Anyone own a Dell Bluetooth keyboard/mouse?

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Andrew Hodgson - 30 Mar 2008 22:30 GMT

Hi,

I am going to be trying Vista, and going through all the kit that is
not going to work. I have an issue with my 3 yr old Logitech
Bluetooth desktop, in that the drivers that are required to drive the
Bluetooth part of it are not made for Vista, so I am going to have to
change it.

I can get a Dell Bluetooth desktop set for a semi reasonible amount,
but it didn't specify on the website whether it had a charging pod for
the mouse at least - since I am not happy to completely replace
batteries in the keyboard/mouse all the time.

Here is a link:

http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs
1&sku=580-12927

What other wireless kit are people using? I am sort of wondering
whether to just buy a cheap Bluetooth dongle, and then get a wired
keyboard/mouse, because this Logitech has caused me issues, especially
when outside of Windows - I use Ubuntu quite a bit also.

What do you think?
Andrew.

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RnR - 30 Mar 2008 22:48 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>What do you think?
>Andrew.

skip Vista.

Reply to this Message

Andrew Hodgson - 30 Mar 2008 22:50 GMT

[...]

>>What do you think?

>skip Vista.

Yes, so everyone is saying. I may use dual-boot for a while, but I
need to get myself fimilarised with the new layout and way of doing
things under Vista. I use a screen reader to access the system, as I
am partially sighted, and have never used Vista since it's release. I
am worried that I may at some point need to use Vista at some site,
and wouldn't know where to start.

That is why I am trying it (I have got an SP1 OEM DVD of ultimate).

Thanks.
Andrew.

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Journey - 31 Mar 2008 00:06 GMT

>[...]
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>Thanks.
>Andrew.

If you go Vista, you can still run XP inside of it virtualy. MS even
has a product for that. I am going to try that on my Vista PC just do
see how well it works.

Reply to this Message

Andrew Hodgson - 31 Mar 2008 18:13 GMT

>>[...]
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>has a product for that. I am going to try that on my Vista PC just do
>see how well it works.

Yup, its called Virtual PC 2007, and I use it at work a lot for
running Windows Server 2003 - it is rubbish for running Linux though.
Used to be the old Connectix software which ran on a Mac, it is grate
for running an OS/2 session.

Andrew.

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Journey - 31 Mar 2008 00:08 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Bluetooth part of it are not made for Vista, so I am going to have to
>change it.

Hi Andrew,

For wireless keyboard and mouse, I don't use bluetooth. Bluetooth is
overkill. I use the laser versions that are out there. As a HDTV
remote I even use an Adesso keyboard with trackpad built in and the
range is good -- at least 15 feet!

I used to have Logitech wireless keyboards but now have two Microsoft
ones -- one for my PC and one for my Mac. They work great, and have
very good extra buttons as well as programmable ones.

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Andrew Hodgson - 31 Mar 2008 18:11 GMT

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>remote I even use an Adesso keyboard with trackpad built in and the
>range is good -- at least 15 feet!

The reason I use Bluetooth is because they offer me the ability to use
a Bluetooth receiver in the same unit, and as I use mobile sync
software a lot, I like the convenience of having just one USB port
taken up.

I have looked at some of the Microsoft ones, but don't like the idea
of no number pad or function keys which are touch sensitive.

Thanks.
Andrew.

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Journey - 31 Mar 2008 10:06 GMT

>>> Hi,
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>Thanks.
>Andrew.

Hi Andrew,

What are you using to sync via bluetooth? I have used that with Palm
PDAs in the past and bluetooth can be handy. Just curious what
device(s) you're using.

It's too bad that Logitech doesn't have a driver. Have you contacted
support? You can also contact sales, marketing, and other e-mail
addresses from their web site and request a newer keyboard for a
discount or for free. Many companies do that kind of thing if one
asks -- recently I received a free upgraded TV PVR tuner from
Hauppauge just for asking (great company).

