Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set
by Logitech
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Our Price: $184.97 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $38.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set
Customer Review: Logitech Cordless Wave Set - Solid Wireless Set from Logitech
Summary: 4 Stars
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Logitech's Wave Set is a solid keyboard and mouse set that will be appreciated by many. It's a great new design for those who want something less extreme than full split designs but something more firm than the standard squishy keyboard. With this product Logitech adds to it's line-up of high quality computer peripherals.
Pros
+ Nice wireless design - batteries included!
+ Integrated wrist cushion - comfy and convenient!
+ Keys are shaped to be closer to your smaller fingers - Less hand movement
+ Integrated number pad in a nice form factor
+ Decent wireless range of 6 ft, with included extender
+ Quiet key action that seems smoother than others I've had
+ Weak battery indicator
+ Vista key shortcuts work nice!
+ Programmable smart keys
Cons
- Mouse is adequate for basic users but power users will need another
- Key design takes some getting used to
- May not be enough separation for those who prefer full split ergonomic designs
- Somewhat buggy Logitech software with sleeper processes
The design of the keyboard is nice and sturdy, and the additional number pad is a nice feature. The wave shape is REALLY nice, with nice sized keys and many extras. This is a great ambidextrous keyboard that can be used well by lefties and righties. The integrated keyboard wrist pad is nice and comfortable, and the design gives you one less thing you have to have on your desk.
I have actually come to prefer this to the split keyboard design after using it for a period of months. I can move my hands less and let my fingers touch the keys. As a result, my typing speed has actually improved slightly.
This keyboard gets extra points for good working distances from the USB mini-reciever. With the included extension cord, you can make it work from even farther away. That makes it great for true media center applications. I've read that the range is up to 6 feet, but I have used it from much farther away than that.
Battery life is also much improved as compared to prior models. I use rechargeable batteries and have gotten more than a few months out of my first set.
There are some minor downsides. The mouse is somewhat standard and doesn't have power user features, like extra programmable keys. For that reason, I have started using this keyboard with my G9 laser mouse. Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
One thing to keep in mind is that this keyboard is available in a stand-alone corded version. If you like the wave shape, don't mind a corded keyboard and want to use a different mouse, you may want to consider the stand-alone keyboard instead of this set. If you want this keyboard in the cordless version, you simply will have to buy the set to get it. Logitech Wave Keyboard
Many simply need the ergonomics of a split keyboard or other design. Test it out, but keep in mind it will take time to get used to. There are some nice options for ergonomic keyboards from Logitech, Microsoft and others.
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000
Logitech Cordless Desktop Comfort Laser
Adesso Intellimedia MediaPro Flat Ergonomic MAC USB White Keyboard with 2 USB Ports ( AKB-805MAC)
This set is definitely worth looking into. Enjoy!
Customer Review: ALMOST a perfect keyboard
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm writing this review as I ponder a repeat purchase of this keyboard / mouse combo for a second computer in the house.
The Mouse:
The look and feel of the mouse meet most basic expectations. 99% of my use is with the right and left buttons, and the roller scroller (as I refer to it :) The roller also has a left an right button component, as well as an additional R and L button on the side of the mouse body. I find I use these sparingly, if usually by accident. I should look into disabling these keys, if possible, because of the accidental use. I power the mouse using 2 x AA NiHi rechargeable batteries typically for at least a couple months, sometimes I think many more. It is easy to lose track of how long they last, but I am very satisfied with battery life. I'm sure alkaline batteries would last much longer than the rechargeable ones. The mouse conveniently displays an LED on the base when active, and displays a RED LED on top when in a low battery condition. The software is for me, setup once and forget. At least until I revisit a way to disable the keys I don't use.
The Keyboard:
I really would like to give this keyboard perfect marks, but in the best interest of potential buyers, I will mark it just shy of perfect. I'll note a couple distracting shortcomings below.
I've used this keyboard for over a year now in my home office. I'm at the computer over 10 hours per day, but typical keyboard (actual) use is probably in the 2 - 4 hour range. The layout, although different, is easy to adapt to, i.e. naturally ergonomic. The large palm rest is comfortable and well positioned. The array of supplemental shortcut keys is quite large, each with an easy to decipher icon. A multimedia key panel is also conveniently designed at the top of the unit, however I find rare use of it. The material used in construction is quite durable having withstood a couple crashes to hard flooring undamaged. I use a light brush and occasional damp cloth to clean. Battery life, again using 2 x AA NiHi is extremely long, and again I am very pleased. One of the function keys will display low battery condition if it exists when selected. Range is very good, far beyond my ability to read the screen.
