Hardware Keyboard/Mouse Advice

[PityOnU]

I'm looking for a keyboard and mouse for a setup I'm building for my sister. She is starting art school this fall, and would likely benefit from having a really accurate/ergonomic interface to her PC.

Thing is, though, for art school, she will also be using a drawing tablet at times and not a mouse and keyboard (I got her an Intuous Pro Special Edition for that). So really it will be best if should could move the mouse and keyboard off of the desk and free up space for the tablet.

So, in all, I need a mouse and keyboard that are either wireless, or have a USB cable that can be disconnected. Problem is, all of the wireless keyboards and mice that are out there are total crap compared to wired ones, and searching for "detachable USB keyboard" doesn't help much.

Do you guys know of any good products that would work well for my case? I would like a very "premium" set. Think, wireless equivalents of the Logitech G600 and Das Keyboard 4.

 

[Originality]

I don't know about wireless keyboards, but my Microsoft Sidewinder X8 has served me well as a wireless mouse for the last few years. Best part is, when the battery runs down, you can replace it with another AAA rechargeable battery.

 

[FAST6191]

On "detachable" keyboads I would note that many bluetooth keyboards seem to charge via USB. Sadly most of those seem to be aimed at android and co, however if you are not looking to do essays and the (or can chuck a USB keyboard into a bag for when that might matter) then the space saving might be worth looking at one of those for. If you get lucky you might even find one you can keep on the back of the drawing pad.

I have not had any real troubles with wireless mice though, that said I don't use them as the minor annoyances they have are easily solved by having a wired mouse that probably does more for the money or costs less for the same functionality.

The only other thing I might mention is if 3d modelling and the like is set to be a thing you might also consider something from a company like http://www.3dconnexion.com/

Alternatively USB extension + USB hub = easily detachable input removal.

 

[YayMii]

I don't think you can get a wireless mechanical keyboard... but a wireless USB extender might be a consideration if you want to stick with your Das Keyboard.
As for mice, none of the wireless mice seem to meet my expectations sensor-wise, but the Logitech G602 seems to be an okay option if you want a decent amount of buttons.

EDIT: Oh, if you're looking for a mechanical keyboard with a removable cable (not wireless), the CM Storm line of keyboards might be a good (and affordable) option. I have a CM Storm QuickFire Stealth, and I love it more than any other keyboard I've ever owned.

 

[PityOnU]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies all.

I don't know about wireless keyboards, but my Microsoft Sidewinder X8 has served me well as a wireless mouse for the last few years. Best part is, when the battery runs down, you can replace it with another AAA rechargeable battery.

I, too, use a Sidewinder X8 as my go to mouse. It is absolutely fantastic, and it really makes me sad that Microsoft discontinued the Sidewinder line of products.

On "detachable" keyboads I would note that many bluetooth keyboards seem to charge via USB. Sadly most of those seem to be aimed at android and co, however if you are not looking to do essays and the (or can chuck a USB keyboard into a bag for when that might matter) then the space saving might be worth looking at one of those for. If you get lucky you might even find one you can keep on the back of the drawing pad.

I would like to avoid one of those mini dwarf keyboard things because I'm spending about $5000 on the setup in whole. To give a sense of scale, I got her 3x Dell u2412m monitors for working on. A tiny little keyboard in front of that would be quite strange... and also uncomfortable.

I have not had any real troubles with wireless mice though, that said I don't use them as the minor annoyances they have are easily solved by having a wired mouse that probably does more for the money or costs less for the same functionality.

Yeah, there are some awesome WIRED mice. No idea why there are no nice wireless ones. It's really annoying.

For example, if there was a wireless G600 at a 50% premium over the wired one, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

The only other thing I might mention is if 3d modelling and the like is set to be a thing you might also consider something from a company like http://www.3dconnexion.com/

http://www.3dconnexion.com/

Wow, the "space mouse" sounds cool. Not sure if she'll be doing that, though.

Alternatively USB extension + USB hub = easily detachable input removal.

This would be great but the cables on the keyboard and mouse are way too long to manage if I do this. Ugh.

I don't think you can get a wireless mechanical keyboard... but a wireless USB extender might be a consideration if you want to stick with your Das Keyboard.
As for mice, none of the wireless mice seem to meet my expectations sensor-wise, but the Logitech G602 seems to be an okay option if you want a decent amount of buttons.

EDIT: Oh, if you're looking for a mechanical keyboard with a removable cable (not wireless), the CM Storm line of keyboards might be a good (and affordable) option. I have a CM Storm QuickFire Stealth, and I love it more than any other keyboard I've ever owned.

I might look into those more closely. Detachable USB is good!

 

[FAST6191]

Three lots of 1920x1200 and a big boy graphics tablet just for personal use in undergrad? I might have to make some more friends.

Also a lot of the larger tablet aimed bluetooth things are no different in feel than the average laptop keyboard, not my favourite thing (for my personal use I do like clunking mechanical keyboards so pinch of salt and all that) but I have happily spent a morning throwing a few thousand words down on one.

Mind you most of my specialist input stuff other than the engineering things I linked earlier are industrial/machine shop/food and that usually just means get a washable keyboard.

On the 3d mouse/navigator stuff if you are painting textures it gets to be useful unless you have the mad skills to do all unwrapped all the time.

Back on the long leads thing is a bit of fun with a soldering iron and something like http://www.cableforanydevice.com/pr...sb-2-0-male-a-to-female-a-extension-cable.htm not in order? You might not even need to have proper fun as a lot of things seem to use fairly standard headers inside keyboards and mice these days. Alternatively again is some kind of sliding or rotatable desk mount not an option (pick it up, flip it over and bam you have a keyboard and the tablet is stashed).