Crapgadget CES edition, round 10: PC Desktop Duo
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Jan 11th 2008 9:10AM
posted Jan 11th 2008 9:10AM
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Why is that crap?
Looking at the keyboard, above the function keys, it looks like it has 21 programmable keys. It also looks like it has volume control keys (up down) in the middle of the programmable buttons. The box also confirms this.
If that's going for $9 with a mouse (ok, 4D means standard mouse, and not optical), it's really decent for that price.
I also fail to see why this falls into the crapgadget category. If anything, the real crapgadgets at CES are the cameras that Engadget use for taking all these photos.
That looks exactly like my old keyboard! It didn't have that icon on it and it was wireless and by a different brand (still no name brand) but besides that looked exactly the same. The Programmable keys were nice.
shut up about the cameras already!
we've heard it. they suck. comment about the actual post.
Also, I agree- why crap? I'd take one of these(for my third computer)
@KC
Doesn't "4D" mean that it has a 4-directional scroll wheel that rocks side to side? How does that have anything to do with the tracking technology?
And @ everyone else
I think this is in crapgadget because...c'mon, it's a frigging off-brand keyboard and mouse. With absolutely NOTHING special about them. They're beyond average. If CES were filled with products like this, then it'd be like paying admission to CompUSSR.
I can actually scroll back time with that mouse?
According to Ken Kuturagi, the PS3 is also 4D, so I'm not surprised this mouse allows you to scroll through time.
Yakno', I used my PS3 to turn back time and revive my dead dog. He's fine, now. I uncured cancer with it too. People were living too long. Then my dog died again.
What they need now is a 5D mouse. The fouth dimension is starting to get boring, methinks.
4D means 4 "Direction".
Typical Asian English.. =S
Why did you put this under Crapgadget? A mouse that lets you travel in time is f***awesome!
It's only the mouse that travels through time. As soon as you plug it in, it goes back to factory in the year 2004, where it's repackaged and put back on the market. The truth is every 4D mouse out there now is the same mouse that's gone back over and over again.
I second that. Why is it crap? Can you, Barb, give a legitimate reason?
I second that. Why is it crap? Can you, Barb, give a legitimate reason?
I second that. Why is it crap? Can you, Barb, give a legitimate reason?
Not only did you second that, you thirded AND fourthed it.
his 4d mouse traveled back in time and clicked "Add Your Comment" again.
And then Again.
4D= I 4theD it.
A mouse and a keyboard, in one package, that's insane!!!
Come on, a keyboard that gives you direct access to the internets, and a scroll mouse with 40 wheels, this is definitly not crap, this is the best product of 2007!
The "40" actually reads "4D", though I second the thought that we need a mouse on the market with 40 wheels.
Wow, a mouse that can operate in 4 dimensions even though all the users can only percieve things in 3 has to be cool.
Wonder Twin powers, Activate! Form of a time travelling mouse and keyboard!
Gotta love the fatty enter/return key.
When will keyboard manufacturers learn that this is unacceptable? A fat enter key displaces the backslash [\] so there is no standard location. Some shorten the backspace key (disastrous!) to fit the backslash and some shorten the right-shift key (VERY annoying).
We need to ridicule companies who soil there names with such horrible keyboards!
And it looks like these guys have managed to do both (shorten the backspace AND shift keys I mean)!
Whoops...used the wrong "their" in that last sentence. Typing from the Wii Opera browser without a keyboard is difficult to get used to...especially the auto-complete feature.
Anyway, an error message caused a double-post. Looks like that browser still has a long way to go.
Gotta love the fatty enter/return key.
When will keyboard manufacturers learn that this is unacceptable? A fat enter key displaces the backslash [\] so there is no standard location. Some shorten the backspace key (disastrous!) to fit the backslash and some shorten the right-shift key (VERY annoying).
We need to ridicule companies who soil there names with such horrible keyboards!
Actually most keyboards are like that, except for US qwerty and a few others.
