Keyboard and Mouse recommendations

f/2.8

f/2.8

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Now that my new p.c is is in the build process and will be with me soon I have decided to look at a new mouse and keyboard as well.

I have been using a cheap wireless keyboard and an old Logitech MX Master for sometime. I see the new version of the MX Master mouse seems to be still well rated and that they now have a matching keyboard as well.

I will mostly just using them for Lightroom and Photoshop so have no interest in gaming stuff.

While having a look online I also came across a Keycron K1 as being recommended. What other god options are there I am very out of date with all this stuff?
 
I'm not a gamer but chose my setup for ergonomics and feedback. I could not be happier with my choices.

I use the Logitech G610 keyboard (robust and easy to take the keys off for cleaning).

I use the Razer Deathadder Elite mouse which feels comfortable in my hand and allows me to change the sensitivity to my own presets at the click of a button.

I use the Razer Gigantus V2 mouse mat (medium which is the smallest and a little larger than I need).
 
I use a cheap dell wired keyboard ( I have had two expensive wireless ones go t***s up) and a wired kensington expert trackball but strangely I have just bought a laptop and I really like the trackpad for editing
 
Stick with the Master :). I have the v2 because it's a lot cheaper and almost as good as the v3.

I also have the Craft keyboard which is the best keyboard I've ever used (only thing I prefer to an Apple keyboard). However, the Master is the same for less money apart from the Crown. And honestly, I don't use the Crown nearly as much as I thought. If you can find it cheap then for PS/LR maybe get the Craft - otherwise the Master would be an excellent choice.
 
@JonathanRyan

Can I ask a quick question, or two :)

I could not find a comparison of the Logitech Master MX keys v2 to v3, so what are the differences?

Plus, as it looks lower profile than an older style IBM based construction......do you find a need for a padded rest that they supply as an optional extra?

TIA :)
 
Box Brownie said:
@JonathanRyan

Can I ask a quick question, or two :)

I could not find a comparison of the Logitech Master MX keys v2 to v3, so what are the differences?

Plus, as it looks lower profile than an older style IBM based construction......do you find a need for a padded rest that they supply as an optional extra?

TIA :)
Click to expand...

Sorry - forgot about this.......

>> I could not find a comparison of the Logitech Master MX keys v2 to v3, so what are the differences?

AFAIK, there's only 1 version of the keyboard (2 if you count the Craft). There's a v2 and v3 of the mouse. Differences here

Logitech MX Master 3 vs Logitech MX Master 2S Side-by-Side Comparison - RTINGS.com

Logitech make a lot of the redesigned wheel in the v3 but the one on the v2 is awesome.

>> Plus, as it looks lower profile than an older style IBM based construction......do you find a need for a padded rest that they supply as an optional extra?

Do, not at all. As Miss Winter (my typing teacher) instructed me, the keyboard goes at the edge of the desk to stop you resting your wrists (I think I was the first class where she wasn't allowed to hit people's wrists with a ruler). I use a cheapie wrist rest with the mouse but nothing for the keyboard.

FWIW I tend to charge the mouse maybe once a month/2 months. Keyboard every week/fortnight. I think the backlight takes most of the power - it's pretty cool to see it light up as you wave your hand near it.
 
I have an MX Master 2 mouse and love it. Very tempted to pick up the MX Keys keyboard as well, especially as they're doing an offer of 2 months Creative Cloud for free which essentially knocks £20 off the price for me. How are you finding the keyboard? Is it worth the asking price?
 
RichardC27 said:
I have an MX Master 2 mouse and love it. Very tempted to pick up the MX Keys keyboard as well, especially as they're doing an offer of 2 months Creative Cloud for free which essentially knocks £20 off the price for me. How are you finding the keyboard? Is it worth the asking price?
Click to expand...

I haven’t received mine yet, only placed the order this morning.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Sorry - forgot about this.......

>> I could not find a comparison of the Logitech Master MX keys v2 to v3, so what are the differences?

AFAIK, there's only 1 version of the keyboard (2 if you count the Craft). There's a v2 and v3 of the mouse. Differences here

Logitech MX Master 3 vs Logitech MX Master 2S Side-by-Side Comparison - RTINGS.com

Logitech make a lot of the redesigned wheel in the v3 but the one on the v2 is awesome.

>> Plus, as it looks lower profile than an older style IBM based construction......do you find a need for a padded rest that they supply as an optional extra?

Do, not at all. As Miss Winter (my typing teacher) instructed me, the keyboard goes at the edge of the desk to stop you resting your wrists (I think I was the first class where she wasn't allowed to hit people's wrists with a ruler). I use a cheapie wrist rest with the mouse but nothing for the keyboard.

