On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:07:32 -0700 (PDT),
"aaronep@pacbell.net" <aaronep@pacbell.net> wrote:

>I am interested in converting from wired to wireless keyboard & mouse.
>
>If anyone reading this has experience with wireless, I would like to
>know if you are happy with them. Are there any negatives? Can you
>recommend one brand over another?
>
>Any info on this appreciated. Aaron

The need for wireless keyboard depends most on whether you
move the keyboard off the desk in front of a monitor. I do
so I find that useful.

Even great wireless mice lag slightly. Some people never
notice it, the problem used to be worse than it is today so
now mostly gamers would have a reason to be particular and
yet plenty of people game ok with wireless mice.

Like with the keyboard, if your mouse stays in one spot
there's not so much need for wireless. Some people like the
asthetics of not having a cord, though the extra weight of
the battery(s) in a cordless mouse pretty much offsets the
difference in ease of use having to move a cord around with
the mouse. It certainly does look tidier to not have the
wires, I'd consider a cordless mouse more useful than a
cordless keyboard.

Negatives are bad performance with junk brands or not having
the receiver in a good spot. Even then some have a range of
6' or less. Get bluetooth type if maximum range is
important but that tends to cost significantly more.

Get some good low self discharge batteries like Sanyo
Eneloops. It's handy to have a spare pair of them charged
then whatever device you have that needs a swap - whether it
be a game controller, phone, mouse, remote control or
whatever - has a pair ready to install then you don't have
to wait on the drained set to recharge.

Generally I find Logitech sets the best, then Microsoft.
Trying to save a couple dollars by going with a lower
quality brand is usually a bad idea. A low end Logitech set
may be better than a high end generic though I would go with
a middle tiered product. Keyboard won't matter so much if
you like the key placement, style, etc. Mouse improvement
comes from spending enough to get one with a laser engine,
same as with corded mice. Some non-lasers may claim fairly
high DPI like around 1000 but they don't track as well as
their laser counterparts on many mousing surfaces.