Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro Review

by Jerry Jackson

Last year Logitech released their innovative "Wave" keyboard design and although our editorial staff was skeptical at first, the Wave keyboard quickly became the favorite keyboard for two of our editors. How does Logitech plan to follow the success of the Cordless Desktop Wave this year? By releasing the same keyboard (with a few minor changes) and a much better wireless mouse ... and calling it the Cordless Desktop Wave Pro. Is this minor update worth your hard-earned cash? Let's take a look.

Build and Design

As mentioned in the introduction, the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro is an update to last year's release of the Cordelss Desktop Wave. The truth is that the new keyboard and mouse set looks as much like the old one as it sounds. While there are some sublte differences to the paint scheme used on this year's keyboard, the only major difference is the mouse.

Old Cordless Desktop Wave

New Cordless Desktop Wave Pro

As with the previous keyboard, the biggest challenge new users face with any ergonomic keyboard is the learning curve. The split key design that was popular years ago required users to re-learn how to type. The "Wave" does take a couple days to get used to, but after that, you'll wonder why all keyboards don't feel this good. Once your brain and fingers get used to the different depth of keys and smile-like curve of the keyboard you'll be typing at full speed.

The Wave's design is largely dictated by finger length. To account for certain fingers being longer, or shorter, than others, Logitech designed the contour of the keyboard to fit each finger appropriately. The keys are the highest at the A and Enter keys, which are hit by the shortest fingers. Moving inward, the D and K keys represent a valley as they are typed with the longest middle fingers. The keyboard rises again in the middle to accommodate the pointer fingers. The theory is, since this keyboard is optimized for the fingers, you'll use less awkward positions to reach them.

Aside from key height, the keyboard also features what Logitech calls a U-shape, or what we call the smile design. Either way, it's a five degree curve that nets a more comfortable wrist position. The wrists also receive a padded palm rest, which gives a little more comfort and encourages better hand positioning. I will note that the palm rest will wear quickly, and you may beable to notice the wrist sweat marks in our photos.

Standard on keyboards in this class, the Wave also features several media and programmable hot keys. The keyboard is powered by 2 AA batteries and battery life is expected to be an impressive 3 years! (We obviously couldn't put that claim to the test in time to publish this review.) There is a low-battery warning light underneath the down arrow key that glows when it's time to replace the batteries.

Better Mouse, Worse Mouse Traps

While the keyboard is the main attraction here, the new Wave desktop set also includes the all-new MX 1100 cordless laser mouse. Although this contoured mouse isn't designed to be ambidextrous, right-handed users should find this mouse to be extremely comfortable. Sure, the MX 1100 seems to have a weird shape the first time you look at it, but it's also exceptionally well designed, matching the keyboard and including rubber grips on the sides, along with a "Microgear" precision scroll wheel, scroll toggle, on-the-fly adjustable dpi, as well as front and back buttons.

I particularly enjoyed the adjustable dpi capability for working with multiple monitors set to different resolutions, as well as playing games set to different screen resolutions. The only thing that I didn't like about this mouse is one of the "features" I neglected to mention: the "stealth thumb button." The stealth button is a hidden button located beneath the thumb rest area on the mouse that allows for application switching using the "Window Switcher" in Windows Vista. At least, that's what it does if you install Logitech's bloated SetPoint software included with the keyboard and mouse. If you don't install SetPoint then the stealth button doesn't work. Honestly, there's no practical reason why you should "need" SetPoint for this particular button to work, so I can only assume a product engineer at Logitech was feeling lazy or Logitech wanted to give you a reason to install their software.

The mouse is powered by a single rechargeable AA battery and Logitech was kind enough to include a pre-charged Sanyo Eneloop brand battery in the box. Battery life is expected to be 6 weeks, and after 3 weeks of daily use (usually at least 6-9 hours daily) the battery in our review unit is still going strong. There is also a light on the mouse to indicate low battery levels. Logitech includes both a USB charging cable as well as a USB-to-power outlet adapter so that you can charge the mouse battery without connecting it to your computer

Conclusion

Once again, all of Logitech's promises have lived up to the marketing hype with their latest Wave keyboard and mouse. As I said previously, two of our editorial staff members (including yours truly) have been using Logitech Wave keyboards since last year and I'm a big believer in this ergonomic design. While the keyboard itself hasn't really changed in the last year, everything works as it should. The new MX 1100 cordless laser mouse is the main reason the new Cordless Desktop Wave Pro is so appealing over last year's model. Again, the new mouse is exceptional and nearly perfect ... as long as you're willing to install SetPoint and you aren't a southpaw.

Overall, I doubt there's a more comfortable cordless keyboard and mouse set on the market. However, for the full MSRP of $129, this wireless bundle might give you sticker shock since it costs $50 more than last year's Wave keyboard and mouse set.

