Remote keyboard for microsoft windows xp media center edition

This mouse is just as difficult to use with the oversize menu buttons in MCE as it is in the regular Windows interface where more precision is necessary. In addition to controlling your PC, you can program the keyboard to learn commands from other remote controls, such as your TV or audio receiver. To use the learning feature, you must place the remote control head-to-head with the keyboard's infrared port and press a series of keystrokes. After fiddling about with the commands, we were able to successfully assign an unused key on our keyboard to power on and off our television.

Four AA batteries, which are included, power the Remote Keyboard, and Microsoft claims that will keep your unit operating for three months, depending on the amount of use, of course.

To conserve battery power, you can opt to turn off the backlighting. There's also a security switch on the front of the keyboard that locks down the keys to prevent accidental strokes when not in use. The keyboard will work with any PC running MCE , but you'll need to download an updated driver from Microsoft's Web site the driver is not included with the keyboard to enable communication between the keyboard and your Media Center's built-in receiver.

Online self-support, downloads, and updates are also available via Microsoft's support Web site. The Good Sophisticated design; backlit multimedia keys; key-lock switch. It has full media center controls and a joystick style mouse.

Battery life is very good- still using the origional batteries after a month of use. Cons: The joystick mouse is Not great, but okay. I docked 1 egg because of this. It would be nice if there was a way to control the lengh of time that the backlighting stays on- I'd prefer that they stay on a bit longer than they do.

It would also be nice if this had something like a "recharging cradle"- if not for a recharge, then to have a place to store the keyboard while not in use. I'm very happy with it and I'm a tough customer to please. Pros: Small, Efficient, all the buttons right at your thumbs. Good range capabilities, doesn't lag. Cons: It's a bit expensive, and sometimes the little thumb D-Pad Mouse is sluggish and difficult, making you want to throw it against the wall.

Overall Review: Pretty good keyboard, gets the job done, hides nicely, since it's small. Pros: So nice to have a good keyboard instead of trying to get my RF keyboard close enough to work reliably Its so beautiful, feels great in your hands It's almost like it was made by Apple. Cons: As noted, the mouse button thing takes some work, but after a weeks its already moving smoother than out of the box. That and my IR receiver hunt, but that got sorted see below.

After playing the Driver Hunt game no help from MS and lamenting my Win7 x64 Ultimate for not working, I stumbled across a friend's receiver he wasn't using, and it instantly worked Pros: This keyboard fits on my lap comfortably and with better control of it staying where I put it than any other keyboard that I have tried. The keyboard is easy to move around and store away. Cons: Keyboard will not work to boot up a new system, or to reboot a system that crashes.

You have to AIM the ketboard at the IR exactly, as it seems to only have straight line sight in order to work. The keys do not light up. Overall Review: The built in mouse device is poorly designed, you will need a seperate mouse. The features I like about this keyboard, I really love. But the problems with this keyboard make it almost impossible to use with out a back-up close by.

I'm very sorry that I made this purchase. Just turn it on, and it works! It seems well constructed. Hi I want microsoft remote keyboard media center keyboard for vista driver and utilites Thank you Hi - these forums are for programming questions only. Consumer level. Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center is software that provides drivers for most Microsoft mice and keyboards.