Logitech Wireless Desktop MX 3200 Laser

I bought this cordless keyboard and mouse set to use at home with my laptop.

I got it directly from the manufacturer as I couldn't find it on Amazon at the time. I would have saved my self a few quid if I typed in "cordless desktop" instead of "cordless keyboard". Still, I blame Amazon's search function....

My first impression of this set was that it looked and felt really sleek. I'm not one to worry too much about how things look - as long as they're functional, reliable and of high quality then I'm happy, but this was a nice bonus straight away.

KEYBOARD

PROS:

1. Good keyboard functionality - lots of programmable shortcut keys with default settings including:

o Open windows media player, explorer, internet explorer, calculator, my pictures

o Close the currently open window

o Skip/play/pause tracks and change volume

o Zoom in and out with touch strip (and touch key to return to 100%)

o Turn computer on standby

o One-touch internet calling controls

2. Keys feel nice - quite spongy, quiet and very responsive - I've not once pressed a key that hasn't been detected instantly by my computer.

3. Date and time is a nice touch (seeing how there's a massive global shortage of clocks at the moment)

4. Range is excellent. I can type with no problems from other rooms, downstairs when my computer is upstairs, etc. I won't bother putting a figure on the exact range but for home use, I cannot comprehend there being any issues whatsoever.

5. Palm rest included - you don't want to be getting RSI.

6. I'm happy with the ergonomics of the design, but as with most things, surely someone will find it uncomfortable for some reason or other.

CONS:

1. Surprisingly no LED indications of whether the caps, num and scroll lock are on or not.

2. No indication of battery life left.

3. I personally would have liked to have seen a small touch pad on the keyboard - just if your mouse isn't near by, or if its just one little thing you need to do, so your hands don't need to leave the keyboard. Nothing fancy, but it would have been a very nice touch in my opinion.

4. After using the shortcut key to open internet explorer, you have to use the mouse to select the search bar. Would have made more sense if this was done automatically - kind of defeats the purpose of having the shortcut key.

5. I can't find a way to switch it off, but I'm guessing if you're not actually using it then it doesn't drain the batteries much.

MOUSE

PROS:

1. Feels very comfortable in your hand (don't think it's made for left handed)

2. Good functionality including:

o Buttons for going forward and back a page in internet explorer

o Scroll wheel (horizontal and vertical)

o Zoom in and out

o Open explorer search

CONS:

1. Not the smallest mouse - not a problem for me as I have average sized hands, but might be an issue for small hands.

2. It is sufficiently responsive (settings such as mouse speed etc. can be changed in control panel of your computer to suit your needs), although I don't think it is quite as good as a previous Logitech mouse I had bought, which was a little sharper in its accuracy (can't remember the model). This mouse is still very good nonetheless but I probably wouldn't recommend it for more serious use (gaming, design etc.)

OVERALL

This set is very very easy to set up and use. Just plug in the USB receiver and go. To get the best out of it though, you need to install the software that comes with it. It is very easy to install and setup - although for some reason they have left out a progress bar when it is installing. Didn't know if my computer had crashed or not.

My computer use isn't extensive as some people and so I wouldn't really be able to comment in detail on how good the mouse is to use with complex graphical design software or serious gaming etc. I can say however, that Logitech have made a great product for a standard computer user (internet, MS office etc.). There are no significant problems with it for me although it's a shame that the USB receiver stand doesn't work as a normal USB port. I guess it is slightly on the expensive side - £49.99 would have been more of a reasonable price. However, I don't mind paying a little more to ensure good quality and reliability. I hope the battery life for the keyboard and mouse is good - can't comment on that one yet, although it was a nice touch for Logitech to include 6 AA batteries so you can get up and running straight away - Duracell Plus too (!). The fact that the set is non-rechargeable might bug some people but as long as the batteries last long enough, I really don't care. I do sleep much easier at night as well knowing that my keyboard is protected by the latest anti-microbial technology - you can never be too sure.

Overall: how amazing can a keyboard and mouse set actually be if all you do is use MS office and the internet? I guess there's nothing really wrong with it at all if you're a standard computer user, so it definitely comes recommended for that type of usage. I have not had a cordless set before (just one mouse), so can't compare it to much - but I do like it so I guess it's a good choice for cordless newbies. I've given it 4 stars only mainly because of it being slightly over-priced in my opinion. It is an excellent product though.

I've been using this set for 2 weeks and have found it really nice to use. I can get a good connection all through my room ( after i realised that i needed to move the reciever away from my monitor). Works well with vista. The software provided did cut off my sound, however this was easily fixed in the sound settings in control panel. It's really nice to type with and the extra functions on the mouse and keyboard work really well with vista. I haven't given it 5 stars because 60 pounds is a bit expensive for a mouse and keyboard, but would definitely recommend if you don't mind the price tag

If you can't touch type forget this keyboard. Instead of the usual large clear white letters on the keys, the MX3200 has small, unclear, off white letters which are very difficult to read at a glance, also the keys seemed smaller than usual. I have had many Logitech keyboards over the years and this is the first one I've had to return. Although I can't touch type, I can type very quickly but I do need to see the keys, which I could not do with a quick glance at this one. Why Logitech have changed the usual letter format on this keyboard I will never understand, because other than that it appeared to be a good buy.