9 New Keyboards : Logitech diNovo Edge
5. Logitech diNovo Edge
At long last, Logitech has corrected the interference problems that have bugged the last two generations of its diNovo keyboards. Our last few tests left us feeling like Logitech wasn't listening. You'd have thought that giving the appalling score of just two stars to a combined keyboard and mouse kit that sells for more than £200 that would have prompted some faster action, though ...
Now that the keyboard has been upgraded, there's no hiding the problems with its predecessors. We met a manager from Logitech's peripheral division who confirmed that there were indeed worrying cases of interference with other nearby wireless products.
This admission is almost enough to pardon the earlier faults--unless, of course, you're one of the unlucky few who actually bought one of the earlier kits and suffered these problems yourself--but we can happily say the mysterious problem of phantom letters appearing on the screen is now long gone.
The new diNovo Edge keyboard (and it is just a keyboard, without a bundled mouse this time), is more attractive, uses a rechargeable battery and transmits data to your computer without any interference.
Perfect for long-distance use
Another new feature of this keyboard is that it's designed to allow you to control your computer from the sofa with a full range of multimedia keys allowing you to start and stop playback and move through films that you project. We were impressed to find it worked at a distance of twenty metres with two walls in between.
To give even more long-distance functionality, the right-hand side of the keyboard includes a small round touchpad with two buttons, allowing you to use it as a mouse in a pinch. There's also as special vertical trackpad for scrolling through documents.
Although these extra features are likely to appeal to anybody whose used to using their keyboard from the other side of the room, but is likely to infuriate anybody else. While you're typing, it's all too easy for your little finger to slip onto the trackpad, and all of a sudden you've bounced the cursor over to the other side of the page or selected a couple of paragraphs. We constantly found ourselves bumping into this part of the keyboard that can't be deactivated using Logitech's software.
Smart design ... but isn't something missing?
The whole thing is elegant, unlike a lot of keyboards with dozens of multimedia hotkeys. Unfortunately, though, Logitech might just have gone a little too far in paring down the keyboard, which now has to do without a numeric keypad, which, in earlier versions, was supplied as a separate extension that connected to one end. We liked it that way!
As you can see in the photos above, though, it's just about possible to keep typing with the keyboard balanced in the dock, but Logitech might easily have envisaged that some users would manage to exhaust the batteries and want to keep working.
If you do use the batteries up, you'll have to be resourceful, and either prop the keyboard up (like in the first photo) or leave the front of it hanging of the end of your desk with the docking station up against your stomach (as in the second). Neither solution is particularly handy!
Test date: 2007-09-07
Now that the keyboard has been upgraded, there's no hiding the problems with its predecessors. We met a manager from Logitech's peripheral division who confirmed that there were indeed worrying cases of interference with other nearby wireless products.
This admission is almost enough to pardon the earlier faults--unless, of course, you're one of the unlucky few who actually bought one of the earlier kits and suffered these problems yourself--but we can happily say the mysterious problem of phantom letters appearing on the screen is now long gone.
The new diNovo Edge keyboard (and it is just a keyboard, without a bundled mouse this time), is more attractive, uses a rechargeable battery and transmits data to your computer without any interference.
Perfect for long-distance use
Another new feature of this keyboard is that it's designed to allow you to control your computer from the sofa with a full range of multimedia keys allowing you to start and stop playback and move through films that you project. We were impressed to find it worked at a distance of twenty metres with two walls in between.
To give even more long-distance functionality, the right-hand side of the keyboard includes a small round touchpad with two buttons, allowing you to use it as a mouse in a pinch. There's also as special vertical trackpad for scrolling through documents.
Although these extra features are likely to appeal to anybody whose used to using their keyboard from the other side of the room, but is likely to infuriate anybody else. While you're typing, it's all too easy for your little finger to slip onto the trackpad, and all of a sudden you've bounced the cursor over to the other side of the page or selected a couple of paragraphs. We constantly found ourselves bumping into this part of the keyboard that can't be deactivated using Logitech's software.
Smart design ... but isn't something missing?
The whole thing is elegant, unlike a lot of keyboards with dozens of multimedia hotkeys. Unfortunately, though, Logitech might just have gone a little too far in paring down the keyboard, which now has to do without a numeric keypad, which, in earlier versions, was supplied as a separate extension that connected to one end. We liked it that way!
Top Typing
Finally, our attention turns to one of the most important aspects: typing. Unlike some of fellow journalists, we have to say that we very much enjoy typing on this new diNovo keyboard, which is a lot better than previous versions. The keys go in deeper, and, although they're a little stiffer, they're much quieter and, above all, pleasant to type on. It does sound more like a Microsoft keyboard than what we're used to, but we have to say we prefer this new Logitech!
Pluses:
Stylish design
Built-in mouse features on the small touchpad
Works at distances of up to 20 metres
Typing is pleasant and quiet
Bluetooth dongle included, but many PCs already come equipped
Minuses:
Supplied Bluetooth dongle only works with this keyboard
No numeric keypad
Touchpad in an awkward position
The docking station should be redesigned to allow typing to continue while the keyboard is charging
We would have liked to have been able to use this as our regular keyboard, rather than just for controlling a Media Centre. That would have been easier to justify if the touchpad was in a better place and if a numeric keypad had been included.
You want noise try an IBM model M!
I wouldn't be with out mine though, a pleasure to type on!
nice round up. wouldn't mind seeing a similar article on the latest gaming and enthusiast keyboards too.