Another option for you would be to get a USB Bluetooth device. I have
one from Belkin (currently unused), and I don't think they were very
expensive.

That way you could get a laser keyboard rather than bluetooth, have
more options, and save a lot of money.

I used to go all Logitech for such devices, but my two MS laser
keyboards are great and I love them.

Journey

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Andrew Hodgson - 31 Mar 2008 22:47 GMT

>Hi Andrew,
>
>What are you using to sync via bluetooth? I have used that with Palm
>PDAs in the past and bluetooth can be handy. Just curious what
>device(s) you're using.

Nokia - especially since I switched to Simbian based devices, as they
support a screen reader app that I use to read the screen. I use PC
Suite, but mainly use it now to get files to and from the device, as I
use Mail for Exchange to sync contacts, mail and calendar etc.

>It's too bad that Logitech doesn't have a driver. Have you contacted
>support? You can also contact sales, marketing, and other e-mail
>addresses from their web site and request a newer keyboard for a
>discount or for free. Many companies do that kind of thing if one
>asks -- recently I received a free upgraded TV PVR tuner from
>Hauppauge just for asking (great company).

I wasn't that cheaky - but I did speak to the support. Europe support
wasn't grate, US support were better, but said that they only had
drivers with a Bluetooth stack for Windows XP - and these were not on
the website any more - I was emailed a copy.

Looking at the support site, I just looked at the keyboard I was
interested in - the Laser MX 5505, and there were no Bluetooth drivers
on there either, just the Setpoint software, so not sure whether they
are on a CD or anything.

>Another option for you would be to get a USB Bluetooth device. I have
>one from Belkin (currently unused), and I don't think they were very
>expensive.

I already use a cheap Bluetooth dongle I got for a tenner as it is 2.0
compatible, and I use it with some Bluetooth headphones with Skype.
However, I am not sure on Vista compatibility of this, so was trying
to kill two birds with one stone.

>That way you could get a laser keyboard rather than bluetooth, have
>more options, and save a lot of money.

Yes, you are right. I may just end up doing that.

>I used to go all Logitech for such devices, but my two MS laser
>keyboards are great and I love them.

I looked at some of the MS offerings, some of the newer ones don't
have a numeric keypad which I use all the time. I will do more
research before buying though.

Andrew.

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Journey - 31 Mar 2008 13:19 GMT

>>I used to go all Logitech for such devices, but my two MS laser
>>keyboards are great and I love them.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>Andrew.

This is the Windows-compatible MS wirless keyboard and mouse that I
have and like:

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000

Full URL:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wireless-Laser-Desktop-69A-00001/dp/B000H14IDC/r
ef=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1207011663&sr=8-1

Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/2aj6wq

It's about half price, $48, on Amazon right now which is a great deal.

The fact that I like it says a lot because I have always liked
Logitech products better.

If you get it and get warnings about signal strength, just check the
box to not show the warnings anymore because the message comes up when
it doesn't need to.

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Andrew Hodgson - 31 Mar 2008 23:29 GMT

The plot thickens. I just had an email from Logitech and they
withdrew all the support for the Bluetooth stacks due to problems.
They are suggesting that the bluetooth hubs should be used in the
default mode, which allows the keyboard and mouse to connect to it
only, and it will be set up in the BIOS as a USB keyboard and mouse.
If you have a compatible Bluetooth stack installed, then the Setpoint
software can send a command to the hub to turn it into a proper hub
when the Setpoint driver starts. They were not sure whether this
works with my older Dinovo, as it uses an older chipset - the hub is
built into the mouse recharger, rather than delivered as a separate
USB stick.

In that case I shouldn't have any issues with Vista using this kit, in
the default mode - I uninstalled Setpoint and the Bluetooth stack for
test purposes, and it is all working as expected, so will go on with
this in Vista in this configuration. I may just get a new system at
some point in the future, but I want the basic keyboard with as little
modification to a standard keyboard as possible. I will now
investigate using my Bluetooth stick in Vista, possibly using the
Vista stack.

Andrew.

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