FWIW I tend to charge the mouse maybe once a month/2 months. Keyboard every week/fortnight. I think the backlight takes most of the power - it's pretty cool to see it light up as you wave your hand near it.
Click to expand...

Jonathan

Thanks for the update :)

Yes, the illuminated keyboard appeals but have I no need for the Craft dial functions. So I will have another gander at the the MX keys as appropriate.

As I use a Trackball (an MS Trackball Explorer) I was looking at the Logitech versions but as (so far) the one I have is performing well ~ though the resolution IMO is not adjustable to a finer degree of control as I might wish for!?

:)
 
Re: Logitech keyboard(s)

I have seen that they do two illuminated versions.

The MX Keys and the K800, both the same price (unless seen differently priced on 3rd party sellers???) so as a PC user would I see the benefits of the MX Keys over the K800 :thinking:
 
Box Brownie said:
Re: Logitech keyboard(s)

I have seen that they do two illuminated versions.

The MX Keys and the K800, both the same price (unless seen differently priced on 3rd party sellers???) so as a PC user would I see the benefits of the MX Keys over the K800 :thinking:
Click to expand...

Think it is just personal preference, I read a few reviews on both and just decided I liked the MX keys more in terms of styling.
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
I just bought the MX Master 3. I tried cheap economy version but it just didn't hack it so ended up stumping up the cash. Be aware that the bluetooth is still laggy. Need the dongle to eliminate this.
Click to expand...

Totally. Bluetooth is a bit laggy (or for me stuttery) but usable. The unify receiver works perfectly. I have a unify for the PC, one for the laptop and use Bluetooth on my MacBook.

RichardC27 said:
I have an MX Master 2 mouse and love it. Very tempted to pick up the MX Keys keyboard as well, especially as they're doing an offer of 2 months Creative Cloud for free which essentially knocks £20 off the price for me. How are you finding the keyboard? Is it worth the asking price?
Click to expand...

Imo yes. Very very nice feel to it. I've had mine a year or so and it's as good as the day I got it.

Box Brownie said:
Re: Logitech keyboard(s)

I have seen that they do two illuminated versions.

The MX Keys and the K800, both the same price (unless seen differently priced on 3rd party sellers???) so as a PC user would I see the benefits of the MX Keys over the K800 :thinking:
Click to expand...

I think the k series was originally designed for tablets and laptop use. Never actually used one though. But I don't think you'd be disappointed with the Mx.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Imo yes. Very very nice feel to it. I've had mine a year or so and it's as good as the day I got it.

I think the k series was originally designed for tablets and laptop use. Never actually used one though. But I don't think you'd be disappointed with the Mx.
Click to expand...

Thanks.....food for thought as to which one??? :)
 
My main keyboard is a DELL SK-8115 as it has good feedback on the keys and I like the spacing. I used to like the Microsoft mouse, but I took a punt whilst shopping in PC World a while ago and bought an ADX M0519 mouse, which I think may be a PC World only brand? Turned out to be a fine mouse, great precision (adjustable DPI) and nothing has worn, even the rubber grips are like new.
 
gman said:
My main keyboard is a DELL SK-8115 as it has good feedback on the keys and I like the spacing. I used to like the Microsoft mouse, but I took a punt whilst shopping in PC World a while ago and bought an ADX M0519 mouse, which I think may be a PC World only brand? Turned out to be a fine mouse, great precision (adjustable DPI) and nothing has worn, even the rubber grips are like new.
Click to expand...
I'm typing this on an SK-8115. It's a shame they don't make them any more, though you can buy refurbs on ebay (and there even seems to be a cottage industry in 3D printed replacement tilt legs). For my money, standard keyboards have been getting progressively worse over the years, and those Dells were from the last generation of decent mainstream boards. They pared the frame down so it doesn't take up too much space, but left the key spacing alone and kept the number pad, and you can set a nice angle if the legs are still intact. The keys are unfashionably noisy by today's standards, but the feedback is good. These were once standard with Dell PCs, and are way better than the mushy things you get today. I didn't even bother with whatever was bundled when I bought a computer at work a couple of years ago, I just found an HP keyboard of similar vintage to the Dell in a junk drawer and used that. Otherwise, I'd probably have forked out extra for one of those mechanical boards they sell to gamers and keyboard geeks.
 
I am currently using an old HP one KB-0316. Has been very good but it does clatter when typing :LOL:
 
Retune said:
Look like the one I have at work!
Click to expand...
Prior to that one I was using an even older beige IBM version (on an old sort of cobbled together Intel 486 box) and that KB was actually awkward to use and I don't touch type. The throw of the keys as I recall was very long and needed the effort normally used on a manual typewriter to 'work'.

