wireless keyboard ?? to go with laptop tv playing??

D

Ds6161

Chieftain
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Oct 29, 2001
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Some where far, far away!
I was thinking how now that I have a 55 inch hdtv and PS3 that I haven't played a pc game in years.
That said all I used to play on my pc was Civ 1-3 like crazy (you know going to bed at 4am!!) Civ 4 just didn't do it for me (religion and culture was too much for me) and EA NHL.

SO.. with Civ V coming I was like cool but I don't want to sit in front of my 20 inch pc screen..

Idea... play Civ V on laptop connected to big screen tv and use a wireless keyboard!!

so the question now is finding the right pc wireless keyboard that is designed for this type of game??
 
I don't know of any keyboards particularly designed for TBS games like Civ. I'm sure
there are alot of options though. Just gotta check around and find one that fits.

I've long wanted a device to combine mouse and keyboard. A one handed, eyes off device. Single button hotkeys to replace the two handed shift/contral clicks! With a thumbcontrolled trackball (or toggle) to move the cursor. I'd use it for TBS and RTS games, and I'd use it for programs like GIMP. I looked for one a few+ years ago but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. So I came up with some expanded mouse designs and brainstormed a few customizable mini-keyboards. I thought I might make my own, but I never got a round tuit.

Time has passed and I figured that someone would be selling mini-programable keyboards by now... small one handed keyboards, or large mouse, with a trackball and adjustable key placements and programable hot-keys. ?? In your situation with a 55 inch HDTV I would especially want something like this. I'd set up a small stand aside the recliner. My eyes could stay on the screen, while one hand and my lap would be free (free for the cat to claim anyway :~) I think it would be comfortable, effecient, and ergonomic. I'd use it for gaming and TV net surfing.

I'd also use it for programs like GIMP. Ideally it would be designed to be used with either hand (I've hand alot of thoughts of that and have a few designs). Then I'd have the option to execute commands, and navigate menus with the left hand, while my right hand was free for note taking and design drawing +. When I was in gaming mode I'd use the device in my dominate right hand, and use the left for beer and pretzle purposes.


Hehe but then I discovered Jeff Han's awesome device at TED! With that thing, I could get seriously jiggy with it! Creativity would flow all that much faster due to streamlining the logistics of transcribing thought! Would be like the cruising down the Auto-Bon versus washboarding along a rocky dirt road. Combining hand sketches and graphics programs would take my art to a new level. The recording, organizing and accessing of brainstorming sessions would make them incredibly productive and free form. I'd set mine up like a drafting table. Someday I might afford one of those. That day would change my life!
 
Just hoping it'll support the G15 (and G19) screens with some useful info.
In Civ4, it was supported, but I didn't really like what info was on it...
 

Link to video.

Logitechs G13 comes close to what I'd want. It's got 25 progammable keys + macros. And I think its got 3 gaming modes so you'd actually get 75 options. Its also got an LED screen which could be nice if the makers of your game support it. The LED info can also be modded by users.

But its missing a couple key things. The thumb toggle is attached to the right of the pad, making it a left hand only device. I came up with a design using a similar contour, specifically so that the toggle was detachable for right or left hand use. But the G13 doesn't do that despite a basic shape design which supports it. And the G13 toggle is four directional only. So I don't know how well it would function as a full fledged substitue for a mouse. Or how well it would work on a hex map?? Might be fine I don't know. I think the G13 is meant to be used in conjuntion with a mouse, not provide a replacement for it. I want a one handed mouse/gaming pad combo that can be used in either hand. But this G13 looks pretty cool to me. If I was playing Civ5 on a 55" HDTV, I think I'd get one.
 
White Elk said:

Link to video.

Logitechs G13 comes close to what I'd want. It's got 25 progammable keys + macros. And I think its got 3 gaming modes so you'd actually get 75 options. Its also got an LED screen which could be nice if the makers of your game support it. The LED info can also be modded by users.

But its missing a couple key things. The thumb toggle is attached to the right of the pad, making it a left hand only device. I came up with a design using a similar contour, specifically so that the toggle was detachable for right or left hand use. But the G13 doesn't do that despite a basic shape design which supports it. And the G13 toggle is four directional only. So I don't know how well it would function as a full fledged substitue for a mouse. Or how well it would work on a hex map?? Might be fine I don't know. I think the G13 is meant to be used in conjuntion with a mouse, not provide a replacement for it. I want a one handed mouse/gaming pad combo that can be used in either hand. But this G13 looks pretty cool to me. If I was playing Civ5 on a 55" HDTV, I think I'd get one.
Click to expand...

The key thing it is missing is its not a keyboard. You can get a keyboard that would function much better in this case compared to that pad. The pad is meant to be used in conjunction with a mouse *and* keyboard.

Op: if having a small mouse doesn't bother you, the Logitech V220 laptop mouse is real nice. Ive got one of my own and even though it seems fairly tiny in my big hands, its still comfortable to use. Its also accurate and goes a long time on a single pair of batteries (which you can make rechargeable too)

For the keyboard, pretty much any Logitech one rated 3 stars or higher on Newegg will do just fine. It doesnt have to be one of the more expensive ones, such as the diNovo edge. The K--- series will do just fine, even more so if this keyboard will only be used occasionally.
 
Genocidicbunny said:
The key thing it is missing is its not a keyboard. You can get a keyboard that would function much better in this case compared to that pad. The pad is meant to be used in conjunction with a mouse *and* keyboard.
Click to expand...
I just need a dozen or more hotkeys on my mouse. More than what a gamers mouse allows, but far less than a full keyboard. For Civ and other TBS games, I'd use just the one device. If I got back into RTS, then I'd want to add a gamers mouse. I don't see the need for a full keyboard to play a game.

