Customer Reviews

Logitech 2.4 GHz Cordless Presenter (Black)

5 star:		(256)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have been using the Logitech Cordless 2.4 GHz Presenter for about three weeks. During that time I have used it in 18 one hour lectures. The presenter does everything it was designed to do effortlessly. I decided on the Logitech Presenter for a two reasons. First, it installs with no software. Just plug the USB radio transmitter/receiver into the back of your computer and it is ready to go. During my initial installation Windows XP said there was a problem, but everything operated just fine. Second, this presenter has a limited number of functions. It was my view that when giving a lecture the last thing you need is to have to hunt among a dozen or so buttons to do something. Also, more buttons increases the likelihood of hitting the wrong one. On the top the Logitech Presenter has 5 buttons: 1) forward, 2) back, 3) laser pointer which is between the forward and back, 4) F5/ESC which starts PowerPoint at the first slide or returns to the work view and 5) black the screen. All of the buttons are conveniently placed, work as promised and are easy to find without looking at them. On the left side is the on/off switch and volume control and on the right side is the button to set the countdown timer. The timer starts vibrating at set intervals 5 minutes before it reaches 0. It appears to use batteries sparingly. After about 18 hours of use the battery meter has yet to move.
There are two possible negatives to the Logitech Cordless 2.4 GHz Presenter. First, it has no mouse (I actually consider this a positive). So if you need to use a mouse in your presentations this is not the presenter to get. Second, it only appears to work with PowerPoint. It may work with other programs, but I have found no mention of it.
Based on the above review and the fact that the machine does exactly what it was designed to do, I give the presenter 5 stars. However, before purchasing one you need to decide if you really need its capabilities. If you regularly teach/make presentations in a large room it no doubt is handy. As Logitech advertises, the range is at least 50 feet. If you always present in a small room, the Logitech Cordless 2.4 GHz Presenter is really of little advantage. Nevertheless, it is cool to be able to change slides away from the projector. Perhaps the determining factor should be who is making the purchase. If your employer is springing for one, get it. If it is coming out of your pocket, consider carefully.

I purchased this about two weeks ago, and have already used it several times. I'm just wrapping up my graduate education, and wish I knew about this sooner. If you present in teams, and usually have someone controlling the slides, you know how its difficult to sync your presentation with the other person. The Logitech Presenter puts the control into your hands. This also allows you to step away from the computer, and focus on the actual presentation than changing the slides.

This unit does the following:
- start presentation/exit presentation
- black out the screen (good for when you want to have people focus their attention on you instead of the slides)
- forward/back, to navigate through slides
- volume control
- laser pointer
- time limit notification (warnings at 5 mins and 2 mins)
- Also comes with a compact fabric case.

Contrary to what a previous reviewer stated, this receiver is NOT a USB bluetooth receiver. It is only USB, and transmits at a 2.4 GHz frequency.

As some others have stated, this is NOT a mouse. The more expensive Logitech Presenter (that costs over $150) can double as a mouse.

I have only utilized the Presenter with PowerPoint. I do not know if it is compatible with other presentation software.

Pros:
- The buttons are well positioned making it very easy to learn.
- very light, fits comfortably in hand
- the usb receiver is compact, and can be stored within the Presenter. I like the fact that it is so compact because on certain laptops, the USB slots are stacked on top of one another. With some other over-sized USB cords/receivers, it can cause trouble connecting both simultaneously. The compactness of the receiver is perfect!
- battery indicator
- comes with batteries
- the laser pointer can double as a toy to play with a cat. my cat chases the red laserbeam all around the room. who knew the Presenter could be so much fun? :)

Cons:
- time limit notifications can only be increased in 5 minute increments.
- the USB receiver can easily be put into the Presenter in the wrong way, making it somewhat difficult to take out.
- did not work on a couple older laptops. They were both running WinXP. However, these could be isolated incidents.
- Took at least 30 seconds on new systems for the Presenter to be recognized and set up.
- No resume feature
- The fabric case should have come with a belt clip



I took the Logitech Presenter to class, and fellow classmates loved it so much they all wanted to use it. They were able to learn it on the fly. This unit is money well spent!

