Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set
by Logitech
|
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 |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set
Customer Review: Good next to your desktop--Poor when using with your HDTV
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this Wave keyboard/mouse combo planning to use it with my HDTV. Since I've bought a big LCD, instead of browsing the internet on my tiny laptop screen, I hook it up to my TV and use that as a monitor. The downside is that I need a cordless keyboard/mouse combination to actually control the computer. I stumbled across the Wave combo and loved its fantastic reviews. One item that caught my eye was some people said they had trouble using keyboard while sitting on their couch about 8 feet away from their computer. I should have listened to those reviews, but instead listened to the other reviews and manufacturer claims extolling the great signal strength. They were unfortunately wrong. I should have gone with the Logitech diNovo Edge. But first, the good.
The keyboard, while a little bulky to keep on your lap, is excellently designed. The curvature of the keys does make an impression on your fingers and feels very comfortable typing. Plus, the inclusion of the numberpad on the right makes it easy to type out strings of numbers. The best feature, however, is the redesigned home key row (where they put page up/down, home/end, insert/delete). Back in the past, when hitting home or end or delete, I'd often accidentally hit that annoying insert key as well. Then, while looking down at a piece of paper while typing, I'd realize that I'd just typed over a significant part of my essay. How annoying! Thankfully, the Wave keyboard moves the insert key up to the top, by the f12 key so you don't accidentally hit it anymore. Such a small but meaningful change. I'm surprised it's taken so long to get around to that!
Unfortunately, the keyboard's excellence fails to make up for the mouse's mediocrity. If you've been using the standard microsoft mouse for the past five years, then maybe you'll be fine with this mouse. For me, a Logitech VX Revolution at my work computer has spoiled me. The included mouse in this set doesn't have the extra buttons or ergonomic design of the newer mouses on the market. You may think that's ok, but after using the VX Revolution, my hand feels too cramped going back to a previous generation mouse. Trust me--try the VX Revolution (or similar style mouse) and it will change your life.
Further, it's difficult to use the mouse on my couch. Sure I can get a mousepad and move the mouse over that, but it feels uncomfortable. It's just not practical to use the mouse when browsing the internet from your couch. A much better bet is to purchase a keyboard with a built-in trackpad, like the diNovo Edge.
Lastly, the signal strength is just way too poor. While the keyboard was generally fine, sitting 6-8 feet from my TV and computer caused serious problems with the mouse. Also, there needed to be a clear and unobstructed line of sight from the receiver to the keyboard and mouse. While the keyboard is good, the signal strength is just not practical enough to use beyond 1-2 feet. My best recommendation is to go with the fantastic Logitech diNovo Edge, whose bluetooth signal enables you to be anywhere in the room.
Customer Review: A new owner's perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
Note: I'm a woman with very small hands. I can only speak from my own perspective and let you interpret how to use my experiences.
I just got this set yesterday and have really been enjoying it. It's much more comfortable than my last Logitech set (LX700), but that comes with it being 5 years newer.
The keyboard seems to be nice and quiet, even for a very fast typist like me. Quieter than any other keyboard I've used before. It's difficult getting used to the new placement of the home, end, delete, page up, and page down buttons, but this is not the only keyboard nowadays that has this. It's not really an issue, just a bit of a learning curve. I like the amount of customization that I'm able to do. I can set my frequently visited web pages to certain keys, have my music pop up with the click of one button, as well as switching between programs without having to go with alt+tab. This is especially nice for people like me with very small hands. One thing that is a bit inconvenient is the fact that the media buttons do not work in Foobar (which is my media player of choice). This isn't really a big deal considering I normally just set my music and minimize the player for several hours.
The mouse is fantastic. I love that it's much smaller than my previous mouse, so it fits really well in my hand. I don't understand those who have complained about the placement of the forward and back buttons. For me, it's actually easier. I have a very small shift (instead of having to completely move my thumb, which was uncomfortable) and bam, the button's been clicked. Have not done it accidentally, but it's very comfortable to use them. Also, I've found that it tracks really really well. I read one reviewer who said that "the problem was obvious when you noticed that the laser is high up and covered partly by plastic". Actually, if you'll notice, the laser is angled in such a way as to be effectively centered even though it doesn't appear to be at first glance.
So, to summarize:
-Keyboard Pros-
Comfortable
Quiet
Extremely customizable
Easy on smaller hands
-Keyboard Cons-
Media buttons do not work in Foobar (my media player of choice)
Home, end, delete, page up, and page down buttons are placed differently than standard (a feature not exclusive to this keyboard)
-Mouse Pros-
Great for small hands
Comfortable
Tracks excellently
Scrolls smoothly in all directions
Back and forward buttons are comfortable to use
-Mouse Cons-
None that I've found.
Also, I found the software to be very easy to install and use. Within about 5 minutes I was ready to go!
If necessary, I will come and amend this review once I've had more time to use it. This is simply my first bit of impression of it. Over all, EXCELLENT!
Customer Review: Comfortable and Works GREAT!!! Missing keys.
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is my third wireless keyboard and mouse combination. My first was by Microsoft and figured I couldn't go wrong with that brand. But, I was completely wrong. It just didn't work at all!! In order to save my sanity I brought it back to the store and picked up a Logitech combination. To this day, I still use that set and it works perfectly!! My only complaint was that they got rid of the insert key so you had to turn off caps lock, hit Ins, then turn it back on -- which is not always the easiest thing to do when you REALLY need that insert key. I use that set at home and have never looked back!