In Civ I use the hotkeys alot. Dragging the mouse around and clicking on things gets to be a bore. Using the hotkeys is nice, but I have to take hand off the mouse and eyes off the screen to click a two button combo. Then hands back to mouse and eyes back to screen and repeat over and over and over again. Its unnecessary wear and tear. And although the hotkeys are quicker than drag and clicking, its still slower than it needs to be. Those extra body movements and those tiny increments of wasted time add up to a noteworthy sum.

A device like the G13 would be useful for me if the toggle moved the cursor effectively. For some tasks such as playing Civ, I think it more effecient and ergonomically correct to use a one handed stationary mouse with just a thumb to move the cursor and having all the needed keys within the reach of a single hand span. My elbow, wrist and back wouldn't be engaged as much. My eyes wouldn't be constantly adjusting from screen glare to table top. And my tasks would get done quicker.
 
The Logitech DiNovo Edge is bluetooth, so it has better range than normal wireless, and it has a built in trackpad.

We use them in our conference rooms, and they work very well. I don't think I'd use one for FPS, but TBS should be fine.
 
White Elk said:
I just need a dozen or more hotkeys on my mouse. More than what a gamers mouse allows, but far less than a full keyboard. For Civ and other TBS games, I'd use just the one device. If I got back into RTS, then I'd want to add a gamers mouse. I don't see the need for a full keyboard to play a game.

In Civ I use the hotkeys alot. Dragging the mouse around and clicking on things gets to be a bore. Using the hotkeys is nice, but I have to take hand off the mouse and eyes off the screen to click a two button combo. Then hands back to mouse and eyes back to screen and repeat over and over and over again. Its unnecessary wear and tear. And although the hotkeys are quicker than drag and clicking, its still slower than it needs to be. Those extra body movements and those tiny increments of wasted time add up to a noteworthy sum.

A device like the G13 would be useful for me if the toggle moved the cursor effectively. For some tasks such as playing Civ, I think it more effecient and ergonomically correct to use a one handed stationary mouse with just a thumb to move the cursor and having all the needed keys within the reach of a single hand span. My elbow, wrist and back wouldn't be engaged as much. My eyes wouldn't be constantly adjusting from screen glare to table top. And my tasks would get done quicker.
Click to expand...


Price is one thing. 72$ vs 30$ for a device that functions only as a gamepad is a bad deal.

Secondly, your options are very limited as to what you can apply it to. A 55" tv is very good for watching tv (duurh) and a computer hooked up to it can make it the centerpiece of an amazing home theater. A keyboard is infinitely more useful in that scenario since you can now play games and actually operate your computer with one device.

Lastly, the G13 isnt that great of a decive in general. I have used one and for the longest time, I had to look down to see that I was pressing the right keys. We are all used to keyboard, why change that? I can type with damn near 100% accuracy in complete darkness with my keyboard, which you will probably have if you use the laptop as a media center too. The G13 isnt all that ergonomic either -- it got pretty uncomfortable in a short amount of time.

In all, if you want to buy into the Logitech hype and get the G13, its your money, you're more than welcome to. My opinion, stemming from actual use of both the device and general heavy computer use is that a keyboard will be much much more functional, useful, and will not have all those negatives you listed. You will also need a mouse -- nothing but a built in trackball can change that, and even then it takes a while to get good at using one. A keyboard and mouse combo just makes sense in this case.
 
wow I was worried about this being to off topic!
thankz for the info I'm looking into the 2 logitech's.
Since I have not played Civ in awhile I'm forgetting how much do we really use the keyboard?
Could I go with only a handheld mouse and just click thru things on the screen?
I think this would be fine for moving units & choosing production, but am I'm forgetting about all the other stuff..

thankz again for the info
 
I believe you can do 95% of the game, if not 100% with just a mouse. Its much faster with a keyboard though.

Like I also pointed out, you can use the laptop for a media center too, for which a keyboard is just about necessary.
 
Genocidicbunny
the MK 300 does look good, but its not what I'm looking for.
I want the mouse or pad in the keyboard. I don't want to change my living room chair / couch into a desk, so the separate mouse kill's it.
After looking into it I'm not going with the diNovo either, actually to small and looses to many buttons for me.
So I'm down to trying the Adesso mini..
Of course I've still got 2-3 months to see what else we come up with...
I will try and get to Best Buy tomorrow and see what they have on display to give me more idea's..
thankz again for all the info! keep it coming.
 
With a decent mouse, you dont need anything but the arm rests for it to track. If you really dont want a separate mouse though, your options are much more limited.
 
Well I got the Adesso mini..
1. the mini is a joke.. It's a full sized keyboard!! Just as big a my desktop keyboard if I would chop off the number pad from the right side.

2. seems to work great.. no lag.. trackball is very good, very quick & responsive.

now I'm just waiting on getting a monitor cable in the mail.
I forgot I had given out my last cable.

Now time to install Civ III & be ready to test in action.

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Mult...TF8&coliid=I1IJ2U7V5805D6&colid=330IB6PYOEQ5R
 
I do this from my couch on a bigscreen as well, been doing it for 4 or 5 years now. I have a microsoft bluetooth keyboard and mouse that I use from my couch. Keyboard is not all that great as it's large and was kind of expensive in the $100 range when new, but it came with the bluetooth mouse (I was concerned with distance and connectivity issues with other receivers, probably wouldn't have mattered but whatever). I have no issue using the mouse on the couch. If I put a pillow under my wrist, I don't get any wrist cramp issues. No desk needed or anything. Neither were marketed as "gaming" peripherals per se...

I used this setup to play FPS games a while back and it was great, never had any issues. Civ IV is obviously less demanding as far as keyboard/mouse setups in that regard so I never had any issues there either.
 
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