This new keyboard provides the expert controls to optimize what you do when you want to do it. The enhanced function key commands bring new efficiency to the things you do all of the time. They allow you to instantly access your email, instant messenger, favorite files, pictures, music, and websites. Plus, you can quickly navigate around the web, applications, media files, and documents. Simply your life and go Elite.
Features- Enhanced function key commands
- Stylish Zero Degree Tilt™ keyboard design feels good in your hands
- Easy to install and set up
- For Windows and Macintosh
- Ultra-flat, Zero Degree Tilt™ keyboard design for increased comfort
- Nine customizable keys for one-touch access to favorite web sites and applications
- iNav™ buttons and scroll wheel for keyboard-based web navigation
- Multimedia keys to control audio and video directly from the keyboard
- iTouch® software to customize keyboard features
The Logitech Elite keyboard provides expert controls to optimize what you do, when you want to do it. The enhanced function key commands bring new efficiency to the things you do all of the time, allowing you to instantly access your e-mail, instant messenger program, favorite files, pictures, music, and Web sites. Plus, you can quickly navigate around the Web and your applications, media files, and documents, and installation and setup are easy. In addition, the stylish Zero Degree Tilt flat-angle design feels good on your hands as you type. Simplify your life and go Elite.
1 MAC users, beware!
This keyboard has been buggy for me on two separate computers (both Macs) both running OSX. On both I experienced a weird glitch: If I hit the right command (apple) key and the shift button at the same time it would lock up my keyboard permanently until I un-installed and reinstalled the keyboard driver using an old, functional keyboard.
What makes this especially weird is that the keys work fine independently from one another in combination with any other keys. Likewise the left command+shift key combo works just fine. What's the big deal? Well as a professional artist, I use photoshop which includes tons of keyboard shortcuts including such common uses such as "print preview". I had to go out of my way to unlearn the reflexsive key combo. I probably locked up my keyboard 10 times before it finally unlearned to use those keys (on the right only).
Tech support was absolutely no help. The told me they couldn't help me because I was running an OS they didn't yet support (10.3).
Fine... I'll suffer along till they catch up.
Months later when they finally updated their driver to match Mac's current OS, it did nothing to remedy the problem.
I call tech support again and they tell me it's my computers' fault- both of them.
What a strange coincidence that their keyboard supposedly works on ever other mac in the world accept the last two I've owned...
Fast forward a few more months and I have an unrelated computer glitch which requires me to reinstall my system folder (unfortunately eliminating the keyboard driver as well) I go to their site to download the latest driver and now Macs are no longer supported for this keyboard! No driver, whatsoever.
I call support and I get an equally confused and rude gentlemen who suggests (no lie) that I try unplugging the keyboard and typing on it for thirty seconds. No idea how he thinks this will fix the lack of software but I play along, if only for the sake of a memorable anecdote.
Surprise, surprise- it still doesn't work when I plug it back in. After 10 minutes of haggling with the guy trying to explain the simple concept of needing mac-specific software for his computer product he tells me he will send me another, newer, elite keyboard. After giving all my information I try and ask for a little reassurance: "Will this one be supported for macs"?
Long pause...
He's "pretty sure", but he's-- (get this) TURNED OFF HIS COMPUTER FOR THE DAY, SO HE CAN"T LOOK IT UP FOR ME. (?!) Mind you this was at 4:30pm in Logitech's Eastern time zone.
Great, thanks for your help. If you need me, I'll be out on my front steps holding my breath for this new, possibly-functional, keyboard to arrive.
Perhaps this keyboard works fine for PC users, but if you're a Mac person, RUN, do not walk away from these guys. Although I can't imagine their tech support is any better for PC folks.
So avoid this keyboard and moreso, this company. Unless, of course, you're a masochist for laughable customer service, in which case I can't recommend them highly enough.
2 Great Feel and Design
Pros: A large keyboard, but well worth it if you have the space. Very ergonomic, lots of extras, easy and utterly silent keystroke. Space bar is particularly well designed, as it slopes down to the edge of the keyboard, allowing your thumb to sit lower while still being on the buttom. Great looks as well. Attractive finish, and the black keys with white text are easier to read than other white ones. The keyboard is a lot thinner than my old one, and seems easier on the wrists when that is combined w/ the piece that you can attach to the front (which looks good too, usually the add-on wrist supports look stupid).
Cons: Bigger footprint than typical keybaords. Had to log onto logitech to get a new software update that fixed a bug w/ the stuff they gave me on the CD. (And the update software they gave me didn't catch this, oddly.)
3 Well constructed, easy to use.
I have to say the comparison between a Dell keyboard and this Logitech Elite is a sad comparison indeed. I've used Dell keyboards...I hate them, they always felt cheap and flimsy. The last one I had, well let's say it wasn't fun.
