Press my buttons, baby! (Logitech Deluxe Access)

Member Name: The Duke

Product:	Logitech Deluxe Access
Date:	24/07/03 (317 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Comfortable, Easy to use, Excellent features

Disadvantages: None

The last of my original PC components went to the great mainframe in the sky recently, having done me proud for the last 6 years. It was my old Cherry Windows 95 keyboard, and while it had performed brilliantly, a few of the keys were becoming unresponsive and it was time to upgrade.

Having had a Logitech mouse for years and a few Microsoft ones, I decided to pay closer attention to the Logitech keyboard because I preferred the better reliability of the Logitech products over Microsoft.

So, I ended up with the Logitech Deluxe Access keyboard which was an entirely reasonable £15.

[The features]

When you open the box initially, the first thing you'll notice is that there are extra buttons along the top of the keyboard. These are mainly for use while using the internet, and are shortcut keys for your webcam, email software, search engine and home page. A simple press of the button launches whichever program you have allocated to those particular tasks. You can change these at any time with the easy to use Logitech I-Touch software which comes on CD with the keyboard.

In the middle of all these buttons is a "media" button, and if you've installed the keyboard driver software, pressing this button will bring up a list of your media programs and you can choose which to launch. As an example, when I press the media button on my keyboard, my list includes MusicMatch Jukebox 8, Windows Media Player, Win DVD, Real Player and Quicktime, although it will be different for you. You can choose items from this list with your mouse or via the arrow keys. Also, beside your "media" key, you have the three further buttons for controlling the volume: Higher/louder, lower/quieter and a "mute" button.

However, the keyboard isn't just able to launch your most frequently used programs. Looking across the "Function" keys at the top will reveal that the "Fx" labels are on the si
de of the keys rather than the top, and the labels on the top are little icons. The default options for these keys are "New", "Reply", "Forward", "Send" for your email program, there are four keys for use with your media software - play/pause, stop, next and previous and finally four keys for general Windows use ? My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures and My Music. You switch between these "special" functions and the "normal" F-key function with the "F lock" key.

The media keys are unchangeable, but you can modify the other eight keys to suit your purposes.

The current iTouch software supports current versions of: Windows CD Player
Windows Media Player, Plus Pack Deluxe CD player, Creative PlayCenter, WinAmp, Sonique, LiquidPlayer, CineMaster DVD Player, MediaMatics DVD Player, Toshiba SDMI202, Sony PowerDVD, Intervideo WinDVD 2.1 and DVD Express. Improvements are made all the time, and if you use different software to that mentioned above, it might be advisable to check back regularly if the current version doesn't work with what you have.

[The ergonomics]

The keyboard itself is a standard sized Windows PS/2 (that's the type of connection between your keyboard and your PC) keyboard. The keys themselves are responsive, and it's as quiet as your typing ability. Personally, I sound like I'm bashing away with a hammer, but my sister is able to type with only the bare minimum of noise. I found it extremely easy to use whether on my desk, or balanced on my knee. The ordinary keys are set out in the normal style as any other Windows keyboard, and the special keys are placed, and spaced, sensibly and are a decent enough size to be able to hit without worrying about getting the wrong key.

[Overall]

I can't fault it, and especially not for £15. The "special" keys are brilliant and once you've been using the keyboar
d for a week, you'll wonder how you got by without them. Thoroughly recommended.

[Further details]

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?page=product s/details&CRID=1&CONTENTID=5011& countryid=18&languageid=1

Summary: