Customer Reviews

Logitech Wave Keyboard

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Logitech's Wave is a unique keyboard that will be appreciated by many. It's a great new design for those who want something less extreme than full split designs but something more firm than the standard keyboard. With this product Logitech adds to it's line-up of high quality computer peripherals.

Pros
+ Integrated wrist cushion - comfy and convenient!
+ Keys are shaped to be closer to your smaller fingers - Less hand movement
+ Integrated number pad in a relatively sleek form factor
+ Quiet key action that seems smoother than others I've had
+ Vista key shortcuts work nice!
+ Programmable smart keys

Cons
- Corded design, unlike the Wireless Wave Combo set
- Key design takes some getting used to
- May not be enough separation for those who prefer full split ergonomic designs
- Somewhat buggy Logitech software with sleeper (spyware) processes

The design of the keyboard is nice and sturdy, and the additional number pad is a nice feature. The wave shape is REALLY nice, with nice sized keys and many extras. This is a great ambidextrous keyboard that can be used well by lefties and righties. The integrated keyboard wrist pad is nice and comfortable, and the design gives you one less thing you have to have on your desk.

I have actually come to prefer this to the split keyboard design after using it for a period of months. I can move my hands less and let my fingers touch the keys. As a result, my typing speed has actually improved slightly.

Many simply need the ergonomics of a split keyboard or other design. Try to test it out, but keep in mind it will take time to get used to. I've had mixed results with split keyboards in this price range, but there are some nice options.
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000
Logitech Cordless Desktop Comfort Laser
Adesso Intellimedia MediaPro Flat Ergonomic MAC USB White Keyboard with 2 USB Ports ( AKB-805MAC)

For those who demand a wireless keyboard, Logitech has released a nice combo set including a wireless version of this keyboard and a mouse. I own that set for a different computer, although I am now using a different mouse with it.
Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Set

Also, check for price changes. The price tends to fluctuate a lot.

Overall, this keyboard is well worth looking into. Enjoy!

I bought the Logitech Wave keyboard (as the name indicates, the overall key pattern goes up and down in waves) just yesterday from Staples, since that was the only place I could find the wired version without the mouse! I don't have much space on my REAL desktop for a regular mouse, so I use a trackball optical mouse (also good for gaming!), so I don't need the mouse. Plus, I don't much see the point of having a wireless keyboard unless you have a REALLY big screen, so you can see what you're doing form across the room. (Wireless mouse I can understand, so no wires get tangled or restrict movement, but a wireless keyboard?!)

My previous keyboard was a Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 which was pretty good, but after I saw this one, I decided it was time for a change. The 4000 has a rise in the middle at too high an angle where the letter keys seperate, which I got use to, but after awhile of having my fingers poised over the keys and wrists on the rest, my fingertips would get numb and wrists would start to ache. (That might happen to loads of people, but I can't remember it happening with other keyboards I had) Ergonomic means "efficient design to reduce discomfort", which I suppose some exceed while others fail.

This one, so far, has proven to be a winner! As seen from pictures, the keys don't rise and seperate at too high an angle, quite the opposite in fact! They dip down where the normal typing position is, the height complimenting the length of the fingers. (The "A" is highest, the "S" & "D" keys sloping down in height, then the "F" key rises in height just a bit; and vise-versa for the "J", "K", "L" & ";:" keys.) All the letter/number keys are also the same size in shape which keeps them all uniform.

The main reasons I bought the keyboard was because of the reasons above, but also because of the hot/quick keys more geared towards Vista (which I have). The function & media keys all have there own function, but can all be reprogrammed to do a wide variety of other things. (Open programs, files, folders, quicklinks, etc.) The SetPoint software makes it pretty easy to do this and is simple to use. The included wristpad also makes typing more comfortable.

In closing, I would recommend this keyboard for just about anyone, especially those who use multimedia, type/game a lot and/or have Vista. Typing this review has also given me a great opportunity to break-in the keyboard. (The keys on the 4000 were wider/spread apart further, making the keyboard wider when compared to this one) I think I'm use to it already! And as ergonomic keyboards go, this one has a pretty reasonable price!

I've used the split-keyboard style off and on for years, and going back and forth between split and non-split units I always feel that the former force my elbows outward and my hands into a crabbed position that isn't natural; the standard keyboards feel cramped and painful to use for extended periods. The Logitech Wave keyboard felt comfortable to me at once----no breaking in or adjusting, which always seemed to be the case with every other keyboard. The "wave" structure of the keys is a gentle effect that seems to keep my fingers in the right spot and my palms resting lightly on the palm rest. Other things I really like about the Logitech Wave: oversized and isolated Escape, Delete, Back keys; zoom function for browsers in a handy spot along the left edge (something I never knew I needed); a calculator button; a myriad of programmable function keys; a thoughtfully included and decent dust cover; an overall footprint that fits my keyboard holder.

