Wireless mechanical keyboards

[aegrotatio]

Could this be the first wireless mechanical keyboard?

http://www.ione.com.tw/2009/Product/6A_GE-U27.asp

Have there been others like this?

[niz]

Not sure if this is the first but I like the fact it uses Cherry blues. Still would never buy a wireless kb though. Wonder what the price will be.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Filco made a Majestouch with bluetooth but it never got certified by the US FCC and was discontinued (if my memory serves me correctly).

Edit: My memory serves me correctly.

Edit 2: Majestouch confirms that Diatec isn't making bluetooth keyboards right now.

[wellington1869]

Could this be the first wireless mechanical keyboard?

http://www.ione.com.tw/2009/Product/6A_GE-U27.asp

Have there been others like this?

how much?

[aegrotatio]

Price has not been announced, but the non-wireless MSRP is $99.  I'm glad it doesn't say Bluetooth since that seems to add $30-$50 to the price.

Bluetooth was an unfortunate choice for Filco.  All the non-Bluetooth 2.4 GHz boards are cheaper.  The 900 MHz (early Microsoft) and 27 MHz (Logitech) boards have also always been less expensive.

[shrap]

Still has a separate mouse.

Don't know why wireless keyboards are made without trackpoints; if I had a table for my mouse, what's the point of wireless?

[unicomp]

Still has a separate mouse.

Don't know why wireless keyboards are made without trackpoints; if I had a table for my mouse, what's the point of wireless?

To reduce the amount of clutter, in the form of wires, on the desk.

[isp]

so u can properly throw it after some 12 year old lands another headshot on you

[niz]

To reduce the amount of clutter, in the form of wires, on the desk.

This is kind of a weak argument IMO. If properly organized, wires take up very little space.

[unicomp]

This is kind of a weak argument IMO. If properly organized, wires take up very little space.

That is not the point, something does not have to occupy a lot of space for it to cause unsightly and annoying clutter. Wires to my keyboard and mouse are currently the only things, other than the actual keyboard, mouse and computer, that are on my desk; I would be somewhat tempted by a wireless set that was of good quality for the reason that the wires clutter the desk and make it look a bit of a mess. In reality, of course, the options for keyboards, in particular, are vastly reduced by this criterion and thus I choose to live with the wire.

[niz]

That is not the point, something does not have to occupy a lot of space for it to cause unsightly and annoying clutter. Wires to my keyboard and mouse are currently the only things, other than the actual keyboard, mouse and computer, that are on my desk; I would be somewhat tempted by a wireless set that was of good quality for the reason that the wires clutter the desk and make it look a bit of a mess. In reality, of course, the options for keyboards, in particular, are vastly reduced by this criterion and thus I choose to live with the wire.

Who wants to be changing batteries every other month only to realize you don't have any left after using those last 2 AAs for your cable remote? Seems a little obsessive compulsive to think a few small wires are clutter. Just my 2¢

[unicomp]

Who wants to be changing batteries every other month only to realize you don't have any left after using those last 2 AAs for your cable remote? Seems a little obsessive compulsive to think a few small wires are clutter. Just my 2¢

Indeed, this is another of the reasons that would stop me from using a wireless keyboard. I admit that being tidy is somewhat of a compulsion for myself.

[microsoft windows]

Who needs a wireless keyboard? What's wrong with having a wire on it?

[Bumrush]

I, too, would love to have a wireless mech keyboard for the same personal preference as niz.  I agree that the battery issue could become a nuisance, but if they could engineer it similar to my Logitech Performance Mouse MX where the detachable USB cable serves as a recharger for the device, that would be boss.

[microsoft windows]

I remember Kishy talking about making a wireless Model M. I'm not sure if it worked though. You'll have to ask him.

[kishy]

Nah, matrix differences between the keyboard I wanted to use for it.

My plan would have involved taking the controller PCB from a Logitech wireless keyboard and just transplanting that into the Model M. However, that requires an identical matrix to work properly.

Then I examined a membrane swap but a) it would require a bolt mod and b) the spacing was ever-so-slightly-off on the keys.

