Wired Keyboard 600, UK Layout - White

For just over £10 I wasn't expecting to much, but thought it would be better than a £5 one I bought in a high street retailer (that lasted less than a week before the keys started to fail). As I bought this to replace an older very sturdy built ps/2 keyboard, I wasn't sure how the MS 600 would compare, but so far after a few weeks of use I am still impressed. It is very smooth, quiet and easy to use. There are a few multimedia keys which work fine, but I don't use them much. I'm running Win7 64bit and it was a simple plug in and allow auto driver install to run the first time. I could still use my ps/2 keyboard if I wanted to keep it connected, but once I had disconnected the old keyboard it required a reboot to allow it to be used in the future, just a Windows driver thing, not an problem. The only slight issue is a small but important size difference, this keyboard is very slightly smaller than my old one, so as I touch type most of the time I have had to just slightly adjust to the angle on a couple of keys, but no major problems. The feel of the keys is much lighter and I can type with much less pressure and as a result appear to be a little faster than before, This keyboard is also at least 50% quieter than my old keyboard that had a distinct click on each keystroke as well as more pressure required on each key - there is a click with this keyboard, and there is a positive feel to the contact with the keys, it is just quieter. In summary, a very good general use keyboard, with a nice feel. Good value for the price and I will add more to this review when I have used it for several months.

I got this on Amazon for £9.99. For the money, its an absolute steal. The build quality is significantly better than my old Logitech (MK270 at £24.99) in a few ways: first, everything is built solidly meaning the keys don't rattle at all. On my Logitech if I shook the keyboard, you'd hear the keys jiggle around. This Microsoft 600 Keyboard doesn't do that. Second, the overall design seems to have not much cost cutting, the bottom of the device is solid plastic unlike the Logitech which had flimsy plastic and tons of cutout holes. And finally, the Microsoft keyboard has large rubber feet molded into the bottom of the keyboard (not just glued-on rubber pads that eventually come off). The only flaw in the keyboard so far is the raisers don't have rubber grips, so while the keyboard grips decently to the desk, the raisers are a bit slidey. This is not a mechanical keyboard, it is just a membrane one - so don't expect the best typing experience ever known, but if you are used to membrane keyboards like I am, then this is just more of the same. Function keys are small, so that may take some getting used to. The media controls are a nice addition too. And the keyboard also has SCRL/CAPS/NUM lock LED indicators. The top right of the keyboard has a nice shiny Microsoft logo (I think painted/printed on - maybe it will wear down over time). I got the "White" variant, and while the pictures show a more greyish tone; they are deceiving. The keyboard really is white. While I was hoping for it to be greyish, I'm actually happy with the white. Its really nice and clean looking and blends nicely into my white desk. The wire and USB plug are also white. The keyboard is just plug in and go. Windows instantly recognizes it and it's working within a couple of seconds. Overall, this is a very affordable keyboard and is surprisingly high quality. I imagine this keyboard will be durable and hopefully it will last many many years. [I'll update this review if it breaks.]

I'm quite pleased with this keyboard. My reason for purchasing had nothing to do with it being white - though I must admit to being please with its appearance. The keyboard is much quieter than most, which is a pleasant change, though it isn't as quiet as I'd like. The layout is better than most. It has a nice wide shift key on the right-hand side, though the one on the left is small. Still, compared to most today, it's a step up. The only function keys (beyond the Esc, F1 - F12, PrtScn, ScrLck, Pause keys) are sound control and the unique calculator keys. For me, this is perfect, as I've never had use for a host of extra keys on the keyboard. I find them extraneous, serving only to get in the way of finding the ones I really want. The key throw (distance a key must move to make contact) is short. I'm a fast typist, so this is excellent for me. The touch is harder than I'd like, and also not as definitive, so there isn't a distinct feedback telling my fingers that a connection has been made. It isn't bad, but a lighter and more distinct touch would be better for high-speed typing. (At least, for me - this could vary for others.) It looks like the symbols and text on the keys is deeply imprinted. Though I haven't had it long enough to be certain, most keyboards' printing starts to fade on the most commonly-hit keys by now. This keyboard has a tail, but it's the longest one I've seen, so has not been inconvenient. Had I known this quality existed in a keyboard with an adequately-long tail, I wouldn't had purchased any of the boards I've had over the last five years - all of which either gradually went bad or didn't function well from the beginning (with one exception that was killed by a spill). Not included in the description - and a reason that almost kept me from buying it - is that the keyboard has legs that flip out so it tilts nicely. It doesn't have to lie flat on the table. For the price, this is an exceptional purchase. The quality is at least as good as most I've dealt with in the last few years - though I don't purchase top-of-the-line boards, that is, ones that cost more than £50. However, this one is much better than any of the £20-30 products I've gotten in several years. I'm quite happy with it - but can't give it a full five stars because it just doesn't have the feel that would make the keyboard an extension of my fingers. (I have, though, tried to describe it in a way that isn't prejudicial, since it might be the cat's meow for someone else.)