Sad to say that although I originally ordered this from Amazon they changed the delivery date even though it was supposedly in stock--something they seem to do more often these days--so I ended up getting it from Newegg. Instead of waiting up to two months for delivery from Amazon I received the keyboard in two days for the same price.

All of those reviewers waxing passionately about this board, calling it "the best [they've] ever used," aren't exaggerating. I have spent the past several months seeking a keyboard that had everything I needed in terms of control and, most importantly, rendered a sublime typing experience. Up to this point the closest to ideal was the Microsoft Natural Desktop 7000, itself a fine setup.

Right off the bat, the Wave has a definite feel of quality to it. The keys have the typical travel of a desktop board, but none of that 'clackety clack' endemic in so many of them. The wrist/palm rest is not soft, but surprisingly supple and doesn't seem to retain too much heat (I'm assuming that the little holes are for venting and not just Logitech's idea of aesthetics). There are two height adjustments should you find yourself needing it.

The "wave" part of the board is a very happy medium between the extremes of a traditionally ergonomic keyboard (split) and a standard model. I can't articulate the feeling, but immediately upon resting your hands on the Wave you get a definite sensation of comfort, as though the board is molded specifically for you (I have average sized man hands). Typing was intuitive and ridiculously smooth, and despite some warning of an adjustment period for muscle memory, I found myself hauling along at my typical wpm right from the get go. Obviously, your mileage will vary, but no matter what, this keyboard does not require that you re-learn how to type. I also noticed that my elbows seem to fall naturally at my ribcage, as opposed them jutting out as I cramp my fingers on a standard keyboard. Additionally, the Wave seems to 'force' me into better posture. I can't explain why, but here I am bolted upright in my chair without consciously choosing it, as opposed to being humped over a traditional model. It feels great, and those very subtle changes most definitely help long-haul writers and programmers who spend all day and night slinging out code.

Being wired, all of the functions seem to work on generic USB device drivers; it's truly plug 'n play should you not feel like messing around with the SetPoint software. Speaking of this wired version vs. the wireless desktop set, I HIGHLY suggest getting this wired keyboard, and then springing for a separate mouse as opposed to ordering the bundled set. The included mouse in the Wave desktop set is mediocre at best and infuriating at worst. I run this keyboard with the almost universally worshiped MX Revolution mouse, and the combined setup is just comfort heaven. If you go this route and shop smartly, you'll only spend a few more bucks than the bundled set, and you'll maintain the benefits of having the keyboard wired (zero lag, dropouts, or batteries to replace).

You will not regret this purchase. The Wave is solid, ridiculously comfortable without requiring a re-wire of your typing skills, and it even looks nice. It's a no-brainer, man.

Hi. I'm a software engineer who spends most of his day at the keyboard. I've used the Logitech Wave for a whole day and I have to say that it's been a great experience so far. I'm using it with Windows Vista SP1.

Pros:

This keyboard is very quiet to type on. It also seems that I don't have to move my hands as much when I type because the keys fit my natural finger positions better than my last keyboard.

The resting pad for your wrists/palms isn't too hard or too soft; it supports my hands very nicely.

The curvature of the space bar keeps it readily available. My thumbs seem to be always resting on it, giving them support and shortening the distance I need to move my fingers to push it.

The Caps Lock key is definitely out of accidental reach but not so much that you can't find it when you want to turn it on or off.

The curvature of the arrow buttons allows you to feel which direction they are pointing, and the higher outer lips of these keys makes them great for gaming (no chance your fingers are going to slide off or miss the keys). Same holds true for the number pad -- the concave shape of the number pad keeps your fingers there (I'm guessing this would be good for you accountant types out there).

Most importantly, my wrists have remained pain-free. Even after a full day's work and typing this review, I have no dull pain in my wrists. The main reason behind purchasing this was to alleviate the discomfort I was having with a Microsoft keyboard.

Cons:

The +/= key is tiny. They may have over-sized the Backspace key just a little too much, consuming a good chunk of the +/= key's width. As a software engineer, I type the = sign quite often. I've gotten used to the fact that the key is smaller, but it was definitely awkward at first.

The Function key replaces the context-menu key if you're used to a Microsoft keyboard. Not that this key gets used much at all, but now you have to press Function + Print Screen to get the context menu.

The document flip/window switch key on the left hand side is conveniently where I like to drop my hand when I'm thinking and not using the keyboard -- I've accidentally pressed it a few times, almost to the point where I might just disable it or assign a less annoying and halting function to it.

If you're used to having the num lock, caps lock, and and scroll lock lights in a readily visible area, this keyboard is a bit of a change from that reality. The lights are positioned underneath the number pad, which I kind of like. They are out of the way and not distracting, but when I've looked for them they weren't easily spotted right away -- I have to turn my head to see them instead of just looking down.

