Microsoft's Sturdy, Low-cost Wireless Keyboard Ideal for Typing

A week ago I reviewed the old IBM Model M keyboard. Today I thought I would look at a more contemporary offering and give my impression.

As anyone who has read my column regularly knows, I run a small law firm and do double duty as the company's computer guy. I have three other people working for me, and I'm responsible for providing technology to enable them to be more efficient and more productive.

One of those employees, a paralegal who types at an astonishing 140 words per minute, was in need of a new keyboard when she came to work for me, and after hearing her preference for a firm-though-quiet-touch and wireless keyboard, I settled on the Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000. This is Microsoft's least expensive wireless desktop kit - and their best, in my opinion.

When I purchased this kit, I spent a lot of time comparing the various offerings from Logitech, Microsoft, Kensington, and others. Due to the blistering typing speed of its intended user, I placed feel far higher than price in my priorities.

I honestly expected to spend well over $100 for a wireless outfit, but this Microsoft set cost me only $30 (after a $10 instant rebate). I would have bought it at triple the price for the following reasons:

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 keyboard

First is the feel, which was the absolute most important consideration. The keyboard has nice, firm keys, but they are quiet and land gently at the end of their stroke. It's a standard rubber-dome mechanism and as such lacks the distinct clicks of my IBM Model M, but the actuation is still very precise and quiet - and for hard typists (people who press hard on the keys) the landing is well-cushioned.

My speed was a full 60 words per minute on this keyboard, faster than I ever was on my 12" PowerBook (still the fastest laptop keyboard I've used) and very close to my speed on the old IBM. So good was this keyboard that I seriously considered buying a second one for my use at the office instead of the new Model M that I ultimately bought.

Just as important as switch feel, this keyboard is made of sturdy plastic and has a solid, flex-free feel. Pick it up and you can feel the difference in build quality compared to lesser keyboards, including most of the more expensive models from Microsoft. This thing, while lacking the weapon-like rigidity and heft of the old Model M, is pretty close, weighing perhaps half as much as the old IBM - or double the more expensive keyboards against which I compared it.

The keyboard includes some basic function keys and a locking FN key that changes your F-keys to special functions. Microsoft includes a driver CD with drivers for both Windows (2000 and XP) and Mac OS X, though both PCs and Macs recognize and can use the keyboard without installing the drivers. The drivers add some extra functions, but I'm a purist and like to keep things simple, so I haven't installed the software on the Windows XP PC that the keyboard is connected to.

I played with the keyboard first on my tablet PC and installed the driver to explore its functions. Sadly, the driver broke the pen functionality of my tablet until I uninstalled the keyboard/mouse software, so beware.

It worked flawlessly on the Mac (a Power Mac G4 Sawtooth) without the driver, although the driver is required if you want the volume controls and sleep buttons to work.

Despite the existence of a few extra functions, it is when used as a basic keyboard (without the driver) that the Wireless Desktop 1000 is at its best. Since the special functions are mostly embedded in the regular F keys, you can ignore them completely and just enjoy fast typing on a solidly built board with quiet and firm keypress and a soft landing.

The mouse is also simple and sturdy. It's nice and heavy, aided by the two AA batteries that give it long battery life (after five months of daily use the batteries still show a half charge) and a simple two button and scroll wheel design that is symmetrical for easy left- or right-hand use. It is an optical mouse that tracks well on every surface I've tried, including a desk that gives my USB Apple Mighty Mouse fits.

The keyboard and mouse connect to your PC or Mac through a single USB connection. The USB cable is about 6' long and leads to a small receiver with styling to match the dark gray keyboard and mouse perfectly. Better still, the receiver has a button on its front to reestablish connection to the mouse and keyboard should another device interfere. It has indicators to show CAPS, NUM, and FUNC lock.

I've used the mouse as far as 10 feet from the receiver when giving a presentation and had no problems whatsoever, so range appears to be fine. My paralegal did have the mouse stop responding once, but a single press of the button on the receiver followed by a five second light show on the display, and everything was back to normal. We have three other wireless mice in the office, two of them Microsoft, so the fact that we've had one signal loss in five months really impresses me.

There are no frills here, just a well made, solid product that has exceeded my expectations in every way. Microsoft doesn't offer a Mac-labeled version in this budget model, requiring an upgrade (downgrade?) to a more expensive series for that, but the inclusion of Mac drivers and OS X's native support for Windows keyboards makes this a great option for Mac as well as PC users. I like this a lot better than the Apple keyboard that came with my 20" iMac, and also far more than even the $100 and $150 Microsoft offerings that I compared it to.

In conclusion, this is a product that really gives a lot of bang for the buck. It's proof that more expensive isn't always better. If you want a wireless keyboard and mouse, I strongly recommend the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 1000. Forget about the fancier models; you'll generate more words in less time with greater comfort on Microsoft's cheapest wireless set than with anything else you are likely to find at a modern computer store.

• Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000, $45 from Amazon.com