MaximumPC 2004 12

A

good keyboard keeps your hands healthy
and strong, prevents injury, and makes
your computing life easier with added
functionality. Choose the wrong keyboard, and
besides permanently crippling yourself, you’ll
find yourself frustrated and far less produc-
tive. We put the Microsoft Bluetooth Optical
Desktop Elite for Bluetooth and the Saitek
Gaming Keyboard under the Maximum PC
microscope to find out if either is worthy of a
place on your desktop.
—WILL SMITH

Saitek Gaming Keyboard
At first glance, we thought Saitek’s keyboard
might be awkward, even painful, to use. But
its flat, low-profile design proved surprisingly
comfortable, even during extended gaming ses-
sions. And we love that Saitek doesn’t use trap
F-keys—the type found in Microsoft
and Logitech designs, which don’t
function as F-keys unless you
press a special button.
Two of the keyboard’s
features stood out during our

relentless gaming and general usage tests. The
blue backlight behind every key is outstanding
for late-night sessions—you can even adjust
the brightness of the backlight or turn it off
completely. That’s a pretty cool trick, but the
programmable nine-button keypad is even
more impressive. Using the included software,
you can create macros to perform all sorts of fre-
quently repeated actions. Whether it’s a “buy”

macro for Counter-Strike: Source or a “tradeskill”

macro in your favorite MMORPG, we likey!

Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite

for Bluetooth

This latest Bluetooth wireless keyboard and

mouse combo corrects many of the problems

we had with Microsoft’s initial Bluetooth

desktop. For starters, the Bluetooth adapter that

comes with this set is a fully functional receiver.

That means it’s able to communicate with cell

phones, printers, and PDAs. The keyboard uses

a standard layout, plus 19 extra programmable

keys. Like other Microsoft keyboards, these

extra keys can be programmed to do almost

anything, such as starting apps, opening

folders, and controlling media applications.

We have two minor gripes with this key-

board. It still uses the unforgivable F-lock fea-

ture mentioned in the review above, and the

delete and insert keys are in unconventional

locations.

The mouse is a mixed bag as well. It

shares the same basic design as the Wireless

Intellimouse Explorer, and even includes

the new tilting, smooth-scrolling wheel.

Unfortunately, although the smooth scrolling

of this mouse feels awesome for desktop apps,

it’s too sensitive in games. We didn’t experience

this problem with the Intellimouse Explorer

4.0, so we hope a software fix will correct it

down the road. Another concern: Battery life

was significantly shorter than we like; and for

a mouse that uses standard AA batteries rather

than rechargeables, that’s a problem.

Nifty macro pad can give you super powers with

the right configs.

BLUE BACKLIGHT

BLUE-LIGHT SPECIAL

We wish the macro pad was a stand-alone

device, and not tied to the keyboard.

$60, http://www.saitek.com

MA XIMUMPC VERDICT 9

Keyboard Catfight

It’s a hair-pulling, arm-biting battle: Backlights vs. Bluetooth!

The Saitek Gaming Keyboard comes

with a programmable macro pad that

lets you run up to 27 different macros

for your favorite games—or more

boring productivity apps.

This Microsoft Optical Desktop Elite

keyboard/mouse set features full-fledged

Bluetooth support.

Comes with a Bluetooth adapter that works the

way Bluetooth adapters should.

BLUETOOTH

BLUEBEARD

The mouse wheel sensitivity is a problem, and

we are concerned about mouse battery life.

$150, http://www.microsoft.com/hardware

MA XIMUMPC VERDICT 8

F-keys—the type found in Microsoft

and Logitech designs, which don’t