The receiver itself is about the size of a USB thumb drive. This makes it very easy to stick away in the back of your computer and not have to worry about positioning some huge wireless receiver box like some other manufacturers use. If you'd like it closer to your mouse/keyboard to eliminate dropouts, then Logitech also includes a small extension base that you can use to bring the receiver up onto a desk.

Installation:
Installation of the SetPoint software went without issue. As usual, I used the latest version that's available for free from the Logitech website. I found that this software would override a few of my windows mouse settings, specifically the curser speed and the "Enhance pointer precision" box would be unchecked. Even after setting these myself and restarting windows, it would revert them back. I initially found that using the mouse without the enhanced point precision option was a bit awkward and unprecise, but I adjusted eventually to it and using it came without any problem.

Testing:
The major areas I looked into while testing were comfort and overall performance.

The keyboard was certainly a new feel for me since I was switching over from a plain old flat and straight keyboard. Once I got used to the Wave key design and the nice padded wrist rest I then found it uncomfortable to go back and type on my old keyboard. The function keys are also a nice touch and I found that getting used to using them came fairly easy for me because I am used to a similar design on my laptop already. My only complaint when it came to all the extra function keys was that the Zoom one was not user programmable. Since I'm not using Windows Vista yet, this key did absolutely nothing for me. I wouldn't have minded if I could have programmed it to work as a zoom in my windows picture viewer for example. Lastly, the repositioned Insert and menu keys are something worth mentioning. The menu key that used to reside beside your right Alt key is now relocated to be a Fn option of the Print Screen key and the Insert key is also relocated up to this area. For me this was no big issue because I'll admit that I never used those keys in the first place, but for some users I do hear some complaints about this repositioning. The keys themselves are something I wish Logitech could have designed to be slightly quieter in use. I found them to be slightly louder than the previous Saitek Eclipse keyboard I was using, although they are still bearable, don't get me wrong! When it comes to true ergonomics, it's not only the physical comfort of the items being used, but also the comfort involved in listening to them. Although it certainly wasn't anything to worry over, if I had to get really picky I'd wish it could be a bit quieter.

Before switching over to the LX8 mouse that's included with this desktop set I had previously been using Logitech's G7 mouse. The G7 was notorious for having battery packs that would only last me a day before needing recharging, so when I heard about the 6 month average battery life for the LX8 - I was happy to welcome it to my desk! I will say that I found the feel of the LX8 to be really bland and this was something I did not expect coming from a mouse in an ergonomically marketed desktop set. I would have much preferred if Logitech would have designed a very ergonomic mouse to include with this set instead of just giving the LX8 a makeover. Even if they'd have to make a right handed and left handed version of the desktop, I still think it would win over many more people's hearts. Putting the forward and back buttons both on the right side would also make their use a lot easier - I found it very awkward to use the forward button on the right side of the mouse with my fingers. Once I got used to it though, I didn't mind using the LX8 for what it is, but I still think that a mouse for this keyboard should have so much more.

The USB wireless receiver for the set works at 27mhz which is fairly standard for most wireless mice/keyboards. For the keyboard, I found this to work without a problem. Infarct, I'm typing this sentence right now from the opposite end of the room. The mouse however, seemed to be another story at times. When I'd move the mouse from it's usual spot on my keyboard tray down to the far end of my desk it would cause dropouts when the USB receiver was plugged directly into the back of the computer. If I'd go across the room and use the mouse, it would work just perfectly. It seems that interference was something that would affect this mouse much more than my old G7 which operated at 2.7Ghz wireless (I wonder why Logitech chose to go back to 27mhz for this set).