Member Profile -- Engadget

John Bailey
Member Since Dec 15th, 2006

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Engadget	182 Comments
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Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Nov 25th 2009 3:19PM on Engadget

@microlomaniac

No scrolling. Tried it on both Linux and Windows. Otherwise, not too bad. Keys are a bit small and stiff, but the back light is good.

Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Nov 25th 2009 3:16PM on Engadget

@in5ane
Sadly yes. Usually only in an emergency. And NEVER cables.

Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Nov 25th 2009 5:07AM on Engadget

@Henning

At a guess, because it's cheaper to make a non Bluetooth device. This is not really designed for laptops. And desktops are not usually going to have a Bluetooth link built in, so no real advantage. Bluetooth mice and keyboards also have a bad reputation for being a bit finicky.

The wireless USB is a dongle that links with the keyboard like practically every cordless USB mouse/keyboard, and is included with the device. So everybody who buys one will have wireless USB. Most of the Logitech mice and keyboards are RF instead of Bluetooth.

Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Nov 25th 2009 4:42AM on Engadget

@Arc007

Great!!! You are my hero..

Maplin branch 5 minutes walk from me, and they are supposed to have 4 in stock. Many thanks for the link. If it works well, it will be perfect for my HTPC.. Way better than the mouse and full sized wireless keyboard set I am currently using. If not, repack and bring back. I have got a lot of garbage from Maplin over the years, so no reservations getting a refund.

I was lusting after one of the little keyboard and touchpad combos from Logitech, but this is actually affordable.

Kindle firmware update promises 85 percent battery boost, native PDF reader

Nov 24th 2009 4:06PM on Engadget

@Mitchell2

Just a wild guess. But if the Kindle only goes into sleep instead of turning off entirely like other models, then you are likely to get a significant boost by turning it off. Then spin it as increased battery life. Or perhaps make the sleep mode deeper at the possible cost of longer time making page turns.

Achtung! Motorola Milestone now free on contract in Germany, sort of

Nov 17th 2009 6:02PM on Engadget

Because we don't worship corporations.

American philosophy seems to be " I exist for the benefit of the company". Thus companies give you want they decide you want.

EU philosophy is the opposite. "A company exists to offer stuff to us for sale". Thus, companies offer use stuff they think we might want, and we decide to buy or not.

Alienware M17x owners complaining of 'skipping, stuttering audio,' with no fix in sight (updated: fix in sight!)

Nov 17th 2009 5:35PM on Engadget

This is why smart people build their own.

Buy a Dell or any ready made system, and you swap the flexibility of a modular product design with a huge number of options for a black box.

Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and AIR 2 betas are out, multi-touch and video acceleration are in (video)

Nov 17th 2009 6:36AM on Engadget

@Kimleng
Adobe may be a third party, but unlike Microsoft, they are a neutral third party. It is in their best interest to have flash working on as many platforms and for as many purposes as possible. And the more stuff Flash works on, the more valuable it gets.

Sony offering ePub upgrade / trade-in program for PRS-500 e-reader

Nov 16th 2009 4:44PM on Engadget

Or trading in a game and getting the sequel free. remember you can send it back to Sony for new firmware to be put on it that will give it a new lease of life.

The whole point of sending it back for re-flashing is to be able to use the ePub format. Which will essentially give you a new reader, as you can then buy books from Sony and others, instead of just Sony.

The cheap trade in price is not great, but not bad either. It is an older discontinued model, so does anybody really expect a full refund? And if in 6 months time, Sony discontinue the old DRM system, and replace it with ePub, how much would an obsolete reader be worth?

Ricoh GXR camera system swaps out the sensor along with the lens

Nov 10th 2009 7:19AM on Engadget

@Barcode

Well.. Until they stop making 35mm film that is.

Let the hive mind of Engadget get that for you.

"I'm pretty much a complete noob when it comes to camera stuff. My wife loves to take pictures, though. So much so that she literally wore out her first point and shoot camera, and the Kodak Z712 I bought for her less than two years ago is starting to act up as well. To compound the matter, we are expecting our first born sometime next year. I fear the Kodak just isn't going to cut it any longer. What would be the best starter DSLR to get? She hates missing photo opportunities due to camera 'lag' so speed would definitely be at the top of the list. Photo quality and features would be next. Price should be no more than $800. I'm not interested in video capabilities."

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