Customer Reviews

Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition ( ZV1-00004 )

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I have been looking for a good wireless keyboard with built in mouse for some time. I have Media Center and I really wish I could control the PC portion from the couch. When I saw this for sale, I just had to have it. I immidiately took it home, hooked it up, and was sorely disappointed. The keyboard works fine. The Media Center specific buttons work fine. The mouse control is so bad I thought I had a defective unit. Alas, I found other reviews on the net indicating that i did not. The mouse looks like the little pointing device on Thinkpad laptops. It isn't. Rather than just pushing to the side, you have to push down to make it work. It seems that you have to push down in the direction you want to go. This means if you want to switch directions, you have to let up and push down in another direction. Trying to get the mouse onto anything is an exercise in frustration. If you want a good remote keyboard, consider this. If you want a remote mouse too, stay away. Mine will be going back to the store.

Used this remote keyboard for 4 days. It's attractive, well designed and easy to use. An earlier reviewer described the mouse pointer as being awful and it is -- BUT ONLY WHEN THE UNIT IS BRAND NEW. Initially the mouse pointer is difficult to use by way of the amount of finger pressure required to get it to operate. During the first few days of operation, it was difficult to place the cursor exactly where I wanted it because of the amount of pressure required. HOWEVER AFTER 3 DAYS OF USAGE THE POINTER HAS BROKEN IN AND NOW WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A TOUCH STICK ON A QUALITY LAPTOP. I can now recommend this keyboard remote to anyone seeking the convenience of wanting a wireless keyboard/remote without having to manipulate 2 separate units. It's easy to use from your own lap, table or computer drawer. JUST REMEMBER WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER -- WHEN YOU FIRST USE A NEW UNIT YOU WILL ACTUALLY HATE IT BECAUSE OF THE INITIAL STIFFNESS AND STUBBORN MOVEMENT OF THE POINTER, but give it a few days and hardly any pressure is required from your finger.

BEWARE..This product ships with no IR receiver. I have had this remote keyboard for almost 2-3 weeks and unable to find a compatible IR receiver in local stores. No one carries them anymore. Btw, it does not work with IR receivers that come bundled with other name-brand MCE remotes. The only compatible IR6 receiver(A9O-00007) I could find was on ebay for >$20. If you are buying this for keyboard, you are better off buying wireless(2.4Ghz) keyboard. If you are looking for remote + keyboard, tough luck in finding a IR receiver that works. In this day and age, It believe it should ONLY be shipped with a Receiver. Amazon should clearly note this on their product description. For me, it is nice product but useless. I am returning it.

DOES NOT COME WITH IR RECEIVER. its a paperweight without it. why no one else mentioned this in reviews before I have no idea. weak sauce.

A great keyboard with an esthetically pleasing and very ergonomic design. I have a media center in my living room and it completes the experience well. All the shortcuts keys to for the media center are right there. As many reviewers, I had a hard time with the pointer to control the mouse but by going to the control panel -> mouse and reducing the cursor speed (nearly to the min) it ended up working nicely.

This product would have been great if it had been clearly marked that you need an Infrared Sensor hooked up to your computer in order for it to work. Some computers come with them, most don't. If you are looking to buy a wireless keyboard with built in mouse I suggest a different product. By the time you buy everything you need to get this one working properly you could buy a nice WiFi keyboard.

Buyer beware, this is the keyboard only. I bought this thinking that I could have the best of all worlds for my home built MCE machine: a wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control all in one.

However, you must have a Media Center machine with the IR Receiver. It doesn't come in the box, although this is not listed anywhere on the Amazon site (it is on the side panel of the box). Seemes pretty nice other wise, however I can't tell for sure since I don't have the IR on my machine. Looks like I have to return it or buy the remote control too. Also note, that according to some of the reviews on other computer sites that this keyboard won't work outside of Windows MCE, eg. you can't enter the bios, it won't work on regular Windows XP, etc.

This keyboard is great for MCE. The range is the best of any wireless keyboard (Gyration keyboards are just as good in this regard); you will actually be able to use it from the couch without problems.

The MCE buttons are great, I don't use the standard MCE remote anymore at all. You can also program it to turn on and off your TV and control the volume on your amp. Unfortunately there are only a couple of programmable buttons which is truly unfortunate. One more and I would have been happy. As it is I can't turn on and off the amp. Really about 5 more programmable buttons would have been perfect.

The mouse thing, the mouse thing does suck especially at first. I've learned how to use it now though, but I only use it for simple stuff. I recommend buying a Gyration mouse. They seem to be the best out there. If you have a Gyration mouse and this keyboard you have the ultimate MCE set up.

*Note* This keyboard will only work if you have Media Center and the e-home IR sensor installed on your computer!

I've recently set up Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit with Media Center on my 42inch plasma and this is my finishing purchase. Even though this keyboard says for Windows XP, it runs great with Vista, no drivers needed! Looked around for a while for a keyboard that will fully complement Media Center and this seems to be it. My first choice would be the DiNovo Edge(about $175), but for only $33 bucks(+shipping), how could you go wrong?

Pros: Keyboard is the right size for your lap. Feels solid and well built. It has all the Media Center function keys built into the keyboard which is great! Keyboard works outside of Media Center as well, used it in Internet Explorer, Windows Mail, and Microsoft Word, etc. Spent a good part of Saturday using this keyboard. Media keys on left and right side of keyboard are lit and can be turned off. Keyboard keys are not backlit but thats ok with me, saves batteries. I didn't find any typing lag and I guess there wouldn't be because there is no lag in InfraRed. Worked great from 15 feet away (didn't try any farther) and IR works great even with obstructions. Nice rubber feet on the bottom keep the keyboard from slipping off furniture. Can also program a few functions of your TV remote into this keyboard.

Cons: The mouse nipple (best way I can describe it) takes some getting used to. A bit tedious, but ok for Media Center usage. It breaks-in a bit after a while, make sure to slow down the mouse tracking speed in Control Panels. I know someone who develops Media Center for Microsoft and he hates the mouse part of this keyboard. I hear Microsoft may be working on a new version of this keyboard. I will probably buy a nice bluetooth mouse eventually. I could program my Hitachi's TV remote into the keyboard, maybe yours will work.

If I could go back in time, I would still buy this keyboard!

The good: The keyboard is comfortable, the layout is really smart for right-handers, the IR is strong so I've found transmission to be reliable.

The bad: Mouse control is very weird and hard to master. Also, there's a keylock switch which disables the keys (good for houses with kids). But the first manufacturing runs have a flaw which loses the "learned" commands for TV power and volume control when the keylock is enabled for too long (about an hour on mine). I've exchanged it already, but the new system Amazon sent has the same problem as the first. If I can't get Amazon or Microsoft to supply a newer model without the flaw, I'll return it and go to a brick-n-mortar so I can verify the part number before I purchase it. Part numbers ending in -001 are flawed, and part numbers ending in -002 are fixed, according to online discussion posts.