[Lenny_Nero]

Who needs a wireless keyboard? What's wrong with having a wire on it?

I'm another that does not see the need for a wireless keyboard.

But if they could sort one out, so its a worth while keyboard with a good switch and works as well as having a cable and can some how charge its self, or you could get 12 months plus from the batteries ...then I would think of it.

But I dont really have a problem with the wires, I cant, what with the amount I can see from sitting here.

[kishy]

Yeah, built in rechargeable battery (but user serviceable for when it needed replacement) and a standard mini-B USB plug for charging would be a beautiful arrangement.

[niz]

I, too, would love to have a wireless mech keyboard for the same personal preference as niz.  I agree that the battery issue could become a nuisance, but if they could engineer it similar to my Logitech Performance Mouse MX where the detachable USB cable serves as a recharger for the device, that would be boss.

Not me bud. Never have liked any type of wireless keyboads/mice. Radio interference is also another downside.

[washuai]

I don't like the lack of reliability in wireless products and they often have decreased performance.  
I do see the need.  The main need is media pcs, where you want to get several feet away from your computer.  If you're operating your computer from the couch, the lazyboy, or wandering around, wires start to create issues.  
You can get around a lot of things by just having the wireless remote mouse and you can use an onscreen keyboard, but either way, you're still wanting a wireless peripheral.

[microsoft windows]

Or when you're at a conference at work and you have to pass the keyboard around. That's where the springy keyboard cables DON'T come in handy unless you want to shoot your keyboard across the room.

I personally do not use wireless anything with computers. I use ethernet, wired keyboards and wired mice.

[aegrotatio]

I wonder a bit if you've experienced newer wireless keyboards.  The last problem we had were the original Microsoft 900 MHz models when we had more than one in an office--they would interfere with each other because their radios were too strong.  Since then they started using smart spread-spectrum and frequency hopping and they're all pretty good now, including the non-Bluetooth 2.4 GHz ones, too.

Even my $30 Logitech works perfectly, and the battery literally lasts at least 6 months with daily usage.  The 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz last about 4 months.

But I do have a crate full of old-school 27 MHz Logitech refurbs that I thought were a good deal but couldn't keep up with my typing, so old wireless boards are definitely crap.

Today all of those problems have been solved.  I recommend if you haven't done so already to take a look at the new generation of wireless boards before ruling them out.

[EverythingIBM]

Who wants to be changing batteries every other month only to realize you don't have any left after using those last 2 AAs for your cable remote? Seems a little obsessive compulsive to think a few small wires are clutter. Just my 2¢

Exactly my thoughts. And all the cords are BEHIND my desk, it's not like I can even see them, they're not in the way. You still have to have power cords and monitor cords. So what's one spindly PS/2 cord to the mix?

Who needs a wireless keyboard? What's wrong with having a wire on it?

The upkeep on wireless is too much. When I get something, I don't expect to keep maintaining it, or constantly spending money for it to keep working (in this case batteries -- it also depends which type you buy, some hold more change than others; rechargeable are too expensive, especially AAA).

I wonder a bit if you've experienced newer wireless keyboards.  The last problem we had were the original Microsoft 900 MHz models when we had more than one in an office--they would interfere with each other because their radios were too strong.  Since then they started using smart spread-spectrum and frequency hopping and they're all pretty good now, including the non-Bluetooth 2.4 GHz ones, too.

Even my $30 Logitech works perfectly, and the battery literally lasts at least 6 months with daily usage.  The 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz last about 4 months.

But I do have a crate full of old-school 27 MHz Logitech refurbs that I thought were a good deal but couldn't keep up with my typing, so old wireless boards are definitely crap.

Today all of those problems have been solved.  I recommend if you haven't done so already to take a look at the new generation of wireless boards before ruling them out.

I'm sure a 9-foot cord is suffice for wireless. A wireless mouse has its benefits for more movement (I still prefer wired mice), but a keyboard [should] stay stationed at your desk.

