Tag Archives: Logitech

Logitech Wave Keys review

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I have written before about the difference a quality keyboard makes to your productivity. We have also discussed the ergonomics of using a mouse. I have been typing for over 30 years, and after a long day at the keyboard, my fingers, arms and shoulders certainly feel it. In this Logitech Wave Keys review, we ask whether an ergonomic keyboard makes any difference?

What is an ergonomic keyboard?

The keys of a keyboard are laid out in what is referred to as a qwerty keyboard. You will find these are the top-row letters that you first read. A Keyboard is not laid out alphabetically; instead, it is believed originally to ensure a manual typewriter’s arms did not clash. It is also said that the next letter should come from the other hand when typing. Actually, for English, most letters come from your left hand.

A standard keyboard forces you to hold your arms and wrists at angles that are not natural and can cause discomfort. An Ergonomic keyboard positions keys so your arms, shoulders, and body are more natural and should make typing easier.

An ergonomic keyboard can be taken a step further by adding a cushion. This cushion is not for your wrists but rather the lower palm of your hand. This pad offers further support and also adds to improving your posture.

Wave Keys Features

The Logitech Wave keys is an ergonomic wireless keyboard with a built-in palm cushion and programable hotkeys to improve productivity.

The wave name describes the board’s shape in that the keys are at different heights like a wave, unlike a conventional keyboard, where the keys are all at the same height. These same keys are spaced differently for the letters with a side number pad in the traditional form factor.

The effect of this wave shape is to enable a more natural stance when typing and reduce stress on your body long term.

On the rear of the keyboard, feet can be extended to allow a 4% tilt, and this, along with the palm rest, allows customisation and support. The wrist support is made with 3 layers of memory foam, which provides firm support and mould to the body part resting on it.

The wave keyboard is not rechargeable; instead, it uses 2 AAA batteries, which will last up to 3 years before they need replacing.

Setup and connection of the keyboard is via Bluetooth low energy, which will give you 10 meters of range with a PC, Mac, iPad, Chrome Book, Linux or Android phone/tablet. Up to 3 devices can be connected and selected using the F1, F2 and F3 hotkeys to toggle between devices.

The Logitech Wave Keys retails for $150 and has a 1-year warranty. Measurements are 376mm by 219mm.

Using the Wave Keys

When you start to type with this keyboard, your muscle memory makes you think something is wrong as the keys are in slightly different positions. This can be off-putting but is quickly overcome.

The hot keys on each of the function keys F1 to F10 have a preset feature built in, such as mute microphone, screenshot, pause, volume up, etc. Using the Logi Options + app, these keys can be reverted back to being a function key or mapped to another function either generic to the PC or specific to an application.

We use F4 for an application that meant to begin with this extra functionality caused more work, not less, but again, once you get used to it, productivity can be increased by learning to use these shortcut keys.

A word of warning is that the keyboard can also be connected using a logi bolt, a USB adapter. This adapter is shipped sticking into the side of the cardboard carton. Make sure you retrieve this dongle before you recycle your packaging.

Summary – Logitech Wave Keys Review

Those who are keyboard warriors will benefit from utilising the Logitech Wave keys from a health and productivity standpoint.

Ergonomically and from a comfort perspective, the keyboard is a pleasure to type on. Technically, its 3-year battery life, providing cable-free connectivity and productivity keys, will provide you with a significant step up to the cheap keyboards offered by PC manufacturer solutions.

I intended to revert to my previous keyboard but will now stick with the Wave Keys.

Logitech MX MASTER 3S mouse review

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You don’t know what a product can do till you find time to have a good play with it. This is exactly what happened when I reviewed the Logitech Master 3S mouse. I had been reviewing the MX mechanical keyboard and learnt about its extra features. This prompted me to dig into the features of the 3S mouse, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

The Logitech MX Master 3S is a high-quality precision mouse enabling additional functionality with customisable buttons and the use of your thumb.

What makes MX Master 3S mouse different?

This mouse has 7 buttons (including the centre scroll wheel button) and 2 scroll wheels. A standard mouse has 2 buttons and possibly 1 scroll wheel. The two traditional mouse buttons are where you expect them to be. The five additional buttons all come with a default function. Still, by launching the Logi Options+ app, you can customise each switch to perform a task. There are 45 options to choose from, some of which can be seen in the diagram below. Your thumb plays a big role in accessing the extra buttons and scroll wheel.

Further customisation of functions is available by applications such as your browser, excel or adobe application.

The MX Master 3S is great for creative and engineering work where fine detail is important. The mouse optical sensor can be set up to 8,00DPI, allowing precise movement. This mouse will work on a glass table which a normal mouse cannot.

The mouse allows usage on up to three devices by pressing a button on the underside to switch between devices. Further, If you also have an MX keyboard and Logi software. You can control different devices simply by moving your mouse between screens even though they are other Windows and Mac PCs. The keyboard will respond to the device your mouse pointer is on.

