Logitech claim to save USB ports by alowing you to connect several of their proprietary devices to one receiver.

Considering that most laptops have bluetooth built in these days, if instead you buy bluetooth HID devices (such as this mouse), you don't have to use any USB ports at all, and you can't loose the tiny receiver.

Bluetooth already does this…

Yeah, but bluetooth mice traditionally suck. Add to that, a lot of computers don't come with bluetooth.

Seems like a good idea, I'll be interested to see which mice are supported as the page on logitech's website lists nothing.

Also I wonder if they will sell the receiver separately for those with the mice already?

Gordy
Add to that, a lot of computers don't come with bluetooth.

And add to that that, even if your computer does come with bluetooth, getting it to pair properly with your bluetooth devices can take longer than going downstairs and digging through three bags of cables to find the appropriate ones. Seriously. I've tested this.

On the other hand, I did pick up a fantastic device a few years ago, that's only about thumb sized, and lets you connect up to 4 peripheral devices while using only one USB port! Yes - it's a usb mini-hub :o

just to be clear, that's not the one I own - but you get my point, right?

Gordy
Yeah, but bluetooth mice traditionally suck. Add to that, a lot of computers don't come with bluetooth.

Then make the little receiver Bluetooth then. I have a liny little one I got from Scan, not much bigger than that logitech one.

Funkstar
Then make the little receiver Bluetooth then. I have a liny little one I got from Scan, not much bigger than that logitech one.

Doesn't get away from the situation where the bluetooth mice suck, the pairing system in windows is slow and painful.

I far prefer a little usb dongle which plugs into and works with any computer in seconds. I have the vx nano in my laptop bag for this purpose. Saves me having to use the rubbish trackpads on clients laptops.

I've used both Bluetooth and proprietary wireless keyboard/mouse packages for years. Bluetooth seemed far more prone to lagging/random dropouts - more susceptible to interference perhaps?

Logitech's choice is definately a preferable one as far as I'm concerned. However, I've little need of their gamepads, etc - when my keyboard/mouse isn't sufficient, I'll use a 360 pad. Can't see me needing all 6 ports either - what the heck would you use them all on?

pauldarkside
Can't see me needing all 6 ports either - what the heck would you use them all on?

Perhaps they'll license the technology? I assume that pretty much any device could be paired with it, so maybe we'll see wireless external hard drives and printers using the technology.. ;)

Doubt you'll see that scaryjim. I'm not sure the rf signal these use has much bandwidth. I can see them maybe allowing other controller devices though.

Gordy
Doesn't get away from the situation where the bluetooth mice suck, the pairing system in windows is slow and painful.

The only USB mouse I've used is one that came with my Asus laptop. Apart from the mouse itself being cheap and small, it works very well. Not used for gaming or anything like that though.

I don't understand why anyone would want to license the tech, more to the point, I still don't get why Logitech and all still use proprietary wireless solutions anyway. I thought Wireless USB (WUSB) was supposed to eliminate all of this? One standard, one transceiver, multiple devices. Strikes me as wasted R&D. Was/is WUSB useless or something?

Wireless USB is really up in the air at the moment. There isn't a clear standard and very few actual bits of heardware anyway. It's likely that it will get rolled into a future version of Bluetooth anyway.

I see on the Wikipedia article that the tech's being moved forward to WiMedia Ultra-wideband (UWB) with both Bluetooth and USB parties involved.

Devices do seem to exist too. Just doesn't seem to have caught on as I'd assumed it would.

pauldarkside
I see on the Wikipedia article that the tech's being moved forward to WiMedia Ultra-wideband (UWB) with both Bluetooth and USB parties involved.

Devices do seem to exist too. Just doesn't seem to have caught on as I'd assumed it would.

Well there are many devices for Wireless n technology but the standard has yet to be approved… its been 3-4 years now to get that standard through.

I doubt this will be out before 2013 as a standard and as a result devices will be very slow to market over those years it takes to standardise the technology.

pauldarkside
Just doesn't seem to have caught on as I'd assumed it would.

It seems that version 1.0 didn't work that well, at least of the very few reviews I've seen (E.g. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Certified-Wireless-Adapter-F5U302/dp/B000UYWTWS). Too much money for too little.

pauldarkside
Just doesn't seem to have caught on as I'd assumed it would.

I'd say exactly the same thing about bluetooth, tbh - I was expecting it to be ubiquitous by now but it hasn't really made that much headway. Then again, bluetooth doesn't really seem to bring anything extra to the table (apart from the lack of wires, obviously!) - it's not got much range, and the wires it replaces - headsets / USB data cables etc. - are not particularly large or bulky, so they don't really *need* replacing. Also, bluetooth hasn't really been pushed much beyond mobile phone headsets (as far as I can see, anyway) - it's far from ubiquitous even in logical markets for it like laptops.

I'm personally hesitant to replace wired systems when they work perfectly well, unless the system brings a significant advantage. Clearly, a standardised high bandwidth wireless solution that would work with printers, external storage, headphones, mice, keyboards and all other peripherals off a single controller would pretty much fit that, so here's hoping :)