It is of general knowledge that the presenters are meant to be used for presentation managing, which implies two important functions: firstly, the device is meant to be wireless and should have operating range of at least 10 meters; secondly, the device possesses mouse functions. Among the preferable yet not necessary functions one may mention the laser pointer function. By the way, a skillfully organized presentation usually doesn’t make one scrutinize huge slides for small details.
After better consideration one may attribute the presenters to a comparatively new type of product. To be precise its history starts a couple of years ago at most. It is just in the present time that quite a modest range, consisting from separate models from popular and not really popular manufacturers, emerges.
Today we are to get acquainted with the Logitech Cube presenter, which was demonstrated for the first time this year at the CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The device was highly appreciated by the participants and got the exhibition design and engineering award at the sphere of computer technologies. Telling the truth, Logitech’s device is not a revolutionary one, it is sooner “a-good-and-evident-idea” type of devices. Still such products always draw attention.
Design
Cube Presenter is supplied with black or white body color, as for us we got the latter alternative. Just looking at the device it is difficult to say either about its purpose or about its two base functions. The Cube has a shape of a rectangle with slightly rounded corners, in order to make it comfortable when in hands. One should mention as well that the device has extremely light weight; it is scarcely heavier than a matchbox.
It is necessary to mention that Cube has quite a strange list of specifications. On the device’s site Logitech doesn’t give any dimensions or other parameters. The most useful knowledge that one may acquire from the “Specifications” tab is a list of operation systems supported by the device: Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7; Mac OS X 10.5. The “Technical Specifications” link leads to the FAQ list. We found the information presented here on the English version of Logitech site. As for the Russian version, the device “doesn’t exist” and the reason for that is the absence of official sales on the territory of the CIS.
Getting back to the Cube outlook one may mention that some of its users for a reason compare its style to the Apple style, which may be considered as a compliment. The body frame has black color with non-staining glossy cover. The “inserts” into the main surface are most probably covered with transparent plastic, which hides fingerprints.
Cube is quite of an ergonomic device. Taking into consideration the dimensions of the device one may say that Logitech made it as much convenient as it’s possible. Cube has sunk sides and the front part which makes it really convenient for fingers when using it in the mouse function. The front part of the upper side is sunk as well with purpose. One may not look at Cube during the whole course of the presentation and yet to feel where the button surface is located.
Controls and Connectors
It makes no sense to describe all sides of the Cube, for that reason just “useful” peculiarities of its body are going to be described. The upper part has two buttons with the same functions as those of an ordinary mouse.dsc_0006.jpg
The left-click equivalent is located in the front part, the right one is found closer to the centre. Considering the available area it is quite a reasonable design decision. There is no apparent scroll function, but one should not get upset, as it became clear, the device has sensor surface which enables smooth scrolling like in Smartphones and Tablets.
The front side has microUSB connector which is only used to charge the device. Beside it there is an on/off switch. In the same area the light indicator that switches on in case of low battery charge is placed.
Cube is not used with ordinary batteries and one may stay calm about that drawback. On the other hand there is no information from Logitech about the capacity of the lithium-polymer fixed battery or at least about its estimated run time. The company claims that the device operates for a long time, and the battery discharges in correspondence to the tasks being performed. However, it appears that the devise performs just two tasks and it wouldn’t be a great job for the manufacturer to check the operation time for each of them.
Packaging
Logitech is traditionally famous for its packing design, considering the above mentioned Cube leaves rather mixed feelings. The main box is made from ordinary industrial cardboard with information about the product printed on it. Still we can not be sure that Cube is sold in the same packing in Europe and the USA. According to the given information inside the box we are to find the device itself, a receiver, a USB-cable, a manual and a hard case.
But in practice the packaging included just a cube-box with beautiful design (eventually true Logitech-style) whereas the inside part of the original box had a receiver and the Cube itself. That was all.
Thanks to the images from the other sites we saw quite an interesting case which we didn’t manage to get in real life.
