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Logitech Cordless Desktop LX500 and LX700 Showdown
msftmichael writes "CoolTechZone reviews Logitech's latest LX500 and LX700 Cordless Desktop Duo products. The author discusses problems with software, compares and contrasts the two products, and talks about wireless technology in a very in-depth review. Here's a quote: "Both of the products we are reviewing use RF (Radio Frequency) receivers to communicate between the mouse and your computer. It operates on the 27 MHz frequency, which is good for short range communication through less than 2 physical barriers. At this relatively low frequency, interference can occur due to proximity to other electronic devices, which is why Logitech recommends that you keep the receiver 8 inches (20 cm) away from your monitor or computer. They also recommend against putting it on a metal surface, and for good reason. While on top of our steel computer case, we could not get the keyboard or mouse to communicate with the receiver."
Ah... the good 'ole days of trying incessantly to uncurl that mouse cord in the right direction... those were the days.
And they said zombies weren't real!
Why would you want to have to recharge it and pay extra? This written with an MX500 next to me.
Sorry, but no fucking way am I reading a 10 page review for a keyboard and mouse.
R(k)
we're calling mice "desktops" now?
Excuse me? Are you trying to tell me that they just invented the cordless mouse and keyboards? Boy.. I guess I'm ahead of times, I have been using it for quiet sometime now.
fuvoo: watch something
If IE isn't set as your default browser...why would they open it for the search and email buttons? If Firefox...Opera or whatever is your default browser their software needs to honor that. Until they can get that much right I will not purchase one of their products.
Unstable Apps: Our Android Apps Don't Suck
Last time I used a wireless combo, you could not use the keyboard and mouse simultanously (e.g., shift_drag to recycle bin). Is this still the case with newer wireless combos?
Some settling may occur during posting.
Because even now I prefer their keyboards and mice for surviability reasons in a college party atmosphere. I recently upgraded to 2 of the optical desktops with built-in fingerprint security. So far we have had about 30-40 people use it at various parties to play games or look up drink recipes and even after spilling multiple beers and bong waters on the keyboard there has been no loss of function. Logitech to me has only recently gotten to the quality where I will use the products but still not over Microsoft. Does anyone know of a good off brand though?
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have now officially found the definition of "a slow news day."
interference can occur due to proximity to other electronic devices, which is why Logitech recommends that you keep the receiver 8 inches (20 cm) away from your monitor or computer.
Who has that much room on their desk? Especially room that is also 8+ inches away from any other electronic equipment? I've got printers, a scanner, a KVM switch, a phone, a stereo and speakers. Unless I tape the receiver to the side of my head, I've got nowhere to put it.
What ever happened to bluetooth mice? I can hardly find them anymore, and haven't seen the Microsoft bluetooth keyboard or mouse for a long time. Did they just suck, or what's the deal?
My experience with wireless mice has been that they are laggy - you move the mouse and the pointer is late to catch up with your movement. Most sane people can't notice that, apparently, but it really got on my nerves. But I'd like a bluetooth mouse for my Powerbook if they don't suck too bad.
My opinion has always been that wireless mice suck. Why don't people just buy the MX518 and be content? /me shrugs
I use the LX 700 (which I bought earlier this month) as my keyboard and mouse. I don't have any problems with reception with the reciever on top of my box, which is about the only place where I have room for it, due to my desk size.
Furthermore, I use Linux, where the drivers aren't compatable, but the hardware works very well. The side buttons on the mouse even work as an extra center and right click, which comes in handy from time to time.
Of course, the function keys don't work, but that's not a problem. I wouldn't use them even if I was using Windows.
Also, the mouse fits my hand quite well, which is rare for a mouse.
Haec merda tauri est. Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.
About not placing the receiver on a metal surface -- I've had the same problem with the Microsoft Elite Wireless keyboard/mouse. I shelled out $100 for what I thought would be perfect reception. Instead I'm constantly removing my batteries to see why the hell the mouse isn't responding or my words are missing letters. Eventually I tried taking the receiver out from under my couch and setting it on top of my coffee table a foot from my keyboard. The problem went away. This was really disappointing, but I've learned to live with it.
