The Logitech Wave full specs
Not used to split keys comfort desktops? Want something which packs functionality and at the same time pampering your hands and wrists with comfort while you type? Introducing the Logitech Wave keyboard. There are two types of wave keyboard. A corded Wave with just the keyboard only and the cordless Wave which comes with a keyboard and a laser mouse.
Nice packaging design. Wave + Curve + Palm Rest = Comfort.
I will be focusing more on the cordless Wave since there are not much difference from the corded one. Except that the corded Wave keyboard will have LED notifications on the Caps lock, numlock, and scroll lock which the cordless Wave don't have. (See picture below)
Whats so special about the Logitech Wave? A revolutionary advance in keyboard design, the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave key design instinctively guides your hands into a natural position for enhanced comfort and productivity. The cushioned palm rest provides extra support and can help reduce fatigue, and one-touch hot keys provide easy access to many Windows Vista features, including Flip 3D, Zoom, Photo Gallery, and Gadgets. Programmable F-keys can instantly open your favorite applications, games, folders, and web pages. Featuring soft-rubber side grips, the cordless laser mouse delivers exceptional comfort and precision. Both keyboard and mouse provide ultra-long battery life, and convenient LED battery indicators alert you when batteries need changing.
The bundled LX8 laser mouse equipped with 990 DPI Laser sensor.
Wave-like key layout (lower keys for shorter finger key positions and higher keys for longer finger key positions)
Included plastic desktop dust cover. Doesn't look that nice but it gets the job done.
Dedicated one-touch controls let you instantly launch key Windows Vista™ features, including Flip 3D, Zoom, Photo Gallery, and Gadgets.
Media keys: Play, pause, stop, forward, backward, volume up/ down, mute. Works natively without any software installation.
Buttons to launch gadgets, photo gallery, media application, media center, Vista 3D flip, Zoom in/ out.
See video below for the soft rubberized palm rest. No more cheap plastic!
In-depth technical features of the keyboard:
Leg Type: 4 Tilt legs (2 layers tilt legs - flips vertical) - Tilt legs open: small tilt legs (4 degree - 50 cm), big tilt legs (8 degree - 70cm)
Layout: 104 to 109 Key frames depending on region (industry standard qwerty keycaps layout - 31 different layouts)
Spill Proof: Yes, drain holes on bottom of keyboard (max. 60 ml liquid spillage).
Printing Type: Tempo printing
F-Mode Toggle: No (Need to press Fn key while choosing Enhanced Function Keys)
Batteries Used: 2 AA Alkaline batteries (1.5 Volts each)
LED = Dual color (Red-Green) LED below the down arrow key (RED indicates less than 10% or 10 days battery life left)
Frequency: 27 MHz Fast RF (Dual Channel - 27.045 MHz and 27.195 MHz)
Operating Range: 2 meters minimum (6.56 feet)
Connect Button: Red connect button under keyboard (a press on the button makes a channel change)
33 notable areas containing 31 Hot Keys:
- 18 notable areas containing 16 Non-Fn-related Keyboard Hot Keys:
- Document Flip (Win XP) or Flip 3D (Vista) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Gadgets (Vista) or http://widgets.yahoo.com (Win XP) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Search Pictures (Photo Gallery in Vista, My Pictures in Win XP) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Media Player (Launch default music player w/Setpoint) (Launch default music player w/o SetPoint)
- Launch Windows Media Center if available or default music player w/Setpoint (Launch default music player w/o SetPoint)
- Standby (System sleep w/SetPoint) (System sleep w/o SetPoint)
- Calculator w/SetPoint (Calculator w/o SetPoint)
- Zoom out (-) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Zoom in (+) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Previous Track (short press) w/Setpoint (Previous Track w/o SetPoint) - Seek Back (long press) w/SetPoint
- Stop w/SetPoint (Stop w/o SetPoint)
- Volume Up (+) w/Setpoint (Volume Up (+) w/o SetPoint)
- Volume Down (-) w/Setpoint (Volume Down (-) w/o SetPoint)
- Mute w/SetPoint (Mute w/o SetPoint)
- Next Track (short press) w/Setpoint (Next Track w/o SetPoint) - Seek Forward (long press) w/SetPoint
- Play/Pause w/SetPoint (Play/Pause w/o SetPoint)
- Battery LED (Dual color Red-Green LED)
- Red Connect Button
- 15 Fn-related Keyboard Hot Keys:
- Fn+F1 - Documents - MS Word w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F2 - Spreadsheets - MS Excel w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F3 - Calendar w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F4 - My Favorites (Smart Key A) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F5 - My Favorites (Smart Key B) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F6 - My Favorites (Smart Key C) w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F7 - My Home - Default Web Page w/SetPoint (Default Web Page w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F8 - Messenger - Default Messenger Program w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F9 - E-mail - Default E-mail Program w/SetPoint (Default E-mail Program w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F10 - One-Touch Search - Web Search w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F11 - Battery Check w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+F12 - CD Eject w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+Print Screen - Contextual Menu w/SetPoint (Contextual Menu w/o SetPoint)
