It really is Elite!
Written: Sep 05 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: numerous hotkeys, iNav, functions attached to F-keys, excellent looks and design. There's more, too.
Cons: Only thing I could find: odd rear-folding "legs"
The Bottom Line: I love it a lot. Just give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
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| midknight2k3's Full Review: Logitech Elite (967234-0403) Keyboard |
MY STORY
Of course you read my review of the Microsoft Natural MultiMedia Keyboard? If you haven’t, you should. Anyways: On with my story.
I picked up the Natural MultiMedia keyboard for $29.99 at OfficeMax. I disliked some aspects, so I returned it. The next day, I ran out and purchased the Logitech Elite Keyboard. I have kept it and must admit, it’s the best keyboard I’ve used, for quite a while.
THE KEYBOARD ITSELF
The keyboard itself is a sleek black color, with all your normal keys, plus a huge amount of hotkeys at the top of the keyboard, functions attached to the F1-F12 keys and a scroll wheel on the side called the iNav (a multifunction wheel). On the rear of the keyboard are two little “stands” that tilt the keyboard up a bit (which I prefer). This function is found on all but the lowliest keyboards (if you don’t have this feature, go get a new keyboard!). The only thing with them, is that they fold out from the back of the keyboard, down – instead of from the bottom, out. In this way, the stands can be retracted without much effort – for example, if it gets caught on the edge of your keyboard stand, they will get retracted if it is pulled back. I don’t understand these new stands, or why Logitech decided this, but it’s not a huge issue.
THE KEYS
The keys of the keyboard are just right. They are very quiet, and a little bit soft – not too much and not too little. They are in all the right places (take a lesson, Microsoft! :) Overall, I love the keys more than any keyboard I’ve tried before. They are just perfect. Take my word for it.
HOTKEYS
[Almost all non-media keys can be redefined]
There are 15 hotkeys, not including the volume knob (nice) or the iNav (nicer). Located at the top is a cluster of Multimedia keys (all silver). These keys include: Volume knob, Play/Pause, Stop, Skip Back/Rewind, Skip Forward/Fast Forward, a “media” key and a Master Mute button. I’ve not used them often, as I tend to use my Archos FM Recorder or RioRiot to satisfy my music needs.
At the right of the keyboard are four hotkeys, labeled iTouch, Search, Shopping, Favorites, and My Home. All are programmable as far as I know.
At the left are four hotkeys labeled F-Lock, E-Mail, Messenger/SMS (AIM, MSN Messenger, etc), and Webcam. Again, all are programmable.
And then there’s the iNav. There’s a cluster to the right of the keyboard, in silver. This is the iNav. The iNav consists of one scroll wheel, one “back” button and one “go” button. The “go” button will pop up a box asking for a website or file/folder you want to launch. Type it in and hit enter, and it will open internet explorer or windows explorer at the address you specified. The “back” button will take you back one page from the one you’re at (like the Backspace key or ‘Alt+Back’). The scroll wheel, however, does most of the work. By clicking it once, you get a menu with the following options:
-Favorites
-My Pictures
-My Music
-Volume
-Edit
-Switch Applications
-Zoom
-Scroll Vertically
Choose one of these options, and that’s what the scroll wheel will do. For example, in “Edit” mode, you click the wheel to select cut or copy, and then you can also use it to paste. Or, in “Volume” mode it will raise or lower the volume. Some can be useful at times, though I tend to ignore it completely.
OTHER STUFF
I like the way the status LED’s are at the top center of the keyboard, just barely into the silver multimedia cluster. (They show F-Lock, Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock) I also like the idea of the functions on the F-keys (New, Reply, Forward, Send, Undo, Redo, Print, Save, My Com[puter], My Doc[uments], My Pic[tures], My Music). They can increase productivity and decrease time wasted. And I also like the way they put a diamond on the Ctrl keys. Then they put a diamond on each key with a function. You use “Ctrl+Z” to undo? Then “Z” will have a diamond and a word: “Undo”. Pretty nifty. For $40, this keyboard has the best bang-for-buck I’ve seen in a while. Give it a go. It’s fully customizable. Return it if you wish. Who minds?
NextUp:
-Nothing in mind, really.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
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Epinions.com ID:
midknight2k3
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Member: Zakk
Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
When there's new technology, check here for reviews.
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