Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard
by Microsoft
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List Price: Category: CE See more product details |
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(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard
Customer Review: Not a quiet keyboard or a laptop keyboard replacement
Summary: 3 Stars
As multiple reviewers have noted before, the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard has a solid feel to it and its key response is very good. However, I am giving it 3 stars because of the following reasons:
1. The solid feel and good key response is not unique to this keyboard. There are several other lower priced keyboards on this site (that I have tried out) that do the job just as well, if not better.
2. This keyboard is NOT quiet. It makes as much sound as any other keyboard on the market. If you are looking for a quiet experience, this keyboard is not for you. Some reviewers have mentioned that the keyboard gets louder with time. Well, I have had it for around a month now and if it gets any louder, I am afraid I may have to wear headphones to drown the sound of my own typing!
3. I originally bought this keyboard as a laptop keyboard replacement. Though I knew that it would be unrealistic to expect that a full-sized keyboard would be as soft and quiet as a laptop keyboard, I was hoping that the keys would be at the very least, slightly softer and easier to type on as compared to the standard keyboards. This is not the case. The keys are just as fatiguing as any other office keyboard. They are WAAAY more fatiguing than a laptop keyboard.
4. I don't believe in installing additional software for basic plug and play components such as a keyboard. I am very glad that the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard worked right out of the box without a hitch. I just a needed a basic no-frills efficient (and quiet) keyboard and I have no use at all for the media frills. Keyboard shortcuts (with a program such as Winkey) are a much better way to launch applications. I fail to understand the need to map every random media application on a keyboard - when you can have infinitely efficient software map them on the go for you. Thus, the additional buttons are a space-hogging waste for me.
In conclusion:
- This is a reliable keyboard and does what any keyboard is supposed to do.
- However, its NOT worth buying if you are looking for:
a) A laptop keyboard replacement.
b) A quiet keyboard
c) A low-fatigue soft-touch keyboard
d) A very basic non-frills keyboard.
e) A space efficient keyboard
(Keep in mind that it does NOT have any of the above features.)
PS: It comes with a USB as well as a PS connector. So there were no problems in connecting with both newer and legacy computers.
Customer Review: Good Quality Keyboard with only a few quirks.
Summary: 4 Stars
Microsoft's Media Keyboards have always worked well in our house. No small achievement with small kids around and the number of drinks that are spilled in them. When the last one finally gave out, with the pricepoint on this model it was the natural replacement, despite not being an ergonomic model.
As always lets start with the negatives.
- To be fair, the plastic construction can feel a little cheap - especially the silver areas.
- Secondly, the "zoom slider" for example seems particularly useless. Sure it works and all, but I've not run across a single application where I would use it!
- Microsoft have kept the cost down by NOT including a USB hub in the keyboard. If you are low on USB ports in your system you might want to look at some of the higher end models with the USB hub in them rather than this model.
- Finally, and probably the most annoying, as with all new Microsoft keyboards isthe function key lock - or rather the fact that it defaults to the off position. This means that in order to access BIOS functions during boot, you need to remember to press the F-Lock key prior to pressing F2 or whatever to access the BIOS or the computer thinks you've typed ctrl-z instead! (Note: a previous reviewer alluded to the fact that on some systems a USB keyboard can never access the BIOS. I've never run into this, even with older machines, I beleive they may just have been caught out by the F-LOCK mechanism, but if you have a very old Win98 era system it may be worth checking this first).
On the plus side, its a Microsoft keyboard.
- The quality, as I mentioned above, at least for they key mechanisms is always very good.
- In addition the key response is excellent - just hard enough to let you know you've pressed the key but not too much to strain your wrists all the time. Also the wrist pad (although plastic) is about the right size even for my large hands. And its not too noisy either.
- Finally they "My Favorites" keys are a great addition (this at least they got right). This enables you to have up to 5 website (or custom applictions) pre-programed with a single key touch. I know you can do this with older keyboards but you did lose the functionality of the other hot keys if you remapped them.
At the end of the day however it is just a keyboard and it does the job. So all in all, a great buy at the price, although a USB hub built in would have given it the extra star.
Customer Review: Just about what I was looking for
Summary: 4 Stars
Given the reviews here, let me add my two-cents worth.
I ordered this keyboard to use in place of the keyboard on my laptop, giving me more wrist room. My wrists, and wristwatch, were rubbing the deck of my laptop, and for everyday typing a different keyboard was needed. It wasn't efficient to take my watch off every time I sat down at my desk.
