APC_Australia_Issue_442_June_2017

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WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO
$170 | WWW.LOGITECH.COM/EN-AU
Logitech MK850 Performance
A multi-device keyboard and mouse combo for multitaskers... MKay.
Keyboards and mice
are the most
frequently used
bits of equipment
in the office, yet these
essential PC appendages
are often an afterthought,
meaning we’re left with
cheap and rudimentary
solutions.
At the other end of the
spectrum are combos like
this MK850 kit, where an
ergonomic design, smart
configurable buttons and
responsive wireless
connection are just a few
of the benefits that you’ll
get over stock keyboard
and mouse arrangements.
Its real distinguishing
feature is just how at home
it is being connected to your
tablet or smartphone, as it is
with your PC or Mac.
The K850 keyboard’s
splayed convex design may
look as though it was
forcefully bent over
someone’s knee, but its
subtle curvature and wider
centrepoint make it a
particularly convenient
layout for prolonged typing.
This curvaceous facade is
bordered at the bottom by a
soft silicone palm rest,
creating a gentle incline and
a comfortable rest for your
hands. Whether you have it
set at a 0º, 4º or 8º incline,
this cushion manages to feel
comfortable and always sits
flush with the table.
We were a little concerned
about the light resistance
offered by the K850’s 19mm
keys, but a nice concave key
design and a deep travel
distance combine to create
a relatively effortless,
yet still precise typing
experience.
Another surprisingly
convenient feature is the
dual markings on keys,
which show each key’s
varying functions on
different OSes — such as, the
Windows key is also handily
marked as the Command
key (if you’re using a Mac)
and each function is marked
in a different coloured font
that’s used consistently
for that device-type across
the board.
In addition to having a
full-sized keyboard layout,
there’s also a raft of useful
functions pegged to the F1
through F12 keys. A few of
the K850’s function keys
are particularly useful for
navigating tablet and
smartphone OSes, a feature
that makes sense when you
can connect up to three
devices simultaneously and
toggle between them using
those clearly marked (and
well placed) white keys that
sit above the systemcommands
bank.
The M720 mouse manages
to match the keyboard’s
ergonomic design standard,
with a generous and
comfortable mouse body
that accommodates your
entire palm and offers
stable and consistent
movement. Each of the
M720’s 10 buttons seem to
sit underneath or adjacent
to one of your fingers, giving
you maximum control with
minimal movement. The
M720 is also the first mouse
we’ve seen to have its own
multi-device toggle that
can click between three
simultaneously connected
Bluetooth devices.
Mouse support varies
depending on device, of
course, and though, for the
most part, the M720’s
Bluetooth compatibility
is on par with the MK850
(including Windows 8 and
10, Mac OS X 10.10+, Chrome
OS and Android 5 + support),
it does miss out on the
keyboard’s iOS5+
compatibility.
The Logitech Options
application for Mac and
Windows is the standout
feature of the M720 mouse
as it gives you the control to
make six of the mouse’s 10
buttons anything from
desktop screen switches to
single click media controls.
With over 33 customisable
tasks, the number of
configurations is enormous
and each action will be
appealing to someone.
Joel Burgess
Verdict
Features
Performance
Value
The asking price will be a hurdle for
most, but the improved comfort and
efficiency offered is second to none.
32 www.apcmag.com