The function keys (F1 - F12) are grouped into sets of 3 instead of groups of 4 like most keyboards. It was hard for me to get used to having the F5 (typically Refresh) key in between two other keys instead of at the beginning of the second group, but alas, now it's smack dab in the top middle of the keyboard, which I'm sure I'll get used to eventually.

Lastly, not really a pro or a con, but:

The keyboard has some pretty tall built-in feet, so this keyboard may sit almost an inch higher than the one it may be replacing. I had to raise my chair about two inches in order to adjust for the new height of this keyboard (I have it on my desk, not in a tray or drawer under the desk)

Conclusion:

Overall, this is the best-feeling keyboard I've ever owned and my second from Logitech. Previously I used Microsoft's Natural (split-key) and Multimedia keyboards (standard), but I'm happy to be back with a Logitech. The wave of the keys conform perfectly to my fingers and typing habits, and the slight curvature of the layout does reduce strain on my wrists.

Although it's got a couple of nuisances, I'm confident that I will become more familiar with this keyboard and have many pain-free programming sprees in the future.

This is an extremely comfortable keyboard with lots of great features. Unfortunately, it uses Logitech's notoriously buggy drivers. All Logitech keyboards, mouses, and such use Logitech SetPoint. If you buy a Logitech product and SetPoint installs correctly, you will be happy. Unfortunately, SetPoint sometimes does not install correctly, in which case, you will have an advanced mouse or keyboard that does not implement any advanced features.

This is what happened to me with the Wave keyboard. I am running a typical PC with XP Pro SP3. SetPoint will not install, so all the advanced features of the Wave keyboard don't work.

I am trying to fix the problem and have been in touch with Logitech's technial support for over three weeks. The process is painfully slow. Try this and let me know what happens. When trying this doesn't solve the problem, it takes Logitech support 3 - 4 days to get back with the next suggestion that doesn't work.

In summary, if you buy this keyboard and the supporting Logitech software installs correctly, I think you will love this keyboard. If the software does not install correctly and you have to try to deal with Logitech support, I suspect that after a couple of weeks, you wil find yourself looking for another keyboard.

The vast array of ratings and reviews of the Logitech Wave (as well as other "ergonomic" keyboards) proves that people have very individual tastes and you just can't please 'em all.

I, for one, can't stand the many, many ergonomic keyboards that split down the middle (like the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000). I had become very accustomed to the standard IBM keyboard, with integrated numeric keypad, directional and 'home' keys. After several tries with the MS Natural, I had to give up. It just wasn't... natural for me.

The Logitech Wave was a delight to use from the first day. My favorite features include:
-- An ultra-quiet touch with a satisfying, non-mushy response.
-- The subtle contour of the keyboard for a comfortable, natural fit.
-- The firm and easy to clean memory-foam style palm rest.
-- The media/function keys were very easy for me to configure.
-- the volume toggle works well in all applications, including games.
-- A solid, tight feel while remaining very thin and light.

All in all, I'm so happy with it at home, I'm looking to acquiring one for work as well.

I have been using Microsoft ergonomic 'split-style' keyboards for the past 13 years. (I started using these keyboards because standard keyboards stress my wrists, lower arms, and shoulders.) However, these older keyboards lack media buttons, the ability to program keys, and don't have as good a feel as newer keyboards. Last year I decided to upgrade to a new Microsoft Ergonomic 4000. I went to a local office supply store to try out a display model, but for some reason it didn't appeal to me. Over the past year I would periodically try out the 4000 whenever I encountered it in a store, but each time I was dissatisfied.

Eventually, I realized that what I didn't like about the MS Ergo 4000 was its large horizontal length. The 4000 is basically an updated version of the older MS keyboards I already owned. While using these keyboards I noticed that I was having to shift them to the left in order to comfortably reach my trackball mouse with my right hand. Hence, the center of the letter keys were never centered with my body. This reduced the ergonomic benefits of the keyboard and made me realize that I would rather have a keyboard with a smaller horizontal length.

Earlier this year I read an article describing the upcoming release of a new ergonomic keyboard design from Logitech called the Wave. Right off I noticed that it was smaller than the MS ergonomic keyboards. In addition, the description of the keyboard made it sound like a lot of thought went into the design. I have been using Logitech products for years (trackballs, mice, webcams), so I hoped that the Wave would be equally impressive. Eventually I came across a deal and decided to give the Wave a try. Right from the first use I knew I would love this keyboard. No longer do I have to shift the keyboard to the left to reach my trackball and the layout of the keys is wonderful.

