Introduction

Logitech has quite the selection of keyboard and mouse combinations, from those providing the most basic needs to those providing a dazzling array of features and functionality. An increasing majority of their line up is becoming cordless, and as this technology improves, so do the mice and keyboards which use it. The idea is that hopefully cordless keyboards and mice will be indistinguishable from their corded counterparts in performance, thus making a cleaner desktop and quality input possible for everyone, including the most nitpicky of computer users.

Recently we looked at the Logitech MX3100, a desktop set that paired the popular MX1000 Laser mouse with one of Logitech's cordless keyboards. While we were happy with it, Logitech thought that some improvements might be in order, and so they designed the MX5000, which we'll be looking at today. Superficially, the MX5000 looks similar to the MX3100, since it features the same mouse as it, but has quite a price premium over it - which begs the question, "What for?"

The main addition is the Bluetooth functionality. The mouse and keyboard have been redesigned to support Bluetooth, and the required Bluetooth receiver is also supplied. This in turn allows other Bluetooth devices to communicate with your PC, such as your cellphone or PDA. While this alone might have made the MX5000 noteworthy, other additions have been made that take advantage of what Bluetooth can deliver. Most significant of these is the LCD on the keyboard that is used to display a variety of information - the keyboard can now not only send but receive information. It's clear that this addition of Bluetooth support is aimed at attracting the professional or gadget-geek user, who will benefit most from it - but, is the price premium of the MX5000 justified by its performance?

Specifications

I've never used a Bluetooth device before, so my knowledge of it has been next to nil. I've recently expressed doubt over whether Bluetooth will take off, since its various versions have been around for quite sometime and also because Wireless USB is perhaps on the horizon. Logitech seems to have somewhat of a similar stance, since their Bluetooth keyboard selection is much smaller than their regular cordless selection. However, Bluetooth is quite prevalent in the area of PDAs, cellphones and other small devices, so if you regularly need to sync or transfer information between one of these and your PC, having Bluetooth connectivity can be very useful.

As mentioned before, the mouse included is a Bluetooth version of the MX1000 Laser, and has all the same features of that mouse. The keyboard is of a new design, and features not only an LCD but also a touch-sensitive area for some of the controls. The Bluetooth mini-receiver is smaller than most USB keys and plugs easily into a USB port; the recharger for the mouse is separate from the receiver unlike other Logitech setups.

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

The keyboard uses a total of four AA batteries, which are included; the keyboard will have considerably more to power, because of the LCD and the touch-sensitive controls, so that's what the extra batteries are probably used for. As expected, the keyboard uses the "new" home/page/over-sized delete key grouping that many people have grown to love or hate. It has made the keyboard a little more compact, so perhaps it cannot be all bad. The touch-sensitive controls are on the left-hand side and take up little space; the keyboard size is identical to previous Logitech keyboards.

The MX5000.

Well packaged as always.

What's included.

Keyboard layout.

As usual you get a CD with the Logitech's software, in this case, SetPoint, that allows for full use of the keyboard and mouse. Logitech's MediaLife, a program useful for Home-Theatre-PCs (HTPCs), is also included. A nice quick set-up guide is also included.