12 replies to this topic

[nikko1974]

Hi,

Just looking to get some advice from the learned folks on what extra controller hardware to grab in order to get the most from your HTPC.

1) A remote: I assume this is mandatory and that a MS MCE remote is the no brainer choice?

2) Keyboard & mouse: Is it worth getting wireless versions of these? If so which ones are the best choices? Bang for buck wise that is.

Are the MS MCE keyboard w/builtin mouse any good ? SOme go at a decent price on ebay.

Do they get a lot of use or is a wire version stashed away okay?

Thanks in advance, NIkko

[scottsos]

Hi,

The ms keyboard is fine if you do not need to use a keyboard/mouse very often. The ms keyboard only works once windows is started so it cannnot be used to change the bios or make a selection from a boot menu etc, so you will need to keep a spare wired keyboad available.

If you will be using the keyboard/mouse alot then I would look to a seperate wireless keyboard/mouse combination.

[nikko1974]

Hi,

The ms keyboard is fine if you do not need to use a keyboard/mouse very often. .

This surprises me as the MS MCE keyboard/mouse is pretty expensive...selling for $100 plus and you're saying its not as good as just a standard wireless keyboard /mouse combo?

Any advice on the best wireless keyboard/mouse combo?

[ybop]

I'm also interested in knowing this. My experience with MS kb/mouse is the range is no good. I need a solid reliable 10 foot range. Hope someone can offer some advice on what they are using that works.

[nikko1974]

MS MCE remotes seem to be easy enough to pickup from as low as $45.......so I would say they're the remote of choice.

But open to keyboard mouse suggestions and whether they are VITAL or not really used that much.

[vbap]

I only use a keyboard / mouse when doing direct maintenance on the HTPC. For daily use, remote is all that's needed.

I got the MS Keyboard, but as mentioned, it's only benefits are small size and built-in pointer (that has questionable merit - it can be a bugger to use efficiently).

Unless you intend to do email/texting from your HTPC, then I think you should just have a spare good quality mouse/keyboard handy (and not just for HTPC). Wired or wireless, doesn't matter whatever your preference is.

I have a Dell bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse combo for the desktop, and it is the best one I have used. I am thinking about getting another one just as a spare. I only wish it had backlighting...

[skidmarksteve]

I have a standard Wired keyboard it is not even USB... and a wired USB mouse... and i have the MCE remote... my 5.1 speakers are infrared and the TV and volume buttons are programed to the 5.1.... only having 1 remote is awesome... however i use my computer for everything including playing games... wireless keyboards and mice are to unreliable for gaming.... what happens if ur mouse runs out of batteries during a raid or instance.. lol

so it really depends what ur going to use the system for..

[spaceman]

MS remote and BTC9019URF keyboard with built in mouse for rare times it gets used...
works great

[gkar]

MS remote and BTC9019URF keyboard with built in mouse for rare times it gets used...
works great

Ditto on that.

http://www.btc.com.t...-21keyboard.htm

[Renny]

Can anyone update this thread with some more up to date info?
My trusty old Microsoft key board/mouse is all but dead.

[skypilot]

I use a cheapish logitech wireless mouse.
I also use the MS MCE IR keybaord
I have the MS MCE & the logitech 785 remotes
and
I have the DiNovo keyboard.

The mouse works well from the lounge about 2-3 metres away - I have to keep some distance between the wireless NIC antenna and the mouse interface though. I use the mouse a lot to surf the net, open skype, and other PC related functions.

I use the MS IR k/b as a MC remote at times, at other times as you would a normal k/b on a PC - while it does have a mouse button to move the pointer I do not like using it. The disadvantage is I cannot use it outside of the OS i.e. in bios to change settings etc.

I use the DiNovo k/b to change the bios settings and sometimes as a normal keyboard - I have not worked out how to use it as a MCE remote as it does not have the normal separate buttons for controlling MCE.

I use the other remotes as you would a normal MCE remote.

[Renny]

That's quite a cache of I/O controllers you have there Skypilot!
I think I will go for the Dinovo as the back of my HTPC is pretty ineccessable and I hate having to plug in a PS2 keyboard every time I want to fix the BIOS.
From what I have read, the DiNovo has two operating modes which change the function of the mouse pointer so you can use it as an MC remote as well as general desktop navigation.
My only concern is that it uses Blue Tooth so my Logitech Harmony will be redundant for use with WMC.
Thanks for the response

[skypilot]

Not to mention the TV remote and the stereo remote. I do not use the logitech 785 as much as I should as it is a programmable multi-device remote.