Despite being a necessity, keyboards have seen far less development than the majority of PC peripherals over the past decade. Whereas devices such as mice have become more accurate, ergonomic and functional, the humble keyboard has had little more than a facelift along with a handful of extra keys few people actually ever use.

Of course that isn�t entirely true, as early keyboards were a lot less easy on the fingers and carried just the essential keys fifteen years ago. However, the only major development other than a more ergonomic design, is the addition of wireless technology.

The level of wireless technology has improved significantly over the past few years, offering crystal clear signals at ranges of up to several metres. No longer are you required to ensure a clear line of sight, as the majority adopt RF rather than Infra Red communication, which is far less sensitive to obstacles. The only real drawback with wireless keyboards is battery consumption, which can be fairly heavy if you use your machine frequently. On average, you can expect to replace a set of ordinary batteries once every two months to retain best performance, though this figure varies greatly between specific devices.

You will also expect to pay a small premium for a wireless keyboard, though you can buy reasonable budget-end units for around $30, whereas the same level of wired keyboard would only be around $10 less. With such a small difference in price and very little to distinguish between the two on a day to day basis, there is little reason to opt with the more restricted wired models.

Whichever variety you choose, always look for something comfortable and durable. Many budget end keyboards lack build quality, and can feel very flimsy and lightweight. If you are going to be using the keyboard for any prolonged period of time, you need something that feels solid with responsive keys. You may also wish to look out for additional buttons, and many include several programmable buttons which you can link to your most frequently used applications. Although these are often little more than a gimmick, they can be convenient if you want to use your machine as a media player.

There are also gaming keyboards, which feature a different layout to the standard keyboard. These certainly aren�t to everybody�s tastes, but it may be worth investigating if you play a lot of games and require a plethora of buttons within easy reach. If you�re a heavy user, it may be worth investing a little more in a keyboard and getting something that will last you a long time and help prevent RSI. Ergonomic keyboards with wrist-rests and the like are becoming more and more common, so there is little reason not to try one at a large computer store to see how it feels.

The final thing to say on the topic, is that you should spend as much on a keyboard as your budget allows. If your budget is limited, go for a wired keyboard and you will be able to get a slightly better model. If you can stretch a little further, look for a good quality wireless model, as you will soon feel the benefits from being able to move your keyboard around as and when you need it.

Despite being a necessity, keyboards have seen far less development than the majority of PC peripherals over the past decade. Whereas devices such as mice have become more accurate, ergonomic and functional, the humble keyboard has had little more than a facelift along with a handful of extra keys few people actually ever use.

Of course that isn�t entirely true, as early keyboards were a lot less easy on the fingers and carried just the essential keys fifteen years ago. However, the only major development other than a more ergonomic design, is the addition of wireless technology.

The level of wireless technology has improved significantly over the past few years, offering crystal clear signals at ranges of up to several metres. No longer are you required to ensure a clear line of sight, as the majority adopt RF rather than Infra Red communication, which is far less sensitive to obstacles. The only real drawback with wireless keyboards is battery consumption, which can be fairly heavy if you use your machine frequently. On average, you can expect to replace a set of ordinary batteries once every two months to retain best performance, though this figure varies greatly between specific devices.

You will also expect to pay a small premium for a wireless keyboard, though you can buy reasonable budget-end units for around $30, whereas the same level of wired keyboard would only be around $10 less. With such a small difference in price and very little to distinguish between the two on a day to day basis, there is little reason to opt with the more restricted wired models.

Whichever variety you choose, always look for something comfortable and durable. Many budget end keyboards lack build quality, and can feel very flimsy and lightweight. If you are going to be using the keyboard for any prolonged period of time, you need something that feels solid with responsive keys. You may also wish to look out for additional buttons, and many include several programmable buttons which you can link to your most frequently used applications. Although these are often little more than a gimmick, they can be convenient if you want to use your machine as a media player.

There are also gaming keyboards, which feature a different layout to the standard keyboard. These certainly aren�t to everybody�s tastes, but it may be worth investigating if you play a lot of games and require a plethora of buttons within easy reach. If you�re a heavy user, it may be worth investing a little more in a keyboard and getting something that will last you a long time and help prevent RSI. Ergonomic keyboards with wrist-rests and the like are becoming more and more common, so there is little reason not to try one at a large computer store to see how it feels.

The final thing to say on the topic, is that you should spend as much on a keyboard as your budget allows. If your budget is limited, go for a wired keyboard and you will be able to get a slightly better model. If you can stretch a little further, look for a good quality wireless model, as you will soon feel the benefits from being able to move your keyboard around as and when you need it.