Exclusive First Look: Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave

 

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Posted on 26 Jul 2007 at 16:27

We rarely get excited about a keyboard, particularly if it is an ergonomic one, but Logitech's Cordless Desktop Wave is something a little different. Rather than rattle out a standard ergonomic model with an odd shape that you have to retrain yourself to use, Logitech has gone back to the drawing board and started from scratch.

The result, after three years of planning, is the first ergonomic board that we actually like. The key to its success is that it doesn't look that radical. They keys are all in the places you'd expect them to be, and there's only a mild 'smile' to their setting, not the huge annoying split that other keyboards have used.

While it might not look that radical, it is. The incredible development time means that the Wave has had more attention and thought put into its design that any other keyboard. It gets its name from the way that the keys undulate across the keyboard. This isn't just for a nice effect, though, as the different heights of each key have been cleverly positioned to take into account the different lengths of your fingers. Each key is unique and designed specifically for comfort and to help you maintain a good typing position.

It works, too. We were amazed at how comfortably the keys fell under our fingers and, unlike other ergonomic boards, we didn't have to go through a process of adjusting ourselves to the board's design.

A cushioned wrist wrest provides support while you type and it's one of the most comfortable that we've used. The legs that raise the keyboard have two positions, but Logitech recommends that the Wave should be used flat on the desk. We've never liked using keyboards flat before, but this experience was completely different. We were surprised when we found ourselves preferring the keyboard flat rather than stood up. The keys have a decent amount of travel and there's a lot of feedback, so it's easy to type quickly and accurately.

There's the usual range of shortcut, media control and volumes that you'd expect to find on a modern keyboard, plus Windows Vista keys to launch Media Center and use the Flip 3D task switcher.

The Wave is wireless and runs off two AA batteries. There's also a rather basic wireless optical mouse in the box, which connects to the same USB wireless receiver. It's comfortable enough, but we'd rather buy a separate more expensive model.

The Wave is a really nicely designed bit of kit and it has the privilege of being the only ergonomic keyboard that we genuinely really like. It will be in shops by August and cost around £70.

Author: David Ludlow