Logitech Desktop Can Keep Rolling for 3 Years
Don't like the wires and also don't like changing batteries? This one is for you.
I don't know about you, but changing batteries for my wireless keyboard and mouse accessories was never that big of a deal. Sure, less often was better; but never was there a case where I'd wish that my input devices could go longer with a fresh set. That said, Logitech today announced the Wireless Desktop MK710, which suggests that there are people who are annoyed with having to swap batteries in and out of their mouse and keyboard.
On the surface, it's just another keyboard and mouse combo. In fact, there's nothing outstandingly fancy about it on first impressions; but digging a little deeper, we find that this thing will run up to three years on a fresh set of batteries.
"No one thinks about changing batteries until they have to, but when that time comes, it can stop you in your tracks," said Rory Dooley, Logitech's senior vice president and general manager of the Control Devices business unit. "With its industry-first three-year battery life for a combo, you might just forget the Logitech Wireless Desktop MK710 uses batteries at all."
Looking at the fine print, we find: (Battery life of Logitech keyboards is based on a calculation of an estimated two million keystrokes per year in an office environment; battery life for Logitech mice may vary based on user and computing conditions.)
I always keep a charged set of Eneloops around in case of dead batteries, but having long-life devices such as Wireless Desktop MK710 is both less inconvenient and less harmful to the environment.
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Three years? Are they using specific batteries? If not, that kind of efficiency needs to be applied to other tools. Is so, than that kind of battery (internal efficiency) needs to be used and scaled upwards.
i want it.
I really HATE that, since i never seem to know when the batteries are dying...it always happens in game....
yah but does it.... come with batteries?
@Marcus
If you want high performance rechargeable batteries check these ones out: http://www.mahaenergy.com
If it lasts at least 1 year with my gaming habits (FPS+RTS), I'm in for it.
Sounds friggin' sweet. Good one, Logitech.
Cheers!
Soo.... what's wrong with wired mice/KB which don't have battery issues at all?
Shadow - Absolutely nothing wrong with hardwiring!
We don't need no stinkin' batteries!
btw, I hope they counted alot of mouseclicks....cuz we like our shooters..... halo 1 style. (click for every bullet you shoot).
Soo.... what's wrong with wired mice/KB which don't have battery issues at all?
Shadow - Absolutely nothing wrong with hardwiring!We don't need no stinkin' batteries!
don't you want everything to be like it is in the movies
everything wireless. We gotta start pushing it someday.
Yuck, right handed mouse
It's actually using nucular power cells where they let a radioactive material with a half-life of about three years radiate on a set of electrodes which gives rise to a photoelectric effect. The electricity from the photoelectric effect is used to power the keyboard. Frequent use of this keyboard will make the toilet glow every time you take a leak but otherwise it's pretty cool. The agency say that these side effects are harmless and nothing to worry about.
It actually uses vespene gas.
I would definitely like to see more info on how they achieve 3 years estimated use between recharge. Surely they didn't create a new and proprietary battery technology. The article makes it sound like the battery tech is the same but the devices themselves are more efficient. I would most certainly be interested in this for the living room HTPC, but I would have to see some testing/results before I'd consider dropping the $$. This also begs the question: what kind of premium are they going to charge for this?
It actually uses vespene gas.
Is vespene gas nucular?
What the hell is nucular g00ey?
Too bad it isn't their wave keyboard, I hate straight boards.
Soo.... what's wrong with wired mice/KB which don't have battery issues at all?
Amen to that, my friend! Had two wireless mice and I just couldn't grow to liking them. Got the G9 (Logitech) and I couldn't be happier. It feels right, no batteries, solid and precise. Proud owners of the corded mouse, UNITE! Long life the corded mouse!
@shadow, Johnny - My regular PS/2 keyboard and mouse of a battery life of roughly... FOREVER!
but there'll be some very small print warning you that when the batteries finally die, you have to wait 6 months for it to recharge!
I have the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser and I used rechargeable batteries and they last around 3 months. If you use re-chargeables batteries I do not see this model as an upgrade.
If I upgrade it will be to a back-lit keyboard model.
hmmm....too bad some wired kb/mice have driver issues...
hmmm....too bad some wired kb/mice have driver issues...
same to wireless stuff
i bought a pack of 24 batteries when i got my ex110, as 1 set dies another goes in.
Energizer bunny fail.
If you game with a wireless mouse and keyboard.....you are not a gamer. For everyone else....sounds like a sweet deal.
Wireless keyboards and mice have only one place among computers for me, a HTPC, thats it. Otherwise I hate having to deal with batteries. I'll take the cord any day. Although, I have been getting rather irritated at how USB cords have been getting shorter and shorter over the years. My 3rd gen ipod cable was ridiculously long and now my iphone cable barely makes it from the floor to my nightstand. Maybe thats just a trend among apple, but I have my keyboard 3 feet away from my gaming machine and I have to use an extension cable because it doesn't reach.
There's nothing new here, the previous model(MK700) also claimed 3 years battery life.
Can't it just charge from a usb cable... and when you want to move, you unplug it?
two million keystrokes per year
So basically it can survive 6 million keystrokes.
For reference my last research paper was about 30,000 characters. That was 4 pages (single space) of text, a page of works cited, and another 3 pages of annotated bibliography.
Draw whatever conclusions you want.
PS: English comp suuuucks.
@MarcusIf you want high performance rechargeable batteries check these ones out: http://www.mahaenergy.com
He said he uses eneloops. Those are good batteries, and they're ULSD (ultra low self discharge), which is vital for low drain devices. In fact AA eneloops are only 100 mah shy of the Imedions on that site, and eneloops have a good track record. Even Rayovac hybrids and duracell pre-charged LSD batteries are pretty good. For higher drain devices, the rechargeable lithiums like rayovac 4.0 are probably a better option.
I have two Logitech Keyboards, one for the PS3, and one that comes with the 5500 Revolution bundle. I don't remember the last time I had changed the batteries. But that reminded me I should buy extra just in case. Love Logitech products.
I notice a lag with wireless mice. It makes it hard to play FPS games. I'll stick with the wire for now.