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Logitech's Unified Mouse, Keyboard Receiver

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2:41 PM - August 4, 2009 by Marcus Yam

One little nano receiver to rule them all.

The days of wired keyboard and mice are mostly over, even for desktops where having an extra couple of wires isn't a big deal. Unless one's system is equipped with Bluetooth and paired with all Bluetooth devices, wireless keyboards and/or mice will take up USB ports.

While some keyboard and mouse combos (sold as "wireless desktops") can sometimes share a receiver, it's usually of the bulky variety. Logitech now improves upon things by taking its 'nano' USB receiver and making it compatible with a several choices of keyboards (the both ergonomic and traditional choices of K350 and K340) and mice (M705 and M505 for desktops and laptops).

Of course, the draw of the nano receiver are strongest for the laptop market, which rarely needs an external keyboard. And those with desktops haven't been crying out for more compact and portable USB receivers. Nevertheless, the technology for both desktops and laptops are merging, and we're not going to complain about that.

Check out Gizmodo's gallery for more pictures of the new products.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
chaohsiangchen 08/04/2009 9:02 PM
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-20+

Quote :The days of wired keyboard and mice are mostly over


Far from it. Nobody wants to find batteries in the middle of a COD4 fight, and only finds out that he ran out of them and has to drive 10 minutes only to get resupply.

PCs in public spaces also require wired keyboards and mice, because some people will just take with them.

Wired devices are also cheaper.

Unified receiver is a good idea that should have existed long time ago.

dzeric 08/04/2009 9:07 PM
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-7+

I've got a wireless mouse, but regret it due to wifi interference. I can change my own routers channel, but if my neighbors are broadcasting on the same channel as my mouse I've gotta move the receiver so it is almost touching the mouse.
My point: Wireless has some bugs to work out before I'll cut my cables.

maigo 08/04/2009 9:08 PM
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-1+

If it doesn't work with the MX Revolution, I don't care

griffed88 08/04/2009 9:09 PM
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chaohsiangchen :
Far from it. Nobody wants to find batteries in the middle of a COD4 fight, and only finds out that he ran out of them and has to drive 10 minutes only to get resupply. PCs in public spaces also require wired keyboards and mice, because some people will just take with them.Wired devices are also cheaper. Unified receiver is a good idea that should have existed long time ago.



agreed, I hate have to replace the batteries on my wireless keyboard and mouse on my iMac. Thats why ill never use wireless on my gaming pc, i don't want it to die in the middle of a raid or bout of TF2. Also there is the response time issue, there is only one gaming mouse that is wireless and has the same response time as a wired gaming mouse, the razer mambasa and its over a hundred bucks. there is no wireless gaming keyboard that I know of, and if there is its probably insanely expensive.

False_Dmitry_II 08/04/2009 9:13 PM
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-2+

Plus performance on gaming mice.

Even if the batteries never interuppted you on a desktop, it's still a pointless thing to have to do.

Oh, and one more thing. Wireless devices are all USB, and PS/2 keyboards are what's needed to do things like mess with dual booting and all of that kind of low level thing.

tsiberious 08/04/2009 9:14 PM
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-5+

Quote :Unless one's system is equipped with Bluetooth and paired with all Bluetooth devices, wireless keyboards and/or mice will take up USB ports.

Well, those using bluetooth are still probably having to plug in a regular keyboard and mouse due to bluetooth simply not being reliable.

NocturnalOne 08/04/2009 9:22 PM
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-3+

I've played with wireless (both BT and non-BT) keyboards and mice and to be honest they sucked. My MS wireless keyboard would miss certain keys unless the board was placed in exactly the right spot. My BT mouse would go to sleep after a short time and need to be shaken awake. As someone who uses lots of keyboard shortcuts (ie. mouse is inactive quite a bit) this is simply unworkable.

I still don't like cords on mice and I have to wonder why they haven't made these more flexible and slippery in the meantime so they don't stick to anything. Actually I have the MS Sidewinder game mouse for both work and play and even though it's spendy it's not terrific. Sometimes the buttons get sticky and the wheel a bit 'grippy'. You'd think they have this stuff down pat by now especially when you make a $80 product.

Oh well.

dingumf 08/04/2009 9:25 PM
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THis will work w/ ALL Logitech 2.4 Ghz wireless devices?

Pretty sweet, I guess

jazzmain 08/04/2009 9:35 PM
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I've had my Microsoft combo for year and never had any problems. I guess it's just a hit or miss situation.

itrendslave 08/04/2009 9:45 PM
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-2+

I'm sure there will always be a market for wired peripherals. I refuse to go wireless on my desktop... batteries and interference both suck.

kezix_69 08/04/2009 10:15 PM
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-1+

I don't see the point in going wireless with a desktop that is used as a gaming computer. nothing but drawbacks with using wireless and zero advantages. Wireless costs more and requires batteries and has the possibility of interference.

I don't plan on moving my mouse or keyboard from where they sit on my desk and the cables don't get in the way of anything or restrict movement at all. There is just no reason to go wireless unless you are wanting to use a large TV and sit on your couch with these devices or something like that.

jhansonxi 08/04/2009 10:20 PM
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What is needed is an inertia power source within the devices. That way they can recharge during use.

ProDigit80 08/04/2009 10:27 PM
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Even now with more green computing, using batteries is far from green!

The majority of users actually still prefer a wired keyboard and mouse.
I had a wireless mouse before, but quickly changed back to my old wired mouse.