[Bumrush]

I'm surprised by the backlash over wireless.  I am an avid gamer (although not of the FPS or twitch variety) and a mediocre typist and I have very few reservations about giving wireless a shot.  Admittedly, I've never used a wireless keyboard for any extensive amount of time, so perhaps others' negative real-world experiences are the source of the Hatorade.  

But humor me for a second here.  All things being equal, if you could somehow magically overcome any issues (real, perceived, or otherwise) with operational reliability, battery life, etc., would you still choose to be tethered to your PC?  You ask why I would want a wireless keyboard.  I'm wondering why you don't.

Seriously, tell me why.

[washuai]

I don't hate wireless keyboards.  Assuming a wireless keyboard was 100% the same as my preferred wired keyboard, just no wire, including price, then for home I'd get a wireless keyboard.

Yea sure, from an idealist point of view, wireless has more applications than wired, but as a realist I won't be purchasing a wireless, because it doesn't meet the requirements for my daily driver.

Wireless was what the companies were all pushing at trade shows, so options and continued improvement is to be expected.

[Xuan]

But humor me for a second here.  All things being equal, if you could somehow magically overcome any issues (real, perceived, or otherwise) with operational reliability, battery life, etc., would you still choose to be tethered to your PC?  You ask why I would want a wireless keyboard.  I'm wondering why you don't.

Seriously, tell me why.

passwords.

[wellington1869]

I'm surprised by the backlash over wireless.

no backlash from me. I hate wires with a passion. I want a completely wireless world, including video and usb. if they can get me wireless power transmission, i'd take that too.

[EverythingIBM]

I'm surprised by the backlash over wireless.  I am an avid gamer (although not of the FPS or twitch variety) and a mediocre typist and I have very few reservations about giving wireless a shot.  Admittedly, I've never used a wireless keyboard for any extensive amount of time, so perhaps others' negative real-world experiences are the source of the Hatorade.  

But humor me for a second here.  All things being equal, if you could somehow magically overcome any issues (real, perceived, or otherwise) with operational reliability, battery life, etc., would you still choose to be tethered to your PC?  You ask why I would want a wireless keyboard.  I'm wondering why you don't.

Seriously, tell me why.

We're vintage.

Is that a good enough reason?

EDIT:
well actually, wires allow rewiring and possibilities of different interfaces. With wireless, you're hooped for only wireless. Some older computers can't handle wireless, so you're hopeless to create an interface WHEN it is possible with wires, even if a lot of tricks are required.

[aegrotatio]

All the current and most of the old Logitech keyboards have encryption, just check the manual how to enable it.  I don't know if Microsoft keyboards have that feature, though.  The knock-off, generic wireless keyboards certainly don't but I'm unsure about Bluetooth though I think Bluetooth has some kind of inherent encryption in it.

Still, I have to say that I have a hard time receiving my wireless access point signal outside of my house so I'm not terribly worried about people sniffing my keyboard signals.  For real.

[audioave10]

For me, I don't really need wireless and it restricts my choices.
I also hate batteries.

[whininggit]

I use a wireless mouse, purely to avoid cable snagging on the edge of the keyboard/mouse tray. For the keyboard, I prefer wired. I can't be dealing with having to swap batteries, nor the delays that occur from time to time with the frequency hopping.

The mouse overcomes the first problem by having a charging cable that connects to the 'front' and effectively turns it into a wired mouse whilst charging, so you can continue to use it.

Interference with other 2.4GHz devices seems impossible to avoid. I had more success with the old 27MHz wireless.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Interference with other 2.4GHz devices seems impossible to avoid. I had more success with the old 27MHz wireless.

The band is a disaster because everything is using it. The band is a disaster.

I really don't care whether the keyboard is wired or wireless myself at my desk. However, I have been considering building an HTPC, and having to compromise would kind of suck. I lack the hardware hacking abilities to do a mod (let me put it this way, none of you would feel comfortable with me having a soldering iron around your devices, and possibly your person). You're going to do less typing on an HTPC, but still, if I could have a mechanical it would definitely be preferable.

