Computer Keyboard & Mouse

When purchasing a keyboard or mouse it’s important to remember that, whilst your PC may need upgrading within a year or two, your keyboard or mouse is likely to last much longer before its worth replacing. As a result it’s worth taking some time to consider your options before investing in your computer’s input devices.

The first question you might as is ‘should I go wireless?’ It does have its benefits including increased portability and manoeuvrability. The latest wireless devices have now caught up with the wire mice and keyboards and no longer lag as much as they used to. Expect to pay at least £10 for a reasonable wireless mouse and around £75 for a good wireless keyboard. Another point is that wired mice and keyboards are not much cheaper anymore.

For around £30 extra, serious gamers can buy themselves a gaming keyboard. The Logitech G15 Version 2 is a great example of a relatively cheap device that offers gamers a number of gadgets to improve the gaming experience. The Razer Tarantula offers gives users the ability to programme macros at the touch of a button. Media Player keyboards offer similar thrills for the media junkies. Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 offers a stylish, lightweight design for just £150.

Gaming Mice are another must have for the serious gamers and, unlike the gaming keyboard, differ tremendously from the regular devices. Super sensitivity, programmable buttons and custom weight control are all on offer from mice like the Microsoft SideWinder and the Logitech G9 Laser at a price tag of around £40. Sensitivity in gaming mice goes up to around 2000dpi and beyond, compared with around 800dpi for a regular mouse.

Since the arrival of the optical mice and then the laser mice, the days of the dirty little ball in the bottom of your mouse are long gone. Whilst optical mice are fine for day to day use, they do not work smoothly on every surface and, for anyone playing games on their PC, a laser mouse is essential.

Finally, do you go standard or curvy? For anyone with a strict budget that plans to use their keyboard for the occasional email and maybe a spot of word processing, the old school standard flat keyboard is fine. For those wanting a more comfortable typing experience, say if you have reports or essays to write, there is a breed of keyboard that is designed to naturally fit the shape of your wrists. The Microsoft Entertainment Desktop offers a V shaped design to fit the way you type and the Logitech Wave has the keys at different heights in order to offer the upmost in comfort.

All in all, finding the right keyboard and mouse is all about personal preference and budget. Whilst it may cost a little more in the short term, it is certainly worth paying an extra £20 or so for a well known brand that is likely to last for a good few years. Whether or not you want the frills of a gaming or media keyboard is down to you but visit a retailer in order to try a few out.