If you’ve been looking for a good solution to make your laptop (or notebook, whichever term you prefer) a bit more user friendly while in a stationary location, then Logitech’s Alto Cordless may be a product you might consider looking into. I happened to notice the unit while I was in my local Costco retailer.

The unit I purchased differs a bit from what Logitech’s official description provides in the fact that it comes with a wireless optical mouse as well, it was also about 20 bucks cheaper than the listed $99 retail price. Here are my thoughts on the cordless notebook accessory.

The Logitech Alto Cordless (pictured above) basically allows you to place your notebook on the stand, which also has 3 additional USB connections for adding more devices to the unit. I’m using the stand right now to write this review, and I have to admit it makes life with a laptop much more comfortable. Logitech says the stand works with almost any laptop; I’ve personally hooked it up to a Sony VAIO and an HP with no problems.

The stand is powered by one included AC adaptor, and the cordless keyboard is powered by 2 AAA batteries. Installation is a breeze, as it simply works once you hook it up, no drivers are needed. The full size keyboard connects wirelessly to the stand, and the integration is pretty cool, given that there are lights on the stand to indicate if caps lock or number lock is on. There are also a bunch of convenience keys on the keyboard itself, such as volume controls, mute, and quick keys for accessing your email, the Internet browser, search functions, and more.

Here’s a side-view shot of the unit with a laptop on it.

As I said before, the unit I purchased came with one of Logitech’s wireless mice as well, but any wireless mouse can be used if you can’t find the combo pack that I’m talking about. As for the actual usability of the stand, it does make it feel as if you were using a desktop PC more than a laptop, since the screen is elevated and you have a full size keyboard with all you would expect, such as full size number pad, etc.

There is also a cable management slot on the rear of the unit, which will come in handy as you add other devices to your set-up, such as external hard drives, iPods, and other devices. When you aren’t using the device it folds up nice and flat so it doesn’t take up too much space.

Now, no device in my mind is without a down side, fortunately, the Logitech Alto Cordless doesn’t have a whole lot of drawbacks, or cons. One notable exception would be that some of the hot keys aren’t compatible with all notebooks, at least in my tests. They all seemed to work fine with the VAIO unit, but many of them didn’t work with the HP notebook, so expect your mileage to vary on that front.

Bottom line - for the money (especially if you snag it with the wireless mouse at less than $80 bucks like I did), it’s definitely worth picking up. If you’re looking for a way to make your notebook a bit easier to use this is definitely a good option, particularly for people that use their notebook more than they use their desktop. I suppose you could tote it around from location to location with you, and it certainly is portable enough to do so, but I’m thinking that isn’t quite as practical as having it in a set location.

Rating:

More info can be found on Logitech’s product page for the Alto Cordless.