Logitech MK550 Wireless Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo - Includes Keyboard and Mouse, Long Battery Life, Ergonomic Wave Design, Black

The new Wave combo uses a different receiver - a tiny stick, vs the previous, which was about like a memory stick. You can still remote it as was the case in the previous style if your available USB slots don't present well for your activity with either keyboard or mouse. This is their universal receiver - handling up to 6 devices. As my wife has a Logitech mouse, with the presumed same receiver, I wondered about conflict. So far, neither of our devices have triggered the other's receiver. So, I am guessing/presuming that there are a large number of frequencies used. However, I have no idea how they associate, as there aren't the "connect" buttons on the mouse or keyboard as there were on the earlier version. How, you might ask, do I know so much about the earlier version? I had one, and the mouse failed. I gave away the perfectly good keyboard (and the dead mouse), as the mouse could not be replaced, being supplanted by their new universal system. That being the only negative I had regarding the previous version, let's move on to my real review... This style keyboard instantly cured me of my carpal tunnel equivalent in my elbows. I'm 6-4, with 38" sleeves, which should minimize the distortion needed to place my hands in accordance with the usual keyboard layout - but it wasn't. My first swept keyboard was a wired Microsoft Natural. The second was a wireless keyboard and mouse, also Microsoft Natural. In that case, the failure was on the keyboard - one of the keys' circuit film's trace lines broke, depriving me of many keys on the bottom row. Repair was not an option. Going looking, at the time (many years ago, now), I found that Logitech had a competitor. Better, it was less expensive. I ordered it. This one is contoured. My fingers fall naturally to the level of the keys, which are - as the name suggests - in a wave pattern. That's a bonus over the Microsoft version, and at a substantially lesser price. I finally got to looking (I expect the prior one had them also) at the hotkeys, which actually work, on my keyboard. I've become spoiled. The "off" button on the keyboard (extreme top right) is very much faster at shutting down my XP system than any other I'd used previously. The media center buttons are a joy, and all the others I've tried are like playing in the toy store for me. The new keyboard has a much softer touch and sound than the previous, which, as I'm heavy handed (I learned on manual typewriters), is a relief to the neighbors (we live on a boat; I'm kidding, but my wife appreciates the relative quiet). As my computer has only two USB slots on the front, I use the extension for the receiver because we have the computer mounted under a shelf and behind a bench, making reception a bit dicey in general, but especially for the desk I use, which is directly in front of the computer where the receiver would be behind all the various metal and electronics as relates to the "view" of both keyboard and mouse. We routinely use the mouse remotely, as that's how we do our movies aboard; we move the monitor to a shelf, and the mouse does all the navigation from that point forward, sitting at 90° from my desk, and out several feet. I simply can't, for any extended period of time, be without a "natural" keyboard. Just the couple of weeks where I used my backup, PS2-wired keyboard and mouse, led to my elbows complaining loudly. Thus, this was a no-brainer for me. However, it goes beyond merely a sweeping set of keys; it's comfortable, quiet, my hand falls naturally to the wave pattern (your - longest - middle fingers' keys are lower than the surrounding keys, and so on out from there) and fully featured. Fortunately, when one of these eventually dies, I'll now be able to replace the individual component (all of these devices are available separately), instead of having to buy a whole set. Can you tell I like it?

This keyboard is a workhorse. I bought it in April 2013, have used it nearly every day since then, and it's still going strong today in 2023 without an issue. Not only is it the most comfortable (i.e. ergonomic) and well designed and durable keyboard I've ever owned, but I especially like how many of the keys can be configured to my needs. It's convenient to be able to configure and access a function or app with a single press of a key or key combo. If I need to put my computer to sleep, I just press a key. If I need to access a calculator, or email client, or spreadsheet, or word processor, etc., I press a key. If I want to launch or control the music or video I want to enjoy, I press a key or two. The M510 mouse that's included in this MK550 keyboard package is also still working well and much better than the newer M705 mouse that comes with the MK570 keyboard package which I bought two years ago for a second computer and comes with the same keyboard (K350). As for the amount of battery juice it consumes, well, very little. I use 2800 mAh 1.2v rechargeable batteries in the keyboard, and I typically only need to recharge them once or twice a year, depending on how much I use them. The mouse batteries will typically need to be recharged a little more often, though less often than my Nulaxy ergonomic mouse that uses two AAA-sized batteries. In my experience, the only drawback with using rechargeable batteries in the keyboard and mouse is that you don't get a warning message when the battery charge gets low; but that's probably because of the nature of rechargeable batteries. I'll have to admit, the keyboard has spoiled me rotten; so, when I type on another keyboard, I hate it...HATE IT, which is the only thing I don't like about this keyboard. Working on other keyboards always seems to make jobs more difficult, and it always makes me miss my K350 keyboard. Yes, spoiled! So, consider yourself warned. Oh, and I should add, in case it's crossed your mind (which is understandable here), I'm not getting any kudos for this review. I just really like this keyboard and have always been impressed with it. And the fact that it's still rocking and rolling without a complaint after ten years of pounding its keys, just adds to my love affair with it.

