Logitech's Cordless Keyboards and Mice Review

iTouch Software

A few things first. Windows XP, both Home and Pro versions were used for this review. Linux fans, both keyboards and mice worked under Mandrake 9.0. However, only the standard keyboard and 2-button scroll mouse features were available and iTouch doesn't work under Linux. Under Windows XP many of the "extra feature" keys functioned as soon as the keyboards were plugged in. I suggest you give it a run-through without the iTouch software to see if you want or need to load it. The downside of not loading it is some of the extra keys won't work, no customization, and the 4th button on the MouseMan Optical doesn't work. For those of you who, like me, worry about things running in the background here is the story on that. I ran benchmarks before and after installation of the iTouch software. (Geeze, I HATE that name. It sounds like Apple garbage.) Anyway, using Sandra and PCmark I saw a performance hit of less than 1/10th of 1 percent (at worst). I would consider that to be both insignificant and within a margin of error for these benchmarks, especially when you consider the extra features this software gives you.

Installation of the software was simple. You can choose to install the keyboard software, or add the mouse software to it. I see no real reason to install the mouse software unless those using the MouseMan want to use the 3rd button. Windows XP allows you do customize your mouse just fine without it. One thing did irritate me. The two screens below came up back-to-back during install. How many times should I have to say I don't want to register and I don't want you "phoning home"?

After reboot you can configure and customize to your hearts content. The mouse setup is pretty basic.

The keyboard setup is where the customization comes in. You can launch just about anything from just one button. Want Winamp to play your music? Just change it in the media button's section. How about launching Word or Photoshop with a click of a button? Just pick a key and tweak it! Click on the image below for a look at all 5 screens, very cool stuff!

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