Why Or Less?

[bcholmes]

I totally don't get the appeal of wireless keyboards. I feel like I hafta keep feeding them batteries. This is now the default kinda keyboard that comes with Mac computers. What's up with that? Do a lot of people like wandering around the house with their keyboards?

Comments

[hypatia]

i use mine for sitting on the couch and using my HTPC :)

my everyday use keyboard is a wired MS Ergo 4000 though, which rocks. negative incline ftw!

[maize]

I also use the MS Ergo 4000 (wired) and like it a lot. :)

On the other hand, I'm typing this on a touch screen keyboard on my iPad, one-handed, holding it with the other hand, so clearly I cannot lay claim to being ergonomically discerning.

[firecat]

It's for controlling the mac mini, hooked to the TV. I despise it though.

[j00j]

I don't like them either. Way, way too many batteries. The one we have at work doesn't seem to function consistently even if we feed it properly, so instead we're using a wired PC keyboard, and all the keyboard shortcuts are off. It gets even more confusing when we're running a Windows VM on the Mac. Ugh.

[wrdnrd]

I like the *idea* of a wireless keyboard because i get tired of cords lying in a tangled mess on my desk no matter how much effort i put into trying to keep them in a sensible order. In practice, tho', it seems like wireless keyboards are just unreliable and, yeah, suck an *awful* lot of batteries. I'm waiting for wireless electricity to become a viable, affordable reality.

[maize]

As others have said, I think this is in part a response to more people moving their computers into their home theatres. I have considered getting one for the PS3. Also, I think Apple pushes it as part of their "We are more elegant," aesthetic.

We have one at work in our main conference room which is very handy, though, allowing anyone sitting at the rather large conference table to control the PC sitting under the table hooked to the projector. It doesn't require separate batteries; when not in use it sits in a little charging dock.

I was very annoyed when I discovered that the only trackball I could get to fit my usage profile was wireless. That has been an utterly pointless waste of batteries. It never moves! I would also request a wired keyboard for my regular computer for that reason.