The mouse, I'm torn over. I hate having the occasional issues with interference but I find I have more issues with the wire getting caught on my keyboard/other stuff on my desk. So I prefer wireless. As far as any sort of delay, it's imperceptible to me.

[microsoft windows]

I remember wireless internet kicking me off the cordless phone thanks to that 2.4Ghz band.

[microsoft windows]

I'm surprised by the backlash over wireless.  I am an avid gamer (although not of the FPS or twitch variety) and a mediocre typist and I have very few reservations about giving wireless a shot.  Admittedly, I've never used a wireless keyboard for any extensive amount of time, so perhaps others' negative real-world experiences are the source of the Hatorade.  

But humor me for a second here.  All things being equal, if you could somehow magically overcome any issues (real, perceived, or otherwise) with operational reliability, battery life, etc., would you still choose to be tethered to your PC?  You ask why I would want a wireless keyboard.  I'm wondering why you don't.

Seriously, tell me why.

If it ain't tethered to my computer, I might lose it.

[Morning Song]

No matter how impractical it would be, i'd still drool over a bluetooth buckling spring board, like the one that the Kiwi fellow in the Modifications forum put together. USB Chargeable would just make it sweeter.

[melmartinez01]

is there a cheaper price?

[microsoft windows]

It's just less trouble to plug your keyboard into the computer. No batteries, no charging, no interference, just a keyboard.

[Lenny_Nero]

I can sort of understand the HTPC thing, I do have a few wireless keyboards I have been given over the years, and age might be something,
but when I wanted to use one of them with my HTPC I could  not there was no chance of the signal getting thru in any usable form, even when everything was in the same room.

So I just have a few PS/2 cable extenders running from a splitter cable all hidden down to where I sit, and then I have an old Fellows steel backed thing that sits behind the chair I can use if needed, but most of the time I can just use the remote I got with a TV card many years back for the pause, skip and rewind thing.

[niz]

is there a cheaper price?

For what?

It's just less trouble to plug your keyboard into the computer. No batteries, no charging, no interference, just a keyboard.

Exactly!

I can sort of understand the HTPC thing, I do have a few wireless keyboards I have been given over the years, and age might be something,
but when I wanted to use one of them with my HTPC I could  not there was no chance of the signal getting thru in any usable form, even when everything was in the same room.

So I just have a few PS/2 cable extenders running from a splitter cable all hidden down to where I sit, and then I have an old Fellows steel backed thing that sits behind the chair I can use if needed, but most of the time I can just use the remote I got with a TV card many years back for the pause, skip and rewind thing.

A HTPC is really the only place I'd use any sort of wireless. And even then, the distance I sit from my tv (approximately 10-15 ft.) is right on the cusp of the wireless ranges, even bluetooth. With that being said, the diNovo mini is pretty *****in for a HTPC driver/trackpad.

[kishy]

Exactly!

Be careful...bad things happen to people who agree with MW.

[gr1m]

I wouldn't mind a wireless mouse because I always have problems with how freely my mouse moves (if the cable is dragging on the desk or not). My keyboard is stationary most of the time.

[sam113101]

I have 2 monitors, a keyboard, a microphone and a lot of things on my desk. Using a wired mouse is awkward, I just can't move the mouse where I would want to move it, I don't feel free. My keyboard sits there and doesn't move, so I don't care if it has a wire or not, but I admit that wireless is nicer, cleaner. My keyboard sits 2 feet away from my monitors and we can see the cable, that sucks (Das S' cable is thick too). No wire would be nice.

A good wireless keyboard should tell you you'll need to change batteries before it stops working. Keeping extra batteries is a good idea too. Keyboards don't use batteries as much as wireless mice.

I've been surprised that the receiver does most of the job, and, I think, sends the same thing that a normal wired keyboard would send. It means I can browse the BIOS' config with my wireless keyboard without any problem. Don't need the OS*to be booted, don't know about bluetooth wireless keyboards though.