Another quirk -- the mousing surface affects signal strength! And I don't just mean mouse movements. Mouse CLICKS get lost when I try mousing on a non-optical-friendly surface. I can't explain it.
If you need a wireless product that distances more than 3 feet and/or works through walls, just forget a Logitech solution with these products altogether.
Having run the gauntlet on nearly all wireless peripherals, just shell out the money for a Gyration product. In all honesty, these Logitech and MS wireless products are crap. They don't even really operate properly within the 6(ish) feet of range they specify.
Obviously this author has nothing else to write about so he bashesh RF based keyboard/mouse. Frankly the RF based keyboards for me has been the most reliable. It uses less energy (batteries last longer) and are not prone to cordless phones interference.
In fact thats why I call my logitech bluetooth mouse the angry mouse. Because everytime someone picks up a phone ( 2.4ghz ) I'm angry! Can barely type and mouse stops working. Sure I can get a new phone or I can just get rid of the keyboard and go back to my old trusty wired mouse and keyboard.
So, is Linux supported?
How does it compare with the Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combo? BTW MS Wireless keyboard/mouse is the sizzle!
How well does it handle interference from other identical devices, for example an office with 100 of these things within sight of each other?
Can I get it in Applicious colors?
Why isn't bluetooth being used more in mice and keyboards? I have a Belkin bluetooth mouse, bluetooth in my Palm Zire 72, and I love using it. It seems to me like Logitech would be a great company to do bluetooth. Up until I got my current mouse, I always bought Logitech mice... but then they didn't have bluetooth.
Helping with organizational effectiveness is our job.
I current have a wireless mouse(Logitech MX 1000) and I like the freedom of not having wires because it does not get stuck on some of the random crap on my desk. Why would someone want a wireless keyboard? Your keyboard stays in one place, you never move it nothing can get in the way. Ive never had any problems with my RF mouse next to all of my other electronics, it doesnt work across my room but it works all around my desk.
using an affliate link to make money. Srtcr-20 is the affliate code embedded into the url.
Have you ever been to a turkish prison?
It operates on the 27 MHz frequency, which is good for short range communication through less than 2 physical barriers.
Yeah, until your kids start driving the ZipZap mini RC cars in your office.
Are cords really THAT bad?
... that's... erm... one physical barrier, isn't it?
Besides, what is a "physical" barrier anyway? Air? Sheet of Paper? Block of lead? Sorry, but that doesn't sound like a very insightful review.
I just got the Logitech MX1000 mouse today. The Logitech driver disk is probably the same as the one that comes with these mice installs additional third party crap even if you unselect everything. Pretty low from a suposedly reputable company - if I'd wanted 'MusicMatch', 'RealOne Arcade' or a handy link to eBay on my desktop I would have put installed them myself. It's fine bundling third party stuff with your (fully paid for) products - just make sure the end user has the option to UNSELECT ALL OF them from the install.
Oh yeah the driver weigh in at an unbelievable 22M. WTF? Its a mouse. With a few programmable buttons.
The drivers are only needed if you want use the extra buttons for non standard uses. If you need them, stop the CD from autoplaying and browse for the SetPoint installer by hand.
Steve.
Do not place on your pc, place in plain sight, do not block , and at 5 meter distance (couch to PC) it barely works. It almost is like wifi.
Why is it so difficult to make a good wireless set with less useage requirements. The amount of data which need to be send is minimal, so instead of all nice new techniques, would a nice simple radio connection not work, limit the power output and it should work better then the blue tooth?
Or when it has to be in sight anyway: The remote from my TV even does it better (on new batteries, you can aim it in a random direction, and it will switch channels).
Can somebody invite sony to make a wireless keyboard set?