This keyboard is great, though it doesn't have support for applications like Firefox right off the bat, if you have some computer knowledge you can tell it to open Firefox as a Program, though it gets overly complex.
Had the keyboard not been so easy to work with, and so easy to type with, it'd be four stars due to the lack of third party program support. Logitechs software is rather crappy, in all honesty, but at least it offers options to manually extend support via the programs functionality.
I have heard keys stick later in its use, I've yet to have any sticky keys, but then again I keep my keyboard very clean, I hope that doesn't happen, but keep it in mind, as it happens to all keyboards eventually, some sooner than others.
I love the volume dial, it's easy, quick, and much more precise than it's Microsoft counterpart, which uses a plus and minus Button opposed to this more precise dial. The email, messenger, and song scrolling buttons are amazingly useful.
The default On setting for F-Lock, (or off) is annoying as hell, I have to turn the green light *on* to use the normal F# keys, and the light grows a tad annoying.
I have not seen any spyware, I keep my computer highly protected with the best scoring (Benchmarks, and not by whored out 'review' sites) Anti-Adware, Firewall, and Anti-Virus I could find, perhaps this fabled spyware was removed. I never saw anything like it in my Processes, which I watch obsessively, and nothing ever came out in scans relating to Logitech.
I highly recommend this to keyboard enthusiasts who love having a keyboard which has many functions and, ironically, tons of functionality.
4 Terrible Warranty Treatment
Logitech Keyboard Issue
On 22-Nov-2004 I called Logitech at 1-702-269-3457 to arrange for an RMA. They said no need to send the broken unit back, they would send a replacement keyboard out within 24-48 hours. They assigned Case #XXXXXX and RMA# XXXXXX.
On 29-Nov-2004 spoke to a nice person(name witheld) who was pleasant and polite. I told her that the good news was that I just received the replacement keyboard, the bad news is that it is the wrong one. It is a "Media" model which is a lower model than the "Elite" that I purchased. I pointed out that this model is missing 2 key features, the thumb wheel on the left and the volume dial on the top; the 2 main reasons for which I bought the Elite model.
She put me on hold and when she came back, she proceeded to try to convince me that the model they sent me was an "upgrade" from the "Elite". I explained to her that her assertion was incorrect and the "Media" model was clearly an inferior model. I pointed out that on Newegg.com, the "Media" sells for $18 while the "Elite" sells for $29. I again pointed out that this model is missing 2 key features, the thumb wheel on the left and the volume dial on the top; the 2 main reasons for which I bought the Elite model.
She put me on hold several times during the call which, by the way, lasted for 55 minutes. Each time she came back she continued to try to sell the idea that I was getting an upgrade. I was patient for the first 50 minutes of this but I'm not a saint and finally stopped her. I told her that I was an Engineer, a very technical and computer savvy person and that no one, any where would consider what they did an upgrade. I told her that I didn't appreciate being treated this way. And requested to speak to a supervisor.
At that point, she admitted that the "Media" model was missing features and that she understood my concerns. She then said that they had no more "Elite" models and that's why they sent the "Media" model. I suggested they get one from one of their vendors like Newegg.com; she said I WOULD HAVE TO BUY IT FROM THEM DIRECTLY and they had no way of compensating me for that. She then said that the "Elites" were no longer being manufactured. What should I believe here????
So in the end, they did not comply with the terms of their own warranty. When I pointed that out, she said that they did by sending me the inferior keyboard.
How ridiculous is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was appalled! If it didn't happed to me, I would have doubted that it really happened. Finally, I asked if she was going to comply with my earlier request to speak to a supervisor. She said yes and went on hold yet again...she came back and we waited for another 5 or so minutes for the supervisor (Todd) who never answered. She then asked if she could have him call me back in a few minutes and confirmed my phone number.
What nonsense! I have never seen a company tell such bold falsehoods to avoid fulfilling its warranty commitments, especially considering that this was all for a lousy $30 product. Wouldn't it have been easier to just make the customer happy and handle this? They won the battle, but I'll win the war by never buying another Logitech product again and I urge all of you who read this sad tale to also avoid buying from them.
The supervisor NEVER CALLED. Run, don't walk away from these guys.
5 AWESOME KEYBOARD
This keyboard is awesome, the most amazing thing that happened is I ordered this keyboard two days ago and it came yesterday, with free shipping!! I am still amazed at this. This is the best experience with Amazon i had so far. The keyboard works great, it can be used on ps/2 or usb so that's on of the really good things about it. There's a lot of buttons for quick access of stuff. This keyboard is great. It works great and it's much easier to type with less strain on your hands. With my old one, my hand would get tired easily. As logitech says that it feels good in your hands, it actually does. I would recommend this keyboard to anyone.
