Mice and keyboard recommendations

I am in need of a replacement mouse and keyboard for my desktop ( I know, technically this is not the site for such a question but a peripheral's a peripheral, whether is connected to a laptop or a desktop...) as the existing kit is starting to show it's age.
I currently have a Logitech MX5000 & MX1000 and have generally been quite pleased but there are a couple of niggles that I'd like to address/ensure I don't have again.


I definitely want, arguably need, both the keyboard and mouse to be wireless - I have a tendency to move my keyboard off my desk at times meaning a wired one would be massively inconvenient and it's a similar point with the mouse, having a wired one would be very inconvenient.

I'd also want both the mouse and the keyboard to be rechargeable, ideally with the option of some sort of cable that could be plugged in so I can charge whilst using the keyboard and/or mouse but, if not, I can live with just some sort of charging dock.
Also, in the case of the mouse, I would like to avoid the same charging dock as my MX1000 uses as it's extremely poor ( I hasten to add, it is NOT the dock seen in this photo, it's a crappier one that Logitech seem to provide when you buy keyboard and mouse kits - as witnessed by this photo of the MX5500 keyboard/mouse combo).

I have no preference regarding bluetooth or generic wireless as, unlike with my laptop, either way I'm going to end up with a dongle sticking out the back of my PC.
Ideally, I'd prefer just to have the one dongle but that's of secondary importance compared to the quality of the mouse and keyboard - if I'm better served by getting to separate devices with separate dongles then so be it.

Same goes for the software - ideally I'd like to only have the one piece of software to manage both devices but, as with the dongles, that's secondary to finding the best mouse and keyboard for my needs.
Whatever I get though, I'd like a similar level of control that is offered by SetPoint with überOptions, the ability to reassign any/every hotkey, function-key or mouse button etc.

Lastly, I'd like dedicated media buttons as I use my computer to listen to music a lot.
With my current MX5000 keyboard, those controls are touch-sensitive which is ok in itself but because they're not normal keys, I can't press them as a part of a key-combination - so I can't use (for example) Ctrl+Stop for 'Stop after Current' or Ctrl+Previous to jump back to the start of a playlist.



Having done a bit of looking 'round prior to posting, I'm aware of the Logitech DiNovo Edge keyboard that allow has a rechargeable battery but I have some concerns about the touch-sensitive controls and the price is off-putting as well.
I'm also aware of the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 8000 (I think that's it's name), that had the dock that both the keyboard and mouse would connect up to but the price again is extortionate and nowhere I've looked seems to still have it in stock.

So, yeah, I've had a look but short of randomly searching Google, outside of Logitech, Microsoft and, to a lesser extent, Razer, I'm not really sure where to look for such products.



I think that's about it really - well, it's more than enough to be starting with at least
Any and all information people can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

 

Logitech Wirless Desktop MK710.

>unified receiver
>runs for 3 years on 4 regular batteries
>single bit of software

rest of features in the link

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard_mice_combos/devices/6541&cl=US,EN

 

Glass desk?

Logitech Performance MX + Logitech K340

Both can use the same unifying receiver.

 

Not a glass desk, no.


Thanks for both your recommendations but neither are really what I'm after.
The MK710 ticks most of the boxes but it just doesn't jump out at me, the Performance MX/K340 combination gives me a rechargeable mouse but a far more basic keyboard than I'd want.

The Wave Pro desktop is a bit closer as the mouse it uses can be recharged by way of a cable and the keyboard is more multimedia-friendly, however it's still not rechargeable.


Like I said before, whilst a single dongle/receiver would be preferable, it's a secondary concern, as is a single piece of software.

 

Performance MX + K350 (wave with unifying receiver)

Logitech claims long battery life for the keyboard (3 years) so you won't need it to be rechargeable, or at least get some rechargeable batteries

Plus you'll get 2 unifying receiver so if you have 2 machines, just leave them on each

 

I do appreciate the suggestions but I was hoping that someone would be able to help offer up a few more suggestions regarding rechargeable keyboards.
As I say, in an ideal world I'd like one piece of software and one dongle/receiver but, seriously, it's not my biggest concern.

Having looked at the suggestions, I'm a little confused as to what exactly the differences between the Performance MX and the MX 1100 are - not helped by the fact that the description of the MX1100 as a separate product seems to vary a bit from the description of the mouse that's included in the Wave Pro desktop kit, which is also supposedly the MX1100.
The listing for the mouse on it's own states it's not rechargeable whereas the listing for the desktop kit says it comes with a USB charging cable... I'm confused

Also, is there any particular reason why Logitech is the only manufacturer who have been mentioned so far?
Are they just generally better in this area than, say, Microsoft et al?