What’s in the box

At an RRP of $169.95, this keyboard is certainly at the top end.

Opening the box, you will find the mouse, a Bluetooth dongle (in case your PC does not have Bluetooth built-in) and a USB-C charging cable (USB-A to USB-C). This cable’s quality is excellent and has a Velcro strap for cable management.

The mouse is available in colours of graphite or white.

What I liked about the MX Master 3S mouse.

I previously reviewed the Logitech vertical mouse but found its ergonomic design did not suit me. The 3S, however, does suit me. I find it comfortable to use and extremely responsive, and the extra buttons are easy to reach. The mouse’s height is higher than I was using, making it a bit tight in my desk. I have a separate keyboard shelf that must be fully extended to use the mouse properly.

The game-changer for me has been to customise the buttons. I do a lot of copying and pasting as well as screen sniping and back button, so no surprise these have all been reprogramed. This saves me time and makes the functions so easy to access.

The scroll and buttons are very quiet, and scrolling can be done quickly, which is useful on a web page. The side scroll is also brilliant on spreadsheets.

Setup

The MX mouse uses a low-energy Bluetooth wireless connection. My PC is six years old and runs Windows 10. I charged the mouse to full and turned on the power switch to set up the mouse. With no software being downloaded, my PC immediately produced a popup box asking if I wanted to connect the mouse. I said yes, and it was operational in seconds.

Logitech has a PC application Logi Options+ from which firmware can be upgraded, mouse buttons can be customised, and scroll speeds changed. A handy feature is the customised settings can be backed up to the Logi cloud.

The battery percentage indicator is shown in the app and the windows Bluetooth page. A 1-minute charge will give you 3 hours of use, and a fully charged battery is quoted as providing 70 days of use.

Should you upgrade your mouse to a Logitech MX Master 3S

The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is an investment in your productivity and comfort. If you are still using the mouse that came with your PC or a cheap one, you will immediately question why you did not get a better mouse sooner.

Whether a professional wanting better accuracy with the mouse or simply a user that a few extra custom keys will increase your productivity, this product will likely pay for itself.

Its design is super comfortable, and the buttons respond with a satisfying click. This mouse allows your thumb to come into play, adding a whole new world for extra functionality.

Logitech MX Mechanical keyboard review

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For 10 years, I have used a keyboard that came with a PC from a major brand. The letters are painted on, and you can no longer see some of the keys. A and S, to be specific. I liked the mechanical feel of it, and the other keyboards did not feel quite right. Then a week ago, I received a Logitech MX mechanical keyboard. Suddenly my old keyboard did not feel right.

The Logitech MX mechanical keyboard is wireless, battery powered and has illuminated keys. It has a sturdy design and each keystroke has a reassuring feel and sound.

Be sure to read Small Business Answers buying guide to keyboards.

What is a mechanical keyboard?

You are probably using a chiclet keyboard. A chicklet keyboard is a soft touch keyboard where the buttons are part of a membrane of switches.

A mechanical keyboard is one where each key is a physical button, and each time you press a key, there is a distinctive typing sound. When typing on a mechanical keyboard, the amount of play or the depth the key recedes is greater than on other types of keyboards. This gives a very responsive feel to typing. Mechanical keyboards also make the familiar click noise.

What’s in the box?

At an RRP of $269.95, this keyboard is certainly at the top end. A Mechanical mini is also available for $229.95, removing the number pad.

Opening the box, you will find the keyboard, a Bluetooth dongle (in case your PC does not have Bluetooth built-in) and a USB-C charging cable (USB-A to USB-C).

You can customise your experience by feel and sound when ordering this keyboard. You can choose between three customised switch types that each have a distinct feel and sound, and your choices are tactile quiet, linear or clicky. See the website before you make your purchase to understand the differences.

Why should you buy the Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard?

When you remove the keyboard from the box, it seems very heavy. This translates to what appears to be a very sturdy construction, but more importantly, it sits solidly on your desk and does not move around. This gives you a very solid platform to type from. Not being a touch typer, I find the illuminated keyboard a welcome addition. I have this on my notebook keyboard, and as it gets dark at night, I forget to turn the light on as I do not need it.

The keyboard has many shortcut keys which boost productivity. Microphones can be muted, PC locked, video fast-forwarded or snip instantly activated. If the 24 predetermined keys don’t suit, you can customise the keys to perform other shortcut tasks.

The biggest advantage this keyboard has is my typing speed increased. Not because I did some courses but purely based on the tactile interaction. $270 seems a lot, but if my productivity increases, this cost will be covered in less than a month.

Other features of MX Mechanical

If you have more than one computer or a TV or tablet, you would like to connect this keyboard. You can have up to 3 separate devices and seamlessly switch between the three with a simple press of one of three buttons. The keyboard will also suit a Windows or Mac environment with familiar keys symbols for both. If you also have an MX mouse and Logi software. You can control different devices simply by moving your mouse between screens even though they are other PCs. The keyboard will respond to the device your mouse pointer is on.