6 my zBoard makes me appriciate this Logitech one better
I have been using my zBoard for the last few months but it is highly unstable and in BIOS it reverts the settings to default so I switched back to this logitech. This Elite is a luxury item I did not come to apprieciate until now. It is incredibly comfortable to the hand and the keys don't break off. I was moving some furniture and had carelessly thrown a heavy piece of metal and it hit this keyboard(which was sitting in my chair while I moved) square in the keys on the left side. It still works. The keys are undamaged like new! You couldn't ask for much more than this. The only mar is the darned F-lock key which should be reversed so that F is unlocked default and locked by pushing the button at boot up. The left wheel also sucks in games because if you accidentally push it(getting exited in Doom3) can boot you out of the game. In games like Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, it can corrupt files and graphics. Even to the point of modding stats and attack rolls totally screwing your game. If you stay away from the wheel and all the stupid media crap you should be okay in games.
7 It's good!
I just got this keyboard. 1st impression is that it's HUGE! A little intimidating. Looks like the cockpit of the space shuttle I imagine. Very high tech. The keys are soft, but responsive. Much better then my stock Compaq keyboard this one replaced. All the shortcut keys and scrollwheel work flawlessly with the included software. The keyboard is very comfortable and includes a plastic wrist wrest which attaches to the keyboard. I really like the scroll wheel and volume wheel. I believe these will come in handy. Not sure how much I'll use the other shortcut or HOT keys. Time will tell. Another quality product from Logitech.
8 wonderful keyboard
I was very pleased with the features on this keyboard,its a must have. I'm still learning to use it, but it's a thrill to use. I wish it came with a user manual to help with the many features,although on-line user info is a button touch away.
9 BEWARE OF ADWARE / SPYWARE
Keyboard works as advertised. However, it is absolutley loaded with ad-ware / spyware. This will be my last purchase of a Logitech product. I will now deal with their competitors, whom apparently have more integrity and class.
10 Best wired keyboard on the market
I tried a handful of keyboards, looking for that perfect look, feel, feature set, and performance. The Elite is easy to type on, it doesn't have the keystroke buffer problems of the cheaper Logitech Internet keyboard, it has the programmable buttons, media controls, and the black/silver matched my Dell flat panel perfectly. This is the best keyboard I've ever used. It would be difficult to be disappointed by the Logitech Elite.
11 Nice sturdy keyboard
I bought this keyboard over six months ago to add to a new 2.8Ghz home built computer sytem with Windows XP Pro. The keyboard is heavy enough to make you feel that it isn't cheap despite the low price. This puppy comes with a wide range of programable buttons, internet navigation wheel, F-key functions. The wrist rest is a nice feature making it comfortable to use. The keyboard comes with fairly good software. I downloaded the latest updates before I installed everything. I had to make sure that background running programs like Norton Antivirus, etc. were disabled to alleviate any potential problems or conflicts. Another nice feature are the CD keys (Play/Pause etc) will work even in other apps. I used these keys with Windows Media Player and it worked without any problems. This baby looks sharp and will last for a long time if you take care of it.
I did find a couple of things that Logitech could improve on for future models: The clips that allow you to raise the keyboard open backwards compared to other keyboards. If you pull the keyboard toward you, those clips tend to close on you and you have to fish for them out to open them again. The volume button can be flaky at times. It might skip serveral levels at one time. It's just a little sensitive but it's no big deal. You can program other buttons to perform volume control. Like any program, Logitech includes a piece of software that might be viewed as SPYWARE. I does try to go back to the website to see if new versions are available. Windows XP does the same thing but you can disable that. I really don't use it, because I regularly go to their website to see if they have any software/driver updates. Besides, I regulary run antispyware software so I don't have an issue with it. I did notice that the F-lock is automatically turned off at system startup. If you want to enable the function keys, you have to press the f-lock button. This issue might be related to your BIOS setting and not the software that comes with the keyboard. I know for a fact that my AMI BIOS has a feature that allows me to turn on the function keys at startup. I just never got around to changing the setting. I plan to check it out in the coming days. I didn't give this product 5-stars because I think they could have done better with their manual. Overall, Logitech did a very good job with this keyboard. It really deserves your attention.
12 Great Keyboard
I am a C++ programmer therefore I type on a keyboard for over 8 hours every week day. On Mavis Beacon 16 I am rated at 155wpm so keyboards are very important to me. This keyboard is very solid, very quiet and allows you to type fast without any problems. All of the special buttons work to my utmost satisfaction. The stability of this keyboard is simply amazing. An A++ keyboard I would recommend to anyone.
