Logitech Bluetooth Cordless Presenter Review

securitas writes "Many Bluetooth devices have (deservedly) received dismal reviews and we were prepared for the phaser-like Bluetooth Logitech Cordless Presenter to be another toy headed for the trash-heap of history. Instead we were surprised (some might say stunned :) ) at how well it performed. The Presenter combines a laser pointer, an electronic presentation remote control and a wireless optical mouse in one elegantly designed package."

$200!!!

[kwerle]

Damn, the keyspan USB remote [keyspan.com] is just $79.

alternatives

[g4dget]

It's good to see that some Bluetooth devices are coming out, but for now, there are cheaper and simpler solutions.

For under $80, you can get the Keyspan Presentation Remote [keyspan.com], which is smaller, comes with a carrying case, includes a laser pointer, and looks just like a USB mouse from the PC side (no drivers). And, yes, it works with Linux.

Another choice is the Gyration [gyration.com] wireless mice. But their receiver is a bulky box and requires a wall wart. And if you want to be able to use standard AAA batteries, you have to pay $100 extra for the "Pro" version.

Re:Multiple Presenters?

[Hayzeus]

Bluetooth should handle this automagically. It's not just a remote control protocol, it's really more of a short-range networking protocol which assumes multiple nodes in close proximity.

Re:$200!!!

[ivan256]

The review says that the reciever is keyed to the device and the device to the reciever. In other words, you need to use a USB port for this thing even if you already have bluetooth support.

How it worked.

[wowbagger]

The zapper worked exactly like a light pen works.

Oh, you don't know how a lightpen works.

A CRT based screen "paints" the image by scanning an electron beam over the display surface. The graphics chip that generates the display knows where the beam is at any time (it has to, since it has to know what pixels to be sending out.)

The light pen (or gun) is a lens that focuses the display down to a point on a fast image sensor (typically a phototransistor). So, when the electron beam paints the part of the screen that the pen/gun is focuses on, the photosensor fires.

This signal is tied back to the graphics controller, which says "AHA! the electron beam is at 234x421 when the sensor fires. I'll record that into these registers".

After that, it is simplicity itself to set up a cursor.

Now, that technique won't work for a liquid crystal display, since they aren't "scanned" in the conventional sense - there is no pulse of light as the system writes the data to the LCD. Therefor, there is no way a light pen or light gun could work on an LCD display like a modern projector.

Now, in theory you could use a camera to sense a laser pointer's spot, and then move the pointer there. But then you would need a fairly high resolution camera, plus a calibration proceedure so the system would know what points on the camera corrisponded to what points on the display. You would also need a fairly narrow band filter to allow the camera (once calibrated) to see only the laser pointer spot - otherwise it might respond to other objects on the display.

Re:Multiple Presenters?

[blowdart]

Nope.

Each bluetooth device has an ID, like a network card has a MAC address. In order to get most devices, and I assume the mouse here is the same, you have to pair them up. Once they are paired, they work together, otherwise I'd be on the train on my notebook leeching someone elses bluetooth GPRS connection via an unpaired phone.

use PDF, not PowerPoint

[g4dget]

Acroread and xpdf are great for presentations, and they run on Linux. Both have full screen modes and have pretty much the right bindings to be used with a remote control like this.

If you must use something like PowerPoint, StarOffice is, of course, another choice.

No idea why it is so expensive

[abhikhurana]

I still wonder why this device is so expensive. It is possible to get a Bluetooth [arrownordic.com]
baseband controller for 4$ in quantities of 100K pieces (and logitech must order much more than that) with a spec which reads an ARM7 core, 64KB SRAM, 384KB flash and many more things, I cant really comprehend what makes this device so expensive. I mean surely they are using a configuration which maybe costs only half as much. I dont have experience with mouses but I have some experience with more complilcated bluetooth devices, like bluetooth watches with Mpeg4 decoders and stuff like that, and even they cost about 50 USD to make even though they use much more flash and SRAM. So I will say wait for a year before contemplating buying something like this.

it ROCKS

[Emugamer]

I bought one, not with my own dime and have been beta testing it for quite a while and I have to say this is one smooth device... it works great in every test Ive thrown at it and it does work much further then 30 ft. I don't know if it is worth $200 but everyone has a different idea of what something is worth to them. to my company it is worth 200 in the hassle of what earlier presenters have cost us.

Ah hah!

[ethnocidal]

Imperial Department of Computing [ic.ac.uk] lectures will never be the same again, now we know what this thing is and where to buy it :) Since we've had two lecture theatres refurbished, with obligatory automation (windows, fans, a/c, lighting all controlled from a single panel by the controlling computer), the lecturers just haven't been able to resist pulling this puppy out and playing with it.

The good news, for prospective purchasers, is that the range on this thing is pretty decent. Not sure what the bluetooth spec quotes for range, but it works perfectly in the 50 - 60ft length of the theatres. The bad news is that this means lecturers feel far more confident about walking around and asking questions of the insomniacs catching up on some much needed shuteye at the back.

Has anyone had any experience with two of these devices in the same bluetooth hotspot? Not that I've got anything planned, at all...

Re:No idea why it is so expensive

[g4dget]

It's expensive because marketing believes that those kinds of devices are being sold to upper management types with lost of disposable cash. Of course, a lot of Logitech's products seem similarly overpriced.

Competition will drive this down to reasonable levels pretty soon.