Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser - keyboard , mouse > Reviews > Kicks other keyboards into touch(type) :)

Author's product rating:   

Responsiveness	Very responsive
Reliability	Excellent
Ease of Use	Very Easy
Quality	Excellent
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	loads of integration functions with programs, loads of innovative features, looks nice
Disadvantages:	not rechargable

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I bought this keyboard after increasing frustration with the Microsoft Laser 6000 mouse and keyboard set. which is hopeless.

I bought this set from a high street retailer and paid way above the price it shows here (so be warned).

The keyboard is attractively packaged although my one criticism of this and most other brands is that although they produce a number of different keyboard sets, the product packaging is almost identical. It wouldn't hurt to make the package design differ so that you can see them as seperate items. While searching through one of the stores we saw this same item along three different shelf positions but bearing in mind it looks almost identical to the other models on the box, you end up having to look at them. Microsoft is exactly the same.

The Keyboard looks similar tot he Microsoft although it doesn't have the ergonomic curve of the MS model. Thats a shame really as once you're used to it you can feel the difference in one without the curve. Your hands feel more 'crampy'. The keyboard is much lighter in weight than the Microsoft item but feels just as well built.

While the MS Laser is silver and black, the Logitech is solid black with a rubberised wrist rest. One this I really do like is the little digital clock at the top of the keyboard. This has a couple of benefits, one it acts as a clock (surprise!) and it will also work as a timer or alarm clock. Small things but a nice little addition to the norm.

The keyboard has a multitude of buttons which point to the amount of integration this keyboard is going to have with your programs. The now obligatory hot keys are there giving you instant access to your web browser, word, excel, outlook and 'My Documents' with another three four buttons providing you with the ability to start four other programs at the touch of the button. These hotkeys are actually the Function keys (F1 - 8) but are accessed with a press of the code button and the relative F number.

The keyboards functionality doesn't stop there though - Oh no! It has three or four other secrets up its sleeve. It has a purpose built Skype/VOIP button set which means you can (if you use it that its) press a button to make or recieve an internet call and another to hang up. Neat.

Underneath the clock are a strip of 11 buttons which control multimedia (mute, play, pause, stop, volume, etc. which fit in great. The top right of the keyboard hosts a couple of extra buttons which bring up a calculator or put the computer to sleep. Now the MS keyboard had two similar buttons but these were the calculator and a lock function which I did prefer to sleep.

Additionally, on the far left of the keyboard are the really hot hot keys. These are ideal for the photographers, artists and web designers out there although anyone could really make use of them. There is a natty 'Dynamic Search & zoom slider which is a touch sensitive long button where by sliding your finger along, it will increase or decrease the zoom on an item (in the right program of course). It also has specific search buttons for searching the internet, searching files on the pc and (usefully for me) searching for photographs. Being a man, I always put things (whether on the computer or in the house or worse, in the garage) where I will find them only to forget where that is. Searching is one of the foremost tasks I do on the computer whether its for information, documents or photographs.

The keyboard also has a dinky 'Flip Document' buttons which effectively moves through the various windows you have open (as shown on the task bar at the bottom of your screen) without using your mouse or alt tab. A neat little function.

The mouse is usually the weak spot on any desktop set but this is a damn good mouse. Like the keyboard it uses pin sharp laser technology (although the resolution is 20% less than the MS mouse - in everyday life it won't make any difference). The mouse works at a resolution of 800 dpi making it ample powerful enough for 99% of the work you will need to use it for. It has 9 functions which are mostly programmable allowing you to adapt them to the programs and functions you want. I must say, I bought a separate mouse to go with this unit because I saw the words 'ultimate' and bought myself the Logitech MX Revolution mouse which is absolutely the last word in mouse technology. So a review of that will be forthcoming.

Connection is made to a bluetooth receiver which connects to the USB port on the computer. I must say. this is ten times more responsive than the Microsoft version. With the MS keyboard, the keyboard had to face the receiver and couldn't be impeded by anything otherwise you would lose letters as you typed. This was my biggest complaint about the MS. One downside about this set is that it uses normal batteries rather than being rechargeable. Not a big point but a point nontheless.

Although I have only been using this set for a day or so, its performance has made it a firm favorite already. The keyboard keys have a reassuring depth to them that the MS didn't have and the left shift key is big enough to allow me to hit it without looking or hitting the slash key by mistake.

The additional functions and integration are going to take a while to become totally familiar with but already they are getting used. My wife has used this same model for the past 6 months and assured me its the best keyboard she has ever used. The amount of key strokes she does in a day means her recommendation was a big part of my decision.

The software is easily set-up and works instinctively with my Windows Vista 64 bit. My wife is running Windows XP Pro 64 bit and has had no problems. It will automatically check for software updates and Logitech are renown for the quality and speed of response to problems which is always reassuring.

I'd recommend this keyboard set to the highest extent. Its smooth, looks nice and is absolutely packed with features. I'm looking forwards to getting to know it better but am confident it will become an integral part of my desktop. Love it! Watch out for the Logitech MX Revolution mouse review as this mouse is absolutely incredible!