13 Sticky keys
No, I'm not talking about honey on the keyboard. I love this keyboard; it's just that I'm extremely disappointed. I love the media player controls, the little scroll wheel on the left, and the quiet keys. With great love, however, comes great disappointment. The Windows start key has started getting stuck in the down position sometimes, leading to some strange behavior when I'm typing. The sad thing is that the keyboard is only 4 or 5 months old. I guess I could return it or something, but it's such a pain. And what would I do without a keyboard for the eternity it takes to get it back?
Luckily, so far I haven't accidentally erased anything because of the sticking, but every once in a while I'll suddenly switch to the desktop (Windows+D) or accidentally activate the windows narrator (whatever the crap that is)
Other than this annoying quirk, this is a great keyboard. But, because of this annoying quirk, I can't really recommend this keyborad. Maybe I got a bum one, but this doesn't inspire confidence in the product for me.
14 BEST KEYBOARD EVER!!!!
I bought this keyboard at Amazon.com for $30 bucks. This keyboard is the best keyboard that I have used so far. The looks of this keyboard is very attractive and it goes with my Logitech MX310, but I am about to get the MX500. All the buttons on there are very useful especially the scroll because sometimes I don't want to reach over to use the mice, so I just simply move my left pinky over and use the scroll. The volume control on the keyboard is very cool because when you turned it down you'll see a line of green bars. One thing that I forgot to mention is that the keys on this keyboard is very very quiet and smooth. If you are in need of a keyboard I would highly recommend this keyboard and the Logitech MX500 if you are looking for a mice.
15 The BEST keyboard I ever have.
Man I just recieved my keyboard today. I am so stunt by this keyboard. It makes me type faster and the keys are very quiet. Can't really explain how great this keyboard is. Just two words "THE BEST". And Amazon has excellent delivery, if I could I would give them a 5 stars.
16 This is just a great keyboard! but kinda big
I just wanted a black keyboard. So I bought it and it's great even though it is kinda big with the hand rest attachment. So i just took it off. Its got a lot of nice features. except for the f-lock(When I'm gaming i kinda get frustrated that i gotta push it to get the f buttons to work)besides that this thing is way better than the keyboard my pc came with.
17 Nice, but not perfect
When I purchased the keyboard, I was most impressed by the COOL feeling that the keys produced when pressed. Soft, but not too soft, quiet, but with a discete noise feedback that's hard to describe.
However, after 4-5 months of use, the magic disappeared. Now the keys are simply too soft, and are not that quiet at all. Rather, they sound pretty much like on any other used dirt cheap keyboard.
18 Great keyboard, POS spyware
Great keyboard. What can I say? Works fine with XP...
Pros:
1. Very handy iNav wheel, 20 million buttons
2. Improved F-key functionality
3. Even the included plastic wrist rest was comfortable
4. Overall, very flexible software, infinitely programmable
5. CD keys (Play/Pause etc) will work even in other apps.
6. Sturdy, will last you years
Cons:
1. Laggy volume button, I just use the iNav wheel for volume instead.
2. Stinkin' SPYWARE: The Wildtangent software is unavoidable and is really a Gator clone that records your Internet activity. Kill this with a program like Spybot.
3. There's no way to turn F-lock on at system startup. Maybe that'll be fixed with a future software patch, assuming the patch doesn't just reinstall the stinkin' SPYWARE.
Overall, though, great keyboard from Logitech.
Simply the best wired has to offer.
Don't be a playa hata.
Buy it.
19 Great keyboard, POS spyware
Great keyboard. What can I say? Works fine with XP...
Pros:
1. Very handy iNav wheel, 20 million buttons
2. Improved F-key functionality
3. Even the included plastic wrist rest was comfortable
4. Overall, very flexible software, infinitely programmable
5. CD keys (Play/Pause etc) will work even in other apps.
6. Sturdy, will last you years
Cons:
1. Laggy volume button, I just use the iNav wheel for volume instead.
2. Stinkin' SPYWARE: The Wildtangent software is unavoidable and is really a Gator clone that records your Internet activity. Kill this with a program like Spybot.
3. There's no way to turn F-lock on at system startup. Maybe that'll be fixed with a future software patch, assuming the patch doesn't just reinstall the stinkin' SPYWARE.
Overall, though, great keyboard from Logitech.
Simply the best wired has to offer.
Don't be a playa hata.
Buy it today.
20 AWESOME BOARD
I've always been wary of cordless keyboards, so I tried out this corded one from Logitech, and I've got to say, I've had no problems what so ever with it. It's got some amazing features that just make life a lot easier on the computer. A nice big volume control, and quick hit buttons for programs that are used often. I hav eto say the "F-Key" buttons are not that useful, maybe I just need to get in a better habit of using them, but they just seem a little over the top to me. Other than that, I use a XP system, and it works great with. Only time I've had problems is when I personally screw up something and the computer starts shutting down programs, and a quick rebott solves any problems I might have had.
