Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 (silver)

Summary: Dislike because of shorter "drive" time than diNovo Edge. I believe that the actual keys should be dark silver or black so that they are easier to read in daylight. but you ain't gonna beat the 8000 for bright lighted keys, essential for anyone with vision problems who are not rocket person on a keyboard. ! I AM visually impaired and the wireless backlighted keyboard is a Godsend. The diNovo is NOT back lighted, for whatever reason I do not know. I bought and used one for several months. Real stylish "armpiece" lookin great sitting sideways up on its cute charger. But if you accidentally set the keyboard in offset...no charging...that will happen at times and leaves you with a dead board when you might need it the most. I mentioned "style B4 function freaks"...let me explain. The diNovo is a beautiful product. It works just fine IF you do not want or need a backlighted keyboard. I informed Logitech that was the main reason for returning for refund and Logitech was awesome in refunding with no "restock" fee. Backing up their customer satisfaction assurances, you can not go wrong with Logitech in my opinion. Had they provided a truly backlighted keyboard then, most likely I'd not have ordered the 800 and then I'd never know what a really kool keyboard it really is!

Here are the reasons why...the "clunky" charger is fracking awesome, especially for a MacBookPro OSX 10.5 user such as I am. My room is set up "as if" I were3 using a desktop, not a laptop, deal being is when I need to haul my Mac with me I just pick it up and go...can't do that very well with a PC or and Apple. My Mac is the "brain" for all of my computer needs. I hook it to the RGB on a 47" 1080P 120hz Vizio LCD and use it as my primary monitor. If you've not experienced something like this you have not lived yet, in my opinion. I have my Magicjack VOIP plugged in to my Mac. Works flawlessly and saves me over $1200 per year on USA and Canada calls 24/7 kinda, sorta the best deal on planet earth and you only "risk" $19.95 per year. Thats how, on SSA I can afford a sweet 47" "monitor.

Now I am a creature for comfort. Sitting jacknife straight in front of anything smaller than a 47" monitor does not "work" for me. Thats why I must have a wireless keyboard. BUT, time to time I do need to sit in an ergonomic desk chair. And when I do, guess what? my 8000 fits sweetly on the slide out keyboard "drawer" wher I have my super mutli USB port keyboard and mouse charger neatly tucked on the back of the slider drawer and merely slip my 8000 into its well set up contact station which is all neatly tucked awy when not in use...and I can sit "straight arrow" using a desktop keyboard like the "saner" folks do who use computers. Try doing THAT with a diNovo and you look as perplexed as the well suited "I,m a PC" nerd does on the Apple ads. To keep it in real terms, the 8000 is absolutely *******' and it gives you 4, count 'em 4 USB ports to cram "stuff" into. So while its true, the Microsoft 8000 does cost a tad more than the diNovo Edge, and well it should since it offers substantially more in practical, user friendly terms...so, please 'scuuuuse me, I need to touch up my cocktail, click on American Idol Finale, use side by side PIP on my 47" Vizio, my way to "multi-task" as I check my e mail and trollop hither and yon on the net from 5-8 feet away kicking way baclk in my non-ergonomically correct but absolutely firstclas comfortable buttersoft leather rocker reciliner and tap tap away in the dark on my 8000, and "mouse" away with a really great bluetooth mouse critter (all paid for with the over $1200 per year I am saving using Magicjack and no, Magicjack, Vizio and Microsoft paid me nada to say what I am saying here. Its all true and I swear that on whats left of my now 70 year life, and enjoying every Blu Ray 1080P moment of it at the same time!

I hope this helps anyone interested in saving some $$$ and having some pretty good "stuff" at the same time. Just sayin, thas all, just sayin! Don't shoot the messenger!

Updated on May 20, 2009

Excuse my typos..for me its always more difficult on these "inside" fields to make all the correction...its not the fault of my 8000, just me, my sight and not being a very good typist and the ******* was not meant as a swear word, but rather it was supposed to be something like good, great or other compliment. Oh, and I erred on the Logitech restock fee. I did accept a $20 deduct on my refund but they did pay for the return shipping. Like I said, had Logitech offered a backlighted solution I would never have "dicovered the 8000, and I would be stuck with a "pretty" but in they way functionless charger, except to recharge. When one goes about "displaying" something like a keyboard as more important than function its time for a reality check, in my opinion...thanks for anyone who read all my blabbering...respectfully, Geezerkatz

Summary: Microsoft offered a cashback on this desktop set so price was less of an issue for me. All of the Cons mentioned above make this difficult to recommend. Make sure you use hardware-managed bluetooth otherwise you'll get keyboard lags and won't be able to use the keyboard during BIOS POST (in the mouse/keyboard control panels under the 'wireless' tab, click the advanced button).

Updated on Apr 4, 2009

Actually, I'd give it 4 out of 5 as the hardware-managed bluetooth mode is making this a whole lot more pleasant to use now. Wish I'd found the option earlier.
Oh yeah, there's chrome 'Microsoft' lettering on the mouse which comes of over time.
I've also re-mapped the right-most button on the mouse to bring up the on-screen keyboard as I use the mouse a lot on it's own and the on-screen magnifier mapping was annoying. It's a shame that the on-screen keyboard application is so poor - use Click'N Type instead...