I've owned 3 other remote clickers, and this one is the best by far. For starters, it uses AAA batteries which are easy to procure and replace, whereas other models use those little quarter-size batteries that require a special trip to Radio Shack to buy. Plus, AAA's hold more juice to begin with, AND this clicker has an on/off switch, whereas others turn off on their own after time without use, meaning after they drain the battery! The transmitter on this clicker has plenty of power to reach the back of the computer/USB receiver stub from long distances, whereas others require the presenter to be close to the computer because they transmit a weak signal. The form factor of this one is perfect in your hand and the buttons are easily used, even by people unfamilar with it -- it's very intuitive. It has a very useful timer/clock that allows me to watch how much time I have left to finish my presentation -- it will also vibrate in my hand with 5 minutes to go, 2 minutes to go, and when my time is up. It allows me to add more time on the fly. This remote clicker is absolutely perfect in every way, and I can't tell you how many colleagues have purchased one after they tried mine. Don't waste your money on anything else -- they really got it right in all the human factors/UI aspects and all the engineering aspects when they made this.

My husband "bought me" the other Logitech cordless presenter (which costs about 3x as much as this one) a year or so ago because, as a high school teacher, I often use PowerPoint to teach new lessons and to show photos of unfamiliar events or references in literature. The truth is, I took the thing to school once before he hijacked it for his own laptop/flat screen combination and used it as a glorified cordless mouse, with laser pointer.

Honestly, this little thing is a lot more convenient than the other one for use in a classroom, and the reduced cost makes me less concerned about it "getting jacked" by one of my well-meaning but sometimes-misdirected students. It doesn't have the cordless mouse functionality, so I can't switch between programs. It's pretty much only functional for use with PowerPoint, but that's fine for me. I can now move around my classroom freely, switching back and forth between slides and pointing out specific things on the screen without having to be right next to my computer. It helps to be able to spot-check my students' progress and walk the room, and students everywhere are just more attentive when they see presenters who can actually move more than in just a 5-inch radius. I also love being able to "black screen" the TV at certain points (to answer questions, to address side issues, at the end of the presentation) without having to interrupt my presentation/presence in front of the class.

I especially like the little case and the USB storage in the unit when it's not in use -- I tend to lose things. I also like the size and feel of this presenter over the other one, which was too bulky for me. The 50-foot range is GINORMOUS, and not having to have "line of sight" to my actual computer is a lifesaver. I don't use the timer/vibrate feature at all, and the on/off switch is really easy to get to -- not like the one on my cell phone that requires a lot of fumbling and fighting to get it to depress.

I bought this recently and it was easy to use. Most people have written on the positive side of things so I will just add some shortcomings. It can only be used for power point presentations. It would be better to use Keyspan or something like that which includes power point presentation and a mouse as well. Secondly, this does not have an auto time out. I tried it the night before but forgot to switch it off (there is no LCD light anywhere so one does not realize it is switched on), and the next day when I tried to use it at a presentation it was out of power! Other than that it is a really cool device and easy to use.

I purchased the Logitech 2.4GHz Cordless Presenter in September 2006 after buying and returning the Keyspan PR-US2 Presentation Remote.

WHY I CHOSE THE LOGITECH PRESENTER OVER THE KEYSPAN PRESENTER
1. The combination of buttons that needed to be pressed in order to engage the laser pointer became cumbersome on the Keyspan. In addition, it times out after a few moments. It became embarrassing during a presentation attempting to use the laser pointer only to realize that these few moments it stays active after pressing the button combo had timed out then having to redo the combo.
The Logitech has a button on it solely designated for the laser. This is a great convenience.

2. The mouse on the Keyspan was a bit jerky and worked sporadically. With the Logitech I decided to forgo the mouse and modify my presentations with click inserts instead. Generally during my presentations as an Instructor, I do not need mouse functionality on a presenter.

WHY I LOVE THE LOGITECH PRESENTER
1. As an Instructor, I tend to get long winded. If I am not careful, this can kill my agenda. The Logitech presenter allows segments of time to be set with a vibration notification. With this feature I am able to schedule an entire presentation in five minute increments or by a quick push of a button (without looking) I am able to allow myself a five minute continuous per slide.

I also use this time to measure student exercises such as tests and activities. If you conduct meetings where icebreakers are used, this is an excellent utility to use to measure how long you want an icebreaker to last. I am sure there are many other was this feature can be utilized.

