Do you provide wireless mice/keyboards...?

[BJG]

Random question, but, from my time in schools I resisted these because of the extra IT admin support for batteries, breakages, missing dongles and security considerations.

Now in an office with grown-ups, old habits die hard, and I'm still inclined to say no, but feeling like a dinosaur. Is it time to open my heart  to them now?

[drutt]

Most of our staff use laptops so we'll provide them with a wireless mouse if they ask

[Rob_D]

What's the benefit of wireless KB and mouse? And is there enough benefit to make up the additional costs?

I could see the argument on a laptop, but I don't see any real benefit on a desktop.

 

We've got a couple deployed where we have mini PC's behind the screen in meeting rooms, and they do seem to look after themselves, although one room is on it's 3rd charging cable.

[thimon]

Nope. I refuse to order wireless mice and keyboards. Adapters get lost, connections drop out, I then somehow become responsible for ordering batteries for them. Wired all the way. If staff want to purchase their own wireless devices, fine. 

[PotNoodleTech]

No all PC stuff is hard wired and no one will every convince me otherwise.

[6Foot2]

A few staff insisted on having wireless keyboards and mouses.

 

Those individuals supported the cost of the hardware and batteries from whichever budget they could get the Business Manager to agree to, though some tried to get it charged back to my cost centre 

 

[paulkerton]

Theres a few things I'd want to make clear before I provided them.
1. Staff only. 2. Only in non-student accessible areas. 3. That they have to be a keyboard with some kind of encryption on the comms (Bluetooth, or something FIPS certified if it's USB dongle). Could sit there quite happily with a Flipper Zero intercepting every key stroke otherwise! 4. They are responsible for the batteries.

Edited March 31, 2025 by paulkerton

[msi_school]

There is a argument for wireless peripherals in confrence rooms but I have not yet heard a good one for office or classroom usage, they add cost and complexity even before the continuous requests for batteries.

Edited March 31, 2025 by msi_school

[CHiLL]

We're mostly a laptop school now and if staff want to purchase either purchase one personally or use their own department budget, then fine, we can source one. However, for desktops, it's generally no, unless the request comes from someone in their own office that nobody else uses, or if it's someone who can override our decision. For students devices, it's a flat no.

Edited March 31, 2025 by CHiLL

[Netwacky87]

Basically, Yes we provide them but only if essential. If the PC is next to the user, they get a wired keyboard and mice...Otherwise its a no.

[ITGuyNW]

A select few desktop staff. Never had an issue with breakages, missing adapters etc.

[dhicks]

2 hours ago, BJG said:

Do you provide wireless mice/keyboards...?

We put Logitech K400 wireless keyboards with built-in trackpads in halls and meeting rooms, and for any classroom teacher that asks for one - very few have. Laptop users are welcome to a wired mouse if they want one.

[p858snake]

22 hours ago, BJG said:

Random question, but, from my time in schools I resisted these because of the extra IT admin support for batteries, breakages, missing dongles and security considerations.

Now in an office with grown-ups, old habits die hard, and I'm still inclined to say no, but feeling like a dinosaur. Is it time to open my heart  to them now?

 

I'm in a office with (alleged) adults, We didn't have many wireless keyboards/mice until covid and we had to appear in courts remotely so staff needing to go into the meeting rooms daily.

 

Soo many lost dongles, so quickly (Even with "Plug directly into your surface and not the docks").

 

The best lesson I learnt was

 

Number the sets, Dymo labelmarker on the smallest text size and then some clear sticky tape for the dongle and then I put the matching number on the keyboard or mouse (or both its a full set), generally in the battery compartment.

 

Buy them USB hubs as well if needed (we have surface devices so were always limited on USB ports).

 

I had to ewaste so many of the early sets because bits went missing.