Product Review: Microsoft Arc Keyboard

We picked up a Microsoft Arc keyboard to check it out.

Firstly, we do have a bit of a beef with Microsoft keyboards that gives Logitech the advantage: Where is the Mouse Right Click button?

On Logitech keyboards we can hit a key or combination of keys to bring up the right click menu wherever the mouse cursor happens to be. For keyboard users this is a big time saver.

Microsoft does not have that button on this keyboard. So, right away the mouse hand is moving back and forth between the mouse/touchpad and keyboard for that right click menu.

The keyboard itself looks to be purposed for mobile carrying as it is rather compact:

The SSD sitting on the keyboard is a standard 2.5” Intel 320 Series.

While it does take a bit to get use to the keyboard’s key layout due to the compact size and the arc of the key set once that hurdle is overcome it is actually quite easy to use.

The keys have a solid feel to them with excellent feedback. One knows that a key press has happened.

The catch with that for those of us that are used to keyboards with a much lower spring load in the keys is that we will miss a number of key strokes around the edges both due to that and the arc until we get use to using it.

In the end this keyboard is great for mobile folks that require the ability to type a lot of information into their systems.

As far as being a daily driver the Logitech MX 5500 is probably one of the best all around keyboards to work with along with the MX Revolution mouse that comes with the MX 5500 kit.

For the wrist conscious the Microsoft Wave keyboard takes a load off of the curvature that a straight keyboard causes in the wrists and thus reduces pain there after a long day’s typing.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution

We just finished installing a Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution keyboard and mouse combination kit.

Out of the box, the software that comes with the kit is out of date.

• Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution (link to download page)

Once the SetPoint drivers have been installed we get a prompt to update the Bluetooth radio:

Current firmware version: 1.0.89

New firmware version: 1.1.92

We have had a few of these updates hiccup where the update seemingly goes on without stopping. We then have to force close the update process. When that happens, most of the time we can pull the radio and let it sit for a minute then reattempt the update.

In this case though we did not have an issue and are currently typing up this post on the MX 5500 keyboard which has an okay action and key click.

The MX Revolution is, in our opinion, probably one of the best mice that we have ever used. Both the MX and VX series mice are used extensively by us at MPECS.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

Logitech VX Revolution - Neat Mouse for Laptops

A while back, we purchased some Logitech MX Revolution and posted a review: Hardware Review: Logitech MX Revolution. Essentially, it is an awesome mouse.

Recently, we had need to pick up some mice for a few of our shop laptops, and since the MX Revolution was not necessarily the best option for a laptop, we looked at a few other models.

We settled on the Logitech VX Revolution.

The mouse is excellent. One of them ended up connected to the laptop being used at home to write the upcoming SBS 2008 Blueprint book. The surface it is being used on is our dining room table which is a flat white melamine.

The mouse tracks flawlessly across the table and the very large glide pads make the effort to move the mouse about virtually feather light.

The scroll wheel has the ability to move freely or have a click-lock style of movement. On the MX Revolution, that action changes automatically depending on the application being used. On the VX Revolution there is a slider switch on the bottom of the mouse to switch between modes.

Logitech has branched out as far as their product lines are concerned. However, their ability to design and manufacture a computer mouse is definitely at the top of the list as far as quality and features are concerned.

One neat feature of the mouse for those of us prone to losing small items that are necessary to the operation of a device like say the radio receiver: This mouse has a small slot in the back that the radio receiver tucks into that also turns the mouse off thus saving battery life.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.

Hardware Review: Logitech MX Revolution

We took care of a friend's I.T. business for about 3 weeks while he and his family were travelling about Europe.

At one point I had to pop into his office to manage some server related issues at his principle workstation.

He had the Logitech MX Revolution (product page) installed on it.

Logitech MX Revolution

The mouse is impressive to look at and even more impressive the first time it is used.

It has a really good well balanced weight to it with the glide pads on the bottom of the mouse providing a seemingly friction free movement.

It fits the hand really well.

The mouse's button positioning, the ability to utilize Windows Vista's Flip 3D feature via the side mounted scroll wheel, the main scroll wheel's ability to smooth scroll while viewing long Web pages or click scroll when working in Word Documents (changes on the fly) demonstrates that Logitech put a lot of thought into the mouse's abilities and features.

The driver that shipped with the mouse was out of date. Make sure to visit the product's download page beforehand: MX Revolution Download Page.

Once downloaded, the SetPoint for Windows Vista x64 installed flawlessly and provided the ability to customize all of the buttons and scroll wheel actions.

Those who need mousing accuracy, such as CAD operators or professional publishers, will appreciate this mouse.

All in all, this mouse has made an excellent addition to our key workstations!

By the way, the MX Revolution is both PC and Mac friendly.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.