UPDATE: I have had this keyboard for exactly 4 years now and I LOVE it. The battery it came with was just now starting to die. About 2 or 3 years ago, I started using it for my custom PC and it works flawlessly. It has been used heavily for gaming, working, video production, and more. I came here when the battery starting dying wondering if I could have this but a little smaller because it doesn't quite fit my keyboard tray, and I was delighted to see that there was. The width would have been perfect and I don't need the large gray keys, but I would have sacrificed a lot of length. I do a lot of work with numbers now and I like the space between the letter keys and the numeric pad. I realized my keyboard tray actually gives a nice natural lift to the keyboard as well as wrist support. So I decided to clean it up and buy new batteries and I'm still very happy with my purchase. Something that may be a turn off for you, but is a huge plus for me, is that this keyboard is loud. However, it's a soothing sound for me. It reminds me of when I was a child and I could hear my mom typing in the background and being so impressed that she could type so fast without looking, and now I can too. But I am also using it at home and not around other people trying to concentrate. I have noticed that when I try to use this for my macbook pro, it doesn't work nearly as reliably. The mouse jumps around and the keys don't always register. I'm not sure if it's because it isn't fully compatible with Mac, or because of the USB-A to USB-C adapters I have been using. Original Review: Very VERY nice to type on. I wish it was just a smidge more curved but very nice quality. The mouse has a mind of it's own sometimes even though I'm using a mousepad. I'm using it on a macbook pro. The gray buttons typically don't work with it but since I still have the keys on the laptop its no big deal.

I have probably put way too much time into reading about computers / keyboards/ speakers etc. since I am setting up a whole new system. Let this be a lesson that you should probably not buy something that you use constantly with your hands without trying it "hands on" first. I will start by saying that this is a great keyboard overall for most users. As is evident by the glowing reviews by so many buyers. I have also been looking at mechanical keyboards and reading about them. I don't think they will work for my home use either. I am sure they would be fine for a while but in the long run, I think they noise would overshadow their tactile feel for me personally. I also was leaning at using a full apple keyboard on my pc. Which is where I think I am heading to next. I have a Dell XPS 8500 and the keyboard and mouse that came with just don't work well. The keyboard seems to be... visually at least a copy of the apple full keyboard setup. The mouse... it just doesn't slide on any surface. The Logitech mouse slides very nicely in comparison to it. I have been switching from the Dell wireless keyboard to my Microsoft comfort 2000 to this K350 set. Here are my impressions. The Dell keyboard mimics the style of the apple keyboard but nowhere near the quality or response from the keys. The Microsoft comfort curve 2000 has better layout for me, but admittedly the keys are firmer to push and do take a toll after several hours of use. The Logitech is the quiet one of the bunch. It also has the softest keys even if they do travel a bit further. I do really enjoy typing on the Logitech the most, however, I also use the keypad frequently and I sometimes like to use the keypad and mouse with the right hand and when I need to hit multiple keys with the left hand... That seems to work out better on the Dell keyboard and the comfort curve 2000. I have found that the keypad on the Logitech does have an arch to it much like the keys for typing do. Which I am sure you could get used to but since I use 3-4 different computers in a day, I really appreciate a flat keypad. It makes it easier to use any of your right hand fingers to hit any keys. The curve throws me off a bit and causes mistakes on the numbers. On to the mouse's, or is it mice? Anyway, the Dell mouse is horrible. I would just toss that in the trash after you open the box. I had a Microsoft comfort mouse that was pretty good till the scroll wheel stopped working. The Logitech mouse that comes with this unit is very nice. It moves easily on the counter and all the buttons have good feel and are not loud. Downside? Yes, I have large hands and the mouse is on the smaller side. So I find that after about two hours my pinky and fourth finger are moving in too much on the mouse and it's not that comfortable to use. That is more an observation of the size of the mouse and not its function. Which works very well. All in all I think most people would like this combo very much. As for me and my big hands, I think I will be going with a combination of the apple keyboard which provides the tactile feel of the keys and a good layout over what I have now and instead of the mechanical ones which I just don't like the look of. I will have to go to the store and find a mouse that actually fits my hand. Hopefully this review will shed some light on the keyboards I mentioned. I looked everywhere and couldn't' find anyone who has tried the different keyboards I am dealing with so I thought I would post this to see if it helps out. Good luck with the choice. I would have gone with the mechanical keyboard but found the keys a little small and close together for my use. I am not an apple fan boy but at this time, I think that they make the better wired full keyboard out there. Oh, for reference... I have used a Toshiba all in one's shiny black keyboard for the last 6 months and it was a really neat unit. Too bad they don't sell that separately. Hope you find the right one for your use.