PS actually thinking about it.......I pretty sure the same design of KB was used in the path lab in the 1970's on the terminals that accessed the DEC mini computer which was about the size of 4 off 4 drawer filing cabinets put together ~ oh boy that will teach me to reminisce as I can still remember my old login password and the green screen monitor :LOL:
 
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Box Brownie said:
Prior to that one I was using an even older beige IBM version (on an old sort of cobbled together Intel 486 box) and that KB was actually awkward to use and I don't touch type. The throw of the keys as I recall was very long and needed the effort normally used on a manual typewriter to 'work'.

PS actually thinking about it.......I pretty sure the same design of KB was used in the path lab in the 1970's on the terminals that accessed the DEC mini computer which was about the size of 4 off 4 drawer filing cabinets put together ~ oh boy that will teach me to reminisce as I can still remember my old login password and the green screen monitor :LOL:
Click to expand...
We still had what were probably old DEC terminals (VT100?) in the university computer labs for connecting to the central VAX, and later Unix, machines. Then some Sun workstations appeared that were a glimpse of the future - a big screen, an actual windowing system (Suntools, the first I ever used) and an optical mouse years before PCs stopped using the rolling ball designs.

My own keyboard from the beige era was made by Wang and makes even those nice Dell and HP keyboards look like toys. Vintage keyboard geeks love these things and go to a lot of trouble to restore them:

Wang Model 724 725-3770-US - deskthority

deskthority.net

People are asking silly prices for similar keyboards on ebay:

www.ebay.co.uk

Vintage WANG 725 Keyboard 725-3155-USA date 07.1990 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage WANG 725 Keyboard 725-3155-USA date 07.1990 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk

I must still have it in storage - might be interesting to get it working with an adapter on a modern machine, though the keyboard layout is a bit non-standard.
 
Drat........I think I threw away 3 of the old IBM ones, could have sold them for a few £'s :(
 
My MX Keys and Master 3 arrived this morning.

Very pleased, very comfortable to use and backlight is cool. :cool:
 
Just checking prices for MX Keys on Am azon

An there is a modest saving but now as much as for the K800 but what caught my eye was the plentiful supply of used ones of Mac variant.....with many being sold as used by the Am azon warehouse. Odd or not???
 
Box Brownie said:
Just checking prices for MX Keys on Am azon

An there is a modest saving but now as much as for the K800 but what caught my eye was the plentiful supply of used ones of Mac variant.....with many being sold as used by the Am azon warehouse. Odd or not???
Click to expand...


The one's that are for sale on Amazon warehouse mostly seem to have cosmetic marks on them, I would imagine that they were returned for that reason, most people because of the cost will want them to be perfect, I would have sent mine back if it had of any cosmetic marks at that price. There doesn't seem to be any more in the amazon warehouse than there would be for most keyboards though.
 
f/2.8 said:
The one's that are for sale on Amazon warehouse mostly seem to have cosmetic marks on them, I would imagine that they were returned for that reason, most people because of the cost will want them to be perfect, I would have sent mine back if it had of any cosmetic marks at that price. There doesn't seem to be any more in the amazon warehouse than there would be for most keyboards though.
Click to expand...

A good point, though as far as I could see, they were all Mac listed ones not PC???

Oh and for sure if I received something with clear signs of mishandling (previous ownership?) it would go straight back with strong words via the chat system !
 
Box Brownie said:
A good point, though as far as I could see, they were all Mac listed ones not PC???

Oh and for sure if I received something with clear signs of mishandling (previous ownership?) it would go straight back with strong words via the chat system !
Click to expand...

Maybe just a coincidence that they were all Mac, another keyboard I looked at on Amazon also had lots of returned stock available as well. Don't think there is anything to worry about really, probably a lot of those that were returned were sent back as people decided that they didn't like them after seeing them in the flesh, looking at photos and videos online is very different. at least the ones that do have cosmetic damage are listed as such if you are gonna go down that route.

I can say I am really liking mine, its a lot heavier than I thought it would be which for me isn't a bad thing but may not suit everyone.
 
I use an Logitech MX2 mouse, Logitech Keys keyboard both via the unifying dongle that came with my keyboard.

I used to use a Logitech MX mouse and Denovo keyboard prior to losing them in a fire in September 2019.

After looking around and trying some of the cheaper alternatives I gave in and went back to the Logitech setup.

For myself personally I have one caveat and that's the MX Keys keyboard has layouts for both Mac and PC on the keys and although I have a Mac I don't use it. I'd love to be able to buy it with PC layout only as I sometimes get confused with Function and Alt keys.
 
ChrisH said:
I use an Logitech MX2 mouse, Logitech Keys keyboard both via the unifying dongle that came with my keyboard.

I used to use a Logitech MX mouse and Denovo keyboard prior to losing them in a fire in September 2019.

After looking around and trying some of the cheaper alternatives I gave in and went back to the Logitech setup.

