It seems that for Logitech, the days of the "normal" keyboard are gone. All of their new keyboards feature additional keys, related to media or application quick-launching. Most of them are also cordless and come in a mouse-keyboard combination, often with the mouse being rechargeable. Perhaps this is also due to widespread industry trends, as almost all keyboards do not resemble their ancestral rectangular white and grey counterparts at all, but rather come in all sorts of shapes/sizes and sometimes equipped with fancy lights and other bells and whistles. This is all part of a somewhat recent trend to make computers and their peripherals more stylish, as proliferation of computers increases even more in our day. Once computers became so common, efforts to differentiate by look and not just function come into play more and more.

   For many older and mature computer users keyboards are of utmost importance, and for good reason: They are often the part of the computer you physically interact with most, and so logically the comfort of use is a major part of the computing experience. People will often not want to, or worse still, can not use a computer if they experience discomfort. For some, keyboards are a matter of religious-like importance - they simply will not tolerate a low-quality, short-lifespan, squishy-feeling keyboard - they must use their old school IBM Model M clicky keyboard. I do have respect for that, as having used them, I can tell you that they will stand the test of time. For these people, not even all the new fancy buttons and features/looks of today's new keyboards will be reason enough to switch.

  But the question is not whether fancy buttons and new features will make a good keyboard, but rather, if a keyboard is of proven quality, than do these additions put it ahead of the competition? Having used Logitech keyboards, I can say that they are generally of good quality - the ones that you pay for, of course, not a bargain-bin OEM one you may find at your local computer store for $10. Logitech has generally focused on pushing the envelope of mouse development, and then followed up by pairing their best mouse with a decent keyboard, in the hopes of making the killer combo. They did this with the MX 700, a cordless, rechargeable, optical mouse some years ago, and now have done the same with the MX 1000 Laser Mouse, which made headlines late last year as being the next step in the evolution of the mouse.

   This time, however, the keyboard is also new. While based on other similar keyboards, a host of new additions such as a redesigned scroll wheel, and a new look make it something more. Always media-conscious, the keyboard has many extra buttons ideal in for a HTPC. It's a seemingly perfect companion for the MX 1000, Logitech's premier mouse. Logitech has put together a good mouse with a good keyboard - will it work?

Specifications:

   Logitech seems to be only really interested in making cordless keyboards, as most of the corded keyboards are available only as OEM parts it seems. These cordless keyboard/mouse combos can be divided into two unequally-sized camps, those using Bluetooth RF technology and those using Logitech's own FastRF technology. Say what you want about Bluetooth, but it doesn't seem to have taken off as much as its creators would have liked it to. With Wireless USB coming out, it seems like Bluetooth will eventually die off - but this is just my perception of things. I don't have a cellphone or any other PDA-like device that uses Bluetooth so maybe I'm not aware of its benefits.

   But going back to the review at hand, the MX 3100, or specifically, the MX 1000 mouse included with it, uses Logitech's FastRF technology, in place with select Logitech products since the MX 700 mouse debuted, some years ago. This RF technology put cordless mice on par with wired mice, and vastly improved performance. The keyboard appears to use the same RF tech. as previous Logitech cordless keyboards, based upon my experience and we'll see how that affects performance.

• Please visit Logitech's product page for more details.

   If you are familiar with the MX 1000, you'll know that it uses an internal rechargeable battery. While this allowed Logitech to use a custom-made (or at least allowed them to pick a battery better designed for the mouse) Li-Ion battery that helped cut down on the weight of the mouse and improved battery life, it'll present some problems with the battery eventually needs to be replaced. Li-Ion batteries typically last quite a long time, so that may not be a problem. (Li-Ion batteries are typically used to power mobile computers.) While the mouse would certainly weigh more with 2 rechargeable AA batteries, some may want this for the ease with which batteries could be replaced.

   The keyboard, like most Logitech's, uses 2 standard AA batteries, which are included in the package. As expected, it uses the elongated Delete key in place of the Insert key, which has been relocated to share a key space with Scroll Lock. This results in the modified Home/End key grouping becoming increasingly common on newer keyboards. I believe this will soon be the norm, but many people detest any modification of the keyboard layout. This quasi-new layout results in the keyboard being a little more compact, as the cursor/arrow keys have been moved in closer to the main grouping. This may be good if you are limited in desk space.