Notebooks win over desktop PCs on every almost activity save very specific areas. The biggest of which are gaming and sound, both for pretty much the same reason. Sacrifices must be made for the sake of portability and while 3D gaming on the go is a nice-to-have travel tunes is a must-have. Thankfully, Logitech and other manufacturers continue to try new things to get volume and quality out of a portable speaker without adding too much weight. The Logitech Z305 is a very travel-friendly USB speaker that mates very well with netbooks and workstations that are missing something in the sound department.

The small well-built sound bar attaches quite nicely to your laptop screen. At almost 13″ wide, it fits perfectly behind any 14″ or larger laptops and adds an appreciable oomph to your PC or Mac. Techno and other styles of music with wide dynamic ranges are all greatly enhanced by the Logitech Z305. Unfortunately, it still has some limitations in sound reproduction and design. Bass is the weakness of this tiny sound-bar which may fail to give you the kick you are missing. Also, the laptop can no longer be closed properly while the Z305 is installed. Overall, the balance of sound price and size all seem to come out in favor of Logitech’s mighty mini. Full details available at Everything USB.

[Logitech Z305 Portable Speaker Review @ Everything USB]

By Chris Scott Barr

If you’ll recall, last August Logitech released a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that promised incredible battery life. Specifically, you could go three years on your keyboard and one year with your mouse before needing to change the batteries. (Logitech is good to their word, five months in and my keyboard still reads as full, and my mouse isn’t even down to half a charge.) Well the company has decided that it can do a bit better and thus has announced the new Wireless Desktop MK710.

Largely, the two devices are pretty well the same as their predecessors. The mouse seems to have gotten a small design change, but otherwise you’ll find the same features in both. This includes the Incurve keys, hyper-fast scrolling, and the tiny Unifying receiver. The main difference here is that you’ll get three years of battery life out of both devices. That’s right, they’ve somehow tripled the battery life on the mouse. Look for the combo starting in April for the same $99 price.

[ Logitech ]

This post is syndicated with permission from GamerFront.net

If you play PC games with other people online, there’s a good chance that you use some sort of voice chat. When playing WoW, our entire guild would use Ventrilo in order to stay coordinated in raids, or just to chit-chat. I never cared for free-standing mics, so I would always be wearing a headset. Sometimes it can be hard to find one that sounds good, picks up your voice properly and feels comfortable during long-term gaming sessions. This is why I love getting to review new headsets, so you don’t have to figure out the hard way whether or not one is worth buying. Well today I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on the Logitech Gaming Headset G330.

First Look

The G330 headset is of the behind-the-head variety, making it smaller than more traditional headsets. You’ll see that the width is actually adjustable on these, which is a welcome feature not often seen (on behind-the-head styles). The mic extends from the left ear and is adjustable. You will find in-line controls and your choice of standard stereo jacks or a USB adapter for hooking the device to your computer.

Installation

There’s really not much to talk about here. If you’re completely out of USB ports, you can just plug this into your standard audio jack. Of course if you do have a free port, I would recommend using it. On Windows 7, I needed only to plug it in and the computer automatically switched over to using the headset as my primary audio source. On my Mac (Snow Leopard) I only needed to Option-Click on my volume icon to switch my source. No software was required on either OS.

Comfort

One of the most important features of a headset is comfort. Great sound quality doesn’t matter if you can’t wear them for more than an hour at a time. I’ve never been a fan of behind-the-head sets for this very reason. I’m pleased to say that these are my favorite to date. They still aren’t as comfortable as traditional headphones, but they are the closest I’ve found. One of the biggest reasons these are so comfortable is because of that adjustable band in the back. Most others I’ve used are too loose or tight, which eventually causes pain or discomfort. This was eventually felt on the ears themselves, but only after extended use.

Audio Quality

Sound quality is almost as important as comfort, but I’m more likely to deal with average sound if the headphones are comfortable. The G330 is nothing to write home about, especially when using the stereo jacks. When plugged in via USB, the sound was a little more crisp during gaming and when listening to music, but not very much. If anything, I’d say the audio was a little flat, regardless of how you had the headset plugged in. It was not enough to dissuade me from using them on a regular basis.

I’ve had a lot of issues with microphones in the past. The biggest problem was generally that it wasn’t adjustable. I honestly don’t know why anyone would make a headset without an adjustable mic. I will never purchase one again. The G330′s is very flexible, allowing you to find the perfect position. Once you’ve found that sweet spot, you’re going to be impressed. When at home, I make all of my calls via Skype (thanks to AT&T’s abysmal coverage in the area). Even with a bit of music or a movie on in the background at a moderate level, the people I spoke to would rarely notice any background noise due to the noise-canceling abilities of the mic.

