Logitech USB Desktop Microphone Review

I was recently advised to buy a Logitech USB Desktop Microphone, and did not hesitate to do so when I saw the majority of reviews for it at Amazon.co.uk gave it the FULL five star award.

I received it and was disappointed. I wrote the following review and submitted it to Amazon who have NOT published it, neither have they told me WHY they have hushed my opinion which I repeat here —>

ADEQUATE – A (USB-) Port in a (Sound) Storm

Given the high praise awarded to this item by the majority of reviewers here (it was THEIR enthusiasm that sealed my decision to purchase), I seriously wonder if the particular microphone *I* received is faulty.

I own a number of microphones. All of these alternatives were budget buys or freebies (the most expensive being a £15 Hama Unidirectional that actually DELIVERS on its promise not to pick up background sound) and all of them are better than this example.

This Logitech is my first USB-connecting variant. It works. It installed on both Windows XP laptops I have tested it on within seconds (and with no downloads required).

Sporting a prominent base-based MUTE button, I imagine the desktop microphone’s ON/OFF feature plus the USB technology are what ate the budget and that the hardware is designed with “live chat”, SKYPE speak and gaming garrulousness in mind rather than the high quality recording of any material that you might want to keep or need to present to anyone.

Unfortunately, whilst the device is dismayingly super-sensitive to any slight squeak or creak from your chair, the “Noise Cancelling” feature seems to result in it having difficulty detecting VOICE. You need to PROJECT at an unnatural level to be heard and the more you increase the unit’s sensitivity the more HISSSSSSSSSSSS is brought into the mic’s mix. THISSSSSSS HISSSSSSSS *can* be edited out, and that task is fairly quick and easy, but it’s still a task and one that I do NOT have to undergo with material made using the very good tie-clip microphone that came “free” with my i-River mp3 player.

Naively, I had hoped for professional podcast-ready results and, at the very least, a marked improvement over any hardware I had experienced heretofore. I was disappointed.

My advice would be that, if at all possible, you should TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. This mic’ is, at best, ADEQUATE – a (USB) Port in a (Sound) Storm. 

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Corsair Flash Voyager – 1GB USB Memory Stick Review

Good While it Lasted, 20 April 2007

The lesson learned from buying this highly-regarded, top-brand (and accordingly priced) memory stick, with its leading 10 Year Warranty boast, is that its internals are just as vulnerable as those of any electronic storage device. There’s always the potential for malfunction and loss and the replacement scheme is based on your willingness to return the disk to the manufacturer for checking. This might not be appealing to people who store sensitive information such as company accounts, personal correspondence and passwords on these kind of portable devices.

A security/privacy feature can be enabled (through optional software) on the disk – but I believe the offset to this is that it slows general operation down.

I was pleased with the unit for the nine and a half month duration of its working life. The provided USB extension cable means you’ll have no problems connecting this to computers that present those ports in awkward locations or situated tightly together plus the good quality ribbon lanyard and clip will lessen the likelihood of you losing it if you travel with it.

Mine never travelled further than between two rooms in a domestic setting, it was never dropped or mishandled to test the rugged, rubber casing…..and yet it still failed – utterly, and without warning. It “died” with no prior symptoms, no way for me to recover any of its contents or to revive it, reformat it or ever use it again.

If I contributed to its demise it may have been through having it very close to being full to capacity or my removing it without using the proper Windows “Safely Remove Hardware” procedure. I can “get away with this” all the time with my PNY branded stick. I did it once with this CORSAIR and appear to have paid the FULLEST consequence.

PROS
Stylish AND practical design
Blue LED status indicator
Less slow than some memory sticks
Doesn’t prevent computers from booting
Well accessorised

CONS
Its day-to-day good behaviour might lead you to complacency, there are NO HALF MEASURES when these babies BREAK.

BOTTOM LINE

**MAKE MULTIPLE BACK-UPS** to stay sane !

I gave these my highest recommendation, since first experiencing them last summer, and I bought a second higher capacity one a few weeks ago. However, these really are just the current generation of “floppy” and now prices are falling (this was twenty five quid when I bought it) it’s easier to regard them in that disposable light….. with excessive brand-loyalty clearly misplaced and misguided. It makes more sense (and saves some cents) to buy several less “flashy” flash sticks and back-up yer back-ups of back-ups with back-ups.

Buying the “best” won’t necessarily save your SAVEs.

I no longer see the appeal of the 8GB variant or how it could contest much faster and larger “proper” USB-powered external drives such as Western Digital’s snazzy ‘n’ silent pocket-sized Passport series.

Good – while it lasted but I’ll try something else next time.

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