Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510

Logitech’s Dinovo keyboard (CHECK FOR LINK) is undeniably stylish (and at £200 also ridiculously expensive), but we loved the extra media functions it offered. The Cordless Desktop S 510 Media Remote reviewed here offers a similar range of features, but at a fraction of the price.

As its name suggests, this desktop set is cordless and uses a simple USB stick to send and receive digital radio transmissions. The set consists of a remote control, known as the Media Remote, a keyboard and a mouse.

Looking much like any other remote, the Media Remote is completely separate from the keyboard and packed with multimedia-specific features. These include the ability to control Itunes, Musicmatch, Windows Media Player and Winamp, all from afar.

Using the impressive Medialife software (a Windows Media Center-style application), it’s also possible to play music, and view pictures and video files stored on your computer.

The keyboard contains a wealth of shortcut buttons. On the left-hand side are buttons for zooming and rotating digital photos. The right-hand side of the keyboard houses keys for multimedia navigation, while a set of predefined function keys along the top provide instant access to a range of applications.

The mouse is of equal interest. As well as offering an 800dpi resolution and side-tilt scroll wheel, it has an invisible optical light. Logitech claims this consumes less power than red optics and, as a result, allows the mouse to last for a staggering eight months on a single charge.

The keyboard power lasts two months shy of the mouse and both have an indicator light that switches from green to red when the juice is 10 days from running out.

The best thing about the whole package is the price. At £59, it offers a heap of functionality and some decent media software.