Logitech MX3200 Cordless Desktop Laser (Black)
by Logitech
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Our Price: $169.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $55.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech MX3200 Cordless Desktop Laser (Black)
Customer Review: Counterintuitive design, not worth the price.
Summary: 3 Stars
I received this keyboard after as a gift after my old Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro was starting to show its age. It apparently was one of the only keyboards available at the store at the time was purchased for me.
On the whole, I can't say I'm very impressed. This was my first wireless keyboard, and so far I am finding the implementation less convenient than a wired setup. The problem is that the USB wireless receptor seems to need a fairly clear line of sight with the keyboard itself ... if it doesn't, some keystrokes will go unrecognized, or sometimes a keystroke will be repeated over and and over again. This can be very irritating, particular when you're playing games.
I find that to ensure good, reliable reception, I have to put connect the wire USB receptor to the receptor that is included with the product and put it directly behind my keyboard on my desk's keyboard tray, which defeats the whole purpose of the wireless setup and is, in fact, more annoying than a wired setup, because sometimes I'll accidentally knock the receptor down to the floor. I found I could not put the receptor on the surface of my desk because my keyboard tray is at a lower elevation, and the receptor "points" upwards.
I don't know if this is par for the course with wireless keyboards or what, so if you're the sort of person who needs a mobile keyboard, maybe Logitech's implementation with this product is as good as anyone's, and thus cannot be considered a very negative point for the product. Or maybe I just got a semi-defective unit. I don't know, I just know that I don't like it.
The keyboard design is overall fine, except the function keys (F1 - F12) are not full-sized and have a different feel to them. Some people might prefer this setup, as it does let you know, tactilely, that your fingers are over a F key and not a normal number key ... however, I always felt that the spacing between the number keys and the F keys was sufficient to let you know where your fingers are, and with the MX 3200's setup, I find more difficult to tell (without looking) which F key my fingers are resting over, again, because of the unorthodox setup. The large amount of space between the F5-F8 key set and the F9-F12 key set is also confusing and for me has taken a lot of getting used to.
As for the keyboard's bells and whistles, I find they generally get in the way. I find it's nice to have volume controls, a suspend function and a few other things on the keyboard, but things like the touted "Dynamic Search & Zoom" function just gets in the way. Inadvertently brush it and the text in your web browser will balloon to gigantic proportions or shrink each character to a single pixel ... or in games and other applications, you may suddenly experience a series of menus opening/closing. On a slower computer, this might stall your computing experience for several minutes while your system tries in futility to catch up. Fortunately this feature can be disabled. (FN + close).
A few of the non-standard buttons are convenient, and I find the ones I use most are carry-overs from my old keyboard ... the volume controls, the suspend button, maybe some of the media player functions (play, pause, stop) might be useful as well. The problem is that these functions are all small buttons which are impossible to identify in the dark (I usually prefer gaming and watching video on my computer with dimmed lights), as they have no features that make them easily distinguishable by touch, which leads to a situation where half the time I accidentally mute when I mean to increase the volume, or increase the volume when I mean to decrease it, etc. and I end up totally ignoring the media player functions altogether.
As for the mouse, for some unfathomable reason, by default, the middle click function is not mapped to the scroll wheel click. This can be remedied in the SetPoint software (at least it can be in the later versions of it). Also, you have to press down HARD to get the middle-click to register, which can result in accidental scrolling action. Overall the mouse isn't that bad, but I've found that the rubbery finish on the sides of the mouse wears off pretty easily.
All in all, if you just want a quality keyboard and mouse, I say pass on this one, without a doubt. The extra features are distracting and what they add to the price of the product is not worth paying for.
If you've got your computer hooked up to a large display (like a nice big, HDTV) and you want some mobility, I can see the allure, as many of the extraneous features that are pretty much useless for normal desktop computing might come in handy if you're not using the mouse. However, because of the finicky and unreliable nature of the wireless connection (in my experience) the keyboard would only be marginally useful of this purpose as well.
Customer Review: A Good Combination from Logitech with a Few Notable Flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros: Cordless; highly functional, stylish, affordable; Logitech
Cons: No Cap & Number lock LED's.