 

there are plenty of rechargeable mice out there, but not the case with keyboards.
I'd just invest on rechargeable batteries

 

DO NOT BUY CONSUMER GRADE KEYBOARD... ie anything made by logitech, microsoft etc. they are all rubber domed, they are literally sh!t, rubber dome are cheap, unresponsive and lack tactile feedback, you can increase you typing speed and comfort with mechanical keyboards.

for keyboards technology you really only have three choices: cherry, topre or buckling spring.

cherry switch, get filco keyboard.

if money is not a concern, get Topre switch keyboard, there are only two brand on the market, REALFORCE and happy hacking. Both made in Japan.

for buckling spring get ibm model m from the 1980s, or the newer unicom keyboards, unicom bought the BS patent from ibm.

plus, wireless and multimedia buttons are just a marketing strategy, which most people fell for. Ask yourself, do you really need wireless and the extra buttons?

go to geekhack.org

 

Where should i search for this, tried amazon and only found the Happpy Hacking ranging from $77-277, more wondering since you like this keyboards maybe you know where to get them.

 

Yes, I do.
I have explained my needs, they are clearly stated above.

 

http://elitekeyboards.com/

happy hacking pro 2 is the one you want, it is topre technology. If you don't like the happy hacking layout, then get the realforce keyboard.

happy hacking is 45gram for all keys, while realforce offers 55/45/35gram variations

happy hacking is part of fujitsu industry.

topre keyboards are the Ferrari of keyboards, they are expensive, but they offer insane performance, their key cycles are around 30 million times, which is about 10 time greater than rubber dome. in other words, you will never need to replace you keyboard in your lifetime, while you will constant need to replace your logitech due to keys wearing out.

if you a hyundai, go get logitech, if you want ferrari, get topre, if you want bmw, get filco, just search youtube, filco vs microsoft or logitech or whatever, you can just hear the difference is the clicky feedback. typing on mechanical is like having .

 

you don't need them. you just think you need them. but by all means go get what you want. you're the one who going to be typing on a rubber dome keyboard, and ignorance is a bliss, not knowing that you will be suffering every time you type

 

well some people live outside the box you know ..

 

You mean like you think you know better?

If you don't have anything to offer that meets the criteria I have laid out, can you please not continue to post and take this thread further away from it's original purpose.
If Abula wants information on such keyboards, then he would be better served start his own thread rather than jacking mine.

 

please somebody advice him on another variation of rubber dome.

 

Im not sure why you want a rechargeable keyboard, its not that common out of most keyboard wireless will last long, just having this as must will restict you a lot from whats available. There are some keyboards that claim to have up to 3 years of batter life like Logitech Wireless Keyboard K340 paired with a Logitech Marathon Mouse M705 you probably wont have to worry about batteries for a long time. If you want a better mouse then just go for the Logitech Performance Mouse MX there is nice video review that even compares it to the revolutions, Logitech Performance Mouse MX Reviewed, you also see the charing in the video.

 

Convenience, plain and simple.
I know it's not the only way of powering a keyboard and, if need be, I am prepared to go for something else but I'd rather be sure I'm not missing out before going ahead.


I'm still a bit confused as to exactly what the spec of the MX1100 is and how it measures up to the Performance MX.
I think if I could find a straight answer on that, my decision would probably be made but, like I say, I'd rather be certain before going ahead - which also goes for being sure there's not something from another manufacturer that I should be looking at.

 

just like you said,
the stand-alone MX1100 is not rechargeable, while the desktop set is rechargeable.
Performance MX is rechargeable, using usb cable to recharge the included AA battery, newer design, using unifying nano receiver, darkfield technology to track on glass.

 

So, in other words, they're not the same mouse at all but Logitech has assigned the same model number to them to cause confusion?

I don't need the whole darkfield thing but I'm thinking that I should maybe just go for the Performance MX and be done with it.
I'll need to look into pricing.

 

I don't know if they have the same model number, since the desktop set is using their own model number.
another sample is MX revolution, the desktop set one is bluetooth wireless

 

Logitech's product page for the Wave Pro set states:

Package Contents

• Logitech® Cordless Wave Keyboard™
• Logitech® MX™1100 Cordless Laser Mouse
• USB mini-receiver
• 2 AA alkaline batteries (pre-installed)
• 1 AA rechargeable NiMH batteries (pre-installed)
• USB to Micro USB charging cable
• 5 V USB power adaptor
• CD with software and comfort guidelines
• User manual

​

It seems they are using the same name for both, which is just really unhelpful.



I think I probably am going to go for the Performance MX and the K350.

Something I'd like to check, the standard Wave Desktop kit (ie not the Pro), is that still the K350 keyboard? It seems to be but confirmation would be nice.
The reason I ask is that I seem to be able to find the Wave set for less than the K350 on it's own...

 

How in the hell do you think you can make a call like that? Are you saying all the people out there using consumer-grade keyboards are ignorant?

Get a life and post your irrelevant ads somewhere else.

 

I'd just like to thank everyone for their help in this thread - I ended up with the performance MX and the K350 and they're brilliant.

 

so what is the big deal with these mechanical keyboards vs logitech etc...??? They look big and clunky and from 1984?

Are they higher quliaty and last longer?? or do some people just prefer the old school look?