Keyboard dislikes: I really would like to see "Caps Lock" and "Num Lock" LEDs on the keyboard. Years of training has my mind hard wired to glance at the keyboard to determine these option keys status. But, alas, they don't exist. Fortunately, the software that comes with the combo allows a task bar icon to display a highlighted "A" or "1" to show the state of the option keys. I'm still in the process of retraining my brain to look at the windows screen taskbar, not the keyboard. Perhaps that problem is unique to me. Now for what I don't like the most: STICKY KEYS!! Ugh. Now to be more specific, the keys are not sticky due to spilled OJ or doughnut glazing, but to some sort of misalignment when not pressed in the key's sweet spot. If I press in the center of the key, no problem. However, if I fat-finger the key and strike the raised rim of the key, the key must become slightly torqued causing the key to not glide smoothly, hang, and miss contact. Although this is technically user error, I consider this a serious engineering or design flaw. I'm sure I am not the only person to not make every keystroke in the exact center of the keys. (Please fix this Logitech)
Final remarks: Well, while writing this review, and pondering the combo's pros and cons, I've decided the nice features heavily outweigh the few annoyances. So, if it is any testament to my satisfaction, I'm buying another. Cheers!!
Customer Review: Best Keyboard I've Ever Used
Summary: 5 Stars
With its ergonomic design, great functionality and very reasonable price, the Logitech Wave desktop set is an outstanding purchase.
INSTALLATION
The keyboard and mouse each take a couple of AA's, so you need to pop those in first and then plug the USB wireless receiver into your computer. Vista and XP will somewhat recognize that you're plugging a wireless keyboard and mouse in, but for full functionality, you'll want to install the included Set Point software. The Set Point software will install in a couple of minutes, and it is rather intuitive to set up and customize your keyboard and mouse controls.
KEYBOARD
The keyboard has a unique wave design that makes typing easier on your wrists and fingers. After about a month of use, you notice the difference. I have used those split, ergonomic keyboards in the past and liked them, however, the Logitech Wave is a much more natural choice because the keyboard still has a more familiar spacing and layout. The keys are durable, and the wireless speed is spot on; there is no key lag. There is a comfortable wrist rest built into the bottom of the keyboard that functions well. The extra media buttons are all useful: a button for Vista Gadgets, Media Center buttons (play, fast forward, etc), volume control, 3-D flip, zoom, as well as dedicated buttons for Sleep and Calculator. The keyboard has three positions that you can choose from, 0 degrees, 4 degrees, and 8 degrees of tilt (I prefer the 4 degrees). All in all, everything you'd want in a comfortable keyboard without fancy bells and whistles like mini-LCD screens.
MOUSE
This desktop set comes with a wireless laser mouse that holds its own. I will say that my MX1000 laser mouse has more feature buttons and feels a little more comfortable in my hand, but this desktop mouse has a lower profile. This means that I can leave my mouse on my keyboard drawer when I slide it in, while with the MX1000, it was too tall to keep on the drawer tray whenever I slid it to the storage position. The mouse has exceptional tracking and no wireless lag. There are back and forward buttons, and clicking the scroll wheel down can be used to either zoom in and out or open the Vista 3-D flip. All the buttons are customizable with the Set Point software. The mouse is ambidextrous, and sports rubber thumb resting pads to insure a good grip. The mouse is well designed and one of the better ones out there for lefties.
SOFTWARE
The Set Point software is easy enough to install, and will not interfere with your existing mouse and keyboard (important for laptops when you always want to be able to use your native keyboard and touch pad). Opening the Set Point software lets you customize most of the buttons/keys on the mouse/keyboard combo.
OVERALL
I've used this combo unit for almost two months now and I can say that it's the best keyboard I've ever used. The mouse isn't as good as some others, say the MX1000, but it's highly functional and has the surprise benefit of being slightly thinner and fitting on my desktop drawer pull-out. The battery life seems solid, as I'd expect to get at least another 4 months out of them. Considering the sometimes amazingly low price that this keyboard/mouse combo goes for, the Logitech Wave Desktop Set is an incredible value. Highly recommended.
Customer Review: Another winner from Logitech
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered this keyboard/mouse combo the day it was released. Since that time I've read nothing but good reviews and I agree with them all!
Logitech offers this set as wireless, or you can get the wired keyboard with no mouse included. I wish they would offer the wireless keyboard without the mouse as well. Its not that the mouse is bad per se, its just that I didn't need another mouse, and I much prefer mice that are made for right handers. Since I own many Logitech components from speakers to mice to remotes I decided to buy an upgraded Logitech mouse(MX Revolution) which is a great mouse but unfortunately not compatible with the Wave sets receiver. So I was stuck either using both receivers or pick a mouse-I chose to use the mouse included with the Wave and the Revolution on another computer.