Gotta say this is probably my favourite gaming and typing keyboard ever - maybe even more so than mechanical keyboards (and I've tried lots)! First off I just want to say that I've been using mechanical keyboards a couple of years back - I own a Cherry MX Brown switch keyboard and used to have a Cherry MX Red one. I really like my mechanical keyboards, but sometimes I feel like the force you need to press down the keys and the noise made does take away from the experience. I have been trying out rubber dome switches in recent times - I have tried dozens of them. My preference is towards low profile keys that require very little force to press down, making really fast typing and gaming possible, but it also needs to give a satisfying force on each press down and be comfortable to use for extended periods of times. I first encountered this keyboard when I was working full-time as an office assistant, and I had one of these keyboards to use at my desk. I quickly fell in love with this keyboard and how easy it was to type on, as well as the extreme quietness of it. I went and got one for myself for use as a gaming keyboard and I really like almost everything about this keyboard. The keypresses are very quiet if you type with normal force, even if you type furiously it is still much quieter than mechanical keyboards. I can type really quickly on this keyboard, the keys go down very solidly and you know that you won't miss a key because the actuation point is exactly when the key starts to move down. Ergonomically, I really like the slight curve of the keys, it is subtle but you can really notice a difference to how you rest your hand on it. Makes long gaming/working sessions comfortable. My only slight gripe with it is the function keys. The smaller size of the F-keys along the top makes sure you won't press them by accident, and they are pretty satisfying to press, however there are a couple of games that use these keys (namely starcraft 2) and it does make it ever so slightly harder to press them. However it is still manageable as they are positioned well, you just need to get used to them having a different feel. Best thing of all is that this is one of the cheapest keyboards you can get - so even if the buttons wear down slightly after months of use, you can buy 10 or more of these for the price of a mechanical keyboard, so that's almost not an issue.

Absolutely amazing keyboard, works flawlessly. Keyboard shortcut keys all work well. It’s wired so will never need batteries or lose connection. The weight makes it feel sturdy. Owned it for years and it continues to function regardless of spills, heavy key presses etc.

I've just binned my Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 700 after about 18-month use - due to some keys becoming non-responsive - but pleasantly surprised to pick up this excellent quality USB keyboard for under £9. The keys are almost soft touch and very responsive indeed. USB cable length is the longest I've seen so far, so it can accommodate connection distance of nearly 2m. In addition to the desktop standard keyboard + numeric keypad, this keyboard provides some basic hot keys: Multimedia controls (play/pause, volume up/down, mute), and a Calculator hotkey appropriately placed above the number keypad. I also like the way Insert, Delete, Home, End, PageUp and PageDown keys are oriented as 2 rows x 3 as opposed to 3 rows x 2 on some keyboards including Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 700 . Any downsides? I have to think hard to find one. The only minor (very minor, really) point I can mention is that the key row just above the space bar seems a bit elevated - hence you'll notice some curvature as you move from top to bottom rows. I presume this is done for some good ergonomic reason but something I noticed compared to a relatively flat keyboard I'd been used to. Another very minor point is that the Function keys are smaller and of low profile, so making a transition from the main keys to a Function key feels a bit odd. Fortunately Function keys are rarely used and this may not be a problem. It is possible that one can get used to the very minor issues just mentioned. Overall - a very good quality USB keyboard with very attractive price! Highly recommended.

I'll be honest and admit I don't usually buy 'named' keyboards. I usually find that cheap keyboards are just as good as their more expensive counterparts. However, I had a dilemma, I had spilt wine over my keyboard and it had stopped working; whilst I was able to 'borrow' a keyboard off another computer, it was an old and large one that took up a lot of space. I usually don't buy keyboards online as I like to try them first, but as I was unable to get out for a while, I took the plunge. As this was a Microsoft keyboard I thought it would be an acceptable risk to buy online and the price was not much more than I normally pay for my budget keyboards. I went for free delivery with Amazon. I placed the order on Friday and received the keyboard on Monday (the usual great Amazon service) and I am most impressed by the keyboard; it is small enough so that it doesn't take up too much room, yet the keys are larger than my old keyboard (a bit laptop in style). It has ancillary controls for audio that work well (although superfluous to me) and a handy button to bring up the Windows calculator, which may come in handy if I remember it's there. Overall, I am pleased and impressed, a named keyboard, with a quality feel and at a great price. Highly recommended.

seems very expensive for a plastic piece of kit.