Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Keyboard and Mouse Combo Honest Review

2011-01-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

The Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Keyboard and Mouse Combo ($40.37) is a feature full medium end keyboard and mouse combo that looks and works great.

Just some of the shortcut buttons

The keyboard is rectangular in shape and is very light and thin. It includes standard flip-up tabs in on the back to increase the angle of the keyboard (I prefer typing with these up). The best part about the keyboard is that it includes a bunch of useful shortcut buttons. To name just a few, it includes buttons for a home key, MSN Messenger, music (which flawlessly opens iTunes without any additional setup), 5 favorite buttons that can be set up easily, media player controls, volume controls, and many many more. This is a great keyboard for multitasking. I can seamlessly be browsing the web and pull up my iTunes and open my mail without having to click a single time.

Holding a pen next to the keyboard

The only few downsides I see with it is the shape isn't the most ergonomically designed. Other keyboards (including cheaper ones) come in a more natural shape that makes typing more convenient. I have also seen some reviews that say that this keyboard does not work well for gaming. They point out that the F1-F12 keys and small and positioned different than what they're used to.

I feel that the mouse is good, but nothing special. It's fairly heavy, which I like. It keeps it from sliding all over the place and I can click accurately. The best part about the mouse is it's ability to work on just about any surface. I was using it on a cotton sheet on a bed and it worked the same as it would on a keyboard. It includes a couple cool features as well, like "Windows Flip". When you click the scroll ball, a small window will pop up with every program open so you can easily switch what window you're looking at. It's essentially the same as "alt-tab" function, only a little quicker and easier to do. In addition to the standard left, right and scroll ball buttons, it also has additional white buttons that can be used to go back or forward on web pages. I'm sure it has some other uses too but I haven't tinkered enough with it to try.

Slot where USB Receiver "fits"

There aren't a lot of negatives to say about it. The mouse does include a slot underneath it to hold the USB transmitter but it doesn't fit all the way in. The device sticks out about half way making it pretty much useless. Again, it lacks some other buttons that hardcore gamers like and nothing is customizable on it.

Other notes:
*It comes with 4 Duracell AA batteries so there's no need to buy any additional ones. The battery life seems to be pretty good. I've had mine almost a month without a need to change them. Heavy gaming would probably shorten the life, however.
*It comes with a CD, but the CD is not necessary unless your computer doesn't recognize the hardware.
*The USB transmitter is very small and has worked without any problems.
*The keyboard supposedly works up to 30 feet away. I haven't really tested this but I haven't had any issues with interference or choppiness.

Overall, this is a quality product made by the giant in the computer industry. Although not great for gamers, this keyboard/mouse combo is perfect for anyone looking for nice wireless peripherals with many handy shortcuts.

Kindle 3 Wireless Reading Device Honest Review

2011-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Kindle, a portable electronic e-book reader created by Amazon.com, is a sleek, well-designed and fairly powerful entertainment device designed for storing and viewing books, magazines and other reading materials. For people unfamiliar with the device, the Kindle is a reading device that uses "e-ink electronic paper". This not only allows for longer battery life, but also allows users to read for long periods of time without straining their eyes (like a computer monitor will do).

The newest version, unofficially called "Kindle 3," comes in two versions: A version with Wi-Fi ($139.00) and a version with Wi-Fi and free 3G ($189.00). For non-computer inclined people, Wi-Fi means that the Kindle can connect to wireless internet connections and 3G means that it will connect to the internet through wireless signals sent through satellites and cell phone towers so no routers or internet service providers are needed. Other new features on the Kindle 3 includes longer battery life (about 30 days with Wi-Fi turned off), faster refresh rate (when you turn the page), smaller overall size but same screen size, and an experimental text-to-speech feature.

Instead of just a clear scree, when the Kindle is off, a picture (usually a book cover) with show up.

Alright, on to my review...

I think the Kindle is a very cool "toy" that has some practical uses and is worth the price for some people. It is NOT for people looking to play serious games, surf the internet, or look at photos. It IS for serious readers that have at least a little bit of technological ability.

