Wireless keyboard/Mouse annoyances

Any of you wireless keyboard/mouse users experience random glitches such as ...

* false middle mouse button detected
* random false key presses like WIN/MENU keys

I get sparodic key and mouse entries occuring but I'm not entirely sure if it's the (Belkin) wireless keyboard and mouse or a naughty virus causing the false readings.
There again, maybe some interference triggers the inputs.
It can happen any time. Even if I'm not using the keyboard/mouse.

The sensor is very close to both devices so nothing gets missed. It's just annoying to receive odd random entries now and then. Especially when watching the TV via the PCs TV card.

I do NOT get that occuring with my logitec keyb/mouse.

I have the odd problem when a train goes past my house. Used to anyway. Allthough in the last month mine has gotten a LOT more reliable.

Not sure what changed exactly

I have both Logitech and Microsoft wireless keyboards and mice

My logitech laser randomly flips out on me, mostly without a mouse pad. It just moves, around the screen, by its self really fast.

*fiddles thumbs* hope thats not too off topic *leaves*

Never had problems with my wireless keyboard and mouse I use, except being heavy and a pain to use overall.

For the short time I tried a Microsoft wireless optical wheelmouse, I had a big problem with occasional ghost right button clicks, and very consistent not recognizing of a single left button click (yet it always detected it fine when I selected/marked something with the left mouse. But a single click? 4 out of 5 times, no dice)
Exchanged it twice for a different mouse (same model), and had the exact same problem.

I initially tried the 'Microsoft wireless office' package (wireless keyboard + mouse). the mouse looked identical, but worked perfectly. the keyboard was attrocious, hence the stand-alone mice mentioned above... But although they looked the same, they weren't. Apparewntly the wireless office package was bluetooth based, the stand-alone mice were plain RF.
In the end, I switched back to a normal wired Microsoft optical mouse, and a wireless no-name keyboard.

The only time the keyboard starts acting up, is every couple of months when the batteries run low. Then you get some incorrect letters, or missing letters.

also, a tip: If you have a bad connection, you may need to re-sync your device with the receiver. Normally both the mouse and the receiver will have a connection button on them. Press & hold the button on both devices simultaneously, and they'll sync up with each other. If you have a bad connection, it may switch to a different frequency, which may end up being more reliable.

My wireless mouse has never given me trouble. It's one of
those Logitech Mx somethings. As for wireless keyboards...
why? Do that many people type with their keyboard on their
lap? A wireless mouse is understandable and almost
required. But a keyboard? What use would that be?

I just don't get it.

my bigest reason for having wireless is that I don't like computers, electronics and most of all cables. So the fewer and better disguised the computer junk the better in my case :)

one other reason is that I can move the keyboard without worrying about cables, like when I use my graphics tablet, gorce feedback wheel or joystick, or want to draw on some paper or read a book in my workspace.

My Logitech iTouch keyboard and mouse have been working perfectly for several years. I've never had a problem which wasn't related to low batteries.

Purchased me a logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo couple years ago, havent experianced any problems with them since, until the battery gets low in the devices.
(MX700 model)

Even if you always type with your keyboard in the same position, there are still plenty of advantages over a wired keyboard:

1) A wireless keyboard comes in handy when you have your PC relatively far away from yourself. (e.g. to cut down on the audiable noise). Sometimes a standard keyboard cable can be a tad short

2) If you use your desk for other purposes besides using the computer, a wireless keyboard is a lot easier to put out of the way than a wired one

3) If you have a toddler around, there's plenty of other occasions where you may want to put the keyboard out of his/her reach, before it goes flying through the room.

4) No annoying keyboard cables laying across your desk, which can be in the way and add unnecesary clutter

5) For those using a keyboard tray (not me, that's the first thing I unscrew from a desk -- they kill my knees in a minute flat), you often end up with a keyboard cable that hangs down to the floor under the desk from extending and pushing back the drawer, and is likely to get damaged over time. No such problem with wireless.

To be fair, two downsides of wireless keyboards:

1) They require batteries to work, and when these run out (~6 months?) typing response becomes erratic until you replace them. Mine goes from working perfectly to becoming completely unusable within a couple of minutes when the batteries are empty, so not a lot of warning there.

2) To conserve battery power, very few wireless keyboards have LED indicators for the capslock/numlock/scrolllock buttons on the keyboard itself, although most have indicators for these functions on the receiver unit that hooks up to your computer's USB port. Many also come with optional drivers which can put little symbols in your systemtray to indicate the status of those keys.

I do dislike the majority of wireless mice I've tried -- since they require batteries to work, they tend to be a lot heavier than 'normal' mice. Some of the AA-battery models have an off-center optical sensor to make room for the battery compartment, which leads to unexpected behaviour and 'feels weird' if you don't always keep your mouse aligned straight. They also run out of batteries a lot faster than a wireless keyboard does. the only wireless mouse I did enjoy using was the microsoft optical wireless wheelmouse that was bundled with the microsoft wireless keyboard, but unfortunately they keyboard blew chunks (no insert keys) and I didn't feel like paying $80 for just the mouse.

