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Advantages of a Wireless Keyboard/Mouse?

Go4EVA!

Go4EVA!

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 9, 2008
15
0
I'm a newbie in the market for an iMac workstation for general use at home (not a power-user), and I'm torn as to whether or not there is a *real* advantage to having a wireless keyboard/mouse. From my humble experience, these components don't tend to wander very far from the monitor, so what is the benefit of wireless? What am I missing? Thanx.
 
In my case it was desk clutter... even though they don't go far, the cables snake across your desk (especially the mouse since there has to be enough slack to move it around).

Some people like wireless keyboards for setups in a living room or kitchen, where the PC will be hidden away and the keyboard needs to be moved around (e.g. in/on a coffee table).
 
There is no advantage. As a matter of fact it's simply a result of marketing. I banned them from work.... just another gadget to troubleshoot.
Home use on a coffee table? Where's the computer?
Get a laptop.
 
Les Kern said:
There is no advantage. As a matter of fact it's simply a result of marketing. I banned them from work.... just another gadget to troubleshoot.
Home use on a coffee table? Where's the computer?
Get a laptop.
Click to expand...

Coffee table use would make perfect sense. One could have a Media Center PC in their living room and use the coffee table as the desk for the keyboard/mouse while the computer is on the other side of the room connected to the TV.
 
For me it has been a been a great benefit. I'm a macbook user, and when I want to do real work, I plug in my notebook to a "workstation"...external display, mouse, keyboard, hard drives, etc. Since macbooks only have 2 usb ports....even with my usb hub, an extra plug-in would be pushing it. So the bluetooth option is great. For me. BUT in a desktop environment (imac)...no go.
 
Les Kern said:
There is no advantage. As a matter of fact it's simply a result of marketing. I banned them from work.... just another gadget to troubleshoot.
Home use on a coffee table? Where's the computer?
Get a laptop.
Click to expand...


lol... right...


I personally have my computers hooked up to a big screen infront of my bed. its nice to chat and control the computer from a couple feet away in the comfort of my bed. When i want to watch a movie, i dont even need to get up :D


although you do need a big screen :p
 
For me, it was desk clutter. I'm anal about cables not being all over the place. On my iMac, I have all cables hidden, all you can see is a clean white cable on the desk which is to sync my iPod and iPhone.

I'm also partial to polluting the Earth with dead batteries. :rolleyes:
 
Great comments all -- thanks much. I'll probably stick with the wired components for now.
 
Laptop use is one that I forgot about. You just pick up your laptop and go, and you're not constantly unplugging/replugging components in when you come and go. (Power cable and monitor cable, unfortunately, must still be plugged in!)
 
I don't mind so much having a wired keyboard, but I absolutely loathe having a corded mouse. Since the mouse actually moves around (essentially its function, wouldn't you agree?) I don't like the feel of having an attached cord moving around with it.

I would have gotten the Apple wireless keyboard if it had the 10-key area to the right side. I actually stow my keyboard underneath the monitor stand when I'm not using it. But again, having a corded keyboard doesn't bother me so much.
 
I absolutely hate replacing batteries.

I have the aluminum corded keyboard with the number pad. I do a lot of financial work, so it was a necessity. I have my corded mouse plugged into one of the keyboard's usb ports and my printer plugged into the other one. So to free myself I have only to unplug the keyboard. Works well for me.

I have a bluetooth wireless mouse that is rechargeable through usb, but my mbp's usb ports won't charge the little sucker, so I don't use it.
 
Both of my desktops have them -- my iMac G5 (Apple's older white plastic ones) and my EeeBox (Logitech Mediaboard Pro, to use from the sofa).

Some people just like not having to look at wires. It's hardly a shock that Apple customers would prize aesthetics. :p

They do have a tendency to experience battery death at awkward times, though. And Apple's old ones were slightly on the obnoxious side in terms of how many batteries they need -- four for the KB and two for the mouse, whereas the Mediaboard, with integrated touchpad, needs two altogether.

But I'm generally happy with them.

But if you're asking what's the point, you probably don't need them.
 
redwarrior said:
I absolutely hate replacing batteries.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. I use a wireless Mighty Mouse with my MacBook, and it's still on its original battery (from June). I have a Logitech MX Revolution with my iMac, which docks in a cradle to recharge (from an AC adapter, not from USB).

When I reach the point where replacing a friggin' mouse battery every six months becomes a PITA, then perhaps I'll go back to a corded mouse...but I really, really doubt it.
 
Wired Keyboard. Wireless Mouse (Logitech or MS Lasermouse).
The mouse wire can be so restricting (especially the Mighty Mouse). And changing batteries occurs about every 5 months so I have no issue with that. No wires, no problems :)
 
I use a wired Apple keyboard. There's no reason to have a wireless because it's the same as my MB's. Wireless mighty mouse though. Can't tell you the last time I owned a wired mouse. I don't like them very much.
 
Wireless mice make some sense for notebooks. Wireless keyboards are just annoying though. If I ever use one I make sure I have a wired one connected up for when the keyboard loses connection.
 
I'm wireless for both. It's interesting to read through the comments to see people's reaction to a simple question. There's no right or wrong, just options.

I have few reasons for wireless:
- reduce cable clutter
- When I come home from work, I connect my laptop to a 24" monitor. I like to close the lid and just use the 1920x1200 resolution of the big screen. I have drives and devices to connect, so it is nice to have the option of using bluetooth devices to free up the ports.
- I actually have the reverse problem with kids. My two-year old likes to bang the mouse and keyboard, so they have to be shelved when the computer is off.
- I found that a wired mouse often catches in the cord, especially with long screen movements.
- I love the new wireless apple keyboard but have become less than impressed with the mighty mouse. The mighty mouse is limited in programmable keystrokes and the ball will lose scrolling ability eventually. I keep it as a backup now.
- My logitech wireless mouse allows my favorite keystroke command ctrl shift 4. I make a lot of training primers and need the screen grabs

On a side note regarding batteries, the OS will warn you when battery levels are getting low, so as long as you cycle your rechargeable AAs you'll never have trouble.
 
I hate clutter but I would rather have two little wires than have to change batt. when the wife is at the doorand I'm watching porn. I think you getmy point I hate haveing my mouse or keyboard die when Im doing something.
 
I have both the wireless keyboard and mouse. The mouse eats batteries every few weeks, but that's because I used cheap alkaline batteries that cost me $5 for a pack of 24. If you have wires, bluetooth is the way to go. Some companies market their keyboard/mice as wireless, but you actually stick the little dongle into a USB port... which is worse than having wires...
 
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