I work at a computer for a living, and I spend way too much damn time working with computers. I like things to go as smoothly as possible, and then I like to just leave and forget everything dealing with work or the computer. I have a huge problem with wireless devices, specifically wireless mice and keyboards. With everyone praising wireless like the next coming of Scooby-Doo, I must interject a bit. The problem isn’t with usability; it’s with those fucking batteries and the cost of convenience.
What happens when batteries die in a mouse is I’m going about my business and everything just stops working, causing me to lose scores of hours a year fixing everything. What happens when the batteries die in the keyboard is I’m typing and have an entire mental workflow and the computer instantly becomes possessed. Letters start magically repeating. Keys pressed don’t register. The computer hates me entirely at these times, through and through. I have to stop everything and search for batteries, batteries that I don’t always have on hand.
I make my point very specific on having the batteries on hand because I prefer to completely remove myself from my work the moment I leave the office. When I’m out buying groceries and whatnot, I don’t think about work. Hell, I don’t think about much other than what I need to get. Sure, making a list sometimes helps, but I write too much junk on the list and forget why it’s there, and overrule myself at the store. I buy batteries so often, that I always think I have them on hand. Whether they’re in this room or another, I still have to stop everything to fetch them, and that ruins workflow.
I’ve also noticed another annoyance beyond batteries with wireless devices, and that’s radio interference. The FCC regulates that all approved devices must accept all radio signals, so when you have two devices that operate on a close bandwidth, the physically closer one usually wins on signal strength. I had the wireless receiver on this keyboard and mouse combination pushed behind the monitor and nothing happened. The signal kept dropping because the damn monitor was generating an operational frequency that interrupted the wireless signal of the devices. Monitors and desks also have metal and shielding that is designed to disrupt radio signals, and with more wireless devices on the market these days, more and more shielding goes into play screwing with the convenience factor praised by wireless lovers. I move the receiver closer to get an unaffected signal, and it works, but what’s the point in wireless when you have to have the receiver almost on top of the devices. Why not just go with wired devices in the first place?
Wired devices are my preference. They’re always operational, and if the computer is on, they’re on. I love the induction technology of Wacom tablets because the pens and mice are powered from the tablet, and not some battery; genius move guys. You save so much damn money with wired devices, that I don’t see a point in wireless anymore. You pay a premium for the wireless technology out of convenience, but they’re more inconvenient than anything. Then you compound the operational costs with the continuous costs of batteries, and over time the final costs keep piling up and up. Fuck wireless; make me wired and I’m happy.
October 18th, 2009 12:04 am
Whilst I agree that people, including myself, pay more for the convenience of wireless and that wireless technology can let you down I also feel that it greatly depends on the product you buy. For example I have a wireless mouse and keyboard for my laptop that are both powered by AA batteries and neither dies very often. When they do however, my technological universe is not disturbed as yours apparantly is when your batteries die- my condolences on your loss of “scores of hours” but perhaps if ypu simply bought the right equipment you wouldn’t have such an issue: at least with those particular pieces of hardware. As far as other products go I can not really say. But that is just my advice; get a wireless mouse and keyboard that work.
October 20th, 2009 12:44 am
I’ve got a pretty nice wireless setup. It’s not all about the quality, it’s the technology that has some problems. As for the “scores of hours”, I guess it’s partly due to my ADS when I go to fetch new batteries and lose my bookmark in life. If you didn’t know, ADS stands for Attention Deficit SQUIRREL!!!
November 3rd, 2009 4:54 pm
Ya I know what you mean I have “ADS” as well. I cant even do homework around a computer because three hours later i have nothing done. It’s a real pickle when I have homework for computer related classes, which ,ost of mine are at the moment.