My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
As a user of many mice over the years, I have to say my favorite so far is the 5 button MS Intellimouse Optical but the best software for it is the 4.1, not the newest. 4.1 has the Alt+tab assignment option, later software doesn't.
Another plus was that when I broke it (stepped on it during a move) I called MS support, and they sent me a brand new one after I faxed them a copy of the bottom of the mouse. Sweet.
R(k)
I have no problem with the reception with the reciever on top of a steel-cased computer. I have to say, I just bought it on a whim when I was looking for a new toy, and wasn't expecting much, but it has been great. The mouse is weighted perfectly and the added buttons (forward, back, up and down scroll, and sort of an alt-tab substitute) are fantastic. I was thoroughly impressed with it, and will buy more in the future (but only if I get a great deal again).
Anyways, what problems do I have with logitech? I hate the fact that they change their wireless receiver base every time they come out with a product. I just upgraded my wireless mouse to a 1000 series laser mouse, but I had to buy the new laser / keyboard combo because I didn't want two RF adapters on my desk. Can't logitech figure out a better way to deal with this?
Also, I hate the mouse button compatibility that Logitech has yet to resolve. Microsoft mouses just seem to support all the buttons.
Wouldn't EX-TREME imply that the product was formly TREME?
Does it bother no one that 99% of wireless keyboards tranmist over plain RF? Sorry, but I'm not typing in my credit card numbers or passwords on a wireless keyboard.
That being said -- I don't think I could ever live without a wireless mouse now that I've been spoiled. My MX700s sit idly in a box as my MX1000s have taken over at both my office and home.
*cough*... transmit, not tranmist.
*sigh*
27Mhz?? That means that it won't work when your redneck neighbor with the 1000-watt CB keys up...DOH!!!
A) use both connectors on the transciever: which is PS/2 mouse and USB keyboard.
The multimedia keys on the KB will work, and the ones that dont you can see in dmesg and map the scancodes you find. Not all of the mouse buttons will work.
b) use the usb connector only and use evdev
you will get xmodmap'able events from all the mouse buttons, it will work fine. The 'extra' multimedia keys on the KB will not work. you'll also find that using the mouse while pressing keys will act up - for example; holding down ALT and clicking on a window to move it. Very frustrating. No scancodes for the extra multimedia keys, so they're useless.. (is that libusb not kprint'ing the scancodes like the AT kb driver does? I didnt look yet.)
Does anyone have a 100% success in getting this thing working? I gave up for the moment because I was tired of rebooting and trying both ways..
...if there were a solution for also handling the video display wirelessly (which is what I thought the article was going to be about since it said "wireless desktop"). For just desk IO, other than that, why bother? Infrared or RF, pick one.
The digital signature really speeds up the possiblity to post comments, do not have to wait for 2 minutes anywmore. I love it!
My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
I'm not normally one to rag on Slashdot, hell I spend enough of my time here, but this is article is just a waste of everyones time. Overly long, completely uninteresting. There's levels of geek I'm prepared to admire, and levels of obsession about minute details that I find repugnant.
A few points - why the hell would you want a kb that can't be used in certain positions? A triumph of what over what here? Money over common sense springs to mind..
I still don't get bluetooth equipment let alone RF to be honest. I'd really hate to be at a LAN party and watch as my mouse and/or keyboard goes down due to a lack of batteries.
People buying these things have been suckered, big time. For the price of a lack of cable you pay extra and then pay for extras on top? You're the capitalist dream.. seriously.
The point about wireless, really, is wireless connectivity. It's nice to be able to open my laptop all around my campus and log into the wireless network and not worry about where the nearest ethernet jack is. But why do I ever want to use my keyboard or mouse anywhere other than in the immediate proximity of my bloody PC? If I'm going to be that obsessed with no wires I'd just use the laptop *all the time*. No wires here. Oh except the power cord. Make that wireless and I will be impressed.
