Logitech DiNovo Cordless Media Bluetooth Desktop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am actually using diNovo keyboard to type this review, and it is a bit of a struggle due to malfunctioning spacebar. :(
I did a bit of research on diNovo before buying it. Most online magazines (PCMag, CNet, etc.) highly recommend this product, noting its high price as the only drawback.
I got this keyboard/mouse combo a week ago, and I must say it looks and feels great. Separate keyboard and touchpad save you desk space. Mouse runs all day without a need for recharging.
I didn't experience any connection issues. It was only one time that I had to press the "connect" buttons on BlueTooth hub and mouse to have it re-detected because it stopped functioning all of the sudden.
The initial installation was smooth. I downloaded the latest drivers, got everything connected and everything went well from there... until yesterday.
All of the sudden the space bar (probably the most useable key on any keyboard) started losing response. I had to hit it harder to move the cursor and even then, at times, it would not respond. As I type this, I often have to hit the spacebar 4-5 times in order to make a single space between the words.
Another problem surfaced early this morning. The lower "fast scroll" mouse button would sometimes result in a "locked" fast scroll. This could be a software issue, I am not sure.
One thing is for certain, the assembly quality seems to be on the lower side. I reached this conclusion based not only on personal experience, but by reading other customer reviews and comments. Given the high price of this product, I am extremely disappointed, if not angry. This is probably the most expensive keyboard/mouse combo on the market, and one thing Logitech should have made sure is that it is of solid build quality. The product is produced by a Logitech plant in China, by the way.
***Update***
I have now received the replacement diNovo mouse/keyboard, and it's been working fine for 2 months now. The only complaint I have is that F6, F7, F8 keys are REAL stiff and hard to press.
Again, build quality is highly disappointing considering high product price.
On the bright side, I was pleased with Logitech support. They are easy to reach at toll-free number with virtually no waiting times. The replacement product was sent to me in timely manner.

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Logitech's diNovo Media Desktop is a dramatically designed Bluetooth keyboard and MediaPad, optical mouse, and Bluetooth hub combination that transforms the user’s work space. The visually striking diNovo keyboard gives first-class comfort, while the separate MediaPad lets users remotely command today’s PC digital-media interface to enjoy their favorite pictures and musical selections. The MediaPad also displays e-mail or instant message notifications, media playback status, and provides smart calculator functionality.
The ensemble includes Logitech’s high-precision MX-900 rechargeable optical mouse. The diNovo also turns the PC into a Bluetooth control center, letting users synchronize data between their Bluetooth PDAs, cell phones, other devices, and their PCs. You've never seen anything like the MediaPad, a Bluetooth remote commander for all your digital media. Use it to remotely view, select, and launch your favorite jukebox tunes, video clips, or digital photos.
The MediaPad also displays e-mail or instant message notifications, and it lets you monitor media playback status, even when you're away from your desk. It's a numeric keypad with a built-in smart calculator. And you can view the time and date on the digital display. To streamline your desktop, a single external device performs two critical functions: it serves as a wireless hub for all your Bluetooth devices and as a fast power charger for the mouse. Communicate instantly using your Bluetooth headset, or easily exchange data between your PC and your Bluetooth PDA, cell phone, and printer. Thanks to the power of Bluetooth, you can do it all without wires.
But what is Bluetooth, anyway? Bluetooth is a standard wireless technology aimed at allowing users to make effortless, fast connections between various devices, such as mobile devices and computers. The sophisticated mode of transmission ensures protection from interference and increased data security and offers greater wireless range. Your Bluetooth devices by Logitech will work up to 30 feet away from the included Bluetooth wireless hub.