As soon as I connected the base my mouse had basic funcionality. You need to install the Logitech SetPoint software to customize the buttons and utilize all of the mouse/keyboard extra functions. I wouldnt bother using the included CD as the drivers/software is outdated. Go to Logitechs website and download the newest drivers for optimal performance.
The receiver itself is great and very small. You plug it into any open USB port on your computer and your ready to go. I had a Microsoft wireless mouse where the receiver had to plug into a USB port and then the actual box sat on your desk! I thought that kind of defeated the purpose of going wireless. The Logitechs receiver is so small and once plugged into your computer its hardly even noticeable and you have nothing cluttering up your desk.
The keyboard design is very comfortable to use and doesn't take long at all to adjust to. It's nothing like those split keyboards but it still takes a bit of time to adjust to the raised and lowered keys on the Wave. The keystrokes have a very nice feel to them and are super quite. What I really like are the programmable functions designed to work with Vista. This gives you easy access to the 3D flip function and any others you customize. The standard media control buttons also worked well and you can choose whichever media player to open with the SetPoint software. Same goes for your email client, web browser, etc. Its all customizable!
As for the mouse, its a basic wireless mouse-no frills. That wouldn't bother me so much but the fact thats its made for both righties and lefties its not as comfortable as a mouse made for a specific hand. The button layout could also have been better. The back button is on the left side which is fine, but the forward button on the right side is in a bad spot. You will find that you accidentally click this button numerous times just because of the way you hold the mouse. Its very annoying and the main reason I chose not to use it.
I haven't tested the how far you can actually go with the wireless feature but with normal desk use it works flawlessly. I have not experienced any lag at all. Every button press on the keyboard and every click of the mouse has been picked up so far after a few months of use. I really couldn't ask for anything more other than a better mouse with this set, or to offer the wireless keyboard as a standalone product. For a comfortable, stylish, quiet, and customizable mouse/keyboard set optimized for Vista I highly recommend this set.
Customer Review: Comparing the Wave to Microsoft's Comfort Curve--on a Mac
Summary: 5 Stars
There are over 100 reviews of this keyboard, so I'll try to keep this strictly relevant to two topics--one people that are using this on a Mac, and two, people who are trying to decide between this and Microsoft's version of this keyboard.
Previous to using the "Wave" I used the Microsoft version of this style. (I believe the name is "Comfort Curve," but I could be mistaken, I bought it a couple years ago, so I may not have the exact product name.)
I don't know who copied who, but basically BOTH keyboards have a unique keyboard layout that to say it succinctly, makes typing much easier and more natural and comfortable, without the awkwardness of some of those "natural" ergonomic keyboards that preceded these.
Though both companies offer a comparable, amazingly comfortable typing experience, the tactile qualities and keystroke noise differ slightly. The Logitech has a firm, yet soft tactile keystroke experience--and it is noticably quieter. The Microsoft one is a bit "harder," more with the tactile qualities of a standard keyboard, and is noisier.
That said, now that I've tried both, along with preferring the keystroke "feel" of the Logitech, this keyboard is much more Mac friendly than the Microsoft one. I've heard some complaining about the driver support and key function/etc. of this keyboard for Macs, but I find that just about everything works and is easily customizable as advertised. (One note: the driver and "Logitech Control Center" interface must be downloaded from Logitech, the disc included with this set is for Windows only.) On the Microsoft version of this style keyboard, many keys DID work for Macs, but many were useful to Windows users more specifically, and the design and layout and labeling just wasn't very Mac friendly.
Given my preference for the "feel" of the keyboard, and the reduced noise, which is particularly noteworthy being a user that "pounds" the keys--often late at night with roommates trying to sleep), and the more Mac friendly labels/design, I'd have to say for a Mac user, the Logitech Wave is the way to go. If you prefer Microsoft, or are a Windows user, there are some advantages/slight differences to the Microsoft keyboard that you may want to consider.
One thing of note to tech design buffs, or just people who care about such trivial things, the USB receiver used for the Logitech Wave set is much more stylish and a far smaller footprint than the eyesore large oval receiver used by Microsoft. This may not matter to most people, but I felt it should be noted for those who care about the "look"/design.
***Edit Note: I give this five stars for being Mac friendly (despite an Apple "Genius Bar" person telling me Logitech was bad) and the keyboard edging out the Microsoft one in my personal preference, but I technically might dock it slightly for the mouse. It's a good mouse, or rather--good enough, but I wish since this is a premium cordless keyboard/mouse kit they had included a more premium mouse. I personally have chosen to use the Logitech VX Nano, which is the smaller "note book" friendly/sized mouse i prefer, and has more useful functions (like limited web browsing control, fast scroller, etc.)***