And yes the immediate slew of 'well it's useful for my media centre' posts that defend this kind of technology - just stand up for once in your sofa ridden lives to press a button. It won't kill you.
I cut down on the wiring I needed. It's called a KVM switch.
God now I feel I'm getting old, getting dissolusioned with the state of technology today...
I don't read your sig, why do you read mine?
Much as I disdain replying to blatant slashvertisements (or is it just a slow news day?) I have to note that the lack of left-handed mouse options in high quality mice like the LX700 has to stop. Although those of us who mouse left-handed comprise a comparatively small market, I can't see offering a left-handed ergonomic mouse (just invert all the curvature--heck, look at a right-handed mouse in the mirror and there's your design reference) as representing so great a difficulty that not even one decent left-handed mouse can be offered. Whatever company actually decided to make one should be able to get enough sales to justify it even if they offer just one model. /Rant
I do however have a nagging feeling that because the signal is short-range by design, the security measures implemented within the protocol are minimal and/or naive. WEP initially looked like a very well thought out security framework and it turned out to be a disaster. Something tells me that whatever is used by wireless keyboards is not even on WEP level.
Just like we have WarSpying intercepting signal from wireless cameras, nothing in theory prevents anyone from coming up with a receiver made from RadioShack parts that intercepts wireless keyboard signal. The implications will be much more serious than a couple of teenagers oogling at someone in underwear strolling around her apartment.
Until there is an honest discussion about wireless keyboard security, I don't feel that the risk is adequately compensated by the convenience.
With this article and "Top Mice Compared" from yesterday. It looks like Logitech is spending good money on marketing. I would like to know how many mouse they can sell with an article on slashdot and how much money slashdot makes with that article.
Exactly. Someone with a half-wave dipole, a general coverage receiver and a soundblaster card might be logging your keystrokes from miles away.
This sounds like so much fun, I think I'll start doing it myself!
I have an MX1000 collecting dust because it still doesn't work correctly with any of the three KVM's I own. A google search revealed that this is a problem with a lot of Logitech gear.
But if you had a Beowulf cluster of the running Linux, would you get the works of Shakespeare?
Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
Yet another device that can be disabled from a nearby CB radio :)
"I bow to no man" - Riddick
... I had to buy the new laser / keyboard combo because I didn't want two RF adapters on my desk. Can't logitech figure out a better way to deal with this?
They did. It's called Bluetooth. Seriously. Bluetooth the best standardized way to replace wires attached to periferals and Logitech does have a bluetooth mouse and keyboard that are pretty good. You shouldn't have to switch RF adapters again for some time to come.
Problems? There were some configuration problems earlier with Bluetooth due to device manufacturers that did a poor job following the standard. Nokia was particularly bad about this. That has largely (if not completely) been resolved and the most recent versions of WinXP and OS/X have solid support and there is some support in linux too. I'm using bluetooth with my Thinkpad laptop between my cell phone, PDA and mouse and it works great. Nokia used to have a non-standard implementation on my phone (6310i) and I had to get a firmware upgrade for my phone (free under warranty) to make it work. The other devices required no configuration.
So I guess I cannot use my RC car while I am typing anymore?
r eqUS.htm
These RC cars use one of the following channels:
1 - 26.995 MHZ - Brown
2 - 27.045 MHZ - Red
3 - 27.095 MHZ - Orange
4 - 27.145 MHZ - Yellow
5 - 27.195 MHZ - Green
6 - 27.255 MHZ - Blue
Source: http://rcvehicles.about.com/cs/frequencies/p/airf
There are also some el cheapo electric RC airplanes using this 27 MHZ channels.
Ok RC car, turn left (asdkljfhl;asdkfa) ups... where did that garbage on my computer come from?
Hmmm.. Could you control the RC car with the keyboard???? This might turn interesting
It's okay, so long as you're wearing your tinfoil hat while doing it.
"Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
'Since the potatos are so similar, it's not a surprise to see that the tomatoes are the biggest difference'
followed by three pages of....
fluff, like
the larger mouse is more filling to the palm which is not suprising owing to the greater volume usually encountered with larger things
Pages of screen shots, details of packaging and instructions, repetition of saying the same stuff over again repeatedly, you'd think the dude is paid by the word.
i especially liked the depth of the 0.027GHz vs 2.4GHz radio analysis
Here's my take on why they chose 0.027GHz.
Because it's DIRT CHEAP, royalty free, and mass produced for use in $2.99 radio controlled toys.
NOT to avoid intereference from other SS 2.4GHz devices!
1) I don't have a typing stand on my desk so I like to put my keyboard in my lap and what I'm reading from where the keyboard was.
2) My Logitech MX700 Cordless Duo has media control keys so when I watch DVDs on the couch, I can use the keyboard as a remote to turn up the volume, pause, etc.
3) Because wireless is TEH 1337!!`1 you silly goose.
I was going to get one based on positive reviews posted previously here on Slashdot. Then again, since Logitech thinks wired mice also need special software, they're a lost cause to me.
You had me REALLY confused as to why that article was Not Safe For Work there, for a minute.
Ironically, that would probably get more people to read the article...
You say that like you don't think anything bad could ever happen.
My tinfoil hat is more attractive than your empty bank account.
I also tried a Belkin travel mouse for my daughter because it fit her 4-year old hand size, but went back to a USB mouse because my daughter wasn't capable of turning it off, it constantly needed new batteries, and it had severe problems synching up with the receive, so it required my intervention every time she turned her computer on.
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
I don't know about keyboards that use proprietary RF protocols, but the Bluetooth specification allows for the use of encryption.
I know that at least one manufacturer of a Bluetooth wireless keyboard claims "secure 128-bit, over-the-air encryption keeping sensitive information safe as it is being typed."
Actually... I believe there are way, way easier, and more lucrative ways for crooks to get money than snooping on a geek's keyboard traffic. Besides, your credit card should include fraud protection anyway.
"Would it kill you to put down the toilet seat?" -- Maya Angelou
I mean, didn't both these kits come out like a year ago?
Teh new hotness from Logitech is the MX3100 bundle.. Short review: great but power-thirsty mouse, decent keyboard with weird insert/delete block and no propeller/apple keys like the cheaper keyboards. Mouse charging station far superior to the MX700's.
I know logitech has software(windows only) that you can establish a secure connection for your keyboard.
nai oni...demo shinigami
Personally, I've sworn off all wireless products until they quite simply quit sucking. In my mind, any lack of functionality of my mouse or a keyboard feels like a throwback to 1970, and is completely unacceptable. I'm constantly looking for a better keyboard/mouse that can keep up with me. Any input device that drops ANY data is again, 100% unacceptable. I personally stick with the old IBM, wicked heavy, clicky-click keyboards, and optical (wired) mice.
The last thing I need is one more thing that can break, and I guess that's what it comes down to. These technologies are still entirely too new, and too buggy. I want *MORE* reliability, not less. PC's are problem-prone enough without having to worry if the lowest-tech, simplest piece of my system (the keyboard) is working properly.
I don't respond to AC's.
My wireless keyboard wanders all over my office without disturbing the coffee cup and piles of papers on my desk. When someone I'm talking to needs to type something, I hand them the keyboard.
Batteries: there's a recharger on the wall above my computer. When one set goes down, I swap in the other set. Nuff said.
Media center... Imagine you're cuddling on the couch with your girlfriend (right, I know this is slashdot, but I did say "imagine"), and you want to see a scene again. Standing up, disturbing a girlfriend, two cranky cats, two glasses of wine and a bowl of popcorns just won't do.
KVM: Oh, great, instead of N sets of wires and N keyboards and N mice, you now have N+1 sets of wires, but one keyboard and mouse, and only you can use the N computers. KVM's are nice on the cluster, but lousy for personal use.