As far as touch goes, the keys are slightly "heavy", as a previous reviewer notes, with a little more distance to push than I am used to. I don't like that, but it's not worth sending the keyboard back.
Another baddie was on me. I ordered this one for the PS/2 connection, thinking I had one and could therefore save my USB ports for other uses. Turns out what I thought was PS/2 is something else that is round but not PS/2. One more USB port used up, now. If you are not a computer geek, as I am not, be sure you know what you are getting here.
On the plus side, this keyboard is loaded with features. The primary one I was looking for was a number pad, which is not provided on my laptop, and entering numbers by pad rather than the number line over the QWERTY keyboard is infinitely easier and less frustrating.
The "My Favorites" buttons are getting a lot of use. Now I can access 5 screens with one touch, without searching for them. There are other buttons that take you similarly to places you would otherwise have to seek out.
I'm a geriatrician and an old-fart myself, so the zoom feature is very impressive to me. If you have to lean into your computer screen to read it, you will like this feature, as the zoom makes the words bigger. It doesn't work on every screen, but when it does it is a big help for me, and I'm sure for other bifocally challenged users.
Except for "heavy" touch (not too heavy) and my PS/2 misreading, this is a very good keyboard. I'm keeping it.
Customer Review: letters wear off almost immediately
Summary: 4 Stars
HELP
I LOVE this keyboard and its the only one I buy. I have 4 others at least that are just setting around right now because the lettering has worn off so quickly. I have given some to people who don't mind that the white has worn off the keys. I gave it 4 stars but would gladly give it 5 if only there was a way to keep the white letters (and symbols and numbers) from wearing off the keys so soon. The keyboard I am using now was new in December '08. Already half the keys are blank. On the keys I use most, the white started coming off within a month. I am a good typist but I do want to see what the keys are since I need to see them for most symbols and numbers. I have tried clear nail polish but that didn't work at all. Can you please tell me what to do to keep the white letters showing? I bought some stick on letters but they are not worth buying since they are raised and bumpy and actually slow down my typing speed as well as makes my fingertips hurt with all the typing I do. Other stick on letters won't work either. Otherwise this keyboard with its quiet and easy to press keys is perfect and I don't want to have to go to any other keyboard.
I have never read a review where people have left this complaint. Surely I am not the only one to have this happen with this particular brand of keyboard. What's going on with the ones I buy?
UPDATE
I am still hoping someone will tell me if they are having the same problem with this keyboard that I am having with the several keyboards just like this one that I have bought (and love) - that the letters wear off in a short time and there is no way to tell what key you are hitting unless you are a perfect typist, especially when it comes to needing to know where the numbers and symbols are located on the keyboard. Do you know a solution other than the ones I've already tried? (listed in my note above)
Customer Review: 5 YEARS AND GOING - (at $20 it's a no brainer)
Summary: 5 Stars
...5 years later.
KEYBOARD LAYOUT
The keyboard layout is normal. There is no oversized return key. There are many keyboards that can't get key layout right, amazingly. This one is just fine...and has extra keys that are actually quite useful - eg: Sleep, Log Off, Calculator, media keys STOP PLAY PAUSE NEXT PREV, volume +/-/mute. The zoom slider on left sucks. The favourite keys could be programmed to launch things, but they are kind of awkward.
KEY PRESS DEPTH
These keys do have some depth to pressing them, but more importantly the keys register key strokes at the right time. I almost never make any typing mistakes on this keyboard because the key press depth is moderate. It makes you to press the keys with confidence, rather than being scared of touching the surface of the keys. This is not to say that scissor laptop keys cause more typos, but this keyboard has a more durable confident feel to it, whereas you cant exactly bang laptop keys without fear of breaking something.
DURABILITY
I have spilt coffee, beer, water, red wine, cookie crumbs, in this keyboard, and been able to take it apart and wash it in the tub, put it back together and have every key work like brand new. Very durable.
HEALTH / SAFETY
After using it for 5 years, it's hard to think about switching keyboards as it would affect productivity. At the same time, this is a harsh keyboard, and very demanding with keystrokes. For a person that uses computers 6-12 hours a day, it makes sense to invest in something more comfortable and ergonomic that doesn't require so much effort to type.
SUMMARY
-Hardcore users, gamers, 12 hour a day typists...Invest in something nicer.
-Need to replace a keyboard without spending another 50-100 bucks? Casual user? Order one of these.