I love this keyboard! The ergonomic aspect is not so extreme that I needed to learn to type all over again. It has just enough bend/wave/angle to relieve some of the stress in my hands. I don't sit at the computer all day, but cumulatively I am at the keyboard for about 3-4 hours each day. The mouse is also nice--perhaps just a little larger than average but it still feels comfortable for my small-ish hands. I am excited to test out the battery life. They avoided dropping LEDs into this keyboard, which would drain the batteries too quickly. The accompanying software is a must as it lets you know when a caps/number/scroll lock is activated or not. Very useful. Another nice feature is the three options for keyboard tilt: flat, 4 degrees, or 8 degrees. As the top of my desk is a little high, the 8 degree tilt most comfortable. I was very happy to have a good range on its signal. My TV in the next room is mirrored on my main computer monitor, and we occasionally like to stream videos from the PC. Controlling the PC from the next room was ideal, but I was worried about the wall, two metal filing cabinets, and entertainment system positioned between the keyboard/mouse and the receiver. As luck would have it, it works just fine with no noticeable decline is responsiveness. As a precaution, and to hopefully help with battery life, I took the receiver extension cable (included in the box) and strung it out in front of my computer monitors. I could probably leave the receiver in a USB port on the back of the computer, but I imagine the units have to work less to get the signal when it's only a few inches from the receiver rather than on the back of my aluminum case. Finally, I am actually on my 3rd purchase of this product. The first two attempts were through Newegg (before I realized it was cheaper on Amazon). Both keyboards had a manufacturing defect on the zoom-out button. (The assembly-line worker must have been sleepy that day) I don't anticipate using the button that much, but I expect to get a fully functioning product when I drop $50 on it. After failing on my first two attempts with Newegg, I tried Amazon and, voila, the product was manufactured perfectly. I've attached a pic showing the receiver on the little extension cord. I know this would bug some people, but I don't use the space and I like the idea of using minimal battery power.

The keyboard. as per my last review on it. is still great. You can program a huge number of keys to start programs or do other repetitive actions. The batteries last longer than a year. In fact my last batteries lasted over two years before they leaked and ruined the keyboard. Which is why I bought this combo, because my last mouse was not compatible. The mouse is average. But works very well and is quick and easy to use. Doesn't have Hyper-Scrolling as my other mouse had and less buttons to program but it still is nice mouse. Both use the tiny unifying USB controller which I plug in front of my Computer Tower case. I haven't had the problems other people have where they type and it takes a few seconds to respond on the monitor. Could be where I placed the USB controller in front and not in back of the computer case. Otherwise, I do recommend this combo for non-game playing users. Update: July 2017 been using this keyboard and mouse for over four years. I have spilt liquids and food particles on the keyboard without it causing any issues. I did need to remove some of the keys to clean out gunk, but it was easy to remove and reinstalled. The battery lasts more than a year. The mouse is very good. I probably change the batteries on the mouse two or three times a year. I have been using this combo every day since I installed it on my computer. Never had any issues. In fact, Purchased the exact same combo for my wife's computer about 6 months ago. That is how satisfied I am with it. The Logitech software is fairly good. It lets you know when you pressed a "CAP LOCK" or "NUM LOCK" key on your monitor. The keyboard has no LEDs to let you know when those two specific keys are pressed. The software also alerts you when you need to replace the batteries on the keyboard or mouse. Nice useful function.

