Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave

Reviews: Peripherals

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Max Slowik
Beth
Logitech
Oct. 1, 2007

Specifications

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The Keyboard

The keyboard takes a slightly unconventional approach to the common split-angling. Unlike most keyboards, the Wave lines its keys on a soft crescent, and raises the center forefinger keys to accommodate their shorter reach. It's very comfortable at rest. This is also true for the wristrest, which is soft foam rubber, with little dimples that help hide sweat marks. The material feels fuzzy, but doesn't breathe; it only looks like it does. It's lightweight and you can actually twist it, although I wouldn't say that it's poorly-constructed. It's just plastic all the way through.

Although the keys look small, it's merely a bit of an illusion with the spacing between the keys being as wide as it is. Also, since the keys' sides are so straight, people with long fingernails shouldn't have a problem typing.

Under the keyboard are the feet: two bulky rubber feet on the front that stick to the desk well, and two sets of flip-down feet to change the keyboard angle. Also on the back is the keyboard's connect button.

Wireless keyboards usually get months of power off a single pair of batteries, and I doubt that I could really test this one’s life. Even though the Logitech is a wireless keyboard, it's a little hard to use on your lap; it rocks upwards from the weight on the wristrest and crowds the fingers.

The Keys

This is the first really idiot-proofed keyboard I've ever seen. It's got all these little tweaks, like that the caps lock key is shrunk, and "enter" has a little "OK" decal on it. Another sign is that the sleep key is recessed, unlike all the other media keys, which are raised and really big.

The keys lack any real spring tension, but the placement of the keys is such that your fingers' pressure is spread so evenly that they don't accidentally depress any keys. The key travel is very smooth and each only goes straight down; there's no wobble, but once a key is triggered it takes almost no effort to keep going. The effect is a little unnerving, since the rest point of the key is soft and after a key is triggered you can keep pushing down for another millimeter or two of travel. The only real feedback is that your finger suddenly pops down. The travel itself is only about 5mm. The only key that really makes any sound is the space bar. Coincidentally, it's one of the few keys with resistance. (Caps lock will fight to get pushed, like the F keys, but not the "OK" key.)

All of the F keys double as function keys, and the Fn key replaces the menu key. (It substitutes Fn+print screen for menu.) Instead of breaking the F keys into three groups of four, they're split into four groups of three, with like functions grouped together. F1-3 run your word processor, spreadsheet application, and calendar; F4-6 are programmable; F7-9 run the browser, instant messenger, and email client; F10-12 run Skillet/www, check the keyboard's battery, and eject the optical drive. Hitting Fn+F11 to see how much keyboard juice is left lights up an LED south of the arrow keys, which means that, if you're doing it with your right hand (naturally), your palm is in the way of the light.

(Though the super key is decaled with Windows and option, and the Alt has "Alt" and "Mac loopy-key" symbol, all of the function combos use Microsoft icons, so F1-3 really go Word, Excel, and Outlook Calendar, and F7-9 go Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and Outlook Express. And though the multimedia keys are Vista-centric, the icons are all XP-vintage. I have also learned that Skillet/www is "search the internet.")

The Media Keys

Are big. They're few in number, but broad in purpose. At the top there are regular play/pause, stop, next, and previous keys surrounding the volume rocker and mute buttons. To their left is a Sideshow and a My Pictures button, and to their right is a Media Player and a Media Center button. To the left of the keyboard is a zoom rocker button, and it does the job of Ctrl+mousewheel up/down, and a tile all windows (super+Tab) key. Above the numpad is a calculator button, and the miniscule sleep button.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: The Keyboard and Keys
Page 3: The Mouse and Software
Page 4: Conclusion

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3 User Comments

1 - Posted by aireiq on October 1, 2007 - 7:16 pm

> Wireless keyboards usually get months of power off a single pair of batteries, and I doubt that I could really this one's life.

I can haz a verb?

2 - Posted by Kurtis on October 1, 2007 - 9:09 pm

Ha. Nice catch. Fixed. :)

3 - Posted by Max Slowik on October 5, 2007 - 2:22 am

Joe: Boy, this sounds like more trouble than a moose on the interstate.
A moose holding a sign: "Will do moose stuff for money"
Moose: Hey, can ya help me out? I'm trying to get a couple of bucks for something to eat.
Man: What's "Moose Stuff"?
Moose: Eh, whatever you want it to be. I could have sex with ya, or I could just stand over there and drink from the lake, and everything in between.
Man: Get in.

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