2. I lose companion pieces often. The USB connector fits seamlessly inside of the presenter to ensure these two companions, presenter and USB connector do not part.

3. Did I mention that the overall shape of this presenter is also a bit sexy?

4. The case that arrives with Logitech presenter is not shabby. When the presenter is housed in the case, the case insulation is thick enough to protect it from a drop on a hard surface.

5. The battery notification warning is ingenious! The screen warning notification allows the opportunity for preparedness by having a battery replacement ready for swap. I am still using the manufacturer provided battery at almost three months. This is important to note as most manufacturer provided batteries do not last long. Generally they give just enough "juice" in the battery for introductory use.

The Logitech 2.4 GHz Cordless Presenter is a bit more expensive than other presenters. However, it is well worth the money in functionality, added accessory (heavy fabric case), convenience (USB holder inside unit) and preparedness (battery warning). You will not question your hard earned dollars being spent on this product.

It's true, this presenter has problems with PowerPoint's Presenter View because in that mode PgUp and PgDown keys are used to scroll the notes. However, here's a neat trick I discovered that makes it work again:
- Start the presentation in Presenter View
- Pres "B" on your keyboard to show a blank screen
- Click the mouse (anywhere in the blank screen) once to resume the presentation and then AGAIN to advance to the next slide
- Magically, from this point on the presenter buttons work flawlessly.

It works for me every time.

The hardware for this device is very good. The device is small and compact. I like the way that the USB receiver is stored inside the device when not in use. I would lose it if it was not stored like this. I also like the case that comes with the unit.

However, one of the reasons I bought this unit, and paid a premium price, was for the timer function and that feature is almost useless. It was certainly not designed by a person who does much public speaking. I belong to ToastMasters and many of the speeches are 7 minutes long. The timer goes up in increments of 5 minutes so it is either five or ten minutes or longer. There needs to be a way to set it up for shorter speeches and increments of less than 5 minutes.

Furthermore, a bigger issue is that the timer starts timing as soon as you are done setting the speech length. This means that you need to set/start the timer AT THE PODIUM. This is not acceptable in public speaking when everyone is watching you to begin speaking. I recommend that there be a way to set the timer beforehand and then have a way to quickly start it at the podium.

In summary it is a nice device but do not buy it because of the fancy timer.

I don't like reading positive reviews from people who have only recently purchased a product because they haven't had it long enough to know how it's going to last. I am a professional speaker who travels around the nation and the world presenting seminars using PowerPoint. I have had two different controllers in the past, and I did a lot of research to obtain this new one. I bought this one about 6 months ago, and it has operated flawlessly! This one lives up to all of the "five star" claims I read here before purchasing it. It is a perfect size, and the built-in timer/vibrator works like a charm. In fact, others in my profession have asked to see this unit once my seminar was finished, and many have purchased it right away.

I purchased this unit to replace a Targus PAUM30 remote control with laser pointer. The Targus was aways frustrating for me. Erratic button operation (no advance or multiple advances), illogical button layout, large size. The Logitech is a superb replacement.

Forget the dimensions in the on-line product description - it is NOT 8+ inches long by 6+ inches wide. It fits comfortably in my hand.

The buttons are logically laid out and very responsive. The laser pointer has well over a 40' range - I have no idea how much further it goes - just that it is still clear and well defined at that range. The advance/reverse buttons also work at about 40' with several intervening walls (done as a test...).

The on-off switch and the battery meter are great conveniences to avoid battery drain and to know when the batteries are getting low.

The timer is easily set albeit only in 5 minute increments. I find at least two uses. To time my own presentation and keep me on track. The quiet vibration warnings at 5 minutes and 2 minutes are helpful. The timer even has a 4-segment bar display that divides your entered time by 4 and reduces by one segment for each quarter of your total time. Another use for trainers: Say you give a group 5, 10, etc. minutes to do something. Set the built-in timer and you'll know when the time is up.

Want a gripe? Packaging. Their plastic bubble package took sharp scissors and some care to get open. That's about the only gripe I can offer.

One caveat: As others have noted and as Logitech is clear about. This unit does not serve as a mouse. I PREFER this since it is one less mode to erroneously get into and mess up my presentation. But, if you need a combined remote mouse and presentation controller, look elsewhere. If you need a great remote presentation controller, this is the unit.