Cordless Devices - Good Idea???

[coyote]

Since I am building my 'dream' machine ... at least one I can afford, I was considering a cordless keyboard and mouse. Logitech has a combo they sell. Has anyone tried cordless input devices such as these? How were they? Do you recommend or not recommend? Thanks!

Oh yeh, also considering a tablet device such as aiptek or wacom...not the expensive ones, but the 4X5 < $100 tablets. Any one experience these? Thanks again.

[M1pilot]

Go for it!! I don't know about the mouse (I like my trackball too much too trade it in for anything else), but I do have the iTouch keyboard, and it's great!! It'll work easily 10 -12 feet away from the computer and the batteries seem to last forever. The only time there is a drain on them is when you depress a key...there is no "on/off" switch.
The internet and multimedia keys are handy too.

-M1pilot

[Brydon]

I have a cordless keyboard and mouse and would never go back to being tied to the PC again http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

[chipbgt]

I cant begin to tell you how much I love my logitech mouse and keyboard...I didnt get the combo, I got the keyboard seperatly and then I bought the cordless mouseman pro (the black and gray one) soooo nice. I shudder when I see cords at work now.

[coyote]

So for my own edification, non of you have had wierd interference when someone passed by talking on a CB radio that, say, triggered the delete key at the wrong time? Basically, no strange behavior from the keyboard? Obviously not or you would not have praised them...but it never hurts to ask (???)

[OuTpaTienT]

I used to totally love my Logitech cordless mouse also. Thought I'd never return to being "corded"...but I have and let me tell you why.

First:
If you currently use a mouse on the serial port, and will continue to use a serial mouse, then you will love the Logitech Cordless mouse.

Second:
If you now use a ps/2 connected mouse but DO NOT increase the refresh rate over the default of 40 samples/second...then you will love the Logitech Cordless.

Third: (& why I no longer use my cordless mouse, even though I really, really want to... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif
If you now use a ps/2 mouse and enjoy the silky smooth movement of an increased cursor sample rate (like 100+ samples/sec.) then you will be disappointed by the Logitech Cordless mouse.

With my cordless mouse on the ps/2 port, I can boost the samples per second above the default of 40hz...but it maxes out at 50hz. No higher than that!

I've gone as far as considering overclocking the mouses transmit/receive radio frequency (because that seems to be the limiting factor) but the task seems a bit beyond my capabilities.

Don't say I didn't warn ya.

[M1pilot]

Nope....no interference problems of any kind.

-M1pilot

[Brydon]

Ditto

[coyote]

Ah oh...now outpatient has me wondering (which is why I asked). Does everyone else have the same problem? Do ya'll notice degraded performance from the mouse? I do some graphics work and photo retouching (not professionally) and the mouse does play a part. Should I be concerned? If the mouse behaves just like a regular mouse plugged into a ps/2 port, then that is OK with me. I never knew you could overclock a mouse! Perhaps outpatient is doing something extraordinary with the mouse...do I have this right outpatient?

[Dave_H]

Stupid question time,
Those things work in safe mode, the BIOS, and DOS?
Dave

[coyote]

GOOD QUESTION!

[Brydon]

Mine works the same as and in every situation as and as well as a regular ps2 mouse.

[coyote]

Cool beans!!!

[OuTpaTienT]

It will work just the same as a regular ps/2 mouse. Except it feels so much better without the cord, it's very addicting. And whenever you have to use (someone else's) plain 'ol corded mouse you'll find yourself getting very annoyed at that cord that never bothered you for so many years. I highly recommend going cordless if you don't intend on increasing the mouse refresh rate.

Would also recommend that you do not boost the sample rate of any corded mice you have right now...simply because it too is very addicting and hard to go without. As far as whether or not it would be considered "overclocking" the mouse is certainly a debatable topic. I'd say it's not overclocking because I see o/c as operating hardware at a speed or frequency over the intended speed. Mouse sample rates have been stuck at 40hz simply because that the limitation of the serial port that they traditionally connected to. Most mice sample at a much higher rate than 40hz, and the ps/2 port is capable of transmitting up to 200hz. So it's not overclocking, it's just using your available resources.

To me, using a modern mouse on the ps/2 (or usb) port and still using the old standard of 40hz refresh is like having a surround sound stereo with huge color TV & adjusting the picture to be black/white and the sound to be mono.

BTW, the latest Logitech mouse drivers (ver. 9.0) have a slider for adjusting the sample rate...from 40 up to 200. So you see, it's far from extraordinary, it's now become ordinary. (Oh yeah, using those same drivers with a cordless mouse will disable that feature.)

[jbob]

I have the Logitech cordless mouse, and plan on getting the keyboard to go with it. I will never go back to cords.

[Szech]

Coyote, do you have a computer that you could try this program out on?
http://www.tweakfiles.com/input/ps2rateplus.html

If so, try it out, first with 40 hz, then up it to 200 hz. For me, this was day and night. I rely on the refresh rate a LOT, as I am nutty into first person shooters (Half-Life namely http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif ). I also like the smoother movements when I'm using Photoshop. I imagine it's pretty nice to have a cordless mouse too, so weigh your options, and make your decision based on what you want more.

[coyote]

I would like a cordless mouse that can go to 200Hz! I'll try it, and probably get spoiled (thanks alot! ;-) ). I wonder if a there is a cordless USB mouse/keyboard? ...and if that would make a difference?

[BrentReed]

I'd like to know how to adjust the refresh rate for my mouse. Can someone please tell me? Thanks

[Warthog]

What is the point in having a cordless mouse/keyboard???

Sorry, I just don't get it.

Warthog

[OuTpaTienT]

Obviously you've never had one Warthog.

Probably a lot of virgins don't understand sex too. Their loss.

[OuTpaTienT]

oops

[This message has been edited by OuTpaTienT (edited 07-03-2000).]