21 What Ruins A Great Keyboard?
SPYWARE.
GATOR IS EVIL.
LOGITECH IS EVIL FOR ALLOWING GATOR (or in this case, it's alias, WILD TANGENT) TO SNEAK INTO OUR COMPUTERS VIA THEIR SOFTWARE.
When you install the software that you NEED in order to use all your nice fancy keyboard shortcuts, you're unwittingly installing HIDDEN AND DEFINITE SPYWARE FROM GATOR. This is absolutely ridiculous, and we as consumers SHOULD NOT TOLERATE THIS TYPE OF SHADY BEHAVIOR FROM COMPANIES LIKE LOGITECH. This is ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE because:
1) LOGITECH DOES NOT TELL YOU YOU ARE INSTALLING SPYWARE.
2) LOGITECH DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO INSTALL THEIR SOFTWARE WITHOUT THE SPYWARE.
3) LOGITECH DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO REMOVE THE SPYWARE.
DO NOT promote this kind of offensive business behavior. Tell Logitech that you don't support their utter lack of business ethics by NOT BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS.
PS - The default OFF setting for the F-Lock is also stupid. Maybe Logitech intends to fix this issue with a software patch that, SURPRISE, comes piggybacked with more SPYWARE.
22 Very nice, great features
Great features and love the media control. Works great with the wireless mouse. Only thing is I got used to a more ergonomic keyboard and it was a bit hard to get used to using a regular keyboard again...wish it was the more ergonomic shape...then 5 stars. Works wonderfully.
23 no documentation, extra functions don't work
First, I must thank the previous reviewer that had to go through the trials and tribulations of talking to the Logitech "help" desk, he got the unacceptable answers I need without my having to use their VRU and wait forever. The Logitech documentation (now there's an oxymoron) is virtually non-existent and covers nothing. The software for this keyboard is not well written at all, it won't function if you have Norton installed and running. This is silly, if you have your PC set up with the proper security and monitors then Logitech should take that into account within their software OR should state in their "documentation" that it is not compatible with Norton. The ITOUCH software aborts everytime I boot the system. I even went out to the Logitech website and downloaded and installed the latest driver without Norton running and it STILL doesn't work correctly, the F keys don't work and when I press the webcam button, it launches Outlook. I'm not even going to try any of the other keys, I'm just going to remove the Logitech software and run it as a normal keyboard. It does have a good feel and that's the only reason I'm giving it 2 stars. By the way, this is all happening on a PC running XP, it functions perfectly on another PC that's running Windows 2000 PRO.
24 Disappointing Key Feel
I really wanted to like this keyboard, but couldn't get over the lousy feel of the keys. Compared to the soft, precise feel of the Dell keyboards I had been using for years, this keyboard is harsher and really slows down typing. On the plus side, the hot keys generally work well, except for the volume knob (which is not precise enough) and the internet wheel and buttons on the left, which are harsh. This was also a dust magnet for some reason. Anyway, I wound up buying a Dell Keyboard instead.
25 Superb
I have worked on computers since my days in the Air Force and I now have a keyboard worth every penny and then some. I strongly endorse Logitech and this great product and I will continue to purchase my electronic needs from Amazon.com, such great and superior service. Thank you very much, you have a very satisfied customer, keep up the good work.
26 Smooth but big
the cons:
1. the keyboard is big and bulky
the pros:
1. long shift key
2. internet keys
3. scroll keys
4. volume & mute keys
5. keyboard is quiet
6. usb & ps2 attachments
7. for its size it is light
27 Great Gaming Keyboard, not so great for everyone else.
This is a phenominal gaming keyboard. The keys have that mushy quality feeling that gives the right edge to gaming. This helps you allow the ones living with you to sleep peacefully while you stay up gaming all night. But if you're like me and don't play games your whole life, then you may want a different keyboard. For people that type a lot (programmers, linux users, people that have jobs) this may be a worse choice. The keys are so soft that they require you to push harder (or maybe they just make you think you need to push harder). This creates unecessary strain on your fingers and wrist. Gamers, this is the keyboard to get. But if you want more than a gaming keyboard, you MAY want to try a different one. Right now I am using a Dell keyboard that i am perfectly happy with. However, if you are looking for an upgrade, I'd suggest a Logitech keyboard.
28 Good hardware / unstable software under XP
I give this keyboard 4 stars just because I'm not using its included utility software (iTouch) anymore. It crashed when I logged onto windows XP almost 50% of the time. It was just a matter of starting it manually, but anyways, I didn't need it.
The hardware is excellent, the keyboard does not click, but has enouch tactile feedback to let your brain know when a key has been really pressed. Also, I've noticed that when I'm type writing is very comfortable.