[aegrotatio]

Hmm perhaps less assumption and more actual experience is needed to see if interference is really going to be a problem for your situation.  All of the past several generations of wireless boards, even the cheapie 27 MHz ones, employ spread-spectrum technology to avoid lost signals due to interference.  If you have busy wireless network it will still work fine.

For example, I have an access point on each floor of my house and a cordless phone smothering the entire 2.4 GHz ISSM band with noise.  Since they're all relatively modern devices all of my Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless keyboards and mice, Nintendo DS ad-hoc networks, and Xbox360/PS3/Wii operate perfectly everywhere in the house.  An older Fellowes 2.4 GHz keyboard is not so great.

[microsoft windows]

I have 2 monitors, a keyboard, a microphone and a lot of things on my desk. Using a wired mouse is awkward, I just can't move the mouse where I would want to move it, I don't feel free. My keyboard sits there and doesn't move, so I don't care if it has a wire or not, but I admit that wireless is nicer, cleaner. My keyboard sits 2 feet away from my monitors and we can see the cable, that sucks (Das S' cable is thick too). No wire would be nice.

A good wireless keyboard should tell you you'll need to change batteries before it stops working. Keeping extra batteries is a good idea too. Keyboards don't use batteries as much as wireless mice.

I've been surprised that the receiver does most of the job, and, I think, sends the same thing that a normal wired keyboard would send. It means I can browse the BIOS' config with my wireless keyboard without any problem. Don't need the OS*to be booted, don't know about bluetooth wireless keyboards though.

I prefer wired mice to wireless ones. Wireless mice are small and easy to lose. And so are their stupid little receivers.

[Bumrush]

If it ain't tethered to my computer, I might lose it.

"Oh dammit, I lost the keyboard again!"
"Did you check the seat cushions?"

[Morning Song]

"Oh dammit, I lost the keyboard again!"
"Did you check the seat cushions?"

That's why we need wireless Model Ms. try getting THAT lost in the sofa.

[ricercar]

Who needs a wireless keyboard? What's wrong with having a wire on it?

Wires get twisted when you lift and stow your keyboard a lot, like
- when you're using a wired graphics tablet to draw more often than you type.
- when you have two active wired keyboards on the same desk.
- when you have wired mice, trackballs, rollermouses, et al.

[sam113101]

I prefer wired mice to wireless ones. Wireless mice are small and easy to lose. And so are their stupid little receivers.

my wireless mouse is the same size that a wired mouse, except it weights more because of the two double A batteries
the tranceiver's size is okay, it's not a nano one

[aegrotatio]

You know, now I'm interested in this discussion.

Are there, have there been, or will there be any keyboard dongles that can turn any keyboard into a wireless one, or does that defeat the purpose?  The application I'm thinking of is the desk that sits far away from the computer to make wireless necessary.

The more I think of this the more stupid it sounds, but was a product like this ever made?

[khokkanen]

Return to the OP about Xarmor U27.

Here's my two cents: The Other Thread.

About the dongle: that would be so awesome. Absolutely marvelous. Only trouble with it would be that most keyboards have wires (cables) of at least 1.5 meters long - have fun figuring out what to do with it.

Yet if I had found a solution like this, I would have bought a second Das Keyboard long time ago (my first one was in an accident involving my little sister and glass of Coca-Cola).

On the matter of wires vs. wireless: I'm all for wireless. I can't stand wires and have yet to experience anything negative concerning my wireless input devices. Granted, they are my only 2.4 GHz devices and I'm not a twitch gamer nor do I expect the keyboard to record every keystroke when I hammer my face on to it. Yet I've spent many an hour playing FPS, RP, RTS and MMORP games with them.

And no, I do not have a dedicated gaming keyboard or mouse. I've managed with Logitech Pro 2000 Wireless keyboard and LX5 Cordless (although I'm now upgrading to M705 because of the annoying mechanical failure of LX5 - it keeps double-clicking almost every time I click normally with it).

I drool after Cyborg R.A.T. 9 and Razer Mamba but I doubt I'd find them enjoyable considering their short battery lives.