Customer Reviews

Logitech MX3100 Cordless Desktop Laser

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Aug. 30 update: My observations below remain as noted, with the exception that my primarly concern regarding the value of the MX3100 has become far less now that the pricing has dropped by almost $30. At these levels the MX3100 represents a very competitive product in my opinion and I would increase my rating to 4 stars now based upon the improved value.

** Original Notes **
First, some extra kudos to Amazon. I ordered the Logitech 3100 in the afternoon yesterday and am typing on it roughly 24 hours later. And that was using the free shipping option!

As for my three star rating, it is not really due to any product issues, per se, but it is a valuation issue. Read to the bottom about a value question that I wonder about.

General comments:
* Everything hooked up and was operational within 20 minutes, including the installation and some basic customization of the Set Point Software. I have always found Logitech products to be easily installed and the MX3100 was no different.
* Some of the functions only work with certain software, although it is generally the most commonly used stuff like Excel, Word, etc. But the Zoom function (keyboard or mouse) only works with software that has built in Zoom capability. It does not work as a 'magnifying' function like my IBM laptop has built into it. Similarly, the horizontal scrolling function (again, keyboard or mouse) works on some software but not all. These are minor issues for me, but just don't assume that non-Microsoft software will work with these functions.
* Beware of Spyware. I am still not sure whether the software installed is benign or not, but after installing Set Point and running my Spyware software afterwards, Spybot came up with a list of ~50 new 'threats' that were not there before and were directly linked to the Logitech installation. I need more time to see if this is important for operations, benign or is truly spyware.

The Mouse:
* I bought this vs. the LX700, in part, due to the Lithium Ion battery technology and the battery meter on the top of the mouse. This was frankly of more interest than the laser vs. optical design as I have not had any significant issues with my optical Logitech on my desktop. While I cannot talk about longevity before recharging, the L-Ion battery should be virtually lifetime vs. the NiMH batteries used in the LX700.
* The sculptured mouse fits my hand perfectly and the buttons fall into place quite naturally. And the side thumb buttons are not easily pressed accidentially, a problem that my old Logitech has that had me disable them in the software. Very nice fit and function. (One caveat: I am 6' tall - if you really have smaller hands you might find this mouse a bit large. Try it out first.)
* The laser vs. optical design is interesting! On the one hand, I could use my optical on a clear glass table and it worked fine, with only some minor tracking issues. Not so the laser! No tracking whatsoever on clear glass (unless you lift the front edge off the glass a bit!). But my keyboard tray is made of perforated metal, with holes about a 16th of an inch in diameter evenly spaced. The optical cannot handle this at all, but the laser tracks remarkably well on this surface, even with the holes! Wierd!
* Side note: I am not a gamer so I cannot comment on this as a gaming mouse, but I would expect it to be as good as most any out there from what I have read.

The Keyboard:
* Very comfortable to use and although the touch is a little less 'positive' than I prefer, it does not hinder my typing at all. I am sure that I will adapt to it easily.
* I have not tried all of the functions but I have reprogrammed some F-keys to launch specific applications and websites that I use daily and it was easy and worked perfectly the first time. Some find the F-Keys small and while I cannot figure out why Logitech made them so thin, I have not found them to be a problem to use.

Okay, as for the three star rating, as noted I do feel that the value might be a bit stretched. Consider the following:
a) The keyboard for the LX700 and MX3100 are apparently identical except for some cosmetics. Even the Set Point software references the keyboard as the 'LX700 / MX3000 keyboard.'
b) The MX1000 laser mouse that you can buy separately is the same mouse supplied with the MX3100 package.
c) Hmmm . . . you can buy both the LX700 and MX1000 combined for about the same price as the MX3100 package AND HAVE AN EXTRA CORDLESS RECHARGEABLE MOUSE!

So what is different that makes the MX3100 more expensive than the LX700 / MX1000 two mouse option? The only thing that I can see is the mouse charging base. It appears that the MX1000 mouse base does not have the indicators built in that show things like CapsLock, NumLock, etc. that the one with the MX3100 package comes with. Maybe the MX1000 mouse base is somehow disabled such that it will not recognize or send along Logitech keyboard signals, although this seems illogical. And maybe the MX1000 base does not have the necessary connections if you need to use PS2 inputs to your PC instead of USB. But if the only real difference winds up being the lighted indicators in the MX3100 mouse base, does it make any sense that this slightly enhanced charging base equates to the same cost as a second complete rechargable mouse with its own base? Seems a bit of a stretch to justify! (Heck, IF the charging base winds up being the same between the MX1000 mouse and MX3100, buy the LX700 and MX1000 combination for roughly the same total price and have a nice back up mouse to use or give away!)

So that is my reason for the three star rating vs. four or five stars. While I so far find the MX3100 to be an excellent combination, I must question the value. As the MX3100 is quite new, perhaps the pricing will decline in the coming months to make it a more logical step from the LX700. If so, five stars may be in order!

I like to move my keyboard and mouse around a lot, but was starting to get sick of juggling wires everytime I wanted to switch my sitting position. I finally decided that enough was enough and I picked up the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3100.