The F keys are not full size, so if you use them a lot, maybe this one is not for you.
Without iTouch running all the internet and media keys work, except for the iTouch key (not surprising!), you just need the driver.
Also, a 'feature' is that the F keys are MS Office keys by default, you NEED to press the F-Lock key before they work like regular F keys. I've not found a way to default them to regular F keys.
29 Most Useful Keyboard. . .Ever!!
This was my very first Logictech Product and i would have to say that they have made a believer out of me. From the time i plugged it in and installed the software almost everything was customizable.
The best feature of the keyboard would have to be the labelings of some of the keys. It helps people who don't remember certain key combinations such as Control+C or Control+P. I found this to be very helpful.
Music lovers would also love this keyboard for its addition of the volume wheel on top. There is almost nothing to complain about keyboard other than maybe the positioning of the naviwheel. I would rather have it positioned on the right side of the keyboard to replace the mouse wheel.
Pros:
Great set of customizable keys.
Labels of certain keys for shortcuts.
Very comfortable with the removable wrist extension.
Cons:
Not every key can be customized to your liking.
30 Change for the Better
Got the elite 30 days ago, I love it! Exactly as advertised. 100% of the features work! Quick and easy to install on my XP Home O/S. Can't live without it.
31 Would be nice if....
They had more linux support for it.
Nice, quietish keyboard. The extra buttons might be nice under Windows; I've had to manually map them under Linux. I wish Logitech had support for us Linux people.
32 Logitech Rules!
With the exception of it crashing on me from time to time with XP (I'm not sure if it's a user error), I love it! Anything by Logitech, I can't resist but use them for any of my peripherals. I love the one-touch buttons you can customize to your liking. However, I haven't made the "music" button work. That REALLY kills my system. But, off limits to that button, everything works wonderful! It's like driving a stick-shift on your computer!! (There's a scroll wheel for scrolling through browser, documents, etc.) Awesome!
33 Logitech - at the bottom of my list!
My Logitech keyboard of three years malfunctioned after I spilled coffee on it, so I bought a new one thinking it would be a no-brainer.
Logitech's supplied documentation was virtualy non-existent, but hey, plug it in and go, right? A software CD came with it, so I decided to check out the "value-added" features to see if any would be useful. To make a long story short, the software didn't work, and in fact, shut down my computer. With the only useful documentation accessible via the computer, I was....up the creek without a paddle! (Yes, I could have power cycled the computer, but I shouldn't have to for a lousy keyboard installation!)
I called Logi's tech support and after developing calluses on my finger from pushing so many telephone buttons and a subsequent long wait, I reached a technician. After the seemingly endless perfunctory questions, he finally asked what the problem was. I told him. Then after the twenty questions game of, "did you do this...?" "Yes." "Did you do that...?" "Yes." "Did you try this?" "Yes, Yes, Yes..." etc. etc. He finally said, "you don't have Norton running do you?" "Yes, why?" "You're not supposed to have Norton running!" "Oh really. I didn't see that anywhere in the 'documentation'." "Well, Logitech doesn't want to bad-mouth Norton publicly, but at least 70-80% of the people out there know enough to disinstall it before you install our software." "Oh really? Hum...then I guess I must be stupid." The conversation went on, but you get the gist. One of the upshots is that it's the customer's fault, not Logitech's (or Norton's). I also don't have to purchase Logitech's products next time either.
The bottom line is I removed their software, and I will never buy any Logitech products again.
If I was the vengeful type I would have satisfaction in knowing that the cost of this "customer service" incident was more than I paid for the keyboard, and that with an attitude such as theirs, in my humble opinion, I believe Logitech is doomed to failure. But as the practical type, the reality is that the experience with them was an expensive waste of my time. ...
34 Good replacement keyboard, with one oversight for mac users
The elite is a very nice keyboard with plenty of functionality (provided you install the drivers), but there is one problem for anyone who wants to use this as a mac-replacement usb keyboard. It has no pass-thru usb port.
oddly, this seems more the rule than the exception, but it was very important for me. in turn, i did need to return the keyboard for one off-brand keyboard that didnt feel as good but did have 2 usb ports built into it.
35 The world at your fingertips...
I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my old default keyboard with this shiny new one. After a week of use I can honestly say I'm thrilled with it's performance. The installation was easy peasy, and you can connect it directly through a USB port (although I have mine hooked up via the PS/2).
The programmable buttons are even more useful than I thought, and it was fun setting them up to launch different programs. Be warned, you'll need a logitech webcam in order to use that function, but you can configure any of the buttons to do a wide variety of tasks, such as launching a program or website. The media center is a joy, and makes listening to my mp3 collection a breeze. You'll need to download the latest drivers from the logitech site in order to get the most out of more recent programs such as winamp...without the new driver some commands will freeze the system, so make sure you download it and install it with the keyboard software.
