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Hello Spiceheads,

I am having a discussion with a colleague, we are debating whether or not to put in wireless keyboard/mouse combos for some of the users ( I know…if you give it to one, you better bring some for the whole class) .
I’m not concerned about the cost. This company hates wires more than any other I’ve been to. It’s worth it to them. I may be worried that it runs on 2.4GHz (same as wireless) and may interfere. Is there any network problems I can look forward to having 50 + wireless keyboard and mice? Security risks? I know they can get hacked…how common is this, how easy is it?
Anything else I should worry about?

67 Spice ups
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I don’t think you need to worry about security risks with a standard set that works with a USB dongle.

I would think the only con here would be you know longer have a mouse cord to strangle your users with…

44 Spice ups
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…then again you could more easily pick up the keyboard and smash it over someones head.

25 Spice ups
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Con: batteries.

Pros: none

61 Spice ups
5

Wireless:

Batteries and ‘sometimes’ works.

Wired:

It just works.

40 Spice ups
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I’ve never had an issue with wireless keyboards and mice, and WiFi. The main drawback is having to deal with batteries. At my current employer, I provide Logitech hardware and it does a good job on energy use. I’ve rarely had to deal with a battery issue, even when having hardware change employees.

As for security, they are susceptible to a MitM attack. I’m not familiar with it, but it doesn’t seem to be a common attack vector.

6 Spice ups
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But to defend the wireless aspect, it’s clean and less clutter when it comes to wiring and moving. So convenience.

2 Spice ups
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Wireless is great and the user experience is excellent. The only legit hassle is having to keep batteries in the supply closet. I have had two instances where users had arranged their workstations in a way that impeded the wireless signal. They moved shelving around the tower under the desk and that was enough to make the signal wonky. Easy enough fix though.

I’ve been using Microsoft equipment. SPecifically the Wireless Desktop 2000. Can’t beat it for $30. I use it myself on my workstation and it is really great value as well as a darn fine keyboard/mouse combo.

2 Spice ups
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Why do they hate wires so much, perhaps some cable management is in order. Perhaps they had a secret meeting and voted to all complain at once?
I say don’t give in, you are opening Pandora’s box, and not the music streaming kind of Pandora.

1 Spice up
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If you’re going to go wireless, at least use Bluetooth.

6 Spice ups
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the only con for me is batteries.

i hate the look of wires everywhere, so i’m always a fan of wireless

3 Spice ups
12

Use either a Logitech with their universal receiver - you can replace the mouse or keyboard as needed and it only takes one port. Better yet, if you have a laptop with Bluetooth use Bluetooth devices and save your ports.

Pros: fewer wires = less clutter, works on “variable height” desks; mouse doesn’t move on it’s own because of the weight of the wire hanging off the side of the desk (yep, had this happen to me and it quickly became annoying)

Cons: need to stock batteries.

6 Spice ups
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get a rechargeable one with a cradle, then whenever you walk away from your desk, you can just set it in the cradle. :slight_smile: then you don’t have to worry about batteries or cables getting in the way. I care less about a cabled keyboard, as it is primarily stationary and a cable isn’t hurting anything. Mouse however wireless can be very convenient.

2 Spice ups
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I had a call center that used a bunch of wireless headsets (base connected to the PC via USB, then wirelessly to the headset). With just one or two rows of agents using the headsets it wasn’t so bad, but once we got everyone in the call center on them we noticed them interfering with each other. Ended up having to stagger in a bunch of wired headsets on like every other workstation to get the wireless ones usable again.

1 Spice up
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wireless all the way.

Wireless displays will be mainstream soon, i bet ya

When is wireless power coming out?

4 Spice ups
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Regarding the whole “need to stock batteries” bit:

If cost isn’t an option for the wireless mouse/keyboard combos, buy Logitech. I’ve had an M570 trackball for more than 5 years that I have changed the batteries in a grand total of one time. Between the on/off switch and crazy-low power, a pair of AA Duracells lasts as close to forever as you can get.

8 Spice ups
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It seems odd, I know, but if you have a workstation that never moves… I’d do a wired keyboard/mouse IF you can cable manage everything well. If not, throw in a keyboard/mouse USB combo.

If it’s a laptop, with no docking station, just give them a mouse. It has a laptop already. I hate users who have a laptop and USB keyboard… disable the damn touchpad and use an USB mouse imho.

If it’s a docking station, use keyboard/mouse USB combo.

That is my thought process at least.

1 Spice up
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Honestly it can be quite a headache, We have wireless mouse and keyboard across out entire company and the amount of tickets I receive because users don’t know how to pair a device that has become unpaired or even trouble shoot the batteries is astounding. We have many users that only have laptops and are remote/traveling to sites and when they come into the office they expect to be paired to a workstation that is empty even if it is someones personal cube.

We use Logitech with their universal receiver and I had put together training documents that I have sent to all users with step by step hand holding instructions on how to pair a keyboard/mouse and how to troubleshoot is a device is not working and of course it is never referenced. If you can keep it wired do it. It will save you time and frustration in the end.

3 Spice ups
19

There are actually some (imo hilarious) ways to intercept wireless keyboard keystrokes, highjack the signal etc. It’s not hard. But it would have to be very targeted, and therefore isn’t a likely venue of attack. Also the attacker would have to be relatively close to the point of attack, so if suspected it shouldn’t be hard to find the one guy in the building that doesn’t belong (unless you’re a large business where you only know a few people by face/name).

Mainly: Pro: Less wires, less clutter. Also the ability to pickup and throw your mouse across the room without it getting caught on its wire.

Cons: Batteries need to be changed out, so minor upkeep cost added in that doesn’t exist on wired setups. Also in my experience wireless keyboards are incapable of sending as many simultaneous keystrokes which could be a problem if anyone there has a high typing speed (you could probably run into problems at 70+ wpm depending on quality of the keyboard) and they’re terrible for gaming (which shouldn’t really be a problem for a business environment.)

3 Spice ups
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I have used a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse for years. I currently have a Logitech K800 keyboard and a Logitech MX Master mouse. I detest–like with a passion–using a wired mouse. My wife uses a wired mouse and any time I have to sit down at her computer I want to break things. I don’t deal in batteries because both of these devices are rechargeable.

I would highly recommend using rechargeable devices rather than battery-operated. The caveat I would offer–especially if you’re dealing with 30, 40, 50 sets–is to set up some sort of proactive charging schedule rather than waiting for them to die. Establish some sort of weekly charging cycle where you recharge 5 or 10 of them overnight each day, or something like that.

1 Spice up