I've got a Logitech MX5000 bluetooth Keyboard/mouse and I'd give it a 4 star rating if I was going by similar patterns as this review. It handles great, but keys are not as quite as I'd like. It also has a nice touch area with volume and zoom sliders just below media center keys and an LCD display that can display date/time/media playing/temp/and other info that will also work with Winamp. The mouse included is just called the MXLaser and is quite comfortable for me with reprogrammable 6 buttons. Lastly, the bluetooth adapter that it comes with can be used with other bluetooth devices. The biggest issue I have had is that during games sometimes the keyboard will disconnect and reconnect (taking about 3-5 seconds). Weather this is for security or a bluetooth issue, it definitely is not fun in a high paced online match as the last key I pressed continues to be pressed until it reconnects.
I would have liked to see more advanced keyboards targeted specifically at gamers in this review, for instance any of the steelseries keyboards.
And really, keyboard noise has never bothred me in gaming. Most serious gamers will opt in for headphones or earphones for gaming, so noise isnt an issue for most.
I like niosy keyboards ! They feel great, and they give me the impression that internal parts are made from metal not from cheap plastic which can break under the insane pressure the kids apply when gaming!
But that's just me.
Nice article.
And I hate wireless KBs and mice..Never reliable as the good ol' wired ones!
I like my logi mx5000 set for my big theater. I've got some crappy wireless belkin keyboards with mouse "pad" built in for my other two theaters.
For my personal PC though? I won't get away from my Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. It's the only keyboard I've tried, and I've tried a bunch, that doesn't make my carpel tunnel act up in the least bit. It's big and ugly but the typing is firm without too much noise and it's just comfortable.
The arrow key layout kinda sucks not being a T though.
Number of suggestions:
1)Price!
2)Switch type (rubber dome, buckling spring, capacitance)
3)Rollover limit (how many simultaneous keystrokes supported)
4)Keytop characteristics (glare, texture, molded or painted/decal lettering)
Btw, I too am partial to clicky keyboards and consider it a virtue.
I just upgraded my old microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse set with new microsoft laser 6000 keyboard and laser 5000 mouse. key sounds is acceptable and mouse is really comfortable (except the browser keys on left and right of it).
I think you should take a look at that if you're looking for a wireless keyboard and mouse, even it's not tested on this article.
im using the logitech illuminated keyboard, and I LOVE IT!
I have both a DiNivo and a Micorsoft Wireless 6000.3
I really loved my DiNivo, but 1 of the keys (the tab key) broke off within a few days - which i remapped to another key). then 4 months later 3 other keys stopped working. Logitech is sending another one, however as was traveling there was a gap.
In the interim, i bought a microsoft 6000, and having owned about a half dozen of the higher end microsoft keyboards, i would say this is the best of them. It has a very slight angle in the keys layout, an the keystroke is smaller than other micorosft keyboards which allows for faster and quiter typing. The microsoft has a suppier arrangement of additional feature keys than logitech, except for the really cool volumn slider.
They are both good keyboards, although i would give the nod to logitech in terms of better keys, and the nod to microsoft in terms of better supplimental keys. As i type 10+ hours a day ( a prgrammer), a good keyboard is important and makes a sagnificant performance boost (the best performance boost you can do, assuming a decent box, is a good quality 24inch screen, a nice keyboard, and a logitech mx revolution mouse.
Forgot to mention, a nice feature of the microsoft keyboard is removable batteries, so if they run out at a critical moment, just drop in another pair. The batteries last for a long time -even longer than the advertised rate (typically about 3 to 4 months for me, so an average user would get at least 6 months), however i assume that it the transmitter is farterh from the keyboard this will shorten battery life.
Have the logitech illuminated keyboard, and love it. Wanted one for gaming/working in the dark, but didn't want it to look like something out of a 1980s sci-fi movie like all the "gaming" keyboards. Also didn't need all the macro buttons and crap taking up space. It is compact, and works wonderfully.
These are all French layout keyboards! Not that it matters, but it was still less obvious as to why certain keys were switched around and whether all of the keyboards mentioned in the comparo were even available in the U.S (I believe they are, tough).
I question the general need for a numeric keypad. How many people actually use the damned thing? Outside of the office environment, almost none.
I have settled on an IBM Space Saver Model M.
@John:
I use the numeric keypad all the time. I hate reaching up to hit the numbers, actually.
I'm still waiting for a company to finally release a true ergo-gaming keyboard....
would be nice if the prices are actually listed...
Gaming keyboards for me, so the Sidewinder6 is the only thing of interst here. Some great ideas, but the fact is that many games, particularly MMOs where you would use macros and extra buttons the most, allow you to assign macros to any keystroke; that means the ability to do macros in the keyboard is less important (but far from unimportant!). What I want are more keys, bottom line.
Logitech just went through that process; they decided to make their G15 with 6 extra keys and replace the 18-key one, because people complained about the extra width of the board. An avalanche of complaints about the reduction in keys meant they are keeping the 18-keyboard though; while some have limited keyboard space, most of us MMO types who use gaming keyboards want the extra keys.
So, great effort Microsoft, but won't replace the Logitech G15 for my next keyboard. If you put more extra keys on though, make that part of the detachable unit rather than the number pad, now there you'd be talking something I'd be interested in!
gahhh .... you lie ... it's RF 2.4ghz not bluetooth - which is highly annoying as I just ordered 2 on the strength of them being bluetooth ... unless the logistech site is lying which I doubt, but hope