As you can tell, I'm in love with this keyboard. It also comes in a cordless variety, but for gamers like me you'll appreciate the added response time of the corded version. If you need to upgrade your keyboard I'd highly recommend checking this baby out.
36 Great keyboard with helpful features
Whether you are a hardcore computer gamer or just use it for word processing and Email, you'll love this keyboard. The keys are whisper quiet and the iTouch (shortcut) buttons are very helpful. I don't need to scroll-knob because I already have on on my mouse, so I use it to toggle through open programs. It's very helpful. Additionally, it has shortcut buttons for your Email application, Instant Messenger progran, media application, and more, all of which you can customize.
Okay, so iTouch function keys are unneeded, but so what? You can easily disable them. And who knows... You may like them.
Good luck!
37 This is THE Keyboard
I don't see how you couldn't love this keyboard. I bought it because 1. it's Logitech. and 2. because it matches my case, monitor & mouse. The extra buttons are nice. And there are sure a lot of them. Honestly, I use the volume control more then anything. But, I'm so use to plain KB's it's gonna take me awhile to get use to having 1 touch keys. I set some of other ones to lauch custom apps. So now I can pop into Photoshop or Flash super quick. It's probably really no faster then clicking on the icon on my Desktop. But single button access is always nice. The default layout is pretty good actually. But, every button is customizable. You you could really go all out. Only problem is, they are all already labeled, so if you do change them. You'll have to have a good memory. I think Logitech got it almost perfect with this KB. I'm curious to see what they bring out next though.
38 Great keyboard, but.........
I really like all of the extra features on this keyboard, like media player control, and volume control, and many many others. One thing that is a draw back, is that it has a sleep button, but appearantly it doesnt work with XP. Seems kinda strange that its compatable with 98/ME, and not XP! Seeing how this is probably the most abundant OS out there, and will be for the foreseeable future. Other than that, its great!
39 I love this keyboard
I always update the drivers first for something new so I can't tell you if it will work as it should without updating but the keyboard works perfectly fine for me. The keyboard's software has an option that displays stuff whenever you hit one of the special keys like the sound dial but I'd suggest turning that feature off if you plan to play a game since it tends to interfer with some games. I also can't be sure I have much use for a second scroll button seeing as my mouse has one too but the keyboard looks and feels good. When it comes to keyboards my demands are pretty simple, that it works correctly and feels good. The fact it also looks good is a bonus.
40 Whisper quiet, great looks, super price!
I'll keep this short and sweet and to the point: Get this keyboard! Now! Not only is it whisper quiet (and I mean your boss will think you're not working from the lack of keyboard clacking), but extremely responsive. Whether it's the cordless or the corded Elite, Logitech got it right with just the right amount of buttons, all of which are placed within easy reach of your typing position. And if you can't tell from the picture shown by Amazon, it's also one heck of a smooth looking technology, and at a great price. The system preference software (this refers to the Mac OS X version) is a delight to use, and you can reassign just about any function key or navigation/internet key to anything you like. Want the CD-ROM eject key assigned to function key 4? No problem. Wanna raise or lower your computer's volume quickly? The ribbed wheel is right there at your disposal. It even has multimedia keys for most of the music software out there on the market, like iTunes and DVD player (stop, forward, back, pause).
Can I say anything else? Yes. The price is phenomenal compared with what Microsoft wants for an ugly beige keyboard that basically offers the same thing (Mac users need not apply). This is one keyboard that won't disappoint.
41 Best keyboard in existance!
This is far superior to any other keyboard I have ever seen! OK, the F-Lock is a pain, but if you have Windows XP, it's not an issue. In XP, the F-Lock will be on if it was on before you shut down. The scroll wheel is pretty cool, even if you have a scroll mouse. The Programmable function keys are very useful, and the regular keys (standard 104) bounce back like I've never seen before. Overall rank - 6 out of 5!
42 Nice apart from the altered function keys
I would have given this five stars were it not for the F-lock idea, I don't like it at all. Providing this functionality is fine of course, if they provided the capability to turn it off permanently. But you have to remember to do it each time you reboot. Other than that it's a really great, top quality keyboard.
43 Nice feel, don't like the F-lock
The keys have a solid feel, quiet operation. That's what matters most to me.
It has the usual features of a multimedia/internet keyboard, plus a scroll wheel that works just like a mouse's scroll. If you have a scroll mouse, the scroll on the keyboard is no big deal. Certain keys have labels that show the typical Windows shortcuts (e.g. contol-V for paste) which I find handy.