Bottom-Line: Final analysis: Together the pair is a winner in my book, and mated with the excellent Set Point software, the Cordless Desktop MX-3200 is a clear winner.
I dislike clutter. And my desk at work is configured such that the keyboard, mouse and headphone cords run across the desktop and not only create an eyesore, but also get in the way of work. So I had to find a solution. I decided to go wireless; i.e. wireless keyboard, mouse and headphones. The first device I purchased was the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX-3200, which mates a wireless keyboard with a wireless MX-600 laser mouse (I will discuss my wireless headphones choice in a later review).
The Product
The Logitech Cordless Desktop MX-3200 is a complete system that will take up a limited amount of space on the desktop. Logitech ships the combination with everything you will need to get the system up and running including (6) AA batteries (4 in the keyboard and 2 in the mouse). As with all Logitech cordless (wireless) devices shipped within the past year or so, the Cordless Desktop MX-3200 uses a very small USB transceiver to communication with the keyboard and mouse. But Logitech take this a step further by providing a convenient extender/stand for the transceiver that is ideal for the desktop; clever and practical.
The keyboard is of course matt black with white keys that are none too bright; i.e. they will be hard to see in limited lighting situations. The keys feel good under the fingers; smooth operation, but without an audible click. Functionally, the MX3200 keyboard has the (now) standard multimedia keys as well as a search section developed to take advantage of Windows Vista.
At the top of the keyboard is a handy little (non-backlit) LCD readout for the time and date. Again in low light this readout is difficult, if not impossible to read. Another little annoyance: there are no LED's on the keyboard to denote caps & number lock(s). However, there is a monitor display read out whenever either key is depressed. But I am used to the LED lights, so this will take some getting used to. Logitech wanted to perhaps save battery power by omitting the LED's but...
The MX600 laser mouse is about what I have come to expect with Logitech mice; it is just the right size, highly functional, and attractive. The right-handed mouse takes two AA sized batteries and is fitted with a handy search button that when depressed will bring up a dialog box giving you a list of possible search engines; i.e. Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Live, among others.
In addition the mouse has four other functional buttons, not including the zoom/tilt/scroll wheel. One of these buttons is a "zoom in" and "zoom out" on the side that works within any active page; i.e. it worked well with MS Word and Internet Explorer. There is "forward" and "back" button as well I use extensively while browsing. Anyone who has used the functionality of a Logitech mouse can attest to the addictive nature of these buttons.
Installation
Installation of the Cordless Desktop MX-3200 is pretty straight forward: plug in the transceiver install the batteries in the keyboard and mouse and one is set. Just to make sure everything worked the way they should I rebooted my Windows XP computer after which the transceiver was recognized by the OS and the mouse and keyboard worked flawlessly.
I then installed the Logitech Set Point software package, which consumes about 43MB of disk space. Set Point enables one to fully customize almost every button on the keyboard and mouse, though the interface could be more attractive.
Conclusion
Goodbye cords, hello cordless wonder. The Cordless Desktop MX-3200 was a wise choice at a decent price-point. There are a plethora of other choices on the market, but form my money Logitech does input devices, be they keyboard or mice, the best.
The MX 3200 keyboard is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of typing on using; the keys give a nice tactile feedback yet have a soft touch and feel. The key layout coupled with the ergonomics of the keyboard; i.e. palm rest, make the MX3200 suited for long-term use. I do however miss the LED readouts for cap & number lock.
The MX600 mouse continues Logitech's leadership in pointing devices. Highly functional, precise, stylish, and comfortable to use, the mouse is the perfect mate for the keyboard. Together the pair is a winner in my book, and mated with the excellent Set Point software, the Cordless Desktop MX-3200 is a clear winner.
Customer Review: Nice keyboard / mouse combo, but with some problems
Summary: 3 Stars
The Logitech MX3200 wireless keyboard/mouse combo unit has a lot going for it, and a couple of issues that really hold it back.
The good:
1.) Logitech has finally somewhat tamed the battery-chewing tendencies their wireless units are famous for. The mouse still is a bit power hungry, and will eat batteries at a rate about double that of the keyboard... but overall, it's a big improvement over their earlier products.
