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Keyboard
There are so many cool features on
the LX-501 I don't know where to start. The LX-501 is a full-size keyboard
and features an iNav keypad, customizable f-keys, Media Life integration, email,
digital media library, my documents, messenger, status, and webcam hot keys.
It comes in the traditional white/crème with grey trim and blue F-keys.
  
With the inclusion of the iNav panel
Logitech further enhances navigating through web pages, documents, etc.
The iPanel contains a scroll wheel, home, search, switch task, and back buttons.
All the buttons are customizable to launch any program you want. According
to Logitech using two hands to navigate and do the normal workload that one hand
would do can relieve repetitive stress injuries and is more comfortable. Once you
get used to using the iNav panel it makes surfing and normal tasks a heck of a
lot easier. I set my search button to open up
www.google.com and my home to
www.cluboverclocker.com. The
task switch button comes in really handy for taking screens of games and
switching between Photoshop and the game. You may not notice but Logitech
has repositioned and eliminated some keys. The "Start" key on the right
side is gone and the "CTRL" keys are somewhat larger than normal keyboards.
This is another this that Logitech tries to do to make the user more
comfortable. The curser keys and delete keys are enlarged and the "Page
Up," "Page Down," "End," and "Home" keys are rearranged in an effort to make
typing easier and faster.
  
F9-F12 are fully programmable and F1-F8 are
already programmed for the normal operations such as: print, save, and undo.
They are nice and blue on the keyboard with small images of the function they
accomplish.
  
There is also a mode/function button to determine
whether you want the f-keys to achieve the function or the mode you have
programmed into them. There are also the scroll lock, print screen, and
pause break buttons in the f-row.
 
Some more keys that will be put to
good use are the calculator and sleep keys. The escape key is located in
the top left corner of the keyboard, away from the other keys and is circular
instead of the traditional square. On the top left are 4 buttons that are
shortcuts for My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, and My Movies. Ont he
rigt there are also four buttons with shortcuts to eMail (programmable to
Outlook, Hotmail, MSN Explorer, and Outlook Express), Messenger, messenger
status, and webcam.
 
On the top of the keyboard there is
a panel that contains all the multimedia buttons. This integrates with
MUSICMATCH Jukebox and the Logitech Media Life software that is included with
the LX-501. The buttons include burn, Media, create, MediaLife, eject,
volume + and -, and mute buttons. There is also a circular button in the
middle that has your controls for playing music. This makes creating and
listening to tracks on your PC extremely easy. Now you can jam to you
tunes without disturbing your extended surfing sessions.
  
There is an option to encrypt your
keyboard so others cannot see your keystrokes. This is a helpful option if
you are at a LAN or using WiFi. All you do is click the "secure" button
and follow some steps. The software will then ask you to input a series of
letters and numbers, after that your keyboard is encrypted and secured.
 
The keyboard itself is very thin and
has a 0° tilt which is supposed to be very good for your wrists and preventing
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. There are the standard feet on the bottom of the
keyboard. The LX-501 keyboard takes two AA batteries which are also
included in the box. The "connect" button on the back of the keyboard is
larger than normal cordless keyboards. This is a feature that I hated on
other keyboard because I would need to find a pen to push the button. I
know, I'm lazy.
  
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