The biggest positives for the device include:

1. Setup and downloading is a breeze. I would highly recommend ordering a Kindle online. First, no taxes (probably the biggest draw to Amazon on any product). Secondly, when you order online, it automatically registers your Kindle to your account. You can also assign it to a different account if you are giving it as a gift. This comes in handy when you are downloading books, magazines, etc. All you have to do is buy the Kindle version of the book and have your Wi-Fi turned on (or 3G if you have that version) and it instantly sends it to your Kindle. I was very impressed with how easy and fast this was.

2. The selection of books. Just about every single book that is somewhat popular is available for Kindle. Along with this, nearly all classics from the early 20th century and before are available for FREE because of public domain copy right laws. Classics like Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, A Tale of Two Cities, and many many more are free. They also offer limited time promotional newer books for free - most of these are not so great though.

3. The Kindle's quality and customer service is the best. The Kindle just seems like it's well designed and constructed out of quality materials. If there are any major issues, Amazon is very quick to fix or replace them. Other similar products like the Barnes and Noble Nook may have some better features like a color screen but they cannot match the service of Amazon.

4. The Kindle is GREAT for public transportation, plane rides, long waits, etc. Since it is so small and can hold hundreds of books, you can use it anywhere and not feel too cramped to read or run out of material half way through a flight.

The text size can be adjusted from really really tiny to HUGE.

The biggest negatives:

1. Navigating the menu and through books is clunky. It uses arrow keys similar to a computer keyboard to navigate and sometimes it can be painfully slow and not very precise. Highlighting and bookmarking pages while reading a book is not as smooth as it should be either. There also doesn't seem to be a lot of organization to how your files are laid out. I would much rather see folders that you could place files in, instead of just a big long list.

2. The page refresh speed. When turning to the next page, there is a slight delay and the screen with flash before showing the new text. Even though it's only for probably .5 seconds, it's still highly noticeable. Other E-readers like the Nook are supposedly even more noticeable, however.

3. The Kindle is pencil thin, making it very vulnerable to damage if dropped. I highly reccomend getting a leather cover. Amazon sells a series of them that are a little expensive (regular ones for around $35.00 and ones with a book light for $59.99). I ended up buying a "CrazyOnDigital Kindle 3G 3rd Generation Leather Case" for less than $30.00 that might be a lower quality but it works just fine and it came with some accessories.

4. Lighting. The downside to "e-ink electronic paper" style of screen is that it is truly like reading a book. You cannot read it in the dark without a light on and if its too bright it can have a little bit of a glare.

5. Paper book nuances. There's something about a good-old book that you just don't get with a Kindle. Maybe it's the smell of a new book, being able to see how far you have until the next chapter, or something else, but I just don't see many traditional book readers totally giving up paper books.

Other things to note about the Kindle:

*I find the text-to-speech feature worthless. If you have ever used a text-to-speech program, you know that it is choppy and some words aren't pronounced properly. It also doesn't seem to pause correctly, making it very hard to follow along. Do Not buy the Kindle based on it having this feature.

*The battery life is awesome. I really don't even think about it. I just charge it (with an included plug-in charger) when I remember to. Turning the Wi-Fi off when you aren't using it does seem to help quite a bit too.

*Most e-books on Amazon are $10 or less. While that sounds cheap, you can still find some paperbacks for less. If I had the choice between a cheaper paperback or a Kindle version of a book, I'll take the paperback anyday.

Pencil Thin

*There are some games/apps for Kindle - including free ones! Amazon has developed a few games, including Everyword and my favorite, Shuffled Row. These games are nothing amazing, but pretty fun.

*It does have a web browser but as you can imagine, it's nothing spectacular. With many Web 2.0 sites, there's too much going on and the kindle just doesn't have the power to handle them.

*This is great for working out on a treadmill or exercise bike --if you have it SECURED -- Again its very thin and lightweight.

*I would really recommend saving $50 and skip the 3G. Although it means you have free internet anywhere, anytime, how many times are you actually going to need to download a new book immediately without being able to get to a hotel, library, or coffee shop with Wi-Fi?

Overall, I think the Kindle is a really neat toy. Traditional readers who aren't tech savvy aren't going to suddenly stop the way the read books and switch over. However, heavy readers, travelers, treadmill riders, public transportation commuters, and many others will definitely get their money's worth.

Electronics Review Guy

Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Keyboard and Mouse Combo Honest Review

Kindle 3 Wireless Reading Device Honest Review