2.) The keyboard has a nice, solid feel to it - though some units are quieter than others. We own two, and the difference is noticeable... not terrible, but some of us like their keyboards to be quiet!
3.) There's a lot of functionality built in with designated hot buttons spread around the keyboard's perimeter. These are great for internet activities, voice operations, etc., if that's your cup of tea.
4.) The mouse is comfortable & rather ergonomic - though like the keyboard, the scroll wheel can be far quieter in some units than in others.
The bad:
1.) There is no Scroll Lock key, which turns out to be a rather large error and a larger inconvenience for users. Logitech says they eliminated it because they surveyed computer users and found few people used this key. Unfortunately, that's the very reason many software companies and peripheral manufacturers use this key as a hot button - and without the button, Logitech users can find some functionality missing from their software, games, or peripherals. For example, most KVM's rely on the Scroll Lock key as the toggle for switching a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse between two computers. (NOTE: For those needing a KVM solution for a Logitech keyboard/mouse, try Iogear's GCS22U... it toggles between PC's by using an old-school push button instead of a keyboard's Scroll Lock key. We have one of these units, and it works great!)
2.) There is a Dynamic Search & Zoom optical sensor built into the left side of the keyboard, right where a lot of people rest their hands when they're not typing. Unfortunately, the sensor can pick up any movement of your hand or fingers, which triggers the zoom control function. You can end up with a rather rapid adjustment to the size of what you're viewing... and getting things adjusted back to where things were can be an interesting process - the controls can be touchy, so sometimes you end up going through a process of enlarging and shrinking the image until you get things back to where they were originally.
3.) The zoom in/out controls on the mouse are inconsistent in their operation, and are placed so close to another control button that it's very easy to accidentally hit that button by mistake, resulting in going places or doing things you didn't mean or want to.
4.) This may be picky on my part, but I'd like it better if the keyboard's legs were a bit taller. They provide so little lift to the front of the keyboard that I had to put padding underneath them to make the keyboard comfortable to use. I know this is a personal preference, but if you like some tilt to your keyboard, you're going to have to augment this keyboard's legs to achieve it.
5.) The cursor occasionally will up and disappear from where you have it, moving itself wherever it wants and "deactivating". To get it back on track, you have to use the mouse to place the cursor back where you want it, then left click to make the cursor functional again.
6.) The Home / End / Delete / Page Up / Page Down keys are oriented vertically instead of horizontally, in the way keyboards were a long, long time ago. It takes some getting used to!
Summary -
I hesitated between two and three stars - what's good about this unit is good, and what's bad ranges from things that are simply annoying based on user preference, to some things that are truly pretty bad. Thus, a perhaps generous three stars.
Customer Review: Full of Functionality, Feels Good on Your Fingers
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the MX3200 keyboard/mouse combo as a replacement for my older Logitech Keyboard Duo, about 8 years old, and the MX3200 seems light years ahead of that model. The keys are much smoother and softer on your fingers. There a many specialized keys on this keyboard and I find that if you take the time to learn them, they can save a lot of extra mouse work on your part. I especially like the little "X" key on the left hand side of the keyboard, next to the search and "document flip" keys, which acts to close the top window that is open on your desktop. The document flip key, as it is called, let's you instantly switch which of your software applications are on top and it's useful.
No doubt, it takes a little time to get used to the enlarged delete key above the cursor keys. But the overall keyboard layout is sensible and natural. The programmable function keys are about half the size of previous keyboards but they are functional. The little volume and play/stop keys at the top are really small but I've gotten used to them. Now about the built-in clock: I've read a lot of complaints that it isn't backlit. I think a backlit clock would use more battery life. Personally, I like it the way it is: it is visible from a standard typing position but not too apparent. It blends in with the black color of the keyboard. Who wants to look at a clock all the time anyway? Sure it could have some more functionality, but then you would staring at the keyboard all the time which isn't where your eyes are pointed when you type.
The dynamic search and zoom slider on the left is a new feature and potentially useful but takes some getting used to. The VoIP button on the lower right is a nice feature that I use often. You can answer or hang-up your internet phone right from the keyboard. The wrist-rest has a soft, rubberized feel and is apparently made with anti-bacterial silver crystals as is the rest of the keyboard and the mouse surface.
