Microsoft Media Center Keyboard - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 5th Oct 2005, 08:46

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...ard_mce/1.html

Mister_Tad · 5th Oct 2005, 09:48

that article has just saved me a tidy wad of cash, was going to buy one this week and hadn't seen it at scan (£65 at ocuk!)

steveo_mcg · 5th Oct 2005, 10:33

Looks like a nice bit of kit... but will it work with win2k, i've never gotten round to upgrading.

Hamish · 5th Oct 2005, 10:50

would've been nice to see a trackpad or even trackball over the crappy nipple thing, really hate them

ralph.pickering · 5th Oct 2005, 10:53

Nice, but I'm still leaning toward the Belkin MediaPilot, especially as, like steveo_mcq I haven't got round to upgrading to Media Center (yet?)

Mister_Tad · 5th Oct 2005, 12:06

I was leaning towards the mediapilot until I used it

If youre using it for an htpc, I'd definitely say go for the MS one, as the "mouse" on the mediapilot is about as useful as a kick in the face

Edenalig · 5th Oct 2005, 12:19

Just brought myself one of these, im expecting it tomorrow. Ill let you guys know what I think as soon as

FIBRE+ · 5th Oct 2005, 13:25

Hit us with the crotch shot why dont you, I know your game meelado!

Anyway...

Thanks for posting this up, the keyboard that is, not the crotch shot. I was thinking about buying one to go with me media pc once its built and I think thats settled it, well so long as I can get the reciever for not too much (ebay). Are they infared, radio or ??

Marquee · 5th Oct 2005, 13:35

Looks nice but why a keyboard now when the LCD keyboard is coming out next yaer. It will be fully customized to what ever you want.

kickarse · 5th Oct 2005, 13:35

Good review except for a couple of things...

Battery life, range, rf, bluetooth, response?

herbs · 5th Oct 2005, 13:47

Why does it have to be IR so probably line of sight, RF would be so much better but I do like the backlight that would come in handy.

Da Dego · 5th Oct 2005, 14:03

We'll be finding out a little bit more on the extended use of this (as well as the greater annoyances that this may provide) with the rest of our HTPC content, as I think this will be an addition to our setup.

So, never fear...more info will arrive over time if you're not sure you want to take the plunge. I'm a little worried about what my Mrs. will have to say about the nipple, though, tbh...

dom_ · 5th Oct 2005, 14:22

if its like the normal remote, it doesnt have to be line of site. just in the same room. the remote even works with the reciever covered up with my hand!

Stompy · 5th Oct 2005, 17:33

Yeh, the IR tech used in the MCE remotes is brilliant

Firehed · 5th Oct 2005, 19:35

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109151
Just in case anyone prefers the english version of the keyboard, rather than French.

I'd be interested in getting one regardless.

Green Soda · 6th Oct 2005, 03:15

Quote:

With some practice, I've become pretty good at tweaking the nipple perfectly, and can now perform impressive gesticular movements.

^_^ Out of context that sounds so wrong.

JonDixon · 6th Oct 2005, 10:15

Ive had this keyboard for over 3 weeks now and its great. I find it really comfortable perched on my knees doing a quick web search or email in front of the telly.

The nipple bit takes a bit of practice, but soon comes second nature. What may have been an additional nice touch would have been to replace this with the touch sensative pads you get on most notebooks which could be extracted from a slide out door. But thats just me and it would put the cost up.

Other than that the backlighting is really useful, and I think its a really good combination with the remote for most tasks.

LAGMonkey · 6th Oct 2005, 15:55

Nipple mice do take a while to get used to, but i find that you can perfrom better guestures with the nipple than with a touch pad. It looks Very nice but as already stated there isnt realy and long term testing like bettery life. Hell that one could be estimated. All in all tho a good read.

eek · 6th Jul 2006, 22:50

Just got one of these but am having trouble getting it working properly.

