Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro Keyboard and Wheel Mouse

by Logitech

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001RMDH
• Item model number: 967031-0403
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Logitech's Desktop Pro cordless combo features an ergonomic keyboard and the MouseMan Wheel. It operates via radio technology, letting you use the combo up to six feet away from the receiver unit, without the line-of-sight requirements of infrared devices.

The Desktop Pro was perfect for playing You Don't Know Jack from our futon, although it would have been nice to have a trackball so we didn't have to bring a mouse pad along. It also functions well on the desktop; you can easily reposition it without worrying about crossing wires or running out of length. The Desktop Pro includes two AA and two AAA batteries for the keyboard and mouse respectively, and Logitech claims that its smart power management offers battery lives of six months to one year.

The combo ships with Logitech's iTouch software so you can take advantage of the extra keyboard buttons. The Desktop Pro provides hot keys on top of the keyboard that you can set to your favorite Web page, your e-mail program, a search engine, and more. If you're running Windows 98, you can also take advantage of the Suspend button to put your computer to sleep. In addition, the multimedia buttons allow you to play CDs, MP3 files, or DVDs with any player (including the bundled Virtuosa, which also allows you to create MP3s from your own music CDs). You can personalize any of these keys for other functions, such as opening specific applications or files.

We liked the split-design keyboard, as it put our hands in a more natural position than average keyboards, and the detachable wrist rest allowed for additional support. The contoured MouseMan also provides wrist support when you are pointing and clicking.

With adapters for PS/2, AT, or serial ports, the Desktop Pro keyboard and mouse will connect to almost any PC. It's not cheap, but the benefits of wireless access and ergonomic comfort provide a lot of input-device bang for your buck. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Excellent wireless connectivity
• Ergonomic keyboard
• Adapters for any keyboard and mouse ports

Cons:

• Pricey
• Doesn't have a trackball

Amazon.com Product Description

Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro frees you from the limits of cords with a high-performance cordless mouse and cordless keyboard designed to increase typing comfort. Now you have more flexibility to place your mouse and keyboard where you choose and to work the way that's most comfortable to you.

Stop struggling with cords that catch and tangle. This cordless mouse and keyboard give you more flexibility to arrange your desk without having to point them at the computer or requiring a clear path. They provide reliable performance even on crowded desks where cups, piles of paper, books, and other obstructions come between them and the computer.

The mouse's contoured shape and use of soft-touch material provide maximum comfort and control. The easy scrolling wheel speeds browsing the Web and navigating Windows documents. You can also click the wheel as a fourth, customizable mouse button.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best keyboard on the market--far better than Microsoft's, August 16, 2000

By 

tropic_of_criticism - See all my reviews

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro Keyboard and Wheel Mouse (Personal Computers)

I tested over 20 keyboards before purchasing this one, and fell hopelessly in love with the way the keys felt. Forget about the cool radio technology, or the fact that this is an "ergonomic" keyboard, or even that it comes with its own mouse. It's just a pleasure to type on.

I was skeptical of the radio technology which makes the keyboard portable. I thought it would work, but with occasional glitches. Yet I honestly can't tell a performance difference between this technology and having a plug-in keyboard. If anything, I've noticed that the included mouse is more accurate than my old Logitech First Mouse Plus. And, as with the keyboard, it just *feels* better.

As an ergonomic keyboard, this board's chief competitor is the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro. I really wanted to like that keyboard. It was a good deal cheaper, had more function keys and even a couple of USB ports. But there's something about the curve of the board that's just awkward. The slope is not as subtle as this one, and those severe angles make typing harder somehow. Worse, the keys are very much noisier.

And the MS Pro's apparent advantages largely disappear on closer examination. The MS Pro seems to have more special function keys than the Logitech. In particular there are a number of web exploration keys that the Logitech seems not to have. But Logitech has put additional web surfing help into the mouse. Press down on the mouse wheel, and a convenient palate of web surfing tools sprouts up. Also, the MS Pro's USB ports aren't that much of an advantage. Because you have to plug the keyboard into an existing USB port, you expand your total ports only by one. That leaves only price and a single USB port as the net advantage of the MS Pro.

To me, that means Logitech wins hands down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars converted me to ergonomic keyboards, April 25, 2001

By 

Conroy Lee (Eastchester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro Keyboard and Wheel Mouse (Personal Computers)

Because of brief experiences with Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, I intended to order the cordless ITouch (nonergonomic) instead of this; however this was the only one in stock and I ended up getting this one... The keyboard is really nice. As another reviewer mentioned, the slope of the keys feel much more natural than the microsoft. However, I have to disagree with the previous reviewer about the layout of the home/end/etc keys. If the keys have to be in a vertical layout, this layout makes much more sense than the microsoft's - microsoft arranged the keys in a seemingly random order, while logitech left most of the keys in their standard place.. (insert/delete and page up/down are where you'd expect) The cordless mouse is also far superior to microsoft's - the movement is much smoother and more responsive. I had to take off one star for 1) the "logitech" key seems to randomly think it's pressed once in awhile and pops up an annoying help page; 2) when i play some games, in order to get a decent response time from the keyboard i always have to press the "connnect" button after every reboot both of these problems are probably driver/software problems, but they're annoying

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Logitech is the best!, June 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro Keyboard and Wheel Mouse (Personal Computers)

I own the cheaper model they have, just the cordless iTouch keyboard and scroll mouse, and I just LOVE it! In my opinion, Logitech makes the best products, hands down. And on top of that, they send their rebates very quickly.

The things I like best are the programable buttons for the internet (hence iTouch) and for your media playing program (such as WinAmp, RealAudio, Windows Media Player, whatever, lots supported).

Another thing I liked about my kit was the weight of the mouse. The broadcasting equipment and the two AAA batteries in it ad weight, and I REALLY like how that feels. It sounds wired I know, but it is very nice. You feel like you have control over the thing. It is also a very percise mouse.

I haven't used the mouse that comes with this kit, but I know it is very ergonimoc. It compliments the ergonomic keyboard nicely.

Another nice thing is the RF wireless, not infrared. I keep the reciever behind my desk. When I am not using the computer, I place the mouse and keyboard in the desk. It works out great!

I have heard that Logitech sells their other designs they don't use to Microsoft, but I don't know if that is true. I do believe that their equipment is far supperior to Microsofts' equipment.

If you have the money and think it would be cool to have a nice wireless keyboard, go for it. You will be surprised how much nicer your desk looks without the extra wires. Again, sounds wired and petty, but it really makes a differnece. If you have the cash, get this or the Wireless iTouch (normal set). You won't be sorry!