HTPC Keyboards

[Mr. Roboto]

Just wondering what you guys use to interface with your htpcs. I ordered this:

http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-21keyboard.htm#9019urf

It would be absolutely perfect, if it would make a halfway decent connection with my computer. When i type, half the keys I push don't even show up.

Anyways, I'm looking for a decent keyboard with some way of controlling the mouse on it, like how that one i liked to can do with the joystick.

thanks guys!

[Dermen]

Mostly I use an ATI RemoteWonder. It has problems with the button presses not registering sometimes. I have a new MCE remote sitting here to replace it but I am rebuilding my HTPC next weekend so I haven't installed it yet.

I also use this keyboard (http://www.ione-usa.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=54&category_id=403aa782a4283038673984497e941106&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=1). It isn't wireless though. They make a wireless version but the reviews said it didn't work very well. The reviews on almost all the compact keyboards with built-in cursor movement were bad or else the keyboards cost a lot more than I wanted to spend.

[Bios24]

It's remote only for me. I've got an MCE remote for my HTPC and an ATI RemoteWonder for my main rig. My HTPC does only Audio/Video stuff, so I don't really need a keyboard. But I do have a cheap PS/2 hooked up just in case.

Does the keyboard have good line of sight to the receiver? What's the range on it? Are you simpley out of range? Poor batteries perhaps? I've always liked this keyboard: MS MCE keyboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823109006&ATT=23-109-006&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r) Obviously the price is a bit much, but I've found it locally selling for around $100. Works even better if you use MCE or an MCE-compatible front end.

[Jon]

Just wondering what you guys use to interface with your htpcs. I ordered this:

http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-21keyboard.htm#9019urf

It would be absolutely perfect, if it would make a halfway decent connection with my computer. When i type, half the keys I push don't even show up.

Anyways, I'm looking for a decent keyboard with some way of controlling the mouse on it, like how that one i liked to can do with the joystick.

thanks guys!

Exactly what I use and love it.

While I don't need to use it very often (Harmony 880 is my actual remote), it works perfectly when needing to access the actual OS from time to time.

Only downside to it is the range. While I don't have any personal issues with it, if you must be more than 10' away while using it, you're going to run into some signal issues.

Thumbstick is very easy to get used to and the battery life is great (original batteries after a year now).

[Mr. Roboto]

Exactly what I use and love it.

While I don't need to use it very often (Harmony 880 is my actual remote), it works perfectly when needing to access the actual OS from time to time.

Only downside to it is the range. While I don't have any personal issues with it, if you must be more than 10' away while using it, you're going to run into some signal issues.

Thumbstick is very easy to get used to and the battery life is great (original batteries after a year now).


hmm, so you use the same keyboard? And it works fine?

Where did you order it from? I got mine from directron. The manufacturer is impossible to get a hold of so i'm probably just going to return it to directron.

[Jon]

I think I got mine from TigerDirect...I could be wrong. I just know it was the cheapest place that carried it that didn't scare me out of ordering.

Never had any issues out of it all. Do you have alot of wireless/radio devices nearby? Something could be interfering with it. I wouldn't doubt that to be your problem (although a faulty product is definately not out of the question).

PCAlchemy.com carries some decent HTPC keyboards (or at least used to). May want to check them out.

[Mr. Roboto]

The only thing in my room right now is the wireless keyboard for my desktop, but i unpugged it to make sure. Only other thing is the wireless router downstairs, but thats 2.4 and the keyboard is 900mhz i think?

Thanks for the info, I will check them out.

[kovboi]

fwiw i use the mce keyboard, as well. it works fine from the couch, as long as my knee doesn't block the line of sight to the receiver. i hardly ever use it, though, as it's easier just to set up a remote connection and use my laptop to interface with it over the lan.

[Mr. Roboto]

fwiw i use the mce keyboard, as well. it works fine from the couch, as long as my knee doesn't block the line of sight to the receiver. i hardly ever use it, though, as it's easier just to set up a remote connection and use my laptop to interface with it over the lan.

how is the mouse on that?

[kovboi]

how is the mouse on that?
it's basically the same as those pointer sticks you find on IBM laptops, but it is conveniently located under the right thumb with the mouse buttons on the opposite thumb (well, convenient if you're right-handed, anyway). i'm not wild about it but it works well enough.

[Mr. Roboto]

Yeah, i've heard mixed reports on how well it works. Most say it's hard to use.

[LandShark]

Harmony 880 here too! do pretty much everything (besides that stupid bluetooth only PS3!! :bang head ) for me included the living room lighting!! but when I need to actually use keyboard/mouse in the OS, I use the Gyration mouse and keyboard combo. mine is a couple years old version, but still works fine w/ me even in the air!! and I play PC games (e.g. CS:S) on my HTPC using the Gyration combo too!! not bad at all!! ;)

the M$ MCE keyboard looks pretty good to me too! I might use it on my future bedroom htpc client too.

[Mr. Roboto]

Harmony 880 here too! do pretty much everything (besides that stupid bluetooth only PS3!! :bang head ) for me included the living room lighting!! but when I need to actually use keyboard/mouse in the OS, I use the Gyration mouse and keyboard combo. mine is a couple years old version, but still works fine w/ me even in the air!! and I play PC games (e.g. CS:S) on my HTPC using the Gyration combo too!! not bad at all!! ;)

the M$ MCE keyboard looks pretty good to me too! I might use it on my future bedroom htpc client too.

Yeah, I think I might return mine for it. All the reports of the pointer being hard to use scare me though...

[Mr. Roboto]

wow, PCalchemy had the best price on the MCE keyboard, best I could find anywhere, thanks for that link man!

I ordered it, now i need to rma my other keyboard. I really do think its an interference problem though, i gad to get a g5 because my g7 would allways tweak out.

[scoobydoo]

i use the lite on airboard, but they are hard to find

http://www.digitalconnection.com/spec_images/sk7100.gif

[Wicked Klown]

i use the lite on airboard, but they are hard to find

http://www.digitalconnection.com/spec_images/sk7100.gif



Oh those are a nice keyboard. I loved the one I had til I spilled coffee on it and the c button no longer worked.

[Mr. Roboto]

This one is very similar

http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/pName/xgene-24ghz-wireless-keyboard-with-800dpi-optical-trackball/cName/keyboards-and-mice

I did end up ordering the mce keyboard though, we'll see how that works.

[Evilsizer]

i use the lite on airboard, but they are hard to find

http://www.digitalconnection.com/spec_images/sk7100.gif
http://www.pinnaclemicro.com/dcat.cgi?g=SK-7100&page=1
found one on the bay with BIN of 167 :eek:

[ghettocomp]

Just wondering what you guys use to interface with your htpcs. I ordered this:

http://www.btc.com.tw/english/2-7-21keyboard.htm#9019urf

It would be absolutely perfect, if it would make a halfway decent connection with my computer. When i type, half the keys I push don't even show up.

Anyways, I'm looking for a decent keyboard with some way of controlling the mouse on it, like how that one i liked to can do with the joystick.

thanks guys!
I dont even bother with an interface as such. My HTPC was designed to operate without the need for any kind of keyboard or mouse. Most things my HTPC do are controlled with this:
Firefly Remote (http://www.snapstream.com/products/fireflymini/)
everything from starting and running a video, music, etc can be pretty much done with one of these.
If I do need to do any kind of work on the HTPC, like upgrades or unstick that stupid video interface problem I sometimes get, I use a vnc program from one of my other computers and that works quite well.