![]() What Kind of Keyboard Layout Makes Sense for Me? If you do find a wireless model with backlighting, be prepared to change its batteries or recharge it frequently. However, new innovations such as hand-proximity sensors boost battery life compared to older Bluetooth products, whose always-on link drained batteries quickly.Īmong the few major drawbacks of mainstream wireless keyboards is that few of them feature key backlighting, which hampers one of their most useful roles: controlling a home theater PC in a dim living room. In regular use, a Bluetooth connection gives you roughly 30 feet of wireless range, though we find that Bluetooth wireless keyboards tend to have briefer battery life than USB dongle devices. (Logitech, for example, refers to this setup as Logitech Unifying technology.)īluetooth connections make sense in certain situations they don't monopolize a USB port, and newer versions of Bluetooth are stable, easy to manage, and offer compatibility with additional mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Some manufacturers' USB dongles can control more than one device, meaning you can use a single adapter (and USB port) for both a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, invariably from the same vendor. Not only is the dongle unobtrusive, but we find that the 2.4GHz signal tends to offer more stable connectivity than Bluetooth. The dongle itself is usually a tiny rectangle-small enough to plug in and forget about. Most wireless keyboards that use USB dongles transmit over the same 2.4GHz wireless frequency used for cordless phones and Wi-Fi routers. But if you want to reduce the number of cables on your desk and gain the flexibility to use your keyboard at a distance-whether it be in your lap at your desk or across the room-wireless is the way to go. Wireless models transmit data to your PC through one of two primary means: an RF connection to a small dongle plugged into one of your PC's USB ports or a Bluetooth connection with no dongles required. If you want more freedom and less cable clutter on your desk, however, it's hard to beat a wireless keyboard. This isn't usually a problem, since you'll likely be connecting one of these keyboards to a large gaming desktop with many available USB ports. Some premium gaming models with lots of customizable buttons and lights come with two USB cables, one for power delivery (and/or to feed an extra USB port or ports on the keyboard itself) and one for your data connection. (More on that in a minute.) Some cheaper gaming models may lack software and handle key backlighting and macros/shortcuts wholly through hardware.īesides transferring your keystrokes to the computer, a USB connection also powers the keyboard, so there are no batteries to worry about. Gaming keyboards, by contrast, will typically work as soon as you plug them in, but come with their own software that lets you adjust features such as onboard RGB lighting and the assignment of macro keys. Non-gaming keyboards are usually plug-and-play devices, with no additional software to install, so connecting the cable is all the setup you'll need. The simplest way to connect a keyboard to your PC is to plug its cable into a USB port. Do I Need a Wired Keyboard, or a Wireless One? Modern models come in a bunch of subtypes, from boards optimized for typing efficiency to sculpted ergonomic designs that cradle your hands and relieve stress on the joints. Or maybe your aching hands are shouting Hey, cut me some slack here! Whatever the reason, anyone can benefit from a better keyboard.īefore you go shopping, however, it pays to know what makes a keyboard a good fit. Perhaps your gaming ambitions have outstripped the mushy, mediocre typer that came with your PC. ![]() Maybe your trusty old keyboard has typed its last letter or trapped its last bagel crumb. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.
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