- Fn+Pause/Break - Scroll Lock Toggle w/SetPoint (Scroll Lock Toggle w/o SetPoint)
- Fn - Nothing w/SetPoint (Nothing w/o SetPoint)
The LX8 laser mouse
In-depth technical features of the mouse:
DPI: 990 DPI typical (Up to 20 inches per second)
Tracking Type: Class 1M Laser (not visible)
Battery Life: 6 months typical (from new to low battery warning)
Batteries Used: 2 AA Alkaline batteries (1.5 Volts each)
LED: Dual color (Red-Green) LED on top middle of mouse (RED indicates less than 10% or 10 days battery life left)
On/ Off Switch: Yes (Black power on/off button - press and hold for about 2-3 seconds to toggle)
Frequency: 27 MHz Fast RF (Dual Channel - 27.045 MHz and 27.195 MHz)
Operating Range: 2 meters minimum (6.56 feet)
Connect Button: Red connect button under mouse (a press on the button makes a channel change)
11 notable areas of the mouse:
- Left (Main Click) - (only Swap button option in SetPoint)
- Right (Contextual Menu) - (only Swap button option in SetPoint)
- Scroll Wheel Button (Document Flip)
- Internet Back
- Internet Forward
- Left Scroll
- Right Scroll
- Battery LED = Dual color (Red-Green) LED on top middle of mouse
- Power On/Off Button
- Red Connect Button
- LED = Green LED when powered on or lifted, not lit when placed powered off or on desk
What can affect wireless range of Logitech products?
I'm sure many of you out there may have experienced wireless range issues with your Logitech products and are looking for ways to improve or boost the signal strength. Here is the cold hard truth, it is impossible to boost the signal strength nor there is any modification that you can do to boost the signal efficiency.
Having said that, it is however crucial to understand why you are experiencing lack of range with the devices. You can refer to this page for the complete list of Logitech wireless devices with the default range. Let's take the MX Revolution Laser mouse as an example. Do note that it was stated that the particular device can have "up to" 30 feet of range. It does not mean that the device will always work 30 feet away. We will explore some of the factors affecting the range and some tips and suggestions on how to improve the signal range of the devices.
First factor: Wireless Interference
Anything that runs on electric or motor will release unwanted EM (electromagnetic) waves. This includes your computer power supply unit, electrical power points, electrical fans, cordless phones, monitor screens, etc. These parasite waves can interfere with devices that runs on RF (Radio frequency). Imagine throwing a stone at each sides of a pool. When the water ripples come in contact with each other, what happens? They almost cancel out each other. Depending on which side is stronger; the stronger one may prevail but it's strength weakened after the collision.
It is virtually impossible to eliminate interference but there are ways to improve the situation. Here are a couple of things that you can try to reduce wireless interference with Logitech devices:
- Re-locate the receiver from the back of your computer casing to the front to avoid the huge interference from the power supply unit at the back.
- Use the bundled USB extender (usually provided in the package) to re-locate the receiver away from the computer casing, monitor or places where electrical devices are located.
- Re-connect the Logitech wireless devices. This will allow the devices to scan and connect to a channel with less interference.
Second factor: Low battery
Many are not aware but if your Logitech cordless devices are low on battery, the device will decrease in range and may frequently disconnect. Try changing some fresh batteries for a boost.
Third factor: Using the device on metallic surface
What do you think the TV antenna is made of? Why do people keep metallic objects away while navigating with the compass? The theory is the same for wireless devices. Metal attracts unwanted interferences. Imagine all the other signals are preventing your device from communicating with the receiver. Just avoid using metallic surfaces will to improve the signal.
Fourth factor: Location
Where is your computer located and where exactly are you using the device? Radio frequency travels by bouncing off walls. Many people think that the signal can pass through walls which is not true. If you are keeping your computer inside a cabinet or in a different room upstairs or even in a room with two walls away; chances of you getting good signal will decrease dramatically. The devices do not need to have line of sight. However, by concealing or blocking the signal from traveling freely will impact the range performance.
Fifth factor: Environment
Do a reality check. If you are using your Logitech cordless devices in a noisy environment (as in interference heavy), do not expect the range to be good. This is especially true in some offices where the environment is constantly bombarded with WiFi signals, cordless phones, running machines, miscellaneous cordless devices and so on. Logitech cordless devices work best in an environment void of other 3rd party cordless devices which in reality is not so that possible.
Having all the five factors in check, if you are still experiencing extremely short range with your device, it is possible that your device could be failing (as in if the device will not work 1 feet away from the receiver). You should contact Logitech for a resolution.