My new media PC contains this and the Leadtek WinFast DTV1000 T TV Card and I did plan on using this keyboard with the reciever however the only buttons that seem to function are the ones that it is taught (TV and volume). Am I going to need to get the MCE hardware kit or is there something I am doing wrong?

I don't get why a wireless kb isn't packaged with a reciever, it's stupid! May have to pay an additional £20 for something that should have really come with it in the first place, and a remote that isn't needed!

Edenalig · 7th Jul 2006, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by eek

Just got one of these but am having trouble getting it working properly.

My new media PC contains this and the Leadtek WinFast DTV1000 T TV Card and I did plan on using this keyboard with the reciever however the only buttons that seem to function are the ones that it is taught (TV and volume). Am I going to need to get the MCE hardware kit or is there something I am doing wrong?

I don't get why a wireless kb isn't packaged with a reciever, it's stupid! May have to pay an additional £20 for something that should have really come with it in the first place, and a remote that isn't needed!

Am I to assume that the WinFast card has its own IR receiver? Or do you have an MS remote and receiver? Also are you actually running an MCE2005 PC or just XP?

The idea of the keyboard is for MCE users (who would already have the remote/receiver) to add keyboard functionality. So buying this if you dont have MCE and/or the MCE remote kind of defeats the object!

5th Oct 2005, 08:46	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Microsoft Media Center Keyboard http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...ard_mce/1.html

5th Oct 2005, 13:25	#8
FIBRE+ Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 1,306	Hit us with the crotch shot why dont you, I know your game meelado! Anyway... Thanks for posting this up, the keyboard that is, not the crotch shot. I was thinking about buying one to go with me media pc once its built and I think thats settled it, well so long as I can get the reciever for not too much (ebay). Are they infared, radio or ?? __________________ ++ASUS SLI Premium \| X2 3800 @ 2.6ghz \| XP-120 \| 2GB Mushkin \| 8800 GT \| XFI Music \| Seagate 320GB \ Samsung F1 1TB \| 520W Corsair HX \| 23" Dell S2309W ++ ++Zotac 9300 Mini ITX \| Intel E5200 \| Scythe Shuriken \| 2GB Corsair \| 8600 GTS (Passive) \| WD Black 2.5" 320GB \ Samsung F2 Eco 1TB \| Corsair VX 450W \| 42" Panasonic Viera++ ++Canon 400D \| Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 \| Canon 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 \| Sandisk Extreme III 4GB++My Ebay++

5th Oct 2005, 13:35	#9
Marquee Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 404	Looks nice but why a keyboard now when the LCD keyboard is coming out next yaer. It will be fully customized to what ever you want. __________________ Project Log: Knight Rider CWC

5th Oct 2005, 13:35	#10
kickarse Ultramodder Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holyoke, MA Posts: 1,281	Good review except for a couple of things... Battery life, range, rf, bluetooth, response? __________________ Top 5 Listening to Now - A Second To Last - Dying Against Your Will Rock Kills Kid - Paralyzed Zero State Reflex - I'm Splintering Hot Hot Heat - Middle of No Where - www.nerges.net

5th Oct 2005, 13:47	#11
herbs Nobody but us chickens Join Date: May 2001 Location: feck knows Posts: 3,835	Why does it have to be IR so probably line of sight, RF would be so much better but I do like the backlight that would come in handy. __________________ A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?" He said, "Call for backup." "you could have it all, my empire of dirt, I will let you down, I will make you hurt"

5th Oct 2005, 09:48	#2
Mister_Tad Serious about coffee Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham Posts: 7,556	that article has just saved me a tidy wad of cash, was going to buy one this week and hadn't seen it at scan (£65 at ocuk!)

5th Oct 2005, 10:33	#3
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,998	Looks like a nice bit of kit... but will it work with win2k, i've never gotten round to upgrading.