Price: Yep, they cost more. And a Ferrari costs more than a Focus. Get over it. Some of us are tired of beige boxes and spaghetti; we like our computers friendly and easy to use, and are willing to pay for it.
"why the hell would you want a kb that can't be used in certain positions?" This is too funny... Why the hell would I want a keyboard that is literally tied to a humming beige box and can't go more than a few inches without knocking everything over?!!
... grumble, grumble, grumble, mutter, mutter, Millenium... Hand... Shrimp, I tol' 'em, I tol' 'em.
"While on top of our steel computer case, we could not get the keyboard or mouse to communicate with the receiver."
Why were the reviewers standing on the steel computer case? Surely most people will sit at their desk.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
I have bought and returned more wireless keyboards than I can count. The only one I have found that can keep up with my typing is the Apple bluetooth keyboard, and I think that's only because the keys are all mushy feeling and they slow down my typing. So, I'm stuck using either an old IBM clickity keyboard, or the Matias clickity Mac keyboard that I'm typing on now (not as good as an IBM, but pretty close. It has a hollow ring after every keystroke, like something inside isn't properly damped. I need to open it up and take a look). The wired Microsoft ergonomic keyboard is also a good alternative, but again, it's wired. What is a fast typist to do?
It's encrypted.
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
I used to have a gateway cordless keyboard and mouse (the destination) it would not only get interference, it would move around on its own and click on its own. Rechargeable batteries were also a bad idea.
now those were the days
Have you ever had to fight with credit agencies about fraudulent charges resulting in negative credit reports? Your credit card fraud protection will theoretically excuse the charges, and may even provide a letter to the credit bureaus, but that's about it. Getting the credit agencies to actually DO something and CORRECT the record is a different story. I've gone through this 3 times -- once myself and twice with my fiancee when someone got ahold of a pre-approved cell phone offer that she threw away. Each of the three times was a multi-week, multi-phone call, multi-letter, multi-headache process.
How about someone in a nearby cubicle who wants the root password? Do your servers have fraud protection?
I'm not saying it's common, trivial, or worthwhile to sniff RF keyboard traffic. I'm saying it's possible, and possible is enough reason for me to protect myself. Thanks, but I don't need the headaches that MIGHT arise if someone grabs my CC# or the password to my servers.
In my experience (and yes, I have one of these keyboard/mouse combos), if the receiver is on the shelf above my desktop, I can't put the mouse on the floor underneath the desk and have the receiver pick it up. So that's a distance of, what, maybe four feet? And two physical barriers, each being about an inch of melamine-coated particle board.
I was a little disappointed in the range on the mouse. Range on the keyboard is much better. Maybe the difference is due to the fact that the mouse uses a rechargable battery while the keyboard uses two AAs.
Breakfast served all day!
The LX700 supports encryption, but it's not enabled by default. You have to go into the supplied configuration application and elect to turn it on, at which point it goes through a little routine that takes about a minute. I don't remember how it goes exactly, but over the course of the minute it asks you to do various things -- push this key, push that key. Then it says you're done, and communications between the keyboard, mouse, and receiver are henceforth encrypted.
... but if that's too much for you, then you're unlikely to enable safe encryption on your wireless router either. In that case, packet sniffing from the router would be the better bet, since you could even do that from next door.
I can't speak for the encryption protocol itself. But it seems unlikely that Logitech would try to make up its own form of encryption for something as silly as a keyboard, and the configuration process sounds suspiciously like something that's using random user input to generate public and private keys. My bet that it's fairly secure, depending on the number of bits in the keys.
Also, the range on the keyboard is really not that far. To "tap" it, you'd need to be within 10 feet, at most. Which begs the question: Which is the easier plan for somebody who wants to snoop on what you're typing and can get within 10 feet of your machine -- to try to crack the encryption on your wireless keyboard, or to sneak a keylogger onto your system somehow? My bet is #2. Or, you could criticize the fact that you have to specifically enable the encryption on the keyboard
Breakfast served all day!