First, I was very pleased at the quiet keyboard. There were no loud "clacking" noises when I was typing. Not that I'm a hard typer, but my old keyboard was just too noisy. Everytime I'd type a document, it sounded as if I was popping popcorn.

Second, the new laser mouse is extremely comfortable to use and very sensitive. The ergonomics in the mouse design are top-notch. I've tested in both a desktop and gaming environment and it performs admirably and accurately. My favorite feature of the mouse is the rechargable lithium-ion battery, with light-up battery gauge. Sure beats swapping out AA's every 4-6 months and the recharger is a breeze to use. It's almost second nature to plop the mouse into the cradle before I go to bed when the charge begins to get low.

Finally, despite all of these positive aspects, there is one thing that slightly annoys me (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5): The keyboard has too many buttons. A scroll button, application switch button, volume knob, media library button, e-mail button, calculator button, CD playback control buttons, a "burn" button... And the list goes on. Most of these are programmable, so I have the option to turn them off or change their functionality. But, really, do people need these many buttons? I personally think it makes the keyboard look oversized and unwieldy. Not to mention busy. The "Application Switch" button is located directly next to the left shift key. It's easy to overshoot the shift and accidentally switch applications. And this is one of the buttons on the keyboard that is not customizable. Oh, and don't accidentally hit the "Sleep" button, or your entire computer will go into sleep mode whether you like it or not.

Anyway, that's mostly a personal preference issue. Overall, this wireless keyboard and mouse combo is well worth the hefty price tag. The ability to move around freely is enjoyable and Logitech makes their product comfortable and accurate to use. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to shed the shackles of wired peripherals.

UPDATE: I still love this set except the wrist support bar is a piece of junk and broke where it snaps on to the keyboard. This happened several months ago.

I cannot find a replacement wrist bar ANYWHERE, and the keyboard is so flat you cannot use one of those gel ones with it. So I have duct tape holding it on, how lovely! This is a very expensive set and you think they would have done a better job on the wrist support, or at least made it so one could replace it!
~end of update~

I got this today (June 2005) and installed right away.. Noticed right off, keys are smaller, closer spaced than the other one I had.. But can surely get used to that..

Keyboard is thin and fairly flat, and the wrist bar is not padded, which surprised me, for the price you would think it would be padded.

The software that comes with this is NOT updated so you have to go to their site and download the newer version. I could not get the program to show the keyboard until I did the upgrade. This was irritating to say the least.

The mouse fits wonderfully in my hand, only down side is the fast scroll buttons, the top one is hard to get to without hitting the scroll wheel. It is just easier to use the wheel, so I think that feature was a waste.. I really like that this has a battery indicator which lets you know at all times when it is getting low so you can pop it on the charger.

Cord on the charge base is very short. They give you a really long cord for the AC but not for the cord that goes to your computer..DUMB!

But withh all that said, this is a very nice set and IMO, worth buying..Hopefully the price but I wouldn't count on it..

This is my second try with Logitech. I first ordered the Bluetooth version which was HORRIBLE. I kept losing connection, the mouse would pause during use, there was delay in typing and mouse movement. The MX3100 is a night and day difference, it is fantastic. I would buy it again any day. The mouse battery is incredible and I am on my original keyboard batteries after 1 1/2 months of steady use.

I really love the way this mouse feels in my hand, it is extremely comfortable, though when my husband tried it his thumb would be hitting the side buttons as he was gripping it. I love that this mouse is rechargeable, I think that is absolutely an excellent design choice. The functionality of the mouse is great, I like being able to reprogram the buttons if I want to (and you'll need to adjust them if you use Firefox, the Back/Forward buttons don't work unless you reset them to Alt+Back and Alt+Forward).

The keyboard has a nice feel to it. I'm not sure about the resized/moved home/end/delete/etc button set, and the smaller F-keys, but so far I haven't had much problems. The functionality on the keyboard is probably not going to be used by me, but it's nice to have.

Overall I am very happy I bought this and find using my desktop more enjoyable and comfortable. 4 stars because some of the buttons had to be reset for firefox and because of the non-standard keyboard.

My old mouse was dying on me, and I couldn't have chosen a better replacement! This mouse fits my hand perfectly and moves effortlessly. It almost feels like it's floating on a cushion of air. The keyboard has a very nice touch, and I love the silent keys.

Installation and setup were a snap and done quickly. Both the keyboard and the mouse have impressive optional features. It was very easy to get the special function keys set up to my liking, and now I have a keyboard that is both functional and fun to type on.

I have recommended this product to others in my office. I am delighted with the outcome of this purchase.

I ordered this mouse and keyboard not only because of the massive computer work I do but because I am a gamer. This cordless desktop has shown me nothing but perfection. No lagging, always immediate response and the best battery life i've ever seen. I'm able to type fast and clear from by bed which it about 8 feet from my desk and still get the same speed and clarity. This is an amazing product.

Hello all,

When I first saw the MX3100, I was in love! Mainly the reason was that it came with the MX1000(which i have already reviewed under that product). When I was looking for the best price, I came to realize that I was not prepare to shell out $100 for one keyboard and one mouse.

