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Media gadgets powerhouse Logitech does not seem content to manufacturing mice which work on the standard 2D surface. With the addition of their new top-of-the-line MX Air to their mousing arsenal, Logitech has opened an entire niche in the mouse industry. The unique selling point of the Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse is that, well, it works as well in air as compared to being used on a table surface.

The Logitech MX Air is a gyroscopic mouse. This means that, other than being used in the standard way, the MX Air can be lifted off the surface and be used to control the cursor on the screen like a laser pointer. This is most certainly targeted at home theatre entertainment users. The MX Air has a sleek and futuristic design, which looks nothing like conventional mice. It has a touch-scroll which has replaced the conventional scroll-wheel, extra multimedia buttons and is fully wireless.

I had some misgivings regarding the touch-scroll strip which replaced the scroll-wheel. It makes use of a technology called inertia scrolling. Sliding your index finger along the strip will allow you to scroll documents, achieving the same effect as rolling back on a scroll-wheel. However, as you flick your finger faster on the touch-scroll strip, it accelerates your scrolling speed exponentially. This causes some inconvenient scrolling of web browsers and documents sometimes, although I would admit, it is a very classy feature.

The four extra mouse buttons are self-explanatory – Back, Select, Play/Pause and Volume. These are basic entertainment and multimedia mouse functions, perfect for that Home Theatre PC (HTPC) to watch Blu-Ray movies or stream online video content. The Logitech MX Air is fully wireless; all that is required is for you to stick a USB receptor into your computer. The signal strength is strong - I had no problems operating it even at distances of up to 7-10 metres. The MX Air is equipped with a rechargeable battery and comes with a very stylish charging stand.

The mouse makes use of mechanical gyroscopes in the air, meaning that even if you tilt the mouse sideways and move it up, the mouse will still register a horizontal cursor movement. This is definitely a very considerate feature and will reduce the disorientation while in midair. The myriad of functions and controls that the MX Air possesses can only be fully explored once you have the mouse and start to experiment on it yourself. For example, holding down the Volume button in midair and then traversing the mouse sideways will adjust the volume. This is a power-packed addition to Logitech’s growing family of versatile mice.

One important fact to bear in mind before deciding to buy this is that, while the whole concept of gyroscopic mice is very attractive and very appealing, the MX Air will take some getting used to. A user of standard mice will find it disorientating once you lack that sense of security that the solid table gives you. Apart from this, this mouse also commands a very exorbitant price tag of approximately US$120-140.

If money is of no object to you in securing an attractive and functional mouse for that HTPC, the Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse will be the perfect choice for you. This Wii variant of the mice fraternity is a very handy device which would complement a HTPC very well.

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As a result of my gaming habits, the mice that I usually prefer with my desktop are usually Razer-made. Be it the older Krait or the newer Lachesis, Razer gaming mice have grown on me. However, recently I purchased a Logitech G5 Laser Mouse from eBay and I have found myself using this more than my current Razer Lachesis. An extremely versatile mid-range gaming mouse, it would definitely appeal to the casual user as well.

The Logitech G5 has an impressive 2,000dpi (dots per inches) sensitivity. That statistic does not seem too impressive beside Razer’s representatives – Copperhead and Lachesis, which have up to 4,000dpi. One thing to note is, however, 2,000 is more than enough even for gaming enthusiasts and certainly overkill for the casual user. Gamers can get the most out of their gameplay with this sensitivity, especially for the first-person shooters (FPS) crowd who require more control over their crosshairs. Clicking small spots on the monitor is now made much easier as you have finer control over the cursor, thus making this one very accurate device.

I mentioned that the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse is extremely versatile, and one aspect where this is evident is the SetPoint software that is bundled along with the mouse. SetPoint allows ‘dpi switching’, which means that you can set the dpi at which the mouse operates at, be it 100 or 2,000dpi. This is definitely good news to casual users, who will most likely run it only at 1,000 to 1,500dpi for daily usage. This dpi setting can be altered on-the-fly, with a simple click of the middle buttons below the scroll wheel. Furthermore, it allows you to save profile settings, meaning that you can assign new functions to every single one of the six buttons and save these changes. The first thumb button could be assigned to open Mozilla Firefox, for example, while the second could be used to open iTunes.

Another feature that I really liked was the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) mouse feet. Mouse feet are smooth pads at the bottom of the mouse surface which is in contact with the mouse pad (or table surface). The polytetrafluoroethylene mouse feet are ultra-smooth and this basically means that the mouse literally glides across your mousing surface. Coupled with a decent mouse pad, the G5 would be a very comfortable mouse to use. I am using this with the Razer Destructor gaming mat and I can safely say that I have never used a mouse that is smoother than the G5.