People who think wireless keyboard cost too much are fools...of course the newest ones do. The older ones cost about 5 dollars extra than older wired keyboards.
And for all you people whining about batteries...I have perfectly normal keyboard and optical mouse sitting at my computer. My wireless keyboard and mouse are for when I'm not at the computer. The batteries should last almost forever, considering I press like ten keystrokes a day.
However, everyone should just bite the bullet and buy a damn battery charger and a bunch of rechargable batteries. Do it once, and never buy batteries again. I haven't purchased batteries in 6 years, and my investment was under 50 bucks. (And the price of chargers has gone down big time, and they're much nicer. I'm thinking of getting a new one, but can't justify it while mine works.)
Of course, nowadays everything seems to come with batteries, so I'm not actually using half my rechargables, they're in storage waiting for the freebies to die.
If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
I had a Cordless Elite Duo for 2 years and then it began randomly bugging out- more than it does initially- and not working (I think because I dropped it a lot) but the range was wonderful, I could go outside my dorm room and down the hall and it still worked (out of view of my computer, through cinder block walls).
Furthermore, they have a 5 year warranty on their products and when I was no longer able to use my keyboard, they allowed me to keep it and sent me an LX700 for free as a replacement, no shipping charges or anything. WONDERFUL customer service. I don't notice any lag. I really haven't had too many problems with my new keyboard and mouse combo and the range is great. For those of you who think it's ridiculous to have a charger for the mouse- it is WONDERFUL. No need to switch batteries, just dock it on your receiver overnight. I can type in comfort. The only reception problem I have is when I face it away from my reciever and it has to bounce off and through multiple objects.
The software could definitely be much better. Maybe it's not worth the $100 price point but if you could get a deal, go for it. It's very much worth it.
Especially on the 27 Mhz band, that's CB radio territory!
My MX Duo is easily hosed just by running a paper shredder 10 ft across the room. I love the MX700 mouse, just wish it wasn't wireless.
I hate to sound like an advertisment but I'm a very happy customer.
I've owned a Logitec MX700 and a Logitec wireless keyboard for over a year. The range is really great if you have the reciever away from metal/electronics. I once had to use the computer from about 30 feet away (during a play where the computer controlled some video sequences that were being projected on the wall.) I also use it to control movies from my bed.
I've had issues with mice cords being just a wee bit too short or dragging the mouse up because of the weight of the cord (really annoying with setups where you need the cursor over a text box to type in it.)
They even work with a couple walls in the way. Though once I was trying to play some video from a room across the house and it didn't quite cut it. Really, metal and electronic interference are the main issue. Not range so much.
As far as drivers go, the hardware works just like a regular 3 button mouse/keyboard wihtout drivers. I've used them with Windows 2000* XP, NT4, Knoppix, Mandrake and Slackware. The scroll wheel even works whithout drivers (except in NT as it doesn't support scroll wheels.) I don't have any drivers set up for my keyboard but the volume buttons work under win2k. I don't really have any use for the other special keys. My one complaint about the keyboard is the lack of caps/numlock indicators on the keyboard. My recievers are under my desk and I can't easily see them from my chair. I realize having LEDs sucks batteries (the keyboard goes for a REALLY long time without a battery change... in fact I use it daily and have only needed one replacing since Christmas 2003.
The recharge unit for the mouse is quite useful. Most cordless mice have low frame rates (and therefore lower precision.) This is especially true when the mouse has been still for a couple seconds. This is done in the name of longer battery life. The rechargable mice have a significantly higher frame rate since the user doesn't need the battery to last a couple months.
-Derick
The last Logitech product that was worth its price was TrackMan Marble FX trackball. I have three of them. Two at home and one at work. Whenever anyone says they have wrist pain, I just recommend them to use Marble FX.
