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Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300
by Aliasfan
INTRODUCTION
I love laptops. They're portable, (relatively) light and they free me from being chained to a desktop PC in one fixed location. Their only drawbacks for me are the built-in keyboard and mousepad. I hate them!
I'm a touch-typist and the flat, cramped laptop keyboard is horrible for me: it slows me down, ... makes me mistype and increases the risk of an old wrist injury playing up. The mousepad is equally frustrating as I'm not the most co-ordinated of people. Operating a teeny-tiny touch sensitive pad is tricky as I can never move the cursor around the screen quickly.
Separate keyboard/mouse systems are my solution, and wireless ones are the best of all. The MK300 is my second Logitech wireless package; I wore out my first one over about five years of constant use. I stuck to the brand because I know it meets my needs.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION & USER EXPERIENCE
The MK300, like most Logitech systems, comes in three parts: the keyboard, the mouse and the wireless receiver.
*The wireless receiver*
This is a small unit with an infrared sensor that plugs into a laptop USB port. It's the brains of the system; the relay between the computer and the wireless components. It is comprised of a small, angled unit that is designed to sit on the edge of a desk, although I just put it on any convenient flat surface. It is attached to a one metre cable which can be a nuisance as it gets caught up on other things on my table. Also I like to work near my screen, and the receiver needs to be within around 30cm of the keyboard and mouse to pick up their signals. A shorter cable would have been better for my needs, and in my opinion, more practical.
The unit is synched to the keyboard and mouse by simply pressing the 'connect' button on the sensor, then the corresponding red buttons on the mouse and/or keyboard. No additional software is required.
*The keyboard*
I like the keyboard as it is full-sized. The buttons are well-space and, in addition to the usual QWERTY layout and number keypad, there are some additional keys that I find very useful including those for volume control and accessing email. The one I use most is the calculator key, which brings up the Microsoft calculator at the single press of a button, rather than having to navigate to it from the Start menu. I usually use the keyboard by placing it on top of my laptop keypad, with a soft, foam mat in between to protect the computer. This way I take up minimal space and can mimic the standard worktop PC layout as closely as possible.
The keyboard is powered by 2 x AAA batteries. I use rechargeable ones and, even with heavy use, they last around four months on one charge.
*The mouse*
The mouse is powered by 2 AA batteries. Again I use rechargeable ones. The mouse seems to use a little more power, and I have to replace these batteries around every 2-3 months.
The mouse has the standard two buttons, plus control wheel, and is well contoured to my (right) hand. It operated via a light sensor and works on any surface, although I use a cushioned mousepad to support my wrist. The mouse is very sensitive and I have no trouble navigating around my screen with it.
CONCLUSIONS
A reliable and hardwearing, convenient system which minimises RSI and maximises my productivity.
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Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
by PixieDana
OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION
A beautiful and practically shaped USB keyboard with extra buttons for easy use and comfort, for a great price from £5-£20 widely available from most retailers.
I would highly recommend this keyboard for anyone any skill set or age range, I have bought a couple of these due to owning several ... computers, none of my keyboards have ever had any issues and all work perfectly years after.
PACKAGING
Microsoft Curve Keyboard comes in a detailed red Microsoft box, with a picture of the keyboard on the front with clear details of contents, keys and specifications.
INSTALLATION
The keyboard itself it very easy to install, it doesn't come with any installation disks, just plug it in and it takes seconds to install, if your PC does have any trouble installing the keyboard you can download the driver for free from the Microsoft website (although I have never had any trouble.)
FEATURES
- Media Keys
The keyboard is designed for office use, with extra media buttons such as Back, Forward, Play, Pause, Volume and Mute. They have thought about everything with useful additional buttons for your browser too including email, homepage and search with an easy calculator button above the number keypad too for easy, quick calculations.
- Style and Comfort
Its shape is designed for comfort, attractiveness and space saving, with a curved bottom edge, keys and top edge, hence the Keyboards name. It is beautiful to type on with its easy, sleek, elegant keys that hardly make noise at all, so typing at night isn't an issue. The keys are slightly curved which works and fits well within your fingertips to make typing comfortable and easy using the QWERTY Keyboard.
- Intergrated Water Channels
This keyboard has intergrated water channels for accidental spills. Obviously no keyboard is completely drown proof, but if you do spill anything this will help channel any spillages out and helps keep it splash proof.
- Easy clean
Just wipe over with a lighly dampened cloth or wipe to clean over the keyboard, this is best to do once the computer is switched off to avoid any accidents.
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Logitech Illuminated K810
by boredindunoon
In simple terms a keyboard is an input device for a computer. I'm actually using one right now to type this review.
This "Logitech K810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard" does have a few interesting features on offer the obvious being bluetooth connectivity (which has a few advantages over USB). However the bright ... illumination (which only activates when in use) actually works well as it automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys to any light. Build quality is very good and it has a brushed aluminum finish which is highly polish and looks very smart.
From the start one of the major problems I have with this keyboard was its price. The cheapest being Amazon at £79.99 with some retailers asking closer to three figures. Considering that you can buy a "basic" keyboard for less than a tenner this Logitech would have to offer something special to justify such a asking price and sadly I don't feel it really offers much more than any other cheaper keyboard.
Set up and installation was straightforward with the blue-tooth connection meaning it can be easily configured with your iPhone, iPad or Mac. You can also use this keyboard for more than one device at a time and easily switch back and forward between them. The battery also holds a charge pretty well considering its illuminated (mine lasted just over a month before requiring a top-up and even then it wasn't fully discharged). The keyboard simply charges through a mini USB cable which takes a few hours however the battery is also removable should you want to charge it seperate.
This Logitech has been designed as a "minimalist" keyboard and herein lies a rather large problem. The keyboard is smaller than you would expect (which will save on desk space) also the keys are smaller and closer together than what you would expect normally. It's more like using a keyboard on a netbook and because of this it's not that easy to use. There is no right hand side Numb Pad, the shift keys are small and the "up" and "down" arrow keys tends to go down at the same time. While the keys are almost silent when you press them (they are near flush with the keyboard itself), this advantage is outweighed by the fact that you will make a lot more typos and spend more time glancing down at the board.
For myself I did not find this keyboard very comfortable to use. You wrists are forced to be closer together and you have to angle them more in order to type, both of which could lead to health problems.
Another disadvantage is that it's not the easiest keyboard to find for sale. At time of writing this review on Amazon the dispatch time for the keyboard is between one and two months, and on Play the item simply shows as out of stock. It is possible to find it from international sellers on eBay however they tend to be more expensive and demand somewhat high postage charges (sometimes £25.00 or more!).
While it looks very smart it doesn't make the job of typing any easier or interesting. For a fraction of the price you can get a decent wireless keyboard which is more comfortable and easier to use. As a result I can't really recommend this Logitech to you (unless you absolutely must have blue-tooth connection or like to use a keyboard on more than one device at once.)
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