I'm using the new Logitec 5000 MX Laser wireless keyboard and mouse package for a month now and while I do find the idea of no wires a nice advantage, it does have tons of quirks of its own.

Since the keyboard and mouse itself is designed to minimize the use of power as much as possible, it will go into a shutdown mode (well the mouse does...) when idle for more than a few seconds. Thus, there is a slight delay in reaction when moving the mouse again...this is noticeable when playing FPSs (and can be a real pain during a tense firefight!) The keyboard itself would extend certain keypress after it being idle for a while and would result in me typing something like : "hhhhhello", though the latest driver update does seem to help it...a little.

The mouse itself is a little heavier...but thats not even an issue to me. The cool thing about laser is that it doesn't jump sporadically like my old optic did occasionally....and it seems a lot smoother too. I can use it for about 5 days before having to charge it - which only takes a couple of hours to fully charge (of course if i charge it every night i wouldnt have this issue). The keyboard uses 4 AA batteries, which i been using for the past 2 months and still going well. The only cool thing I think about the LED screen is the room temperature display...of course you cant see it unless theres light in the room - i thought they should of provided a backlight to it.....but then it would of used up more power. One thing i'm still trying to ajust to is the huge delete key in center part of keyboard....but i hear this is the future of keyboards so...oh well.

Other than that....its been pretty good....but if you really have no need for wireless, i would rather stick to the wired setup.

Thanks all. I'm guessing it's my £20 Belkin wireless keyboard/mouse package by the sounds of it.

Regarding battery life .. The mouse positively wallows in power. I generally need to replace the 2500 mAh rechargables every 3-5 days depending how much 'mousing' goes on. Then there's the hassle of getting it to sync with the receiver.
I'll more than likely go back to wired mode now.

Anybody using the new-stlye keyboad layouts like this one (with a large DEL key)? ...

@jim - thats the Logitec Laser 5000 MX that I just posted about - the one i'm using now.....and i mentioned how the huge delete key in the center still confuses me a bit....

Nero,
Where have they placed the INSERT key?
These keyboards seem to be popping up quite a lot in PC World.
Do you have to rely on the keypad 0 (Ins) ?

My MS wireless mouse lasts about 3 months with 2xAA batteries. And that working a minimum of 8 hours per day on the puter.



Thats what I bought, mostly due to the wifes nagging and a sore wrist. I didn't wanted it hating the layout and figuring natural keyboards and chunky buttons suck.

Thing is, I love the thing. seems really well designed and works better than the more traditional keyboards I'm used to. I don't think I could go back and dread having to use someone elses, like the wifes behind me.

@jim - uhhh....the insert key was moved to right above the home key. Its a smaller key, the same size as all those other f1 to f12 keys....which I must add is a little odd itself. The scroll lock key has become a function of the insert key.

I hate that new layout, I'm forever accidentally hitting delete.

I'd far rather accidentally hit Insert than Delete.

Ahh yes, I can now make out the 'Insert' word in the Scroll Lock function key. Thanks.
I can see myself catching the [|\] key above the slimmer RETURN key by the looks of it.

After having a scout around I've settled on this keyboard (ha .. winner!)

xlsior, you make good points. I guess none of those things apply to me.

Neuro: Yeah, when playing Battlefield 2 with my ($120!)
Mx 400 I found that moving your cursor in tiny circles kept
the mouse from trying to fall sleep on you. Of course this
only ever applied when you were doing something like
*cough* camping. I prefer to call it... guarding.

lol....yep I keep on hittin delete also...especially when i'm trying to find the end key and instead end up deleting my sentences...!!

My "jukebox" computer is hooked up to my TV in my livingroom, which acts as its primary display. I don't want a cable snaking from behind the TV to the coffee table (also, I'm not sure any are long enough.) When the party moves outside, it can be convenient to drag the keyboard with me so I can skip songs without getting up.

Believe it or not, it takes about 4 days to get used to the new layout, and for me at least, its MUCH easier.

The biggest issue for me with that 'insert' key mentioned above is not just the location, it's that SHIFT-INSERT functionality is no longer there -- which means that you lose your 'paste' ability in a bunch of programs.

Why is Shift+Insert no longer possible? You use FN+Insert for Scroll Lock

On the microsoft keyboard I tried, it became a 3rd function on the Printscreen/SysReq key. The keyboard did not contain an 'FN' key.

Shift + that key activated 'Print Screen', rather than paste text. Only inside MS Office did the button behave like the insert/overwrite toggle switch, but still couldn't get a 'paste' out of it.

Which is really unfortunate, since it's a feature I use all day, every day... Especially when you work in a mixed environment (Unix shells), it's the only universal shortcut to paste stuff.