Wireless keyboard and mouse isn't as nearly a good of a breakthrough as the LED mouse was!

nukemaster 08/04/2009 11:37 PM
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Funny, All the Logitech fast RF(27MHZ, so much less interference then 2.4) mice worked with each other receivers as well. I have 3 that all work on each other anyways.

VioMeTriX 08/05/2009 12:56 PM
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--1+

i prefer a wired keyboard only because i use a g19 keyboard and it needs to be wired.... but i use a wireless mouse, i am a rediculous gamer ad never had a battery run out on me.... oh wait im smart enough to have it charged before i begin gaming, and i have a spare. i use a mx revolution... but for gaming you could use a g7 laser that can hot swap the battery in less than 3 seconds.... but i guess most gamers are fat pizza slobs too lazy to do even that, and they prefer the cord dragging on them in the heat of battle causing their accuracy to sometimes fail.

and if you have a current motherboard that supports usb mouse and keyboards in any mode, the wirelss works just fine regardless of os choice, or even to install an os or go into the bios.... so shut yer yaps unless you truly know what you are talking about, or get a real gaming pc

Anonymous 08/05/2009 2:22 AM
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They didn't make my Modell M Wireless in 1985, so I'll stay wired, thank you.

eddieroolz 08/05/2009 4:32 AM
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Actually I would love to have a wired keyboard. My mouse can be wireless, I check the battery meter quite often, so I replace it before going into CoD:WaW if I need to.

the associate 08/05/2009 6:26 AM
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Wireless isn't such a terribly flawed and scary idea for gamers in some instances, I recently bought microsoft's sidewinder X8 wireless gaming mouse, and never will I endure a dying battery in the middle of a raid, near head shot experience or anything of the likes, since it warns me HOURS before that it must be charged, and charging is as simple as magnetically attaching a temporary cord, then yoinking it off in a couple of hours at most for a full charge. Best of all, the cord is wrapped around inside the receiver itself which also holds the other 2 sets of feet, so it's never in the way.
I think an amazing idea for common mice would be to mix both concepts, the X8 with another which has this nano receiver, have the receiver about double the size, which would total a mere 1/4 a centimeter more at most, which splits in half and has some form of loose wire string out and clip to the mouse for a recharge. There would have to be some form of spring action to rewind the cable back perfectly in place but not pull on the mouse while stretched, but im sure someone can come up with something.

nitto555rchallenger 08/05/2009 12:11 PM
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-0+

I'm not the only one who thinks that this would be a plus for media centers

rembo666 08/05/2009 3:44 PM
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-0+

I share the sentiment of many ppl here: I have a wireless mouse, but it's my laptop mouse. My gaming mice are Logitech MX-518 and now Logitech G-7. I do get the appeal of this technology for media center or "All-in-one" PCs, as you would want to have as few things sticking out of the back (or front) as possible to keep things pretty.

rembo666 08/05/2009 3:46 PM
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-0+

*** Need ability to edit comments ***
Correction: my current gaming mouse is the Logitech G9, not G7 (I guess it doesn't matter anyway).

eyemaster 08/05/2009 4:31 PM
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I hate wasting batteries. I don't see myself using a wireless mouse / keyboard unless I setup a computer system in the living room on the big flat screen. The limiting factor then will be distance and wire clutter in the living room, which isn't the same as on the desktops.

blackened144 08/05/2009 5:07 PM
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-0+

chaohsiangchen :
PCs in public spaces also require wired keyboards and mice, because some people will just take with them.



Its funny you say that because there is a bodega in the strip mall near my old place in Boca Raton Florida. had 4 computers set up for internet access they would rent out for 15m at a time. They all had wireless mouse and keyboards but they were tied down to the desks. The guy manning the counter the only time I ever went in didnt speak English well enough for me to figure out why they would buy wireless hardware, only to tie it down to the desk anwyway..

annymmo 08/05/2009 5:59 PM
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-0+

Wireless sucks!!

You need to replace batteries, it's more expensive.
You get interference with WiFi and possibly other.
Unreliable and slower than wired.

Why do they even sell those stuff for desktop computers?
Oh yes, it's more expensive.
Wireless should die for desktop computers!

jkflipflop98 08/19/2009 11:36 PM
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-0+

annymmo :
Wireless sucks!! You need to replace batteries, it's more expensive. You get interference with WiFi and possibly other. Unreliable and slower than wired. Why do they even sell those stuff for desktop computers? Oh yes, it's more expensive. Wireless should die for desktop computers!



Media Center PC in the living room?

IzzyCraft 08/20/2009 7:37 AM
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-0+

If I didn't need performance a cable free solution would be my frist choice. Also media center, along with that what idiot goes out and buys non rechargeable batteries for mouse and keyboard that will be used everyday?

Modern NiMH only loose on avg 3% capacity in a full change for every 100 charges making it around 1000 charges till it's performance is noticeably lame esp if you buy high capacity batteries ones that are 2500+ mAh along with a smart charger that wont over charge your batteries. So even if you hard to charge your batteries one a day every day it would be 3 years until you would opt for a new one. So for ~$50 (includes batteries/smart charger price ~40)you wont have to buy new batteries for another 3 years for your mouse and keyboard and if you do you wont have to spend another 50 but just about ~$10

You should really only use the old type of battery for things like clocks or remotes as they don't loose charge for a long long time, but don't hold much power.

Anonymous 08/24/2009 4:55 AM
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-0+

I have logitech Wave keyboard-mice Combo.

I broke the mini usb receiver yesterday!

Does anyone know where I would get a new one?

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