This last feature is undoubtedly my favourite – the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse allows users to use small weights to customize the total mouse weight. Often, I’ve come across mice which are either too cumbersome or too light to be used comfortably. The G5 comes with weights that can be slotted into the underside of the mouse to make it a little heftier for the user to have more control over the device. This, coupled with the polytetrafluoroethylene feet, strikes a good balance between sensitivity and control for the mouse and is definitely the G5’s winning point.

I would be elated if Logitech had added two more side buttons to the G5. The two thin mouse buttons might be useful for the casual user, but it is hardly enough for the gamers. I would prefer more buttons to bind commands to and hopefully the successor versions of the G5 would implement this. Apart from this, the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse is an excellent mouse and I have been a happy user for the past two weeks.

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‘Beyerdynamic’ is a name known and respected by true audiophiles around the world. Beyerdynamic audio products are famous for the quality and design, as well as durability. Beyerdynamic stands as among the top few brands like Sennheiser, Audio-Technica and Grado for high-end audio equipment. One of the more affordable pair of headphones from Beyerdynamic is the DT231.

When accessing a pair of ‘cans’ (the insider term for headphones), most important aspects to consider include quality of sound, comfort during use, portability, durability d cost. In my opinion, the DT231 has very good value for money and, overall in the above-mentioned aspects, fare very well for a mid-range pair of headphones.

The DT231 looks very lightweight. The cups of the headphone are compact and look nothing like the more bulky Grado designs. Whilst some hardcore listeners may not like this ’softer’ feel but instead prefer the trusty weight of heavier cans, the compact size makes it a very portable set of headphones. This means that it can be easily brought around in a bag, or even around the neck, making it the perfect companion for your iPod. Comfort-wise, this set does not pose any serious problems. The headband does not constrict the top of the skull and the cups fit snugly around the ears. As with any other headphones, the ears get warm after long hours of listening but I thought the material of the ear muffs could be selected specifically to trap less heat. There were occasional periods when I felt that the headphones was pressing slightly too tight on the top of my ears, resulting in a very slight ache after long hours of use.

When I plugged this into my computer using a Creative Audigy 2 Value sound card, I was quite taken aback. The retail price of the DT231 is slightly less than US$100, but after using it for a day, I was convinced that the DT231 was a steal from Beyerdynamic. This price range is considered low to medium-class for premium brands like Beyerdyanmic, however from the quality of sound from the DT231, it sounds more like a medium to high-end set of headphones. For me, bass is one big factor in sound quality and the DT231’s bass is solid and reverberating - just the way I like it. Music is clear and crisp, both high and low pitches are a joy to hear, even at loud volumes. Another feature that I really liked is the excellent noise cancellation. Basically the DT231 is closed, meaning that once you put it on, it isolates your ears from the environment. This makes for excellent outdoor use as it cancels out background noise and enhances the clarity of the sound.

For a pair of headphones under US$100, this pair of headphones has one of the best sound quality in the market. More expensive headphones from Grado and Audio-Technica may not be able to best the DT231’s melodious quality. Beyerdynamic DT231 Headphones should be your choice if you want to pay the minimum for superb quality. I have never looked back since I purchased my set.

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The current market is not short of attractive and stylish-looking keyboards. Brands like Razer, Everglide and Aevoe Moshi have their own good-looking keyboards equipped with various functions. However, Logitech’s latest multimedia keyboard is the undisputed pinnacle of multimedia technology crafted into a functional yet stunningly elegant keyboard - Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

First impressions matter a lot to me and judging by first impressions alone, the diNovo Edge trumps all competition. Crafted from a single slab of Plexiglass and then mounted on a sleek aluminum frame, it has truly breathtaking design. It sports a very attractive glossy black finish on the keyboard main pane and also a sleek aluminum palm support. Beware though; the glossy panel attracts more fingerprint smudges than you ever thought possible. The Edge is only 11mm thick but is sturdy, considering how delicate it looks. Also, instead of the conventional number pad on the right, Logitech replaced it with a circular ‘TouchDisc’. It functions basically in a similar fashion to laptop touchpads, with the striking difference being that it is circular. Although this may seem strange, the TouchDisc is rather friendly to use, not for just moving your cursor, but also to scroll documents.

