You get what you pay for

Last year I bought myself a Logitech Wireless Desktop. Basically, a $40 wireless keyboard/mouse set (for which I only used the keyboard). I didn't think it would be anything special, but I sure thought the battery life would be a little more...predictable? To be honest, I'm not even sure if the batteries are dead, but I don't really feel like waiting for it to decide to start working again.

Having been a salesman for one summer (Vector Marketing anybody?) I should probably know that a cheaper product is not always a better product. You may be spending less on something right now, but in the long run you end up spending more when you have to replace it.

Would you say this is generally true of computer parts? I've had my PC for four years and I have never had to replace anything because it broke on its own (yes, I stepped on and snapped my first CD-RW's tray all by myself). Peripherals are really the only exception seeing as I had two MS Explorer mice before my current Logitech MX510. So when it comes to computer parts, how long should they generally last (or at least remain in their prime) for you to say you got your money's worth?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

My 10 buck keyboard came with one of the pegs that prop it up missing, and it's lasted me ~6 months (replacing the Logitech wireless keyboard that mysteriously stopped working when I moved to WA). I'd say it's more or less paid for itself by now. My wireless keyboard, on the other hand...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

$10 keyboard has lasted me 4+ years. My mom uses it, also, and forced me to replace it because some of the keys lost their lettering and she couldn't figure out which key was which letter. :-/ I'm typically not a fan of wireless keyboards; I think they just run out of batteries a little too quickly, IMHO, and there's no easy way to recharge them compared to a wireless mouse.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I bought a generic GE keyboard from Big Lots a couple years ago. It's been good to me ever since...using it now as a matter of fact.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

On an old computer in the house that sometimes still sees use, the keyboard is an AST one from my super old 386. It still works perfectly today~

My current keyboard cost me a minute 3 GBP. Only about 3 months later, some of the letters are beggining to show hints that they'll be disappearing soon

I don't see the point of a wireless keyboard, since my keyboard never moves. A mouse though, sure, that would definitely benefit from freedom of movement on my desk.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I've been using the same Logitech Keyboard for 7-8 years and it still works fine. I also have a Logitech Mouseman from that time that also works perfectly (I don't use it anymore but not surprisingly I respect the company by now). You DO get what you pay for with some manufacturers who are genuinely interested in making the best components.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?