Before I get to general usage and such, I want to clear something up. Perhaps I misunderstood Logitech's marketing of this product, but I was under the impression that this was "the perfect companion to your flat screen" - as in, flat screen television. After testing, however, I now assume they meant your flat screen computer monitor. The reason I say this is because of the operating range (or lack of) of the keyboard and mouse.

I first tested this combo with my HTPC and right away discovered that the unit had a poor range. About 4' out from the receiver, the pair no longer made a connection with the receiver. I don't know about you, but I don't sit 4' in front of my television.


With that being said, I moved the S520 to my desktop system and used it there for the remainder of testing, where it did a great job. Starting with the keyboard, I really like the simplistic look of it. Not having a ton of "extras" like an LCD screen or a separate bank of macro keys helps to keep both the size and cost to a minimum. As you can see above, the keyboard is pretty thin. The keys are almost as low profile as those on notebooks and have a somewhat similar feel as well. The board typed really well and was easy to get accustomed to. The use of a function button in conjunction with the F1 - F12 keys adds even more buttons to the board without physically doing so. The same can be said for the media keys that lie just below the regular keys and the calculator and power buttons just above the number pad.

Four grippy rubber feet keep the board firmly in place on your desk. I had no problems with it slipping or moving around during use, even when gaming.

The included LX5 cordless laser mouse got the job done as well. The mouse is a little smaller than most but not overly so. It has a nice feel to it, with a slightly arched back and a comfortable grip. I experienced no problems with tracking and movements felt crisp and accurate. With the two included AA Duracell batteries, the LX5 has enough weight to make it feel solid and sturdy. There are five total mouse click buttons (left and right buttons, clickable and side-to-side tilt wheel) that can be programmed for most any task using Logitech's SetPoint software. The mouse also has a built-in battery indicator to let you know when it is time to replace the batteries.

Battery life, according to Logitech, is very good. They claim you can expect up to 15 months of battery life for the keyboard and up to 8 months for the mouse.

Perhaps the best thing about the S520 Cordless Desktop is its price. Logitech lists the MSRP at $59.99 as of writing, but I have seen it for even less than this online. This is an excellent price for a quality wireless keyboard and mouse from Logitech. If you are on a budget and looking for a new cordless keyboard and mouse, the S520 should be high on your list. Just don't expect to use it in a HTPC environment, as the wireless range simply won't allow for this.