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."

Why bluetooth?

[redfiche]

I thought bluetooth was fairly short-range, and for higher bandwith type applications. Seems like this device could easily get by with regular wireless. Is there something I'm missing?

Musicmatch?

[nogoodmonkey]

"The installation CD also comes with MusicMatch, a digital music software package that helps the user organize and rip digital audio files from music CDs."

Why does it come with Musicmatch? I wonder what Microsoft will bundle when they release a product to compete with this one (as they always do).

Why is logitech so Windows based?

[gouldtj]

Does anyone know why Logitech is so windows based? I e-mailed them a while ago to find out about their pocket digital camera, to see what protocol it used on the USB. I mentioned that I used Linux, and I was interested in their product. The support tech practically flamed me! All I really wanted to know is if it was USB mass storage.

They seem to have some good products (that pocket digital camera looks really cool) but it seems like they are violently interested in being a MS only company. That doesn't make sense to me.

I understand that MS has the majority of users, but pushing off potential customers doesn't seem like good business to me.

Range.

[billbaggins]

Why is the use of bluetooth so necessary?

Range. This thing can talk to the receiver at something like 10 meters. I've tried doing a presentation with a non-Bluetooth (IR) cordless mouse; it wasn't terribly pretty. The geography was such that the receiver could only hear the mouse if I extended my arm directly toward it, and even then it sometimes took a few tries. I would've loved to have something that could work at 10 meters.

Why Bluetooth?

[whterbt]

One of my favorite bits from the article:

In some ways, the most significant feature of the Cordless Presenter is that it relies on the Bluetooth communications protocol for its wireless connection to your PC...Why is that significant? The Bluetooth protocol is likely the most hyped communications standard in recent memory, with thousands of companies joining the Bluetooth industry group.

Uhmmm...so, to paraphrase, it's significant because it's hyped. Apparently, there's no reason for it to use Bluetooth, other than the hype. As many others have noted, you can get products that do the same thing for less than half that price, and that don't use Bluetooth.