Too bad Logitech is no longer making it. The wireless POS they're currently making doesn't even come close.
id buy this mouse, i like the feel and the buttons... if not for that damned wireless thing. i dont like having to remember to charge my mouse or having to think about how to get it work right... Not to mention battries... why the hell isnt their a wired version, sorry but wireless just sucks (with the uneasy exception of wi-fi)
the wire really isnt a big deal, i wish these companies would stop acting like everything from printers and mice need to be wireless.
Mike
I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
However, my biggest complaint is something the review noted too, the lack of effective middle-button support. I use the internet a lot - design for it for b&b and FF and Opera both have really nice shortcuts which take advantage of the middle-button. I'm not sure why it's so hard to get it to work and yes, I have looked through the mouse preferences...no help there.
Other than that - it's just nice not to have cables going across the table. Other clutter now takes their place!
R.
compare = identify similarities and differences.
contrast = identify differences.
And of course ((A and B) and B) === (A and B).
So "compare and contrast" === "compare".
Please, Americans, stop using these two words in that combination. You are being completely redundant in the sense of B, and it illustrates your inability to think about the meaning of the phrases you are using when you actually use them, because you were taught to "compare and contrast" things in school. The rest of the English speaking world just says "compare".
Recently I've upgraded my (USB, wired) mouse LED - from original ultrabright red to ultrabright toxic green. The mouse has translucent bottom cover and it looks quite unusual. I never considered this mod as 'coo1', but compared to original red, the green color is much less disturbing in night.
But my other mouse (PS/2, wireless) remains red. It's quite comfortable to change mices: wired to wireless when wires sucks and wireless to wired when recharging batts.
I'm not insane. My mother had me tested.
There are better options, like the MX3100 Desktop. The only difference between MX3100 and LX700 is the mouse, a MX1000 laser mouse on the former. That is a big difference. I bought MX3100 about one mounth ago for home use and I am impressed by how unobtrusive it is. The overall feeling is very good despite some inconveniences.
I really like the absence of the red light on the mouse and the very fast response and accuracy. It is much better at accuracy and ergonomics then MX500. MX1000's buttons are better placed but the click wheel requires some getting used to for use as a middle button because now it also rocks from side to side for lateral scrolling. MX1000's base is wider then MX500's with better support for the thumb. Before buying it I heard that MX1000 is a heavy mouse because of the integrated lithium battery and I must say that this is bullshit. The mouse is smaller and lighter then MX500 whom I consider to be a tad too big for my hands and I don't have small hands, quite the opposite I would say. Other ass kickers are: the battery holding for 3 weeks, the green lights for the power meter and the rechargeability on the base station.
The keyboard is good with soft and distinct response on the keys, F# keys are very small and shitty but you get used to that and the only really bad thing is the new shape of the DEL, PGUP, PGDWN, etc. keys but it's not as bad as it is on those keyboards where these keys are right above the arrows keys and right below the power buttons (stupid morons). 2 AA batteries are supposed to last 4-6 mounths which is more then ok with me.
On my work PC I have a corded MX500 and a corded Desktop Navigator Special Edition since about 1 year and I'm very happy with them. Considering that I only use MX3100 at home for 2h/day in average I can't say that this would be a good choice for the PC at work but it sure is relaxing for home use and the best thing is that you don't have to give up frag accuracy to go wireless. Because I am also a cheap MF, I also like the fact that I only have to buy 2 AA batteries once every 4 mounths to power MX3100.
Run Forest run.
I like USB mouses.
I like optical mouses with laser and cool red light with high precision and update frequency.
I like ergonomic mouses.
I like free, open-source mouse software.
i bought a nice logitech keyboard, and not 1 day later, the fucking spacebar broke, so i went to their website... filled out a problem form or whatever... still havent gotten a reply, so fuck logitech
Although I don't know much about this new technology (ZigBee), I know its main advantages/disadvantages -
Low data transfer rate, low power consumption (i.e. long battery life).
Is it just me, or does this not sound like the ideal technology to use for cordless mice/keyboards?