Keyboards Reviews
13,658 Reviews

Remote Keyboard for XP Media Center

£100 inc VAT

Manufacturer: Microsoft

Our Rating: We rate this 4 out of 5

By | 30 May 06

Take a look at the (deep breath) Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition, and you have to admit it has a certain pizzazz. But then, this is no ordinary keyboard.

Keyboards: not exactly the most awe-inspiring of devices. Take a look at the (deep breath) Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Windows XP Media Center Edition, however, and you have to admit it has a certain amount of pizzazz. But then, this is no ordinary keyboard.

Related Articles

As the observant among you may have picked up, it's designed to work with a Media Center PC. It works with the existing infrared remote control sensor, so setup is simplicity itself. The keyboard features pretty much all the buttons you'll find on the Media Center remote, so you don't have to switch between devices to control the box.

In use, the Microsoft is is similar to a laptop keyboard and pleasing to use. There's a trackpoint for mouse navigation, but unfortunately it's not the easiest to use. Press it lightly and the pointer barely moves at all, apply more pressure and it'll shoot right across the screen. It's a bit like trying to navigate a PC when drunk, only less fun.

Microsoft Remote Keyboard for XP Media Center Expert Verdict »
Post Review
Keyboard
trackpoint
remote control buttons
infrared
4x AA batteries
Windows Media Center Edition and infrared receiver required
  • Build Quality: We give this item 8 of 10 for build quality
  • Features: We give this item 9 of 10 for features
  • Value for Money: We give this item 7 of 10 for value for money
  • Overall: We give this item 8 of 10 overall

This is a great-looking keyboard that's simple to set up and works seamlessly with Media Center. The only down sides are the overly temperamental trackpoint and slightly inflated price.

There are currently no price comparisons for this product.
  • Terratec Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity

    Terratec Cinergy DT USB XS Diversity

    The Diversity is one of a new breed of digital TV adaptors that use a pair of DVB-T tuners, each with its own antenna.

  • AJP GE1

    AJP GE1

    Aimed squarely at Apple's Mac mini, this tiny Windows Media PC pushes all conceptions of living-room computers out of the window. We looked at a prototype model, decked out in a quite smart burgundy - AJP is promising a range of colours, including black, white and silver, to complement your decor. The GE1 is about the size of a large paperback book, as deep as two DVD cases, and very light. It could be unplugged and lugged around with ease.

  • Arbico Zippy X35 HD Media Centre review

    Arbico Zippy X35 HD Media Centre

    The Zippy X35 HD Media Centre is much, much slower than any other PC in this group – but it also costs less. It provides ample power for fulfilling multimedia duties and provides DirectX 11 graphics and accelerated Blu-ray playback. Its fanless CPU cooler is somewhat wasted in a case employing noisy fans.

  • Samsung Q1

    Samsung Q1

    Imagine our excitement when a brand-new Q1 from Samsung – one of the much-hyped Origami devices that have been in the news so much – arrived at PC Advisor.

  • HP Pavilion dv5094EA

    HP Pavilion dv5094EA

    HP has been a real winner in our laptop charts in the past, holding the top positions for months at a time. Unfortunately, the Pavilion doesn't follow that happy trend.

Share this article



Comments

Send to a friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.