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Targus 2.4 GHz Wireless Multimedia Keyboard AKB24US (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let me start by saying that even though I gave it 4 stars, I'm quite happy with it. You'll see why I gave it the 4 stars only.
I bought this because it had the low-profile keys (i've submitted several customer images for this keyboard). I didn't care so much for the media keys lining the sides, but that wasn't a strike for me. I figured that at least the media keys looked stylish instead of hideously parading across the top of the keyboard in some awful out-of-suite color. The added width of the keyboard is negligible, and I won't point it out as either a pro or a con.
I run the Windows 7 beta, and it worked perfectly (once I put the batteries in the right way). The wireless receiver is quite small, and I plugged it into the back of my big monitor, next to my wireless mouse receiver, and it works great without the line-of-sight. I tried sitting on my couch 8 feet away and the keyboard didn't seem to miss any keystrokes at all, even with my wife walking back and forth between it and the receiver.
Missing keystrokes was the thing I was most afraid of in a wireless keyboard, but it seems to be working out great for me.
The keys aren't silent, but they're quiet enough for me. I'm sure after a few more months of use, and they'll get softer.
The low key height is perfect, and the keys maintain a slight curvature to their surface, which is good. I came from using a keyboard that was too low-profile on the keys, and the keys were too flat. It was too hard to feel my way around the keyboard without looking at it. I don't have that problem on this keyboard.
The only problems I've had relate to my habit of only wacking the far left side of the backspace key, and the right-hand shift key; I sometimes don't get the desired effect from the key the first time I push it, probably because I'm not perfectly used to reaching far enough to hit it square in the middle. Even as I type this, several of my capital letters from the left side of the keyboard comes out lowercase first, since I wasn't pushing the right-hand shift key in the right spot :D I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.
The other oddness is the Home/End/Ins/Del/PageUp/Pagedown key layout. I'm used to being able to hit the End key while my hand hovers over the arrow keys. This keyboard instead puts the Home/End keys side by side, followed by the Ins/PageUp just below, and then finally the Del/PageDown just below that. I'm a programmer, and I honestly can't say that I like that orientation. I'm very accustomed to having Home and End right next to my middle finger, from the arrow keys.
The keyboard sides slope up a bit, where the media keys sit. I don't notice it very much, but when I feel around for the num pad's Enter key, I'm usually trying to actually find the edge of the keyboard as a point of reference for my hand. I sometimes hit the empty space below the media keys instead of the enter key itself :) The only other quirk with the keyboard (which has its justification) is that its driver is kind of a must-have, because there are no lights on the keyboard to show if num/cap/scroll locks are on. Yeah, kind of a bummer. (I can only honestly say that I want a cap lock light. The other two are meaningless to me.)
So once you have the driver installed, the num/cap/scroll locks appear in your system tray as little icons. (see my customer image of my system tray.) I don't really like that approach, but I know why they did it: because this is a wireless keyboard and it doesn't have an on/off switch, there's no sense making the keyboard batteries have to power the lights. So instead the system tray icons do the work.
*shrug*
Might want to look at my customer images that i uploaded, for a few more shots of the keyboard. I was hesitant to buy it at first, because there were no reviews, and only the one low-res picture. All things considered, I'm quite happy with the purchase, and I hope that this review can shed a little bit more light for those not sure if they want to buy it. For the $35 I payed for it, it is wonderful.

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The Targus Wireless Multimedia Keyboard is easy to use and provides a cable-free workspace. Featuring low profile keys for easy typing, the keyboard also includes twelve one-touch multimedia/Internet buttons to provide instant access to frequently used commands and no drivers are required. The slim, space saving design provides wireless freedom up to 10 meters away. Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, or Windows Vista. Two AAA-size batteries included.

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Microsoft Wireless Media Desktop 1000 (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Prior to getting this, I have been using a Dell provided Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, made by Logitech I believe.
Which means I'm probably a little spoiled for wireless products. The only fault was that the battery life was a bit less than I would have preferred. Indeed, I was also intrigued by quiet typing and water resistance claims. So, I took the leap and got this Microsoft set.
First the bad. The mouse is worthless. Really is. I've gotten used to the side buttons and other features of my present mouse. This mouse has the two buttons and a scroll wheel. The two buttons work okay, but the wheel makes for entirely random scrolling. It does not keep a steady speed, has no relation to the mouse setting in windows, and the average speed of scrolling is immensely slow, only a couple of lines.
Add this to the fact that affects both mouse and keyboard. The wireless connection is rather disappointing.
This set comes with a receiver that plugs into a usb port. The receiver is needlessly designed to look like an interesting addon. It is about the size of two mouses put together, with green lights on top that light up when connected. I'm a bit bothered by all the little lights computers seem to insist on and this just makes for more bother. If you could hide it, that might be okay, but the signal isn't strong enough. I have it right under my monitor and still get popups saying it has lost connection. It was really bad with the mouse, but still occasionally lapses with the keyboard, that is a foot away.
Any obstruction causes more problems. A real hassle. And adds to the general imprecision.
The keyboard itself is nice. The key noise really is significantly quieter. I've not tested the water resistance, but am comforted that it is there. The layout is a bit wider than other keyboards I've used, making for an initial bit of transition as I have to reach a bit farther for the higher keys. Those with smaller hands might find it uncomfortably wide. The programmable and media buttons are certainly handy, making for really quick access to programs that might not be always within an easy click.
Yet, I'm not sure such ease overcomes the deficiencies. I've already gone back to my bluetooth mouse. Now I'm using two usb ports for mouse and keyboard, a situation that may not continue and may get me to retire the microsoft keyboard as well. Which is sad. I wanted it to work better, but am ultimately frustrated by the wirelessness of the wireless.
It's not too costly, but the frustration it brings might justify either a little more money to get a setup that can be used without frustration, or invested in a non-wireless combo that provides all the functions without any batteries or bother.

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A Sleek, Wireless Desktop Designed for Your Digital Lifestyle. Sit back and enjoy fast, easy access to all your favorite digital pictures, music, videos and more with this sleek, ultra-thin quiet touch keyboard. The companion wireless mouse delivers ergonomic comfort and advanced productivity with Microsoft High Defi nition Optical Technology, Flip 3D button, and Magnifier.

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