Nevertheless, you are absolutely right :-)
Whoops...used the wrong "their" in that last sentence. Typing from the Wii Opera browser without a keyboard is difficult to get used to...especially the auto-complete feature.
Anyway, an error message caused a double-post. Looks like that browser still has a long way to go.
I have to wonder if that uses the new PS/2 connector instead of the old PC/AT :-p
As a matter of fact it is PS/2, you can see the plug pin picture right on the front of the box. But, I've just heard rumors of a new version in 2012 with that new fangled USB that all the kids are talking about these days.
And to Derwin... while they may intend for "4D" to mean up/down as well as left/right scrolling, that isn't 4 demensions, it's only two. Unless of course "D" means direction, but that'd just be crap.
At first I thought it was some kind of cool mouse / keyboard hybrid. I think a really simple "mouse-click" key on a keyboard would be useful in a lot of respects, if you're doing repetitive mouse-to-keyboard work.
Whatever you guys are doing with the pictures is absolutely craptastic. I can't even see them at work anymore because of the URL, but that's not your problem. But at home it's touch and go with the pictures. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I don't.
Usually, when pictures stop loading it is time to reboot my cable modem. This time, though, it is only Engadget. Please fix your pictures!
At first I thought it was some kind of cool mouse / keyboard hybrid. I think a really simple "mouse-click" key on a keyboard would be useful in a lot of respects, if you're doing repetitive mouse-to-keyboard work.
I'm pretty sure "4D" is referring to the four-directional scroll wheel that you can tilt side-to-side as whell as roll up and down.
HAHAHA your icon...!
Direct access internet...
I get it... you buy the Desktop Duo, travel back in time using it's scroll wheel, and persuade yourself in the past not to buy a PC, because there's a keyboard and mouse combo coming out in 2008 that doesn't need one.
Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
If a keyboard is a crap gadget how is she typing her stories? Voice to text? Handwriting recognition tablet? Telepathy?
How does a shortcut key to Internet browser make the keyboard to be multimedia keyboard? I always thought multimedia keys meant something like audio/video player controls or something.
This thing is crap because it doesn't have a fullsized backspace key. 'Nough said.
I'm not getting the whole "moar" misspelling thing. What's that about? It doesn't look like anything on the box is misspelled.
I think some of you guys are taking this too seriously, but maybe that's just me.
I think the reason why it's filed under crapgadget is because it's nothing special - keyboards and mice have BEEN out... And I guess the moar Ds is AN ATTEMPT to make fun of the product...
Point taken, but if you ever been to a CES there are aisle and aisle of these types of vendors. Understand they are not there just to woo the regular customer. They are also there to get a buyer, that keyboard and mouse combo could be $9 if the quantity of purchase is right. I have seen the term 4D mouse been used at least 3 years ago, it was popularized by these foreign manufacturers.
Thanks for the explanation Dr. Egon Spengler.
Actually most keyboards are like that, except for US qwerty and e few others.
Nevertheless, you are absolutely right :-)
When I worked at Radioshack, they were selling these sets for 30 or so a pop.
Complete and utter junk.
Its made by Sakar. God, we sold so much Sakar crap it was unreal. I dont think I'll ever be able to wash the Sakar off of me.
Whoa! Art Lebedev is probably crapping his pants in fear then. Who needs the Optimus Maximus keyboard when you can have this crap?
I second jonny's response. I currently work at RS, and well, these things I haven't sold once, nor would I ever. Logitech and Microsoft all the way. Same goes with the utter POS that is our Gigaware brand.
Direct Internet Access with this keyboard?
I'll use it to bypass the corporate firewall right away!
Haha, we sell those at Radioshack! And yeah, we do sell a lot of Sakar-brand bull crap. It's all quite junk.
Wouldn't your rather have a Desktop Trio?
http://www.sakar.ca/sakar/en/product/view/10972
Includes TURBO key below huge return key.