So when I saw this product, I knew I had the perfect replacement for the wired keyboard and mouse I had at work. I wasn't all that shocked when I found that the insert key was missing again BUT to make me happy (I'm sure they did it just for me) they replaced the never-used scroll lock button with the insert key. I'm a happy camper!
This is also much more comfortable than anything else I've used. It has a nice ergonomic feel to the keyboard and I can type for HOURS straight without straining my hand -- a problem I had before I replaced the keyboard. The mouse also fits my hand like it was made for it. The rubber sides adds a nice grip and adds to the comfort of this entire package.
The media buttons at the top are used constantly and a few more have been added since my first Logitech set. My favorite one is one that allows you to swap programs. It is much more graphical and detailed than my old method of Alt-Tab and it has become my preference when switching between applications. I really appreciate Logitech's innovation while designing the keyboard.
I plugged their receiver right into my USB slot and have not had any problems whatsoever. None! It has really exceeded my expectations on the wireless front.
My only problem is that it is missing a button. I'm not sure what it is called but most keyboards have it and it brings a menu on the screen similar to what you would get if you right-clicked with your mouse. Hey, Logitech, I use that!! A lot! You see, after growing up on DOS I've tended to prefer keyboard commands over mouse commands if they are available and that made that button extremely useful.
But that is my only complaint. Other than that, this thing has been flawless and performed marvelously. I would recommend this to anybody who is looking for a wireless keyboard and mouse unless you are like me and would really miss that right-click key.
Customer Review: Overall a welcome addition to my desktop
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
So far I have been quite pleased with this keyboard and mouse. The few problems I have run into - most of them the searching-for-a-key variety - don't detract from the overall performance of this combo.
First, the mouse, which I had the most satisfaction with. This is my first wireless combo, and I don't see how I can ever go back! The joy of not having to constantly flip a mouse cord out of the way, or tug it loose from where it caught on another item on my cluttered desk, is amazing. I just never realized how annoying a mouse cord was until I didn't have to deal with it anymore! I also like the forward/back buttons located on either side of the mouse, although the right one (forward) is somewhat awkwardly located. I did have to adjust the pointer speed, as the mouse is extremely sensitive and would send the cursor zooming across the page at the slightest touch. However, this was easy to do.
My enjoyment of the keyboard is slightly more qualified. I love the feel of the keys - there's still a satisfying click to them, but it's softer and not as hard on the fingers. The wrist rest is great, offering just enough support without being squishy or slimy, as many gel pads are. I didn't notice any huge difference with the one major selling feature of this keyboard, though - the "wave" pattern that sets some keys higher or lower than the others. It's nice when my fingers are at rest, but once they're typing I just don't sense any particular advantage.
The positioning of the keys, however, is going to take a lot of getting used to. There is a slight U-bend, which does make the keyboard more comfortable ergonomically but which places the keys at a slightly different orientation to each other. I find myself looking down at the keys a lot more than I would with a standard keyboard. Moreover, the orientation of the Home/End/Delete keys is, admittedly, driving me crazy. Every time I reach for the End key I hit Delete instead, which is enormously frustrating. Perhaps with further use these problems will iron themselves out. However, if you're like me and use one keyboard at work or school and another at home, I don't know if you'll ever get comfortable enough with the differing layout.
I would absolutely recommend this keyboard and mouse combo to anyone seeking an easy-to-use, comfortable, and attractive wireless option. I would caution, however, that those who will like it the best are probably those who will use it most often.
Customer Review: Free your fingers, simplify your life! - a review from a satisfied MAC user
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I've occasionally tried new or funky keyboard designs and been underwhelmed. For some time now, I've stuck to my standard Mac keyboard because it had several functions I liked even though it was fairly uncomfortable. I have found, however, Logitech's new ergonomic "Wave" keyboard and mouse to be an excellent product that has already simplified my life at the keyboard. It took about five minutes to setup the keyboard and mouse, and then another ten minutes to find and install the Mac driver on their website. (It would have been nice for there to be some indication in the packaging that Mac users would have to get a different driver than the one that is included for Windows Vista users.) After that, however, I was up and running. Whatever bugs earlier reviewers have reported in the Mac drivers seem to have been worked out and the system works like a charm. The function buttons are preprogrammed for standard application use -- iTunes, iCal, Word, Excel, Safari, etc. -- and can be reprogrammed very easily. The keyboard feels smooth and comfortable and is very lightweight. Best of all, it can be picked up and moved. I can type from across the room if I like -- and if you can't see what you are typing from far away, there is a handy zoom button that automatically boosts the size of the font on web pages (or increases the size of photos). The mouse is a fairly standard wireless mouse, with a handy ambidextrous design, a programmable button on either side and a scroll that has programmable clicks and even left right scroll functions. Probably my favorite feature is the handy music controls at the top of the keyboard -- one button that opens my iTunes and then a volume control, track forward and backward, play, pause, stop and mute buttons. The only minor quibble I can imagine is that the keyboard feels so good on my hands and is so useful for so many functions it is almost a pain to have to reach away from it to use the included mouse -- in that sense I almost wish there were a small track pad attached here so that you could perform most mouse functions directly on the keyboard (and reserve the mouse itself for more precise applications like gaming or graphics editing, etc.). That is, however, a minor complaint. I've given up my standard Mac keyboard for good. Logitech won me over with this one.