This keyboard has an edge (pun intended) over rival keyboards as it is one of the rare rechargeable wireless keyboards. The diNovo Edge is a Bluetooth-operated keyboard, with a range of a good 30 metres. Installation is a breeze - just plug in the USB Bluetooth receiver into your PC and you can start typing. The rechargeable stand of the Edge is also crafted to be an ornament. During charging, it holds up the Edge vertically a la an exhibition display. A solid 2 hours of charging can allow the Edge to function for more than a month on moderate usage.

Each of the keys has up to 10 million keystrokes and the each individual is equipped with Logitech’s PerfectStroke technology. Typing on the Edge requires getting used to though, due to the ultra slim profile, the keys do not travel by much when depressed. It was also disorientating initially to be typing on such a low ascent. This is not that much of a hindrance compared to the TouchDisc and other touchpad functions. The sensitivity of the TouchDisc and touch-sensitive volume control is diametrically opposite to that of the Razer Lycosa’s. While there were many complaints about the Lycosa’s touch panel being hypersensitive, I anticipate the equal amount of complaints about the diNovo Edge’s touch panel being too insensitive. One would assume that the TouchDisc would do away with the need for a mouse, however, the TouchDisc was overwhelmingly cumbersome to use. Just to move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other required 3 full brushes across the diameter of the TouchDisc. The concept of this touch panel on the diNovo Edge is indeed creative and innovative, but it is a downright annoyance to use.

The other significant reason why the diNovo Edge is not as popular in real life than in concept is the extravagant cost. With a US$200 price tag (or thereabouts), it is a greatly prohibitive price for the average user. Furthermore, for such a price, I would have expected Logitech to further refine their touch-sensitive interface. Also, I felt that the inclusion of backlight illumination for the keys would have boosted its reputation as an all-rounded multimedia keyboard exponentially. For regular typists, you would do better off with a lower-end Logitech keyboard. For gamers, a keyboard from the Razer family would be much more practical; besides, I would not want to subconsciously pound away at my delicate Edge keys during intense gameplay.

For the fashion savvy, who wish to use this in the study as well as the living room, US$200 would be a reasonable price for a flashy and decently functional keyboard. Just remember, do yourself a favour and buy yourself a Logitech Bluetooth mouse along with the Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

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Plantronics is a California-based electronics hardware company that is renowned for its electronic communication headsets, known for their dexterity and portability. You might not have heard of Plantronics, but the famous words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” said by Neil Armstrong were transmitted through a Plantronics headset. Plantronics equipped the first astronaut to land on the moon with their advanced lightweight headset. As such, it would not be unreasonable to expect quality sound and performance from its Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset.

When I first got the Plantronics Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset, I had high hopes for it, since Plantronics is a global market leader in audio peripheral. The looks itself certainly did not disappoint. The Gamecom 1 has a sleek metallic and matte finishing, with large ear cups surrounded by generous rubber padding. It is equipped with a very basic volume control that allows adjusting of volume and a simplistic bass control. Although nothing as refined as a Razer or Logitech product, this headset is still pleasing to the eye. Also, wearing the headset is rather comfortable, with an adjustable double head strap.

The most immediate feature about the Gamecom 1 you will realize after donning one is how remarkably lightweight it is. After using the Razer Barracuda for some time, this headset felt almost weightless. It fits snugly and provides satisfactory noise-reducing capabilities from the background. Due to it being so lightweight, it is very comfortable to wear. Sometimes, during gaming, I do not even recall that I am actually wearing a headset. The headset features a microphone that is fully extended. I actually prefer this over shorter versions of microphones found in other headsets, as I do want that reassuring feel that the mic is directly in front of my mouth so I would not have to yell unnecessarily.

For a headset that costs only about US$20, the Gamecom 1 produces a surprisingly good quality of sound. Under normal usage conditions, sounds are clear and crisp and I was pleasantly surprised to note that there was not much discernible difference in quality with expensive headsets like the Barracuda (a good US$100 more). However, unlike the multiple drivers present in the Barracuda, the Gamecom 1 sounds distorted and scratchy at high levels of volume. Furthermore, the bass sounds weak and lacks the resounding quality that a good bass should possess. The microphone, though, transmits clearly and audible, much thanks to the noise-cancellation feature as well. Do note though, that the microphone has known compatibility issues with games like Battlefield 2. Installation is a breeze; it’s simply plug-and-play via one USB port. The Gamecom 1 however, is not compatible with most sound cards as it is considered a plug-and-play headset.

For a price of S$20, this counts as one of the best in the market of budget gaming/music headsets. Sound quality is sufficient for light gaming and music that is not bass-intensive. However, this headset is not high on versatility and should be used solely for light gaming/music purposes. Do not bother trying to watch an action movie with the Plantronics Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset.

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