If there's one thing I have a weakness for, it's looks. And not just in women, either - it's for computer design. My last keyboard purchase was a DiNovo, and when Logitech re-released the DiNovo with the MX1000 Laser, how could I resist?
NOTE: I'll be talking about this set in comparison to my old(er) DiNovo set, reviewed here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_169786379908 First Impressions The biggest difference between the new DiNovo Laser and the old DiNovo is the fact that the Bluetooth module is now a separate piece of equipment. By comparison, the Bluetooth module in the old DiNovo was built into the charger base. When the charger functionality broke, I had to keep the base plugged in to the computer to keep the connection, wasting valuable desk space.
With this version of the DiNovo, the Bluetooth module is separate, which is good because I can place the charger anywhere, and it allows the Bluetooth to be upgraded.
Features The DiNovo Laser keeps the "zero-tilt" design keyboard and Mediapad. Both are excellent! No carpal tunnel syndrome yet.
The mouse is also a vast improvement. I thought my MX900 was top-of-the-line up until the moment I picked up the MX1000 laser included with this kit. I have pretty thick hands, so the MX1000 felt more natural for me. The mouse now has a power switch on the bottom, which is good for saving power - a necessary feature since the Bluetooth really chugs power.
There's also a power meter on the top left side of the mouse, an improvement over the MX900, which would just flash a red LED when the battery was low.
The Bluetooth module is much fancier. Logitech chose to go with a USB "token" type module this time, which means one less cable behind my computer! Yay! This was what Bluetooth was about in the first place! The new Bluetooth module is also Bluetooth 2.0 compliant, which means it supports EDR, which will increase data rates to compatible devices. I haven't had the chance to try it out yet, though.
Usage The keyboard is just as comfortable as the old one. In fact, it's identical to the old one, except the search button at the top left has been replaced with a synchronization button. No biggie. I didn't use those buttons anyway.
The mouse is definitely more comfortable than the old DiNovo's though.
The MediaPad is very functional as both a remote and a calculator. It's not possible to use ALT+keypad#'s to enter special ASCII characters, which is a big bummer. However, I don't use e's and 's c's much, which is fortunate. The Mediapad is also still functional as a calculator, and the calculations copy to the Windows Clipboard, making it a handy addition when working with spreadsheets.
When my computer booted, just like the old DiNovo, my keyboard was responsive, and I was able to enter BIOS.
I haven't been able to get battery life figures about the new DiNovo Laser yet, but I'm expecting battery life similar to that of my old DiNovo. My old DiNovo was pretty good with it's batteries, with my keyboard's Duracell NiMH batteries able to last a month and a half between recharging. Using the included Duracell Alkaline batteries, however, I was able to get almost 4 months out of the keyboard. The mouse was able to last about 3-4 days between charges.
Software Installation of Logitech's SetPoint software went smoothly this time - I didn't have to plug in an external mouse to get through the installation.
However, that's about the only good thing I have to say about the software.
The software support for the old DiNovo sucked, and I'm sorry to report that Logitech has not really started to care since then. Logitech added support for Yahoo Instant Messenger, but there is still no support for people who use Trillian. Message to Logitech: People who are stylish enough to use the DiNovo probably aren't going to be using the stock instant messenger clients.
There is only limited support for MP3 players, including Logitech's own MediaLife software, MusicMatch Jukebox, WinAmp, and iTunes. This is a reasonable selection, but if you use any other MP3 player, most likely it will not be able to put information on the MediaPad's LCD. Another message to Logitech: If you want to sell more DiNovo's, OPEN UP YOUR API. The MediaPad would be a lot cooler if end users had a bit more control about what appeared on it.
As for Mac and Linux support, it doesn't exist. The DiNovo Laser will still function as a keyboard and mouse, but the multimedia keys, mediapad functionality, and on-screen display are not present. It's just another keyboard and mouse, just a bit prettier.
Also, I don't have a 64-bit system, but from browsing forums about 64-bit computing, I have learned that many people have had problems with getting Bluetooth working on their 64-bit copies of Windows. This again makes the DiNovo just another keyboard and mouse.
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