Cordless Pros with Quirky Cons
Written: Nov 10 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cordless, Programmable Buttons, Egronomic, Long Battery Life
Cons: Quirky Software Updates, Erratic Behavior on Low Batteries, Ball Mouse
The Bottom Line: I should note that I got this at an eBay auction way below retail - but the combination of features makes it nice even at retail.
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| Ultrapoet's Full Review: Logitech Desktop Pro (967031-0403) Keyboard and Mo... |
I'm all about ergonomics. Since I'm an English major with a minor in web design, I spend a lot of time on the computer either online or word-processing. I like being able to lean back, put my keyboard across my lap, and type comfortably for hours. Maybe I'm just lazy. Regardless, this keyboard/mouse combo is a fine package overall.
Pros of the Package:
The most notable benefit, obviously, is the cordlessness it affords heavy users. If you have a desk cluttered with peripherals and paperclip holders, you'll really appreciate the removal of the cords on your two most used input devices.
After using this set for about 2 years now, corded mice on other people's computers annoy me. Cords that slide down the back of the desk feel like they're chaining the mouse down. And having the freedom to kick back and type at any reclined angle is unbeatable. Better yet, working on research papers stretched out in bed is fantastic.
The six-foot range Logitech promises is a pretty accurate figure. But this limit is actually not that troublesome. I find that beyond six feet most document- and webpage-text is too difficult to read anyway.
Four programmable quick-launch buttons across the top and one programmable "Logitech" button on the corner provide plenty of access to common programs and websites. The other buttons don't see much use from me, but I'll get to that later.
I've been impressed with the life of the batteries in both pieces. I had expected to change them out much more than I've actually had to. In two years, the keyboard has required one replacement, the mouse - two. The Logitech software provides a rudimentary battery meter for each component (it displays the battery level as either "good" or "bad"), which is a nice feature.
The mouse buttons are all assignable, and the scroll wheel acts as a fourth button, allowing you to cram one more function into it. I use the thumb button for internet-back and the scroll-wheel click for internet-forward, which works well for me.
Both keyboard and mouse have "Connect" buttons recessed underneath for reconnecting to the receiver when the batteries are replaced, or if there is a problem with the connection for some reason (I've never experienced any). There's also a Connect button on the receiver which reconnects to both devices.
The biggest advantage of the set is the combination of features in the keyboard. There are tons of cordless mice and cordless keyboards and even cordless combos on the market. But this set is the only one I've ever seen with a cordless ergonomic keyboard. The Cordless Desktop Pro seems to have the market cornered on that niche for the time being.
Cons of the Combo:
I've often thought of upgrading to an optical cordless mouse, but I really like the ergonomic curves of the one that came in the package. I can see how its right-handedness would cause tension for left-handers, but for me it is extremely comfortable. My major problem with the mouse is the same problem I have with any ball-mouse - it collects lint and dust inside and starts skipping and jerking after a while. An optical mouse with the same countours would be a wonderful upgrade.
The keyboard - while well-deserving of all the praise I can give it - also has to be admonished for a few small things. The volume and media-control buttons on the top are somewhat limited. I find the keyboard volume controls a little sluggish, and the media navigation buttons are not programmable. So when I'm watching a DVD, the [>>] button will only jump to the next chapter, it won't let me fast forward through the current chapter. Ditto for rewinding.
Both keyboard and mouse are prone to confusing behavior when their batteries get low. There's no automatic notification that it's time to replace the batteries. You just have to figure it out for yourself when mouseclicks randomly stop working, or when certain keyboard keys (backspace, perhaps) refuse to work.
The most annoying aspect, however, is trying to update the software with new releases from the Logitech site. The site itself is easy enough to navigate, but the actual software downloads come in two separate parts. While the keyboard updates all seem to install without any glitches, the MouseWare updates are rather irksome.
When I installed the latest edition of MouseWare (recommended by Logitech), I somehow lost the function of my thumb button. After a few re-installs, I finally realized that the "updated" software wasn't recognizing my combo-pack mouse - it was reporting it as a standard cordless scroll mouse with no thumb button. I had to go to a third-party site to download old drivers so I could revert to the old set-up and use my thumb button again.
All in All:
My overall rating for this set is Above Average primarily because it is the only set to my knowledge that offers both the ease of cordlessness and the comfort of ergonomic design. There are some flaws that have probably been worked out in newer cordless combos, but until they create another cordless ergo set, the Cordless Desktop Pro will lead the pack in my opinion.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 65
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Epinions.com ID:
Ultrapoet
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Member: Josef
Location: Monroe, Louisiana
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
Captain Tremendous, a.k.a. Josef So-Cool-It-Hurts-To-Look.
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