A handy feature when you forget to regularly charge is that a 15-minute charge will power the keyboard for a full day of use. However, you’re probably sitting at a fixed desk anyway, so you could run the supplied cable permanently if you wanted

The keyboard is made from almost 50% of recyclable materials.

Setup

The MX mechanical uses a low-energy Bluetooth wireless connection. My PC is six years old and runs Windows 10. To set up the keyboard, I charged the keyboard to full and turned on the power switch. With no software being downloaded, my PC immediately produced a popup box asking if I wanted to connect the keyboard. I said yes, and it was operational in seconds.

Logitech has a PC application Logi Options+ from which firmware can be upgraded, keyboard shortcuts can be customised, backlight turned on/off, and battery saving mode toggled. A handy feature is the customised settings can be backed up to the Logi cloud.

Customisable keys can also be application-specific which is extremely useful to those in creative or engineering type fields.

The battery percentage indicator is shown in the app and the windows Bluetooth page. My Battery usage so far has been around 2% a day.

Logi quotes up to 15 days of usage with the backlight setting or 10 months with the backlight off between charges.

Should you upgrade your keyboard to a Logitech MX mechanical

If you could be more productive by typing and activating functions faster, would that be worth spending $270? The Logitech MX mechanical keyboard was a surprise as I did not believe it would have such an impact on my productivity.

The backlit keyboard and shortcut keys enhance its capability. Its sturdy construction and weight ensure its stability as you type. Keys are responsive and give a reassuring tactile feel and noise.

The setup is seamless, and within minutes you could also have customisable keys to suit specific application functions.

Note if you want a silent keyboard, this is not the one for you.

Vertical Ergonomic Mouse – Logitech LIFT review

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In the mouse buying guide, we previously looked at what was important to consider in buying a mouse. One thing we did not look at was a vertical ergonomic mouse. I used my first mouse for a PC in 1984, and almost 40 years later, I tried using it on its side. This article will take the Logitech LIFT vertical ergonomic mouse for a spin and give you our impressions.

What is a Vertical Ergonomic Mouse?

This mouse is designed to have a more natural position for your arm and wrist by turning the mouse buttons to a 57-degree angle or more simply on its side. According to Logi’s head of its ergo series of products Olessia Hageman, “Ergonomics and comfort play a vital role in overall workspace wellbeing. Building on our philosophy of when we feel better, we do better, we have created Lift to help people work in comfort for hours and feel better at the end of a long day at the desk.”

Reading the side of the box, leading American ergonomic institutions also think so.

What’s in the LIFT Box?

The mouse comes with a preinstalled AA battery and an internally housed USB receiver (so you know where it is when you need it). It has an RRP of $129.95 and is available in 3 colours Graphite, Off white, and Rose. The product is recommended for those with small to medium hands.

Connection to your PC, Mac, or Google device is by Bluetooth® Low Energy or the secure Logi Bolt USB Receiver. The included disposable battery is quoted at up to 2 years before replacement is required.

Setup is a breeze by pulling the disposable plastic battery isolator that allows the mouse to power on. My PC immediately saw the mouse and asked if I wanted to install it. Thus one click with my old mouse, and I was away.

The LIFT mouse also supports up to 3 multi-OS computers connected to it. Control is swapped by a button under the mouse.

Customisation

Not a word you really think about with a mouse beyond switching the buttons around. The LIFT allows the smart magnetic wheel to scroll quickly or slowly by pressing a button below the wheel.

By downloading the Logi Options+ app, you can further customise the various buttons on the mouse by multiple applications, including Microsoft, Adobe and collaboration applications (like Zoom). This allows you to create shortcuts to your most-used features. A handy button remapping option we liked was the ability to use a mouse button to mute your Mic.

Impressions

We like that the mouse is partly made of recycled plastic.

From a usability perspective, a mouse-like this is so much better than the cheap mouse that ships standard with a PC. The LIFT is comfortable to grip with a reassuring clicking mechanism when the key two buttons are pressed. The shift wheel is very responsive, and the ability to quickly change its speed is handy. However, you probably won’t change speeds once you are happy with either the fast or slow. Designers may, however, find this feature very useful. The ability to customise the mouse is great but will most people go to the trouble? You should as it will save a lot of time.

My verdict on the vertical ergonomic mouse that is the mouse turned on its side. Note this is a very personal experience. After almost 40 years of mouse usage, I did not like the orientation change, and I found it unnatural. However, my wife loved it from the minute I asked her to trial it. Another friend has a vertical mouse and said she loves it but took a while to get used to it.

It’s unlikely you can try one before you buy. Chances are, this mouse will be far better than the one you are using today and may even be good for your health.

Further information can be found on the Logitech website.