Verdict

If behind-the-head is your thing (and it really does come down to a matter of preference) then you’ll love the G330 Gaming Headset. It is the most comfortable of its type, and while the audio output isn’t phenomenal, it is perfectly acceptable. The clear audio input and its ability to use either stereo jacks or USB definitely make this $50 headset worth the money.

[ Logitech ] VIA [ GamerFront ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Last month we told you about a new keyboard and mouse set from Logitech called the MK700. At first glance it seemed like any other wireless combo, but under the surface there were a few things to note. Namely the new “Incurve keys” and an amazing battery life. Well I’ve spent a couple of weeks with this pair of peripherals, and today I’ll share my thoughts.

Features

The second-most notable feature are the new Incurve keys, which are concave keys with rounded edges. These are supposed to be more comfortable than your average keyboard. The battery life is definitely the number one feature, as the mouse can go a year and the keyboard a full three years before either needs a new set of AA’s. An LCD dashboard tells you the status of things like your battery, Caps Lock and Num Lock. Hyper-fast scrolling and a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter round out the main features of this duo.

First Look

The keyboard isn’t going to win any awards in the looks department, as it simply looks about like any other out there. It’s not a bad thing, as keyboards really don’t need to be flashy. The low-profile keys are definitely noticeable, giving it almost a cleaner look. The LCD dashboard is a bit disappointing, as it’s not very easy to see from an angle. It only tells you about battery life and the status of a few keys, which isn’t generally all that interesting. The mouse looks reminiscent of its cousin, the Performance MX. It doesn’t have a 3-LED battery indicator (just one that tells you when its low), and a few other noticeable differences.

Comfort

One of the aims of this set is to be more comfortable that your current keyboard and mouse. I’m coming from a Logitech MX 3200 set, and I can say that both are much more enjoyable to use. I was skeptical about the Incurve keys, however, I soon came to love them. It is rather difficult to describe the keys themselves, but when moving my fingers across them, it seems like much more of a smooth action. Does it actually improve my typing at all? No. I’ve taken several speed tests both before using it, and just before typing this up. All of them were almost identical, regardless of what keyboard I was using. I will say that the biggest difference in comfort can be noted when switching back to the old one.

The mouse is good, but isn’t anything to really write home about. Logitech has found a good design and rolled with it. It is almost identical to the older MX 3200 as far as shape goes. The one-touch search button is more comfortable to strike than the older one, and the zoom buttons have been removed entirely. The biggest improvement to the mouse is the new Hyper-fast scrolling feature. I’m seriously addicted to this, and really don’t want to go back to a mouse that doesn’t have it. My only complaint with the execution in this particular mouse is that it’s rather inconvenient to turn off Hyper-fast scrolling. You have to actually flip the mouse over and flip a switch  to get your old clicky wheel back. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but I liked being able to just click down on the wheel to change it on my Anywhere Mouse MX.

Performance

There’s really not much to talk about in the way of performance. Both the keyboard and mouse work great, and I didn’t experience any dropped signals. I have two other keyboard/mouse sets operating in the same room, and not a drop of interference was experienced, thanks to the 2.4GHz wireless technology. I’d love to rave about the battery life, but it’s just something that I can’t really test. According to Logitech’s software, my mouse still has 321 days of power remaining, while the keyboard simply says the batteries are full. I use my computer more than a lot of people, so it will be interesting to see how long it will really take to drain the batteries. I’ll try to check back in on this when I do end up changing them. (See you late 2010 and again in 2012 I hope!)

Verdict

Logitech has always been king in my book when it comes to keyboards and mice. They have delivered another solid combo, with enough new features to really give you an incentive to upgrade. The Incurve keys really do make a difference, and really, who doesn’t want to measure battery life in years? If you’re in the market for a new keyboard and mouse, Your $100 would be well spent on the MK700 combo.

[ Logitech ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Laptops are awesome, but they do have their drawbacks. My biggest issue is that I like to use a mouse, rather than the trackpad after a while. Sure, it’s fine for a bit, but a mouse is just so much easier and more comfortable to use. That’s why Logitech has announced a new product that will help in this area.

