Sep 19, 2014 10:57 AM
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The day may come when touchscreens rule. Or perhaps there will be virtual 3D like they showed in the movie Minority Report. But for now, the keyboard and mouse still reign supreme as a interface for any desktop workstation. They have gone through a slow evolution. The basics have remained the same, but they have been further refined.
For instance, earlier, they used to connect to their computer via wires and PS/2 Ports(remember, the purple and green ports?) These days, they do it a bit differently, with optical and wireless technology.
Wireless sets – Why?
The most obvious benefit of spending a few hundred more over a wired keyboard and mouse set it the freedom from entangled and long wires. They leave the desk looking cleaner and more elegant. In addition, they can be used from a long distance, upto 10metres in theory. This is very useful if you have connected your PC / laptop to a large 40 inch LED TV and want to control it from 10 – 20 feet away.
Why buy a keyboard and mouse set instead of individually?
There are two reasons to buy a keyboard-mouse combo instead of purchasing them separately.
The main reason is cost. Purchasing a wireless keyboard and mouse separately is almost always cheaper than buying the two components individually. For instance, buying the Logitech MK260 keyboard-mouse combo will cost you around Rs. 1,450. But purchasing a Logitech B175 wireless mouse plus K260 Wireless Keyboard, the total cost will be Rs. 1,800(Rs. 600 for the mouse plus Rs. 1,200 for the keyboard).
The secondary benefit is that you save one USB port. A keyboard-mouse combo requires only one receiver to be plugged into the computer’s USB port. If you use two individual devices, they will both require their own USB receiver’s so you lose the space of one USB port.
A budget choice – The Dell KM113 for Rs. 1,200
After going through the various choices available, I decided to go in for the Dell KM113 wireless keyboard and mouse set. There were two reasons for this choice:
At Rs. 1,200, the Dell was at least Rs. 200 cheaper than the other branded keyboard and mouse sets at the time.
The only other competitor I had experience with was the Logitech MK260, had a keyboard with very slim keys, and as glossy in finish. I wanted a nice matte finish with the Dell provided.
Unpacking – Design and Build
Both Keyboard and Mouse come packed in a slim brown cardboard box and are packed in their individual plastic cells. They come with 2AAA alkaline batteries for the keyboard and one AA battery for the mouse. The wireless receiver comes taper to the side separely so that you don’t lose it., and is the size of a SanDisk Cruzer Pen Drive. Just plug in the receiver to your PC, insert the batteries and you are ready to go. No device driver installation required.
The devices feel reasonably well made and are finished in Matte black. The markings on the keyboard are done with stickers and not etchings, but feel good to the touch. The mouse is larger than average but comfortable for even small and medium sized hands. The mouse does feel light for its size thought an a bit flimsy for my liking, especially since budget mice like the Dell MS111(Rs. 200) feel better built.
Features and Usage
Keyboard: The keyboard is a traditional 104 button keyboard. The keys are reasonably sized and the typing feel is good with a soft touch. What I like though is that while soft, you still have to type or press the keys reasonably firmly in order to get them to respond. This is much better in comparison to Logitech’s K260 keyboards which require a feather touch, something I am uncomfortable with. They keys are rated for 5 million keystrokes, but I doubt I will ever reach that limit. Still, after 1.5 years of ownership, they are running fine.
I just wish the keyboard had a bigger pad for wresting your wrists. The current one has a small one inch protrusion below the case of the keys, and it is not enough. Another issue is that there are no individual LED lights to indicate whether CAPS, Num or Scroll Lock is on/off.
Above the keyboard keys are the shortcut keys which are invaluable. These include multimedia keys for playing / pausing videos, buttons for adjusting / muting volume, and buttons to open your email app, web browser and calculator, among others.
A good feature of the keyboard is that it is water resistant, i.e. you can spill liquids onto it and it drains through holes at the bottom without damaging the electronics inside. Still, just don’t pour coffee or sugary sodas the sugar in it will go between the keys and ruin the feel. Not to mention, ants will instantly be attracted to your keyboard.
Mouse: The mouse is good and it works smoothly. It’s just like any other wireless mouse. It fits well in my medium sized hands and the left and right clicks make an audible sound when clicked, but it is not unpleasant. The scroll wheel moves smoothly and with the right spacing between indents. The mouse, as noted earlier, feels a bit flimsy, and I wish they had made it a bit heavier.
Both keyboard and mouse smoothly worked at a distance of 10 feet from LED tv.
Battery Life
The keyboard requires 2AAA batteries which last around 6-8 months, while the mouse requires one AA battery which lasts 3-4 months. They come equipped with one set of batteries I the box.
Warranty
The KM113 only offers a one year warranty, as compared to Logitech and Microsoft who offers three years and two years warranty respectively. But in 18 months of using the Dell, I have faced no issues.
Alternatives
You can save money by going in for local branded sets, but I believe in spending a bit more for a well reputed brand which will last long. There are other well branded alternative keyboard-mouse sets available around the same price range. They include:
Logitech MK260 for Rs. 1,460. A very good set with multimedia features similar to the Dell, but I prefer the feel of the Dell’s keyboard. The Logitech has a more solid mouse.
Logitech MK220 for Rs. 1,250. While the mouse is good, the keyboard is very basic, with no multimedia keys. The keys are also small in size, making it uncomfortable to type.
Microsoft Wiress Desktop 800 for Rs. 1,580. A well build and good alternative. Both keyboard and mouse are solid. Keyboard contains shortcut keys like the Dell.
Verdict
A wireless keyboard and mouse set makes so much sense in terms of convenience and cost. While the Dell KM113 is not perfect, it does most things very well and is cheaper than the competition by Rs. 200 – Rs. 300.
