model is fantastic.

Along with the keyboard and mice, a receiver has been bundled (which has to be). It has got three LEDs, The Num, Caps and Scroll Lock indication lights. Yes, the keyboard has no LEDs on it. The receiver has a button on it, pressing that will search for the keyboard and mouse if not detected. Also behind the keyboard and mouse, there is a button which is inner bevelled and pressing it will connect to the receiver.

Both keyboard and mouse requires two AA batteries to operate. And Microsoft says it lasts for an average of 6 months. Now I have to wait and see how long it lasts. The package includes four Energizer AA sized Alkali Batteries.

This combo won’t disappoint you in linux as well. But yes, you do miss few jazzy features, but in my opinion, Linux doesn’t require all those features.

If you have multiple OSes and have a OS selection boot menu, the keyboard will not work out of the box. And you won’t be able to choose the OS you want to boot into. So you will have to enable “Legacy USB Device” something support or the “USB Keyboard” support to keep the keyboard active during the booting process.

Overall this is a very good replacement for your wired keyboard and mouse and its worth buying it.

By the way, I feel like my mouse is missing it’s tail :p

For more information visit the Product Homepage and also see the specifications.