Using a 27MHz RF dongle (usually a large USB "puck" or receiver), the keyboard offered reliable connectivity for the time. It wasn't Bluetooth, and it certainly wasn't 2.4GHz with dongles the size of a thumbnail, but it cut the cord effectively for typists.
The standout feature (and the reason for the name) was the row of buttons at the top. You had dedicated keys for Play/Pause, Volume Up/Down, Mute, and application launchers for Mail and Web. microsoft wireless multimedia keyboard 1.1
The standard F1–F12 keys can be toggled using an "F Lock" key to perform secondary functions such as "New," "Open," or "Save". Connectivity and Technical Specifications Wireless Multimedia Keyboard 1.1 Using a 27MHz RF dongle (usually a large
This was a polarizing feature. By default, the F1-F12 keys were mapped to "Enhanced" functions like Undo, Redo, Save, and Print. To use standard F-keys, you had to hit the "F-Lock" toggle. You had dedicated keys for Play/Pause, Volume Up/Down,
The primary draw of this keyboard is its dedicated row of multimedia buttons. These keys allow users to control their PC's media functions without needing to navigate software menus.
| Spec | Details | |------|---------| | Interface | USB receiver (small dongle) | | Frequency | 27 MHz or 2.4 GHz (depending on revision) | | Key type | Membrane, low‑profile scissor‑like mechanism | | Dimensions (without wrist rest) | ~17.5" × 6.5" × 1" | | Weight | ~1.8 lbs (with batteries) | | OS support | Windows 98/Me/2000/XP (later versions may lack some hotkeys) |
You might be wondering, "Why would I want a 20-year-old keyboard?"