Logitech's Unified Mouse, Keyboard Receiver

By Marcus Yam
published

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.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
29 Comments Comment from the forums
  • chaohsiangchen
    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.
    Reply
  • dzeric
    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.
    Reply
  • maigo
    If it doesn't work with the MX Revolution, I don't care
    Reply
  • griffed88
    chaohsiangchenFar 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.
    Reply
  • False_Dmitry_II
    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.
    Reply
  • tsiberious
    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.
    Reply
  • NocturnalOne
    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.
    Reply
  • dingumf
    THis will work w/ ALL Logitech 2.4 Ghz wireless devices?

    Pretty sweet, I guess
    Reply
  • Jazzmain
    I've had my Microsoft combo for year and never had any problems. I guess it's just a hit or miss situation.
    Reply
  • itrendslave
    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.
    Reply