Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser - keyboard, keypad , mouse

I consider Logitech to be one of the best manufacturers of input devices and I have been using their products for years. So I would like to give you my own perspective as a professional and a consumer.

A couple of years ago I was looking for a wireless keyboard/mouse solution with a mouse power adapter. The diNovo media desktop just came out that year and I was well impressed by its slick design and excellent features. However, its ...
...that time. As a Logitech product fanatic I finally decided to give it a go. So I took it back to my office and I set it up.

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'''Keyboard'''
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The experience was outstanding in all terms. I could never imagine that a keyboard would make that much difference ... more

I consider Logitech to be one of the best manufacturers of input devices and I have been using their products for years. So I would like to give you my own perspective as a professional and a consumer.

A couple of years ago I was looking for a wireless keyboard/mouse solution with a mouse power adapter. The diNovo media desktop just came out that year and I was well impressed by its slick design and excellent features. However, its price was an issue, as it was about 3 times more expensive than other similar solutions on the market at that time. As a Logitech product fanatic I finally decided to give it a go. So I took it back to my office and I set it up.

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Keyboard
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The experience was outstanding in all terms. I could never imagine that a keyboard would make that much difference in terms of productivity. Its low profile and flat keys were some of its most ergonomic features. Typing thousands of lines of code every week causes a lot of stress to your fingers and your wrist, but with diNovo everything seems like a new experience.

The dual functionality of the function keys (F1 to F12) also comes handy. You can easily switch them to standard F Keys or shortcut keys with the press of a single key (the F-Lock key) that resides just on the left of the F1 key. The dual functionality sometimes may be confusing as there is no screen or led indicator to let you know in which mode it operates. I think that the main reason that Logitech implemented it this way is to save space on the actual board and keep it compact.

Surprisingly the keyboard seems to be pretty resistant to fluids. When I first bought it I through by mistake a whole glass of water on it and yet after all those years it still works with no problems whatsoever.

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Mouse
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The responsiveness and feeling of the laser mouse was among the other things that amazed me. The precision of the mouse on graphic software applications is remarkable. Drawing lines and curves seems such an easy task. The mouse is accompanied by a base station and AC adapter which makes life a lot easier. Previously I had to change the batteries of my mouse almost every week (after about 12 hours of daily use) but now before I leave from the office I place it on its base station and I have no more worries. Its battery lasts me up to 5 days and the total recharge time is about 3 hours.

The only problem that I came across is that sometimes when the mouse is placed on its base it doesn't charge. I will have to move it slightly on the left or right until the battery led indicators start flashing or clean the contacts at the bottom of the mouse.

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Media Pad
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Another very handy tool is the diNovo Media Pad. Actually this is a 3 to 1 tool as it can be used as a normal functioning numpad, a remote/navigation control and a standalone calculator. It has the same ergonomic features as the keyboard plus an lcd screen and a beeper that will alarm you for certain events (e.g. low battery, alarm clock, msn messenger events etc).

You can switch the operation of the media pad by simply pressing the corresponding keys at the top of the pad. On navigation mode you can either use it as a media player remote control or as a navigation controller for web browsing and other specific applications. On calculator mode you can use it as a normal calculator. The results of the arithmetic operations appear on the screen and automatically stored on your clipboard so you can paste them later on your documents. The calculator also works even when the computer is turned off.

Another important feature that I would like to mention at this point, is that the media pad is not attached on the main keyboard. Therefore, you can move it around at your desk to free more space for your notes or place it where it suits you best.

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USB Hub & USB Bluetooth mini receiver
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diNovo Media desktop comes with a single port USB hub and a USB Bluetooth mini receiver for the connectivity not only of your media desktop but also of other Bluetooth peripheral devices such as printers, mobile phones, pda's and more.

The mini receiver can be plugged directly into a USB port of either your desktop or laptop or you can use the USB hub for better signal reception.

Sometimes you might experience device synchronization errors due to low battery levels or interference from other devices that block the signal. However, all you have to do to overcome such issues is to repeat the synchronization procedure written on the products manual.

Some problems may also occur when you setup the mini receivers drivers for the first time due to a conflict with previously installed drivers of other Bluetooth devices. In such cases simply uninstall any Bluetooth driver and start a clean installation.

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Software
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The software that comes into the CD of the product includes device drivers, a management and configuration utility, and an update manager. I would personally recommend you to install the whole package to take full advantage of the functions that the diNovo media desktop has to offer to you.

The management tool allows you to synchronize peripheral devices including those of your media desktop, to reconfigure shortcut keys, to test and maintain your devices, check their status and do some tweaking.

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Pros & Cons
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This is an outline of the main pros and cons mentioned earlier on my review

KEYBOARD
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+ Well designed
+ Compact
+ Ergonomic (low profile and flat keys)
+ Very responsive
+ Resistant to fluids and vibrations
+ Extra configurable functions

- Dual shortcut functionally may get confusing

MOUSE
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+ Well designed
+ Compact
+ Ergonomic
+ Very responsive
+ High precision
+ Rechargeable via a base station and an AC Adapter
+ Battery level indicator
+ Power Off Switch
+ Navigation buttons
+ 4 way tilt scroll wheel
+ laser technology

- base station contacts alignment

MEDIA PAD
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+ Well designed
+ Compact
+ Ergonomic (low profile and flat keys)
+ Very responsive
+ LCD screen
+ Beeper
+ 3 to 1 functionality
+ Portable

USB Bluetooth mini receiver
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+ Supports connectivity with a wide range of peripheral devices
+ USB May be connected to desktops and laptops
+ Comes with a USB Hub

- Synchronization Issues
- Minor Interference Issues

Software
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+ Fully featured
+ Great Compatibility

- Certain conflicts with other Bluetooth drivers
- CPU Intensive at start up

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Final Conclusions
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The diNovo Media desktop Laser is probably one of the best media desktops you will find in the market and one of Logitech's greatest innovations. Its stylish design, ergonomic features and rich functions are its main choice criteria. A product suitable for both home and work usage and a choice that will satisfy even the most demanding users.

This is a product I would definitely recommend to anyone who can afford its price. Actually I think that it might even save you money in the long run, as it can last for many more years than its more affordable competitors. 

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