This anti-slip laptop board keeps your computer firmly in place and has a slide-out mousing surface. Now you can surf the web on your couch with a mouse. Sure, you could try using the cushion as a mousepad, but it doesn’t always work so well. Since the mousing surface retracts into the lapboard, it doesn’t actually add any extra bulk, making it easily stored. Look for this later in the month for $29.99.

VIA [ Logitech ]

By Chris Scott Barr

It seems like not all that long ago, universal remotes were very plain gadgets that you’d pick up at you local store when you lost your TV remote. Then you’d get it home only to find that your specific model wasn’t listed in the back, so you had to manually program the stupid thing. Yes, I’ve bought several of them over the years, and hated each and every one. Thankfully these days companies like Logitech are making remotes that not only have a lot of extra features, but also are easy to setup.

This morning Logitech announced their latest universal remote, the Harmony 700. This remote can control up to 6 different living room devices, which should clear up some room on your coffee table. They have attempted to simplify the way you use the remote, with buttons like “Watch TV” and “Listen to Music.” The color LCD screen also makes many actions a lot easier. Your favorite TV channels will be stored on the screen, letting you simply press a button to be taken there.

In order to program the remote, you’ll only need to download the software on your computer, and enter the model numbers of the devices you want to control. No codes to enter on the remote. As for power, the Harmony 700 comes with a pair of rechargeable AA batteries. When they start to get low (or die) you can simply plug in the remote with the included power adapter. I have to say that this is the first remote I’ve seen that comes with a power cord, which is an interesting idea. If you have a lot of devices in your living room, and don’t mind dropping $150 on a remote, then this would very likely serve you well when it hits stores later this month.

[ Logitech ]

This post is syndicated with permission from GamerFront.net
In my free time when I’m not gaming I’m generally programming, working on my own hit game. This involves a lot of traversing through source code, generally many lines of it. In the past this act would get very cumbersome, that all changed the day the Logitech Performance MX landed on my desk. The Hyper-fast scrolling feature allows me to reach from one end of my code to the other with a single flick of the wheel.

The Logitech Performance MX mouse also comes equipped with Darkfield Laser Tracking technology that allows it to work on just about any surface. Having a glass desk I found this most intriguing and was surprised at just how well Logitech delivers on this feature. Having spent time using it in both a work environment and gaming sessions I can’t tell a difference when using it on a mouse pad or the glass surface directly.

This mouse also ships with Logitech’s Unifying receiver, a USB receiver that allows multiple Logitech devices to be connected. This receiver is meant to be added and forgotten, which is not too hard given the small size and profile of the device.

In case all the above wasn’t enough the mouse features a rechargeable power system that is managed via a micro-USB cable to either your computer or a wall outlet. Unlike most rechargeable usb mice the Logitech Performance MX can be used even while charging. Having the option to charge it via a wall outlet while still being able to it makes the Performance MX an ideal companion for use with a laptop on the go.

After over a week of extensive use I believe I’ve found a new favorite mouse in the Logitech Performance MX. It packs a lot of functionality and innovation into contoured design and while the $99.99 MSRP price tag may seem steep at first a quick look back over the features, in addition to the cost of batteries saved, makes for a mouse that’s worth every cent.

[ Logitech ] VIA [ GamerFront ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Last week Logitech announced two of their latest mice, equipped with Darkfield Technology. If you’ll recall, this feature allows mice to track on any smooth surface, regardless of whether or not it is reflective. While some people might not see the benefit in using a mouse on a reflective surface, those who want to use a mouse on their glass desk, or even something with a mirrored finish will be pleased. I’ve actually been testing out the Anywhere MX mouse for about a week now, and I thought I’d share my thoughts.

Features

The Logitech Anywhere MX packs a lot of features into one tiny package. Obviously the Darkfield Technology is a big selling point, as you never know where you’ll be using your laptop next. The mouse also utilizes the new Unifying receiver, which is small enough to stay plugged into your laptop all the time (and not risk getting broken off like larger ones) and allows you to use a compatible keyboard without needing a separate receiver. Hyper-fast scrolling, extra buttons and 2.4GHz wireless round out the feature list.

First Look

The mouse itself is rather small, as any good travel mouse should be. The shape is comfortable enough for extended use, even for someone with large hands such as myself. You’ve got two thumb buttons for forward/backward which are a must-have feature for someone who spends as much time on the web as I do. There’s also another button below the scroll wheel for switching between programs, if you’re into that sort of thing. The on/off switch underneath is actually a sliding cover for the laser, which seems convenient enough. Lastly, I love the the tiny Unifying receiver, as I haven’t bothered to unplug it from my MacBook since I got it.