There are no caps/num lock lights on the keyboard itself, but this information shows up on-screen using the included Logitech Setpoint software, which is easy to install and set up.
The mouse is considerably better in terms of tracking/motion, than previous mice I've used. It's smooth and feels good in my hand. It has an on/off switch to save battery life and a battery life indicator on the top of the mouse that stays lit for only a few seconds when you turn it on. (Again, a battery-saving feature.) I like the forward/back buttons on the side of the mouse, but the zoom buttons on the top are a bit small and too close to the web search button next to them for my taste. The glowing red tracking light is gone replaced by an invisible beam. I liked the red glow of older mice but this invisible beam probably saves battery life too. The scroll wheel has side-scrolling capability which is handy when looking at wide web pages.
Another neat new feature, is that the mouse and keyboard automatically connect to the USB base unit, which looks like an oversized flash-memory stick and has no lights on it. You don't have to connect and reconnect the keyboard/mouse every time you disconnect the base unit from your computer. This is a big improvement. The keyboard/mice have no problem connecting to the base unit four feet away from my computer.
Overall, this keyboard/mouse combo will take some time for you to learn to use all of its features and functionality, but both units work very well, feel good to the touch, and basically make computing more fun and efficient.
(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of PLANETARY INTELLIGENCE and OPENING MINDS.)
Customer Review: Not too shabby!
Summary: 4 Stars
Not a lot of people like the idea of dropping more than $30 for a keyboard and mouse combo, but you get what you pay for.
I've been using this for over a year now, so I can safely say that this keyboard and mouse combo is rather nice for an average user.
I consider myself an average user with intermediate computer literacy and knowledge. I literally threw aside the documentation, threw batteries into the mouse and keyboard, connected the USB receiver, and have not done anything aside from experimenting where the receiver was to be located to optimize wireless reception.
I like the feel of the keyboard, no doubt. It looks nice, feels nice, and is chock full of features that unfortunately I have not taken much advantage of. There are a ton of shortcut keys and of course programmability for most of them. One thing that I have a gripe for is the dynamic zoom bar and the 100% zoom touch-button on the left side of the keyboard. For some reason, it just didn't work for me at all... until one day I decided to wipe it with my shirt to nix the fingerprints and TADA! it works. I have no idea why this happens this way but it's not exactly something that was meant to work that way. =p The 100% touch button is also very sensitive... I have "hit" it accidentally a couple of times and managed to confuse myself when Explorer started changing item views on me.
The LCD in the center of the keyboard is rather useless, in my opinion. It either displays the clock (which you have to set; it would have been kind of neat if it synchronized itself with your system clock), a timer, or the number of characters you've typed during the lifetime of the keyboard.
So far, the keyboard is still good to go. No stuck keys, no failed keys, nothing. And I eat and drink with my computer... which probably puts that anti-microbial coating to use. =p
The mouse, in design, is rather nice. I like being able to "click" side by side with the scroll wheel, and if I remember to I like the Search button to quickly bring up Google instead of my usual typing of its URL in the address bar. However, just a few weeks ago, this mouse has been driving me insane with a few problems that just sprung up. The mouse can no longer reliably click or drag because when depressing the left mouse button, there's a chance that the mouse will click twice, click in the middle of a drag, or do something other than what you intend it to do. I'm currently fishing around for a solution... I'm not sure if it's because I use rechargeable Ni-MH batteries or if the mouse is just defective.
All in all, it's a good buy if you're on the computer a lot like I am and can appreciate a more premium keyboard and mouse set.
FYI: I use Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2... which I recommend anyone to stick with. At least long enough before Vista finally is a viable step-up as a stable, useful, mostly-bug-free OS.
Edit: This keyboard and mouse set does not play nicely with ANY version of Ubuntu (Gutsy 7.10, Hardy 8.04)... I've only got it to work twice and it was by random happenstance, which then "corrected" itself. (Only the keyboard works... the mouse remains dead. It's probably because they share the same USB receiver for input.)