One thing that I don't care for is the F-Lock. It is the same thing as num lock, but for the function keys. It is naturally off so that the f keys can be used for other functions. I prefer to use the f keys for their original purpose. But you can't set the F-Lock to come on at every boot up, so you always need to remember to turn it own. I noticed that most of the new Logitech and Microsoft keyboards were like this. I wish it could be configured in software to control this default setting.
It comes with a 5 year warranty, which should be sufficient. Best Buy tried to sell me a service agreement on this, saying that "a lot of people return these". My experience with Logitech is that they are reliable.
44 Great Choice!!
Over the years I have used numerous keyboards, but this one is the best thus far. Very stylish; keys are quiet, with a very nice, firm touch. I especially like the scroll wheel, volume control and the F-lock keys. Everything worked right out of the box. You won't go wrong with this keyboard.
45 Great keyboard
The buttons are very useful. Mutt button is perfect for phone calls when you are jamming away!
46 one awesome keyboard
I had no idea a keyboard could be so convenient. I do a lot of graphics and I can set it up to go to the places I need in an instant.
47 Just remember to update drivers
The keyboard looks great with its space age design and cool black and silver colors. At first, my volume control did not work; however, as soon as I installed the updated drivers from the Logitech website, my volume control dial worked perfectly. The functionality of the keyboard is diversed, and exceptional.
48 Thumbs Up
I just unpacked and installed this new keyboard, and so far I've been impressed. Very simple and trouble free software installation on my Windows XP machine. Truly plug & play for a pleasant change. All the specialty buttons worked as advertised and I haven't felt the need to reconfigure any of them yet. Unlike the previous review, I have found that the multimedia volume control wheel works as you'd expect.
The keys have a nice, quiet feel as well. So far so good on this purchase.
49 Up-to-date keyboard for up-to-date use!
You want to know what kind of keyboard is that? Read this.
When I unpacked my Elite keyboard I understood that the picture I had looked at before I placed the order didn't give me that feeling you get when it's on the desk in front of you. My God, it's like a spaceship console! Its low-profile hi-tech design is a great match to my mighty brand-new laptop and the optical mouse which comes with the keyboard in a special offer makes it a full great-looking set. However my first thought was: "I'm not gonna use a half of those 50 extra buttons, though they look very cool." But you know what? I do use ALL of them! I assigned functions I needed to them and enjoy all those shortcut keys. "E-mail" key - for my Yahoo mailbox, "Shopping" - for Amazon.com, "Search" - for Google etc. It has also got some Windows XP shortcuts on F1-F12 keys, which are really handy (like "My computer," "My documents," "Save," "Undo" etc.). And there are multimedia controls on the top, as you can see on the picture, but this nice-looking dial wheel turned out to be a stupid thing: you would expect it lets you change the sound level quickly, making a dozen clicks with a single rotating move. But the problem is that for some reason it's got a VERY slow response, so you can make 20 clicks within a second, but the volume will decrease only by one point at a second, so you have to wait for 20 seconds till it comes to the level you need. But the major problem with it is that it memorizes the consecution of the dial moves, so it will take you 2 seconds to rotate it back and forth making a hundred clicks and it will take you forever to wait while each click will take effect and there is NO WAY to stop it. It can drive you really mad. So if you use it you should be very careful. But I do not use it at all thanks to that iNav wheel, which can perform this and many other functions without any problem. I didn't even know about it when I ordered the keyboard and now I can say that it's the best feature Logitech could think of! This iNav is not only good for volume control, but you can also scroll with it like you do with the mouse and do many other things. You can customize its function by just pressing it and choosing what you need from a pop-up menu. Believe me guys, it's cool. Besides, near this iNav wheel, there's a "Back" button which you need so often when surfing the Internet, and a "Go" button which brings you directly to the web address bar. Well, it's not a manual, so you'll figure out all the other buttons yourself. This keyboard is really good to use.
What are the problems with it? Basically, there're none. I can only add that the keys on the keyboard are somewhat smaller than usual, even comparing to my laptop keys and it feels a bit strange in the beginning, but you get used to it. It's also a bit loud, I mean the keys click louder than in the keyboards I used before, but that's not a big deal either. So the only real CON is that volume dial. But as I said - just use iNav instead.
Overall, this keyboard might be a bit expensive, but it's definitely worth it, especially after a [$] rebate for a mouse + keyboard set.
By the way the mouse is great too: nothing extra - just simple, regular ergonomic mouse, VERY accurate and very convenient to use. Works on any usual surface. Not that good on a naked lap or arm, but this is not what you use as a surface that often, really :) And it is also nice-looking: I don't mean only this black and silver casing (the same as the keyboard), but it's got transparent sides and bottom which lets it glow with red! Ahh..! I like it!