5th Oct 2005, 10:50	#4
Hamish I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Posts: 3,587	would've been nice to see a trackpad or even trackball over the crappy nipple thing, really hate them

5th Oct 2005, 10:53	#5
ralph.pickering Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 321	Nice, but I'm still leaning toward the Belkin MediaPilot, especially as, like steveo_mcq I haven't got round to upgrading to Media Center (yet?)

5th Oct 2005, 12:06	#6
Mister_Tad Serious about coffee Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham Posts: 7,556	I was leaning towards the mediapilot until I used it If youre using it for an htpc, I'd definitely say go for the MS one, as the "mouse" on the mediapilot is about as useful as a kick in the face

5th Oct 2005, 12:19	#7
Edenalig Modder Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Birmingham - UK Posts: 65	Just brought myself one of these, im expecting it tomorrow. Ill let you guys know what I think as soon as

5th Oct 2005, 14:03	#12
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	We'll be finding out a little bit more on the extended use of this (as well as the greater annoyances that this may provide) with the rest of our HTPC content, as I think this will be an addition to our setup. So, never fear...more info will arrive over time if you're not sure you want to take the plunge. I'm a little worried about what my Mrs. will have to say about the nipple, though, tbh... __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo

5th Oct 2005, 14:22	#13
dom_ ---> Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: uk, south east Posts: 3,936	if its like the normal remote, it doesnt have to be line of site. just in the same room. the remote even works with the reciever covered up with my hand!

5th Oct 2005, 17:33	#14
Stompy Ultramodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Suffolk, England Posts: 1,097	Yeh, the IR tech used in the MCE remotes is brilliant __________________ PC (Now out of use): Athlon 64 3000+ Winny \| Asus A8N-SLI \| 1024mb OCZ Premier \| 6600GT 128mb \| 160GB WD \| NEC 3520 DVDRW \| Coolermaster Centurion 530 \| Hiper Type-R 480w Laptop: Dell Studio XPS 13 \| Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4ghz \| 4gb Ram \| GeForce 9500M 256mb \| 320gb 7200rpm \| DVDRW \| 13.3" LED WXGA

5th Oct 2005, 19:35	#15
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109151 Just in case anyone prefers the english version of the keyboard, rather than French. I'd be interested in getting one regardless. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

6th Oct 2005, 10:15	#17
JonDixon Decking is the new modding Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Night Garden Posts: 695	Ive had this keyboard for over 3 weeks now and its great. I find it really comfortable perched on my knees doing a quick web search or email in front of the telly. The nipple bit takes a bit of practice, but soon comes second nature. What may have been an additional nice touch would have been to replace this with the touch sensative pads you get on most notebooks which could be extracted from a slide out door. But thats just me and it would put the cost up. Other than that the backlighting is really useful, and I think its a really good combination with the remote for most tasks. __________________ Jump in, we'll take you for a spin, and show you round the Wheelie World Rizeon S97V-GT - Awesome Gaming Laptop

6th Oct 2005, 15:55	#18
LAGMonkey Group 7 error Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada/Saudi Posts: 1,450	Nipple mice do take a while to get used to, but i find that you can perfrom better guestures with the nipple than with a touch pad. It looks Very nice but as already stated there isnt realy and long term testing like bettery life. Hell that one could be estimated. All in all tho a good read. __________________ ---------------LAG out!--------------- http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com 100% Brainless]

6th Jul 2006, 22:50	#19
eek CAMRA ***. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: in meh own little world Posts: 1,520	Just got one of these but am having trouble getting it working properly. My new media PC contains this and the Leadtek WinFast DTV1000 T TV Card and I did plan on using this keyboard with the reciever however the only buttons that seem to function are the ones that it is taught (TV and volume). Am I going to need to get the MCE hardware kit or is there something I am doing wrong? I don't get why a wireless kb isn't packaged with a reciever, it's stupid! May have to pay an additional £20 for something that should have really come with it in the first place, and a remote that isn't needed!