For myself personally I have one caveat and that's the MX Keys keyboard has layouts for both Mac and PC on the keys and although I have a Mac I don't use it. I'd love to be able to buy it with PC layout only as I sometimes get confused with Function and Alt keys.
Click to expand...

Ah! interesting as the K800 is PC only but the inference was that Keys came in two PC & Mac variants.....................but as it has the "flow" function it could be 'in use' with both a PC and a Mac. More thinking as to whether the presence of Mac labeling on the Keys board, by default, would annoy me???
 
Box Brownie said:
Drat........I think I threw away 3 of the old IBM ones, could have sold them for a few £'s :(
Click to expand...
Ouch!
www.ebay.co.uk

IBM Model M Keyboard PS2 Clicky Mechanical Buckling spring Tested & Working | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IBM Model M Keyboard PS2 Clicky Mechanical Buckling spring Tested & Working at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
Or even:
www.ebay.co.uk

IBM Model M Keyboard 1391401 PS2 Clicky Mechanical Vintage Tactile | eBay

Standard QWERTYUS Keyboard layout.
www.ebay.co.uk
!
 
Retune said:
Ouch!
www.ebay.co.uk

IBM Model M Keyboard PS2 Clicky Mechanical Buckling spring Tested & Working | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IBM Model M Keyboard PS2 Clicky Mechanical Buckling spring Tested & Working at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
Or even:
www.ebay.co.uk

IBM Model M Keyboard 1391401 PS2 Clicky Mechanical Vintage Tactile | eBay

Standard QWERTYUS Keyboard layout.
www.ebay.co.uk
!
Click to expand...
Crikey !!!! o_O

I did say "think" because i was few years back....so if they ever turn up again I will know what to do :thinking: (NB I am a bit of a pack rat so I never know what might be hanging around tech wise ;) )

Edit ~ I recalled an old keyboard box......labelled Compaq but in it a spare HP KB-0316. So no idea what other treasures might still be lurking about :LOL:
 
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ChrisH said:
For myself personally I have one caveat and that's the MX Keys keyboard has layouts for both Mac and PC on the keys and although I have a Mac I don't use it. I'd love to be able to buy it with PC layout only as I sometimes get confused with Function and Alt keys.
Click to expand...

Yeah spot on. And occasionally (mostly because I used a Mac keyboard for a decade or so) I'll fall for it and hit @ when I want ".

Looking at Amazon, it's about 8 quid more for a PC/multi layout than a Warehouse Mac one - maybe 7.5%. At that price, I'd pay the extra.
 
I was looking around at dell earlier and thought these were decent for bluetooth and a considerably cheaper direct alternative to Logitech mx.

medium https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/sho...km7120w-uk-qwerty/apd/580-aiwf/pc-accessories

larger https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/sho...e-km717-uk-qwerty/apd/580-afqm/pc-accessories

I think I wouldn't mind either but probably will go for a smaller Logitech K380 considering it is has a bit more mac friendly layout (for the future). The only unknown is whether round keys would be just as convenient and squares. I don't use numbers too often so that is that.
 
Just to update and thanks again to those that recommended the MX Keys :)

With a birthday gift voucher contribution I now have the Logitech MX keys..................typing on it now :D

It is so very configurable when used with the Logitech Options software:-
I like that you can assign keys................thoughit took a good mins to figure out how to get 'screen refresh'(using the browser) to be an assigned key when using the Fn buttons in "media mode". Why not used the standard Fn keys ~ well I like that I can change the volume via such a quick access keys set as well as launch selected applications with a single keypress rather than the mouse & double click.

The one thing I do notice(?) is that setting "application specific settings" there are none associated with the MX Keys and according to the tutorial video they are only relevant to the MX options specific mice!

Still early days so may be making setting changes more than once before I settle on a 'finished configuration' ???
 
Box Brownie said:
Just to update and thanks again to those that recommended the MX Keys :)

With a birthday gift voucher contribution I now have the Logitech MX keys..................typing on it now :D

It is so very configurable when used with the Logitech Options software:-
I like that you can assign keys................thoughit took a good mins to figure out how to get 'screen refresh'(using the browser) to be an assigned key when using the Fn buttons in "media mode". Why not used the standard Fn keys ~ well I like that I can change the volume via such a quick access keys set as well as launch selected applications with a single keypress rather than the mouse & double click.

The one thing I do notice(?) is that setting "application specific settings" there are none associated with the MX Keys and according to the tutorial video they are only relevant to the MX options specific mice!

Still early days so may be making setting changes more than once before I settle on a 'finished configuration' ???
Click to expand...

Good stuff. I just got my MX Keys for MAC today. Loving it! I also figured out that a USB Hub I was using was causing the lag on the MX3 Master Mouse. Everything now works smooth and fast!
 
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