Gadget ReviewLogitech Bluetooth Desktop MX
By Kailas Narendran
STAFF COLUMNIST
Pros
• No Wires!
• Connects Automatically
• Highly Reliable
Cons
• Overly Buttonized
• Compatibility Issues
The Lowdown
The advent of Bluetooth has ushered in a new era of convenience for the computer user. The Logitech Bluetooth Desktop MX allows you to leverage the fruits of Bluetooth, and chuck the wired woes of the conventional mouse and keyboard. This Bluetooth system (comes with a Bluetooth hub and mouse charger) gives you everything you need to liberate yourself from the 32AWG copper chains that bind.
Usage
The convenience of connecting the Desktop MX to a laptop with an internal Bluetooth card is incredible. One can literally set down one’s laptop on the desk, hit the keyboard, shake the mouse, and everything is connected. Installation was equally simple, placing the mouse and keyboard in discovery mode, and finding them with the computer. The reception and reliability of Bluetooth is fantastic, and I’ve never had a problem with the connection. Both the keyboard and mouse are battery powered, with the recharging cradle for the mouse integrated with the Bluetooth hub.
The addition of a full sized keyboard to my laptop has really made it an effective desktop tool, allowing me to do all of my extensive typing without fear of RSI. Given how small and sleek notebooks are nowadays, an external keyboard is needed more than ever before (unless you’re a midget … or a giant with midget hands).
Bluetooth Blues
My biggest disappointment with this system was my education about how non-standard the Bluetooth standard is. The keyboard and mouse come with all the extra buttons that let you do everything from pull up a “shopping” Web page, to targeting impoverished third world countries for U.S. invasion and neo–colonialist policies.
Unfortunately, if your computer comes with Windows and has an integrated Bluetooth card, you can use neither the supplied hub and software, nor the special features of the mouse and keyboard. While this was an annoyance, the quality of the keyboard and mouse make up for the lack of the functionality. Some of the basic media and scroll buttons work, at least enough to get by. If you are one that does like their instant “shopping” button, beware that you may have to make do with a few clicks of the mouse if your hardware isn’t compatible.
The Bottom Line
Getting your hands on this desktop setup will set you back about $100. While the loss of extra key functionality due to incompatibility problems seemed a bit ridiculous, I found it to be more of an annoyance than a show stopper. If you exclusively use your laptop for extensive typing, a full sized keyboard and mouse will save you a lot of wrist-ache. One that connects automatically and without wires is sure to impress the ladies (and is an amazing convenience). You can find out more at http://www.logitech.com/.
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