How many of you are struggling controlling all those electronic wonders that you have.

This button on this remote does this, but the button on this other one which looks the same does not. When you try to comprehend all the features that are available with all the combined remotes, it is mind blowing. You need a pilot's licence to drive it.

Well, there is a solution. Combine all those multimedia devices into one box, your computer, and control it all via a keyboard. Yes, you say, but then I need to sit next to my computer, and I like to sit back in the lounge chair, and watch in comfort.

Here is the ultimate solution for that couch potato, use a wireless trackball keyboard. With this you can control everything easily, in your known entertainment universe, from the comfort of your lounge chair.

All the devices install in the multimedia computer. The High Definition TV, Digital Radio, FM Radio, Internet Radio and Video, plus DVD TV recording and emails, SMS messaging, web browsing, plus chatting, video conferencing can all be controlled by this great compact keyboard.

It is even shaped to sit on your legs, plus the mouse and trackball are positioned for maximum ergonomic efficiency.

You will need batteries, so it's probably best to have two sets of re-chargeables. One in the charger, ready for when the other set starts to go flat. When the juice is getting a bit low, the keyboard will flash a red light. Here are some of its features:

Optical Track Ball
2.4 Ghz radio frequency with 8 Channels
10 Metres; 360 Degree navigation Interface
USB operation - USB 800DPI optical mouse
Buttons for WWW, Pre-Page, Next-Page, E-Mail, Suspend, WWW-Stop,
WWW-Refresh, WWW-Search, My- Favorite
Buttons for music playback - Change tracks, stop, play/pause,
mute, change volume
mouse buttons includes scroll wheel
Compatible with all Windows OSs & Linux.
(I use it with Linux, so I know it works with this OS)
Runs on 4 AA batteries (3 month battery life)

All the devices installed in a computer multimedia centre, can be controlled via the software that is provided with each device. This software is all easily controlled via a keyboard and mouse. This wireless keyboard technology is the ultimate universal remote which makes it easy for the average human to control their entertainment universe.

This Shintaro was sourced on the Internet, for about $85, plus postage.

I have used it for a long time now, and there are a couple of things that can disrupt the control of your entertainment universe, besides the batteries going flat.

These keyboards comes with a USB transmitter receiver that plugs into your computer, and it has to be in sync. with the keyboard, so they know which frequency to talk to each other on.

* There is a sync ID button on the keyboard top row, that has to be pushed at the same time as the USB transmitter receiver sync button. If you get some friend or visiting children pushing all the buttons to see what's going to happen, the ID sync. can be lost, and until you re-sync everything, nothing will work.

* The battery compartment underneath the keyboard has a plastic clip to hold the battery cover in place. This is prone to breaking off with a lot of use, and you have to resort to sticky taping the cover in place.

* The numlock key is another trap for the unwary. These compact keyboards are generally designed on a similar principle to a laptop keyboard, so if the blue coloured Function (Fn) + numlock keys are pushed, the letters u i o j k l m turn into number keys. When you then type that password, to get into your bank, or chat program, it dosen't work. Numerous attempts and careful key typing still won't make it work, unless you push the numlock button, to reset the keyboard keys.

There is no use throwing the keyboard across the room, or
stamping on it, you need to push the Fn + numlock keys!

If you're an audiophile, home theatre enthusiast, or just love listening to music or watching movies, come along to SCCC Inc. and find out how this all works.

Sunshine Coast Computer Club Inc.
sccc@sccc.org.au
Info Line 07 54921005