Comfort

If you’re using your laptop enough to need a mouse, then you’re going to want something comfortable. It’s this logic that  has kept me from replacing the desktop mouse that I always carry in my laptop bag. The Anywhere MX is one of the first laptop mice I’ve found to be comfortable enough to use for more than an hour or so at a time. It is still small, so I wouldn’t replace my regular mouse at my desktop with it. That’s what the Performance MX is for (which we’ll get to another day).

Performance

As a regular mouse, the Anywhere MX performs about as well as any other. The only thing that really stands out is the Hyper-fast scrolling. I really thought the use of the word “hyper” was more  marketing hype than anything else, however, that’s really not the case. If I flick the scroll wheel with my finger, it can spin for a good 6 or 7 seconds. If you really want to fly through a huge document, you can flick it harder and get more like 17 seconds of spin (my personal best is 17.5 seconds). To give you a better idea, I can scroll through about 35 pages in OpenOffice Writer with one flick, whereas on my old mouse I can’t even get past the first page.

This awesome scroll wheel does have one small drawback. Since it is “hyper-fast” it is also easily triggered. You’ll need to keep your fingers away from it when mousing, lest you find yourself halfway down the page you were reading. It was a fairly rare occurrence, but still worth mentioning.

Darkfield Technology

I actually used to own a glass desk, which my optical mouse did not work on, which is why I’m pretty excited about Darkfield. Knowing a friend with the same desk, I packed up my MacBook and the Anywhere MX and promptly headed there for testing. The desk is made from rather thick tempered glass (not the frosted stuff, just clear), and the mouse had no trouble whatsoever tracking on it. Being the geeks that we are, we proceeded to find other reflective surfaces to test it on. A drinking glass, a 2mm-thick piece of acrylic (Plexiglass to some of you), my iPhone and even the screen of my MacBook all worked flawlessly with the mouse. The only thing that we found that didn’t work was a CD, which we honestly didn’t expect to work in the first place.

Verdict

The Logitech Anywhere MX is a solid travel mouse. It’s comfortable, the Unifying receiver is small enough that you don’t have to worry about  removing it and the Darkfield technology works like a charm. My only complaint is that the scroll wheel could potentially get annoying if one were to bump it very often, though it only happened a couple of times to me. The Logitech Anywhere MX can be found for $79, which is a tad pricey for a notebook mouse, but well worth it in my mind.

[ Logitech ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I’m sure that everyone remembers when optical mice first broke onto the scene. Finally the days of cleaning those stupid ball mice were over. Of course there is one place that those old mice can go that no optical or laser mouse can work. That would be reflective surfaces. Even the most high-tech laser mouse is defeated by the surface of a glass desk. At least that was the case until Logitech announced their new Darkfield technology.

You have to admit, Darkfield technology sounds like something really awesome, especially when you note that it works with lasers. Well this isn’t some strange weapon developed by a secret government group. Rather, it allows Logitech’s new mice to work properly on any reflective surface (minimum 4mm thick). Finally, those using a glass desk can ditch their mouse pad. The technology will first be seen in their Performance Mouse MX, and its smaller brother the Anywhere Mouse MX. Look for reviews of both in the very near future right here on OhGizmo.

[ BLogitech ]

By Chris Scott Barr

If you spend most of your workday at a computer like I do, then you’ll want to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. A comfortable chair, a nice big monitor to look at and a good keyboard/mouse set are probably the most important. Today, Logitech announced their new Wireless Desktop MK700 keyboard and mouse, which are aimed at being both comfortable and convenient to use.

The new MK700 keyboard features a new type of key that they’re calling “Incurve keys.” These concave keys are supposed to keep your fingers in the right place and have softly curved edges to be more comfortable when moving from key to key. Other features like a cushioned palm rest and longer key travel should make things more comfortable in general.

So what makes this set so “convenient” you say? Well you’ve got things like an LCD dashboard that lets you know things like the status of Caps Lock, Num Lock and your battery life. They’re also using 2.4GHz wireless technology to ensure a strong connection (up to 30 feet away), because no one likes pressing a key and having nothing happen. The real kicker is the battery life. You can expect the batteries in your mouse to last for up to a year, while the keyboard can go up to 3 years without needing changed. Oh, and that’s on 2 AA batteries each. I hate changing out batteries, and measuring the time between changing them in years instead of months should be enough of a selling point for some people. Look for the MK700 bundle later this month for around $100.

[ Logitech ]