Customer Reviews

Micro Innovations Windows '98 104-Key Keyboard

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought this keyboard for a system I gave to my sister. This is an excellent keyboard and has not caused my any troubles to this date. The only bad aspect of this hardware is that it is an AT keyboard. This is the larger, older style plug. The keyboard does, however, come with an adaptor to change from AT to PS2, the current, smaller style that most keyboards use. On some machines you may encounter troubles with this adaptor. If you have an enclosed PS2 port or one that is deep in a depression, you may experience troubles getting the adaptor to fit, being that it is a tad large. The easiest way to fix this would be to purchase a PS2 extension cable, which is relatively inexpensive. Overall, this is a great keyboard that functions flawlessly, and which has a superb price. It's a real bargain!

I bought this keyboard for a network server figuring that I would save a few bucks since it wouldn't be used much. There are, however, two main problems with it.

1) The keyboard seems incompatible with any monitor A/B switches. I've tried several, but they all lock the keyboard up, which forces me to unplug the keyboard and plug it back in for it to work.

2) The control and shift keys 'stick'. They aren't actually stuck down, but they often 'act' as if they're stuck. To cure it, I have to press both shift buttons or both control buttons.

This keyboard, in my opinion, isn't worth the money for what I use it for and it'll be replaced as soon as possible.

This keyboard is a good value for the money. There are a few things I don't like about it. One being that the delete button and the power button are next ot each other is annoying and that you can't get this in any other color except "putty". But overall it works great for being under ($).

The last keyboard I bought was $55 and worked just fine til my granddaughter dumped her orange juice into it. I was wary of the very lost cost of this new keyboard but decided I couldn't go far wrong at that price. Well, it's great! Just as good as the much much more expensive one. I feel so clever now for getting it!

First of all, I only got this thing so I could try out my schnazzy new computer. I simply couldn't wait to try out my new computer. But this keyboard is basically a waste of money and even if you are on a buget, you might consider spending more money on something that lasts. Otherwise, you be spending more money constantly replacing these things. This thing doesn't type certain keys after being used for thirty minutes or more. Eventually it won't type any key(like a while ago when I had to reboot) It is only three months old and is already old and warn out. I'm going to spend a little more and get something that lasts, like a Logitec keyboard.
P. S. if anyone knows what the 'Fn' key is, mention it in your review. Just curious, thanks.

If you're looking for a keyboard that is not one of the ergonomic or natural types, this one is perfect. The most important feature in any keyboard to me is the tactile response. They keyboard I replaced with this one was very "crunchy," meaning you had to press the keys too hard and it made a loud click with every keypress. This one has a light and springy feel which is just right.

It has all the extra windows keys if you happen to use them, and is dirt cheap.

I wanted just a plain keyboard and that's what this is. Sure it doesn't have any web access buttons (for the lazy person) but it's durrable, the enter button is huge for those of you who need that sort of thing, and it's easy to clean.

The only downside is that there are 3 extra buttons: Power, sleep and wake which it doesn't come with software for. Personally, they get in the way and I end up hitting one of those instead of the delete key or the up arrow most of the time.

I bought this keyboard as a replacement for a keyboard that had served me well for more than a year, but had started malfunctioning after I spilled some water on it. After three weeks, I am once again looking for a new keyboard. This keyboard would intermittently stop responding on a regular basis, and it looked like the plug was coming loose. It took considerable luck and a little re-jiggering for the keyboard to start functioning again after these incidents. Then, I pulled the plug out of the computer one day, and it separated entirely. This keyboard will work as a replacement -- but only for a little while.

Time came and my trusty Logitech wireless keyboard had finally went into keyboard cemetary after 1.5 years of heavy use. Now, I'd expect any keyboard to last a little longer, but I was a little rough with it and it was one of the low-end models so I couldn't expect very much other than something that would "work". So, I looked around for another keyboard. I was kind of bargain hunting and I didn't really know if I wanted wireless again. So, I found this <$10 at a nearby Wal-Mart store. (No, not everything in the electronics section of Wal-Mart is total junk, just most of it.) It was under the Durabrand name and was listed as a Micro Innovations 104 Keyboard that can be used with any Windows PC. I didn't really want all those "extras", so I just thought "What the heck, it's $10, give it a shot." And I honestly wish I had not. It's kind of hard for a keyboard to suck, but this one does, hard.

First impressions were that this keyboard was pretty simple to set up. It didn't require any software and it was plug-and-play, meaning I plug it in and can start typing whenever, which I really liked. Then came to setting it up on the desk, which was a problem. You see, the cord to this keyboard is very, very short, and when I took it to far limits it just wouldn't reach where I wanted to go. I suppose I could get a keyboard extension, but why not just put in a long cord in the first place?

More problems went on ergonomically. The reviewer who said the keyboard keys are difficult to press is right. On my Logitech keyboard I only had to press lightly and the function would work. On this keyboard you have to really get your fingers going or yu coud ed up lik ths. Luckily typing in Microsoft Word was simple because of its spell checker, but even then some mispelling were awfully weird.

More issues came with the power/wake up/sleep keys. They are located really close to the other keys on the keyboard--very, very close. It is very difficult for me to not press one of those, at least while blind typing. Even then, the keys aren't really any different shaped or colored so its like they are just normal keys. Especially since the keys normally are the screenshot/scroll lock/pause keys.

So, I suppose for under $10 this was going to be okay, I mean I had to set some limits for myself given the low price. But then more problems came about as time went on. About only one month of use the cord started to melt (?) and strip at the beginning of the keyboard. This resembles poor quality cord material and means they didn't tie a knot to keep the bare wires inside the keyboard. Then a couple of weeks down the line and I was getting obvious signs of connection loss and inaccurate character entering. Then shortly after I could not get a connection at all. Not one bit. I tried everything, and nothing could make this keyboard work again.

Okay, yes, this keyboard was very inexpensive and did actually work for the time it did. But, ergonomically, this keyboard is terrible. It is uncomfortable pressing the keys and in general key layout is difficult to get used to. And in only two months the keyboard lost its connection. I wasn't expecting much for the price but I certainly expected more than this. In the end I got a return and purchased a Logitech Elite keyboard. Yes, maybe it is more expensive, but it is 100 times better and will last much longer. 1 star.

This has to be one of the worst keyboards I've ever tried to use. Some of the keys won't press down unless you hit them dead center and press straight down -- the other option is to press very hard, which is the only option if you're trying to type with any real speed. After only a couple days, my wrists ache. The keys that do work consistently have an awful, mushy feel, and they require too much pressure.

This keyboard an ergonomics nightmare.