The keys are a bit larger than normal, have a nice tactile feel, and are arranged in a pattern with a gentle outward and upward curve (as viewed from the top down). Moreover, the keys also have a wave-like pattern as you move from the center outward. (I guess this is the motivation for the "Wave" moniker.) The best analogy I can offer to describe this pattern is if you place your fingertip atop the gap between two keys on your keyboard. Now notice how they curve down towards the center of each key as you move your finger left or right. Your finger then rises once again as you reach the outward edges of the keys. Now image a similar pattern involving all the main keys on your keyboard. The keys slope downward as you move away (left and right) from the center of the keyboard only to rise once again as you reach the keys towards the edges. (This does not apply to any of the other keys outside of the 'main' grouping.)

All the "F" keys perform standard functions by default, but also control 'other' functions (such as opening MS Word) if you push the "Fn" button in conjunction with a F key. These other functions are pre-programmed but you can change the function by using the SetPoint software provided. The keyboard also contains seven "hot keys" to control such things as playback volume, and document zooming. These hot keys can also be reprogrammed if desired. Supposedly, the button functions are designed for use with Microsoft Vista, but I have been using them without issue on XP Pro SP2. I've read other reviews in which it was stated that these buttons do not function in XP, but I can attest to the fact that they all work flawlessly for me.

I also like the SetPoint driver software provided by Logitech. I downloaded the latest version (4.00.121) from Logitech's website and have been using it without issue. It is a one stop program for adjusting all the settings on my Wave keyboard and on the two Logitech trackballs I have plugged into my system. Other reviewers I have read have complained that this software isn't ready for prime time, but it has worked flawlessly for me.

The only issue I had was the arrangement of the Home, Delete, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys. These keys have a a 'vertical' orientation as opposed to the 'horizontal' orientation of most keyboards. I found I was inadvertently hitting the wrong keys for a time until I adapted to the new layout.

Helpful tip?: Although the Wave has a USB interface, and was instantly recognized by Windows when I plugged it in to my computer, it wouldn't work when I rebooted and tried to change settings in BIOS. This was remedied by rebooting with a PS/2 keyboard plugged in; turning on "USB Keyboard Support" in BIOS; and then rebooting.

I have had my new Wave keyboard now for about a week and it's all I had hoped it would be. I had been using the Logitech Comfort keyboard (also wireless) for the past year or more and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I still have it to use when I want to spend some time on a split keyboard again. But this new Wave keyboard has an excellent feel and it's extremely quiet. Also, for those Mac users considering this keyboard, the latest Logitech Control Center was released a couple of days ago and it allows all the special keys to be easily remapped for your Mac applications. They layout is great and the ergonomics of the keyboard "wave" makes getting used to it quick and easy. I believe this keyboard will prove to be big hit for Logitech. It's too bad Apple doesn't offer an ergonomically designed keyboard like this but thankfully Logitech does.

I've been typing on computers for more years than I can remember and am still questing for the perfect keyboard. Having tried almost every recent model of Logitech (some of which I've reviewed here), I was very pleased to find the Wave corded keyboard. It is the first high-end keyboard from Logitech in years that is not cordless.

The big thing about the Wave is its design. I find it works as advertised; my fingers comfortably find the correct spots, and it seems like my speed and accuracy are slightly improved over a traditional keyboard. And unlike more radical ergonomic designs (those using radical split keyboards know what I'm talking about), there is no learning curve and no problem switching back and forth from traditional to ergonomic keyboards. Well done on Logitech's part!

There were two reasons for my seeking a corded keyboard. Primarily, regardless of the version of the Logitech software, every cordless keyboard I've used occasionally "sticks" and a single keypress ends up repeating many times after you stop pressing the key. This is true even of the recent, high-end Logitech diNovo Edge ( 967685-0403 ). The other reason is the slight lag as the keypresses are encoded, transmitted and decoded. This doesn't matter much to your Microsoft Office project, but gamers will quickly notice the delay, or even non-responsiveness. The lack of a numeric keypad on models like the diNovo Edge is also a liability for gamers. The Wave allows gamers or hardcore typists to have a full featured keyboard instead of being stuck with simple models like the Classic Keyboard 200 USB.

The keys are firm, responsive, and quiet without being silent -- just the right amount of feedback. The tops of the keys are slightly smaller than some keyboards, so if you have big fingers you may want try the keyboard in person before buying it.

Another improvement is the integrated wrist-rest. It actually works for me! In the past, the in-built wrist-rest was never quite right for me, not large enough, or wide enough, or soft enough. So it became a liability instead, as each time I bought a new keyboard I'd need to find a wrist-rest that worked around that keyboard's inbuilt wristrest. The Wave's in-built wrist-rest finally puts and end to that; I'm comfortable using it without adding an external piece.

I'm not yet sure if this is my idea of a perfect keyboard, but it certainly is a very good one. Recommended!