MacNoob

First, a confession.  I am an input junkie.  The parts of a computer that most people seldom upgrade when purchasing a new machine, the mouse and keyboard, are the items I tend to spend too much money on.  It has always been a mystery to me how some folks can spend over $2000 on a nice computer and settle for the bare-bones $20 mouse and keyboard most manufacturers supply as “standard equipment”.  Think about it, aside from video there is no part of a computer you spend more time interacting with than the keyboard and mouse.  Almost every computer manufacturer offers a very nice upgrade to these devices for just a few dollars when you purchase a new machine and almost no one takes advantage of it.  Gamers are the exception.  Their special “need for speed” often drives them to spend over $200 for input devices that allow them to do custom key and button mapping or may even be specifically built to accommodate their favorite game.  Most “normal” users, on the other hand just need an accurate and comfortable keyboard and mouse to get their jobs done.  If you’re like me, and are very particular about the feel, function and style of their input devices, Logitech’s diNovo Edge is the ultimate keyboard in all three categories.  This sleek beauty’s smoked glass finish and razor thinness will compliment even the most tasteful desktop.  The built-in touchpad, touch-sensitive volume control and programmable function keys make the Edge as functional as it is beautiful.  The best feature of the diNovo Edge though, is its feel.  The keyboard layout is more similar to a laptop than a standard desktop (eg. no number pad) and the feel of the keys’ tactile response reminds me of the best Lenovo models.  It is a real joy to use, the bluetooth setup is a snap and I highly recommend the Edge to anyone willing to spend a little extra to have the very best.  The list price is $200 but I bought mine on-line for less than $140.  At the time of this post it’s on sale at eCost.com for $120!  WORTH EVERY PENNY!

It is a bit disconcerting that Logitech has not seen fit to make a purely Mac version and the Setpoint software they provide for programming and tuning the device is Windows only.  The Edge’s base functionality (touchpad, volume control, etc.) works just fine with my Macbook Pro and the device looks and feels so good I’m willing to put up with the absence of the “trickier” features.  I’d never been a big fan of Logitech keyboards, feeling they spent too much effort on gizmos and not enough on feel, function and style.  The diNovo Edge changed all that.  If Logitech were to make a Mac-specific model there would be no question, but even without Mac support it’s still my favorite keyboard ever.