Keyboard And Mouse Combo For Mac Fans

There are so many desktops (keyboard/mouse combos) on the market, but very few are available for Macs. You Mac fans will appreciate Logitech’s new Mac-specific keyboard and mouse combo. The Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac is a stylish white and silver upgrade from the plain standard Mac keyboard and mouse. It is a perfect addition to any Mac, especially a Mac mini (which doesn’t come with a mouse or keyboard).

My favorite functions are the iTunes and iPhoto buttons. Pushing these gives you instant access to your music and photos. There are other dedicated keys you can custom program (with the included software) to launch Safari, Mail, Spotlight or whatever you prefer. The keyboard is ergonomically shaped and ultra-flat (less than ¾ “ tall) designed to minimize wrist extension and the built-in palm rest provides added support.

The sculpted laser MX 600 laser mouse features a tilt wheel that lets you scroll pages top-to-bottom or side-to-side. It also has five re-programmable buttons that you can use to control volume and your web browser (back and forward) without taking your hand off the mouse. The USB mini-receiver plugs in easily to any Mac, and its small size is particularly convenient for laptop users such as myself. The included USB stand provides a convenient place to store it and sits neatly tucked away in the corner of your desk.

The keyboard uses two AAA batteries and the mouse two AA batteries. On both devices the battery life is approximately six months each with Logitech’s built-in extended battery life management technology in both. Both keyboard and mouse include LED battery level indicators. When it’s flashing, the LED gives approximately ten days notice before the batteries need to be changed. The mouse has an on/off switch to further the battery life.

The only couple of drawbacks I found is that it did not work with my husband’s MacBook Pro because of the Intel chip, but worked fine with my trusty 15” PowerBook. I would imagine it will not work with any Macs with the Intel chip. Perhaps that bug will be worked out in a future software update from Apple. I would have guessed that some programs and peripherals wouldn’t work properly with the new Apple Intel chip. My other issue with the S 530 is the fact that the wireless range doesn’t seem to be that far. The wireless is the standard RF (radio) and not the 2.45 GHz (Bluetooth) that other Logitech products have. If you’re right next to your computer though it doesn’t really make huge difference.

The Logitech Cordless Desktop S 530 is available from www.logitech.com or CompUSA for $99.99. It also includes a five-year limited hardware warranty.