Pros:

• Ergonomic keyboard design is extremely comfortable and easy to use


• Great mouse (for right-handed users)


• Fantastic advertised battery life

Cons:

• "Stealth" thumb button completely useless without installing bloated SetPoint software


• USB receiver is a little large, but not too bad


• Palm rest shows wear almost instantly


• More expensive than last year's model

Pricing and availability

The Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro keyboard and mouse set will be available soon in retail stores everywhere and has an MSRP of $129. Visit the Logitech website for more information about features and availability.

 

Thx for this review Jerry!

I used to like logitech keyboards but now i hate them...what is happening with me?

 

Thanks for the review Jerry. I own a ergonomic keyboard myself, the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000. The WAVE was on my shopping list but I just couldn't afford the price.

 

Does your "bloated" description have any merit besides the fact that you just have to install SetPoint? I have a Logitech LX7 mouse and have SetPoint. It has no extraneous features and never takes up even 10mb of RAM.

Also, have you tried installing Setpoint, assigning a keystroke value to the thumb button, and then not running SetPoint? It still works that way.

 

so what IS the price for this baby? Looks really really good. I wonder when they stop making 2.4GHz wireless devices and finally completely move to Bluetooth - gaming with a BT mouse is way more comfortable (almost as good as with a wired one)

 

After using BT devices since a long time now I tend to start using wired USB or 2.4GHz wireless devices.
Why? Because:
- less problematic
- no delays after a longer inactivity
- consumes less power

On a laptop BT consumes up to 2Watt more power because it stresses the CPU, sadly. I really like BT, because I don't need an extra USB stick, but it just consumes too much power on a PC.

 

I really love my Wave keyboard, and wish I could afford to buy this upgrade (I have two comps, so I need two Waves, right?). The wave is the best keyboard I have ever used, by far.

 

My only issue with Logitech and SetPoint is that I've used MANY excellent Logitech products over the years and rarely do I ever see a Logitech keyboard and a Logitech mouse that requires SetPoint for the same thing as another Logitech keyboard and mouse.

For example, on one keyboard none of the hotkeys for Media Center, Microsoft Office, or the calculator will work without SetPoint, on the next Logitech keyboard they all work without needing to install SetPoint. Likewise, one mouse will have a Vista "Window Switcher" button or wheel that works fine without SetPoint, and then the next Logitech mouse requires SetPoint if you want that functionality.

There appears to be absolutely no rhyme or reason for why some Logitech products require SetPoint and some don't. I can understand the need for SetPoint if the buttons in question are programmable and are supposed to have multiple functions based on user-selected preferences, but if it's just a button that is supposed to have one function and one function only then it shouldn't "require" SetPoint.

Logitech aggravates this issue in my mind because some of their products work fine without SetPoint and others with seemingly the SAME basic design require SetPoint in order to work.

That being the case, it doesn't matter if SetPoint is a 10K file or a 10GB file ... if there isn't a clear reason for it why should consumers be forced to install it?

Logitech still makes some of the best keyboards, mice, and trackballs on the market, period. However, that doesn't change the fact that I find SetPoint to be an unnecessary aggravation.

 

Hmmm. I think if I'm going to need to do a lot of typing in the future, I might just pick this up. Even though I have a VX Rev mouse, I've found that I prefer a regular sized mouse which makes this product look even better. Great review.

 

Thanks for the review. I've been waiting for this set.

Are you forced to install Setpoint? The Logitech hardware should work as a standard no-frills mouse and keyboard without the software. Is this not true anymore?

 

I absolutely hate my Wave keyboard.

Despite looking all ergonomicy and curvy, it's not any more comfortable to type comparing to a regular keyboard; front keys at top of "waves" tend to get stuck (!), it's function buttons are grouped by 3 (great decision, dumbheads), media keys are weirdly designed (play/pause and mute buttons are smallest of the bunch), lock leds are placed in stupid position and are too dim and the whole thing squeeks when you aren't typing gently.

There are exactly two good things about it: attractive looks and excellent leather-y wristpad.

Logitech Wave is a keyboard made by designers for designers. In terms of typing comfort it holds no candle to microsoft ergonomic keyboards, and if you include learning curve, is worse than a generic straight keyboard.

Seriously, my bargain bin 10$ chicony keyboard at work is more comfy than this. I still have to correct myself when hitting keys like F8, and I owned a bloody thing for a few months.

I'd dump it by now if it wouldnt be so expensive.

 

Everything on this keyboard and mouse set works without SetPoint ... except the "stealth thumb button" on the mouse. That button is completely non-functional unless you install SetPoint.

Again, Logitech is a little strange about what does and doesn't require SetPoint when it comes to their products. For example, while I have two Wave keyboards on two of my computers a third computer I use has the Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution bluetooth keyboard and mouse set.

On the MX 5500 set several keyboard hotkey/shortcut buttons and one mouse button will not work correctly (at least on my Windows Vista Business machine) unless SetPoint is installed.

 

Excellent review, thanks. I've used this keyboard for a couple of months now at work and I love it.

BTW, in the Pros; I think you meant extremly not etremly

 

i think you meant extrem ely not extremly

 

This was a nice review, Jerry...I used to have nice Microsoft one similar to this but it *died* on me. This would be nice for when I needed to use my desktop again

Cin