I am not going to write a long review but I did want to put my own thoughts up here about this keyboard. First of all I am a gamer and a fellow gamer suggested this keyboard to me since I was getting a new gaming computer. Amazon had a great deal so I purchased it. It came on time as expected from amazon. It connected without any issues, all I had to do was plug in the wireless receiver and the computer recognized it immediately. I also installed the software but it is not needed in order for windows to recognize it. I have had this keyboard for about two and half weeks and it has worked flawlessly. You do have to set up what you want your keys to dif you plan on using all the other keys that come with it but its very simple. I haven't set up all mine because I really don't plan on using them but I may at some point. What is amazing to me is it works wirelessly without any problems or any lag issues and I am pretty far away from the receiver. It does come with a receiver extension if you need it but I haven't seen a need to use it yet. While playing games I haven't noticed any problems and I play fast paced games so every keystroke matters. The only gripe I have about the keyboard is the battery indicator which only tells you if the battery is good or bad. I wish they would have implemented a way for it to tell you how far along the battery is so you won't be left hanging when the batteries does die. I would have also liked for them to have included rechargeable batteries with a usb rechargeable cord like I have with my Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse. But I keep double "A" batteries around so it shouldn't be an issue. Apparently the keyboard is really good on batteries and turn itself off when no keys or pressed, I am not sure how this works or if it works because any time i press a key it does what i want it to do so i can't tell if the keyboard was off or not. Anyway if you're a gamer and want a reliable wireless keyboard I suggest going with a Logitech brand. Even if your not a gamer and want a comfortable keyboard to use this is it. The only other gripe i would have is that the keys are not backlit, but they do have a wireless keyboard that is so yo can get that one if it means that much to you. Overall an amazing product like you would expect from Logitech.

Ergonomic Key Setup I always buy ergonomic keyboards. As a programmer, I do a lot of typing on a daily basis so I am very concerned about carpal tunnel and other issues related to typing on a keyboard. The board is slightly angled in a winged fashion from the middle of the keyboard with a small indentation in the keyboard making the keys surrounding the D on your left hand and the K on your right hand slightly lower than the other keys. To be honest, I never quite got used to this particular feature of the keyboard. I am good, not great, typist but I found that I miss keys in this indented area fairly often. But I miss keys on no matter what keyboard I use and I wouldn't say I miss more on this one. Such is the life of a flaky typist! Connectivity I love the way this connects. I have a logitech M705 mouse so I did not use the mouse that came with this set. The reason, by the way, is the mouse that comes with this set does not have the Hyperscroll feature that I absolutely must have in any mouse I use. Only certain Logitech mice have it. So I had my other M705 mouse already hooked up to my computer and inserted the batteries into this keyboard and turned it on. Boom. Windows 7 found my keyboard, installed the driver and done. No hassle. Didn't even have to use the micro usb plug receiver that came with this device. Can now use the same one for both my keyboard and my existing M705 mouse. Be aware however that this could cause a problem if you have another of the same keyboards in close proximity of this multi-device micro usb plug receiver. Not sure how to handle that but I'm sure you can. Also note that I replaced my old Microsoft 6000 v2.0 with this keyboard. The 6000 had a real problem missing keys because of connectivity issues. It's like it missed the signal. I did not have that problem with this keyboard. Keys Issue My C key paint has completely rubbed off and I've read that others have had this issue with other keys. It's not that old and should not have this issue. That actually is very irritating. Mouse I cannot tell you much about the mouse as I haven't used it. As I said, I don't use it because the lack of the Hyperscroll feature found on certain Logitech mice. Peripheral keys The function keys are bit lower than the number keys and I found that a little harder to get to. I really like the up down volume keys and the mute button placement. Conclusion All in all this a solid keyboard with good functionality. I like the feel of my 6000 better than this one but I couldn't stand the missed keys so I'll be staying with this one for a while.