Logitech + Mac = total CRAP

I purchased a Logitech "S530 Mac wireless keyboard and mouse" roughly 2 years ago.

At that time, one would just install the Logitech Control Center and things would pretty much work. I was happy.

But little did I know that LLC used something called APE, which Apple was strongly recommending not to be used. It basically patched a section of OSX and permitted "hacks" to be coded.

So fast forward a few months and Apple pushes some OS updates. I get blue screens... on the Mac... research shows that APE is the culprit. But I don't HAVE APE installed on my system! After a few days of research I suddenly understand that LLC includes APE, but never admitted to it. Once I uninstall LLC my machine works again. I now have a keyboard with keys that won't work anymore (the multimedia keys on the side) Oh well.

Fast forward another few months. My mouse lags occasionally. The clicks do not get registered anymore. Batteries must be weak.... I go through 3 sets of batteries, still not better. I live with it.

Fast forward a few more months, and now the keyboard stops being responsive. Keys do not get registered, especially the ENTER and DELETE keys for some reason. Since, during that time, I coded for a living, I shelved the S530 keyboard, kept the mouse, and got out my old wired Apple keyboard.

Fast forward almost a year, and Leopard comes out. I upgrade and try LLC again. Well, LLC doesn't support Leopard and my machine refuses to boot. I remove LLC.

Fast forward a few months, and there is now a new version of LLC, and it supports Leopard. I install LLC. No keyboard or mouse found. After afew minutes of research, I learn that LLC doesn't support the G5 anymore. Uninstall LLC.

So, after 1.5 years, I have a shelved S530 keyboard, a Apple wired keyboard and the S530 mouse. This setup gives me no problems.

I bring out the S530 keyboard again and shelf the Apple wired keyboard.

I am writing this column with the S530 Keyboard and mouse. The mouse is now laggy as all hell, just like a year ago. The clicks do not registers occasionally. The keyboard skips an awful lot of keys, even with fresh batteries. The media keys do not work.

So bottom line is this:

• Logitech drivers on the Mac => Beyond crap


• Logitech support of G5 => Beyond crap


• Logitech S530 Mouse => It's fine


• Logitech S530 Keyboard => Beyond crap, considering that it also makes the mouse crap


• 3rd party Apple keyboards => Forget it

I guess I will go and get the new Apple bluetooth keyboards, even if the keys feel like M&Ms stuck in snot.