If you one of the many of people discovering the joys of a Home Theater PC, then you’ll want to get as much usefulness from it as you can. Microsoft makes a standard Media Center remote, which works just fine with their 10-foot interface experience, but makes searching for your media a little awkward. Other vendors have created Media Center remotes that offer more functionality, but sometimes you just need a keyboard.
There are several wireless keyboards out there, but wouldn’t it be great if they had all of your standard Media Center functions integrated right on it? What if the keyboard could be programmed to power your TV? What if analog mouse controls were integrated right on the body?
Well, Microsoft’s Remote Keyboard for Windows Media Center was developed specifically for Home Theater PCs running Windows Media Center to address these tasks with a single device.
Backlit Media Keys
Turn the lights down low without having to squint and peck to control your Media Center
Green Start Button
Launch Media Center PC functions with the press of a single green start button
Work with Media Center PC
Easily control your computer and home entertainment center – including music, movies, and photos – from the comfort of your couch.
Sleek, All-in-One Design
Enjoy all of your digital media clutter-free with this 3-in-1 keyboard with integrated mouse and remote control.
30-Foot Wireless Range
Effortlessly control all kinds of digital entertainment from across yoru living room with thirty-foot wireless range.
Key Lock
The Key Lock keeps this sleek, stylish keyboard from being turned on by mistake, so you can stow it without worry.
Additional Features:
- Television Control
- Spill-Resistant Design
- Cutting-Edge Design
Works with: a Media Center PC that runs Microsoft Windows Vista®, Window XP Media Center Edition 2005 or later and has a Windows® XP Media Center Edition Infrared Receiver.
Remote Keyboard for Windows® XP Media Center Edition requires Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 or Windows® Vista® Home Premium or Ultimate. Earlier Media Center Edition versions are not supported.
If you are using Microsoft Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005, you must also install all the available Media Center updates for full functionality.
The keyboard has an interesting layout that is optimized for Media Center users. The main keyboard area is rather compact as to fit all of the arrow keys, function keys, and other special keys that will probably not get much use on a HTPC. Above the main keyboard area is a button to power on your PC, TV, and turn on the keyboard’s amber backlight. (although only the Media Center functions are backlit). On the front side of the keyboard (pointing away from the user) is an IR transmitter window (which is also where the keyboard “learns” from other remotes).
Flanking the main keyboard on both the left and right are raised areas with Media Center functions. These raised areas serve as handles and make the keyboard very satisfying to grip with both hands, leaving your thumbs free to press the remote buttons. They keyboard feels awkward when you’re not holding it in this fashion: like when you actually have to type something.
On the right side of the unit are buttons to navigate your Media Center. The standard D-pad/OK ring is here, along with an analog joystick for the mouse and quick-jump buttons for common MCE locations (My Videos, Guide, etc).
On the left side are the secondary nav funcitons and play control. At the top are mouse left and right-click buttons, and below that are standard media controls (play, pause, skip forward/back, fast forward/back, and a recessed record button). On the bottom of the keyboard is a lock/unlock (or power switch depending on how you want to look at it) to prevent draining the batteries if something accidentally presses the keys.
If you already have a fully-working Media Center PC then this keyboard works right out of the box (after you insert two AA batteries, that is). The keyboard uses the Media Center IR receiver that came with your MCE remote (the keyboard does not come with one). All media functions work great, and the keyboard is fine in one-handed operation. It is alot easier to change channels and find media by typing on the keyboard than using the standard MCE remote.
Unfortunately this is where the niftiness of this little device ends.
The mouse implementation is absolutely horrible, for one. To activate the mouse you have to press down HARD on the right analog stick while moving it around. Because the unit is IR, the cursor is very hard to control, and is rather unresponsive. The IR receiver easily becomes saturated with all of the transmitted information, so the cursor stops after a short movement, so you must stop and press the analog stick again to continue movement. Doing this you can get into the general area where you need to click, but nudging the cursor just a few pixels is very frustrating using the stick. You’ll find yourself using keyboard shortcuts wherever possible because the mouse is so unweildy. I know that good IR mouse support isn’t impossible, because the mouse emulation on every iMON-based HTPC I’ve tried works a lot better than this.
Some of the buttons don’t work properly, either. The volume up/down and TV power buttons can be programmed to control your TV, but by default these buttons control the volume on your PC’s software mixer. In their default mode, the volume down button does not work, and I tried it on two different HTPCs (one with XP MCE and the other with Vista Ultimate).
The Green media center “Home” button also turns on your Xbox 360, which is rather annoying if you happen to have your console in the same room as your HTPC. Every time I press home the 360 turns on, spewing heat and noise into the room. I find myself conciously pressing “back” or using the Quick Jump buttons to avoid using the Big Green Button because I don’t want to get up and turn my 360 back off.
The keyboard is IR only, which isn’t a huge problem in and of itself. Line up sight is very important, and the keyboard is alot less sensitive than the standard MCE remote (which will still work even if you point it behind you). Tilting the keyboard up or down slightly decreases sensitivity, which can be observed when using the mouse stick. Input also stops dead when your little rugrats get between the couch and your home theater rack.
The biggest problem with this keyboard is that it is completely useless outside of a fully configured Media Center installation. The keyboard relies on the Media Center IR receiver, which isn’t recognized as a USB keyboard or mouse at the hardware level. This means that if you have to do any maintenance like going into the BIOS, booting into Safe Mode, or any other task outside of Windows then you’ll have to plug up a different keyboard and/or mouse.
The Microsoft Media Center IR keyboard is a great concept and has all the features you need for your Media Center PC. Unfortunately the implementation is severely lacking to the point that it cripples its full potential. Using IR-only technology seems like a good idea so consumers can use their existing IR remote receiver, but the mouse support is horrible, and fast typing is impossible.
This keyboard does make finding shows and jumping to channels much easier, and the seperation of the controls on either side of the keybaord is intuitive. Due to its size, this keyboard is not exactly a remote replacement, but offers features above the standard MCE remote. There are also some keys that don’t work properly or have undesired results.
Because the keyboard relies on the Media Center IR receiver, it is useless for system maintenance. You’ll still have to whip out a different keyboard if you want to mess with BIOS settings or do anything outside of Windows. If Microsoft had only included a cheap USB-based RF receiver then nearly every problem with this keyboard would be eliminated.
After considering all of the facts, you’ll realize that this is just a really big remote for your Media Center PC. It’s alot harder to lose in your couch cushions, which is the only reason it still exists in my house.
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2 Comment
Um… the home button is right above the backspace…
found just the thing but 10x smaller, look up mini pro wireless keyboard on amazon, bye bye junky keyboards.