[Fineus]

Well.. the optical mouse has started cutting out (power connection problems that I can't be bothered to deal with) and the keyboard has been grotty for ages now.

It's time to replace.

I'd prefer a wired replacement as I hear there's a response lag between wireless ones.

Also - I'd prefer them in black and also the mouse HAS to be omni-handed (that is - moulded so that left and right handed users can use it - not a right handed-only job).

Other than that, good build quality is essential but I'm not interested in other features.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[aldo_14]

I have a...*rummages*.... Creative Optical 3000 mouse and a Logitech Access keyboard, no complaints with either.  

Think they cost about 45-50 quid all in all, the keyboard in particular is good (has a bunch of mappable multimedia keys at the top, so I've got specific buttons for max, photoshop, firefox, trillian and thunderbird setup in particular).

[Grey Wolf]

Logitech MX-310. Very nice mouse, wired, omni-handed.

[Vertigo1]

Logitech KB + MX700 combo = teh own

[Clave]

Microsoft...

uhh, it's hard to go on, but they do make a good mouse.  Build quality and programmability totally owns any Logitech crapola...

[Grey Wolf]

Out of the mouses I've had, the Logitechs have both lasted quite a bit longer than the Microsoft.

[kode]

I'm fully satisfied with my current ms optical mouse blue, although it'd need a cleaning or too. as for keyboards, I'm too cheap to buy one that costs more than $10.

[Thorn]

I'm using the MS Standard Wireless combo. Works nicely. Havent had to change the keyboard batteries yet, and the mouse lasts about a month on a pair of rechargeable NiMH AAs.

[an0n]

Pretty much any low-end Logitech devices will do.

They last ages and kick ass.

[Deepblue]

MS standard wheeled optic mouse (blue ones are smaller and designed more for laptops I believe)(not the silver one, that one seems to be molded for right handers) + MS "natural" keyboard. The keyboard itself is split into two so that your hands are not cramped and it is quite comfortable when using for long periods of time. It also has a slight curve to it so that it does not force your hands into unatural positions when typing. (the keyboard I have has lasted for about 7 years, in fact I can't remember using any other keyboard for my home comp.

[Taristin]

Memorex wireless optical scrollmouse with 5 buttons here... but the batteries die too often, and I am forced to surf the net with the keyboard while the mouse is on the charger...

Oh, and my keyboard is a Logitech Media Keyboard. A bunch of useless buttons, but the media control butons are nice when used with winamp... (I never thought I'd use them, but I am)

[Nix]

stay away from microsoft mice with tilt wheels.  theyve removed the clicky-ness from the scroll wheel, making it a big pain in the ass in games.  you can barely rroll the wheel and you'll scroll way farthr than you want to like in a weapons menu or something.  reducing sensitivity doesn't make a difference at all.  Custom buttons still do not work as well as the older 4.12 drivers.  (for proper wheel operation you need to use the version 5 drivers)  I'd opt for the new MX-1000 from logitech, supposedly its laser tracking is better than the current optical mice, but so far its cordless only.  Microsofts keyboards are still pretty good though.

[ZylonBane]

Anyone know a good source of new, non-crap keyboards that DON'T have a ton of useless application keys greebled all over them?

And what's the deal with Microsoft and Logitech suddenly printing Ctrl-key function on the key fronts? They're not even consistent with each other! Aaarrrggghhh...

[an0n]

Get one of them hacker keyboards. The little tiny ones.

[kode]

Originally posted by an0n
Get one of them hacker keyboards. The little tiny ones.

I've actually got one of those. but for some reason it doesn't work the way I want it to.

[Genryu]

Logitech all the way : FlatX as keyboard, MX1000 as mouse. The mouse is wireless, but I never had a problem with it
And yes, it's my own config. Nuff said.

[Vertigo1]

Originally posted by ZylonBane
Anyone know a good source of new, non-crap keyboards that DON'T have a ton of useless application keys greebled all over them?

And what's the deal with Microsoft and Logitech suddenly printing Ctrl-key function on the key fronts? They're not even consistent with each other! Aaarrrggghhh...

Office Max has some like that, but for the life of me I cannot recall the brand name.  The've got them in the classic or ergonomic style.

[Clave]

Originally posted by Nix
stay away from microsoft mice with tilt wheels.  theyve removed the clicky-ness from the scroll wheel, making it a big pain in the ass

Oops, my bad.  I should have mentioned that.  The ONLY thing the damn tilt wheel is good for is side-scolling Excel sheets.  Apart from that, they are pretty solid.

My rating, from constant daily use:

1 MS Explorer - slick and well-made (apart from the sucky tilt wheel)
2 MX700 - nice, but the programming sucks compared to MS
3 Apple clear - great to use, but only 1 button (Wake Up Apple!)
4 Wacom - sucks, but the pen is excellent