I researched more and found that the keyboard in the MX3100 package is exactly the same, albet the color, as the one in LX700 package. LX700 was so much cheaper too. Utimately, I decided to purchase the LX700 and the MX1000 individually thinking I could end up with an extra mouse from the LX700 package, which is the Cordless Click! Plus Rechargable. This is a not so good mouse by itself but if it's free... I'll take it.

So the project became how to integrate these two together using a single reciever. Logitech FAQs offer a solution: Use the LX700 as the reciever but you must use the MX1000 charging cradle by itself. Therefore I would have had two stations sitting on my desk making me look like a fool. Well the beauty of technology is, many times not all things are always new and improved. The reciever in LX700 actually reads the MX1000 mouse signal perfectly as if they were long lost brothers born in the same village but raised by different parents.

To clarify, the problem is that the charging station housing were physically incompatible with each other. Secondly, the voltages being charged were different between the two mice and that I would not get a complete charge if I used the MX1000 mouse on the LX700 cradle.

The solution was to swap out the integrated circuit board from LX700 to MX1000's charging station. In another words, the LX700's brain with the MX1000's body, making myself a perfect woman. There are two screws hidden by the logitech sticker on the bottom of the craddles. Unscrew them(takes a bit of strenght) and you'll find that the top and bottom half of the craddle easily come apart. The bottom circuit board is in fact the receiever. The charging circuit board was a separate entity from the receiver so it was really easy to separate. When i was swapping these two boards, I noticed that the bottom housing was exactly the same. So you could just easily take the top and bottom apart and swap those. There is nothing that is really holding these circuit boards into place, it's just a plastic fit. So after you've swapped these, just close up the unit and tighten the screws.

Now I have the LX700's bottom(brain = receiver) with the MX1000's top(body = housing + charger), that obviously fits the MX1000 so well. This whole experiment took only 15 minutes at most.

The MX3100 and the LX700's craddles both come with lights that indicate the keyboard button locks such as CAP, Func key, Num, and scroll. By switching these two units, the LEDs that showed these were part of the receiver, hence the lights were retained. THe housings were partly transparent. The only thing is that there's no picture telling me what these lights mean.
[...]
which gives me exactly what this MX3100 consist of AND I get an extra cordless optical mouse.

I bought this set mostly for the MX1000 mouse, since I liked the fit and feel of it. I decided to get the desktop set since I had wanted a wireless keyboard too. The mouse is smooth, charges quickly, keeps it's charge for a long time (I get about 2 weeks of heavy use), and is a good fit for my hand. Pushing down on the middle button isn't as smooth as some mice, but isn't bad. The keyboard is very light, extremely quiet, has good, customizable controls, good wirelss range, and good battery life (I bought the set about 4 weeks ago and I am still using the batteries that came with the keyboard). The tilt stands could make the keyboard a little taller, but it is still usable. I would highly recommend this desktop set to everyone.

The first two paragraphs are an addendum made after two months of use. The mouse works as described when fully charged. But as the battery wears down, it starts to gradually lag, with delayed, dragging movements and fading of the cursor. Unfortunately, I find this happening within 48 hours of charging, compared with the week I could go with the last mouse.

I am also finding that the keyboard occasionally malfunctions after reboot. The caps lock will report that it is off but typing will all be in caps. Some of the buttons won't work. Rebooting and allowing the pc to completely finish the reboot cycle before using the keyboard solves the problems.

I bought the MX3100 desktop set to replace my two year old LX700 that I thought was the best mouse ever (and I've tried about 50 in the past two decades). I rarely remembered to put the 700 mouse back in its charger so about once a week it would run out of power and I had to switch to a backup mouse while the 700 charged overnight. Whenever that happened, I sorely missed the cruise button. The keyboard with that desktop set was fine but I didn't use any of its special buttons except volume.

Installation of the MX3100 was straightforward if you follow the guide. Took me about ten minutes. I installed only the software necessary to change the settings (first choice on installation list) and had no problem with spyware. I use other media software so I didn't need or want anything else on their installation CD.

Although the cruise button and the extremely smooth and precise movement of the mouse alone make this mouse exceptional, the other bells and whistles add little in the way of necessary functionality. The zoom and scroll function will be useful with Photoshop. The scroll buttons on the keyboard and mouse may be redundant but their usefulness will be determined later when I am editing photos.

I'd might use more of the keys on the keyboard if I could program them to work with my software. I use one of four different applications when burning CDs or DVDs but I don't use the only software that works with this keyboard. I also have created buttons on my start menu to access all of my media so it requires equal effort to punch a button on the keyboard or a button on the start menu.

I really wish I could program the function keys with macros that included typing in multiple characters (like passwords).

An important point that I only learned through trial and error is that you have to leave the quick-launch button active in the Windows XP Notification Area (aka system tray in the bottom righthand corner of the taskbar). If you turn it off like I did, functions like cruise and application switch quit working.

If money is tight or your computing activities don't include serious gaming, get the LX700. Otherwise, this may be a very good choice for you.