Further layout changes are seen on the right hand side of the keyboard. The Windows key on the right side has been removed, in part to allow for the slightly larger cursor keys to be placed closer to the main key grouping, and also because it's rarely used - I know that I almost never use it.

   The cursor keys are offset to the left and downwards a little, a trend seen in many newer keyboards, and in fact the whole layout in this section seems to be more and more standard in new keyboards. I had no problem with this closer grouping, and in fact, it was a little bit easier to use because of the slightly larger keys.

   The numpad remains unchanged, though the Num Lock keys has a "stepped" design similar to the Caps Lock key on many keyboards, including this one. The LX 501 also features a very flat profile design. This supposedly reduces stress, but I've never really had a problem on old-school slanted keyboards. However, the LX 501 was very comfortable anyway; feet on the bottom of the keyboard can raise it somewhat, but I didn't use this feature. The LX 501 also includes a whole slew of hot keys that are arrayed around the edges of the keyboard. Some of these can be used without the installation of the SetPoint software, (such as volume control and e-mail, since Windows XP and perhaps Windows 2000 support these natively), but a lot them cannot. In any event, the SetPoint software allows customization of the keys. The iNav section on the left side of the keyboard has four buttons and a scroll wheel, which cannot be clicked. It can be used to scroll through documents or lists, and serves as complement to the wheel on the mouse. The other four buttons, by default function, are Home Page, Search, Application switcher, and Back. The App. Switcher button pops up a list of running programs, much like Alt-Tab, and allows you to switch betwen them - you can either click a program's entry or scroll using the iNav wheel - a very intuitive approach.

   In the left upper side we have the "My Files" section. The largest button opens up your "My Documents" folder, while the three smaller keys open up "My Pictures", "My Videos" and "My Music". Not importantly useful, but still nice. (I doubt I'll use anything but "My Documents".)

   The Media section of the keyboard, while well-laid out, is probably the most confusing thanks to its liberal use of cryptic icons and lack of descriptions. You'll most likely have to use the configuration of SetPoint so you'll know what each button does. The confusing buttons are on the left side of the Media grouping. One of the icons is a red dot, usually meant to indicate "Record", which it thankfully does. But, another looks like a oval with tapered ends; this one is "Burn", and can be used to launch your favourite burning software.

   The "Media" key is used to launch your favourite media player, but confusingly, an button with a Remote Control icon can also be used to launch a media player; by default it launches Logitech's MediaLife software. On the other side, there are volume up/down buttons, as well as a mute button and one that can be used to eject/open any optical drives you have. By default it opens your first optical drive, but by holding it down, you can select which one you want open from a list, if you have multiple drives.

   The thing I liked about this feature (besides its obvious handiness) is that I didn't need to read some obscure help file to find this out; instead, when the hot key is pressed, a small popup just above your systray comes up and unobtrusively informs you of how to do this. This is a good example of contextual help.

   The play/pause, stop, forward/reverse controls are all integrated into a D-pad like control, which is more intuitive to use than separate keys, since most digital music players use something like this. About the only thing I'd like changed (beyond the cryptic icons) is perhaps a dial or wheel for volume control rather than buttons. I believe that this would be more intuitive than buttons, but there's some debate over that.

   The keyboard uses 2 of the 4 included AA batteries. To converse battery life, there are no status LEDs on the keyboard, as is the case with cordless Logitech keyboards. However, the SetPoint software will notify you on screen of "Lock" status changes, and the receiver also has the LEDs to indicate the status of, for example, Caps Lock.

   The mouse in the LX 501 package is also no slouch. It's based on the Cordless Click! mouse Logitech has had in their lineup for a while, but adds in the "tilt wheel" feature, which is basically a scroll wheel that can not only be scroll up and down, but tilted from side to side to scroll sideways in documents.

   It's a similar feature to Microsoft's implementation. The mouse also includes an extra button beyond the normal three, one that is designated to be an Application Switcher button, but can be configured to do other things, too. The mouse is of an ambidextrous design, so it'll work equally well for lefties and righties.

   Its shape is fairly traditional, but the underside tapers to a narrower width right around the midsection of the mouse, making it feel different, yet still basically comfortable during usage. The shape tends to fit your hand quite nicely, though perhaps not as nicely as Logitech's own MX700 or MX900 mice, if you're right-handed.

   The mouse isn't too bulky, nor is it too flat - it's just about right, and this was expected from a company like Logitech. All of the buttons provided decent tactile feedback, and did not feel too loose. They were all easily accessed during usage, and I had no problems differentiating between them.

  The mouse is all plastic on the exterior, and doesn't feature any amenities such as textured grips, or anything like that. However, I won't hold this against it, since it works well, feels well, and looks nice.

   Beyond this, it also uses the FastRF technology, which improves the accuracy of the mouse by increasing the polling rate from 50Hz to around 125Hz; this results in better point precision. On the bottom, you'll find the battery bay that holds the 2 AA batteries used for powering the mouse.

  The batteries undoubtedly make the mouse heavier than an average mouse, but not so much that usage is impeded; in practice, I found that the heavier weight didn't affect my pointer accuracy or precision at all. Also on the bottom is the connect button, used to establish a connection with the receiver. There are also four feet upon which the mouse glides.

   The receiver looks the same as previous Logitech ones, but adds the FastRF capability for improving the cordless mouse's accuracy. It's roughly a half-ovaloid shape, and has the plugs for connection to your computer's PS/2 ports. The body is made of black translucent plastic, and on it are the connect button and several status LEDs.

   The receiver's cords are about 1.6m or 63" long, which should be enough to place this receiver within range of the keyboard and mouse. (The mouse and keyboard have a stated range of 6ft, but they may work beyond this to some extent.)

   The receiver has connections for PS/2 ports, and though the keyboard's connector is a USB one with a PS/2 adapter, the installation guide advises you to use the PS/2 ports when connecting to a desktop computer, but curiously, to only use the USB connector if connecting the whole setup to a notebook. The status LEDs on the receiver are for caps lock, num lock, scroll lock and f-lock. These were placed here in order to remove the LEDs from the keyboard to conserve battery usage.