10 Companies that wow us - Part I (Logitech)

Every once in a while a company comes along that really makes us sit back and go, “Wow!”

For the first time here at PROnetworks I’m going to take a moment to briefly introduce 10 companies that I believe have gone above and beyond the norm of serving their customers. This isn't meant to be a full company review, just an introduction to who they are and what they do.

To really “wow” us, a company must be more than a logo and a product. It has to be something that affects us, even changes us, in some way. You might be surprised you don’t see a particular company or brand here, but let me explain why they might be missing. My primary parameter for this list required the company to have a physical product (software or hardware) that affected PC users. The only possibility to exempt that parameter was for the company to offer an extraordinary (PC-related) service - and several made the list this way. Each company also had to be a regular in the news and blogosphere (part of the “buzz” if you will). The last major requirement was that they had to affect, or change, people’s lives (even on a subconscious level).

So if you don’t see a company here, it probably didn’t fit my guidelines. The company might also have simply failed to be one of the best. A lot of companies affect us on a day to day basis, no doubt, but many of them fail to capture the moment and impress us over and over again. You’ll probably have your own picks for this list, and I welcome you to share them in the comment section below this article; try and stick to the same parameters. You might even convince me to change my own line-up.

OK, let’s start with number 10 and move up the list. In each series I’ll list the good, the bad, and the ugly (if applicable) of each – including annotations on what they both do best and worst. Who has the best chance to move higher up the latter? Who is in danger of failing with consumers? Who has burst onto the scene like a bat out of you know where? Let’s take a look.

#10. Logitech - When talking about the top 10 companies that really “wow” us, you probably wouldn’t think of Logitech being one of them. But I think you’d be surprised by the quality of this company. Chances are you’ve been exposed to Logitech products in some form or another. Best known for their computer hardware - such as mice and keyboards, Logitech is much more than a simple peripheral device manufacturer. Logitech also brands various multimedia equipment; such as webcams and speakers. And what’s really nice about Logitech is that you can count on their products to last. Since the start of the new millennium I’ve almost relied solely on Logitech to point, click, and type my way around a computer screen. Furthermore, I’ve never had to return a product I purchased from them, not even once. I’ve never had to fill out a warranty claim and I’ve never had to call their support center. They keep their website trendy and up to date, offering all the latest downloads for their products. And though speakers are a fairly competitive market, Logitech has made themselves a respected member of the elite manufacturers here too. I hesitantly, though admiringly, first purchased a speaker set from Logitech in 2002. I have since gone on to purchase three different systems, many in the $100-$250 range. Why pay that much for speakers you ask? Because they, well, ‘rock.’

The products they produce also adapt to the customers needs. Typically their mice and keyboards are customizable, and they were one of the first manufacturers to start this trend. Their shortcut keys located on each device also are “non-partisan” when it comes to setting their labeling up. Buy a Microsoft keyboard for example and all the shortcuts, well, point to Microsoft products. Maybe I want my media key to bring up iTunes, and not Media Player. While you can customize many other keyboards (including Microsoft’s), Logitech has remained unbiased in their labeling, a perk if but only on a small scale. Sometimes it’s the little things that add up for Logitech.

My only real complaints with Logitech deal with their battery life issues. Some of their earlier mice/keyboard devices had horrible battery life and would then persistently bug the heck out of you until you replaced them. Beyond this, I have no qualms with the company, and lately this complaint isn't really even applicable.

So when you next head to the store (virtually or physically) consider Logitech’s products for your own home and PC experience.

Next time I’ll introduce my number nine pick… (Continue to #9)

John C. Derrick
Founder

I totally agree with you about Logitech, all my keyboards and mice for my personal systems and probably a good 90% of the ones I sell with systems are Logitech. The same goes for speakers when people hear mine that is what they want if they get them from me.
My all time favorite item from Logitech is my Harmony 676 remote control. This one remote has replaced 6 remotes so far, when I say replaced I mean taken the place of. Simple to setup and program for maybe any manufacturers remote out there. We used to have 3 remotes in our bedroom to either watch tv, or a DVD, needed one for the TV, one for Cable box and one for the DVD player. Now with one remote we can push one button to turn on TV and DVD player set the TV to correct input and turn off cable box if it is on to watch a movie, or another button to turn on the TV and Cablebox and again set TV to correct input to watch TV.

I am really looking forward to trying their remotes. I've heard about them, and now your posts really makes me want to give them a shot. I've had so many universal remotes over the years I've sorta lost interest in them, but maybe Logitech's "logic" will make it a better experience for me.

I have ours setup for the TV, DVD and cable in our bedroom and another setup on the same remote as TV2 for the 32 in LCD TV, DVD and playstation in our family room. I even believe it can be setup to control MS MCE if you have the IR connected to the PC. This remote is awsome in my opinion, and it isn't even the top of the line one from Logitech, more like lower middle road.

I have only started purchasing Logitech products in the past couple years, but now I am using the MX1000 Laser mouse on my main PC and I love it so much that I decided to get a VX Revolution for work to carry around with my laptop. I use my VX mouse so much at work, but a single AA battery lasted me more than 3 months!

Now that i trust the Logitech name in mice, when I went to buy my wife a new computer I decided to get her a Dell, but I didn't want to pay an extra $50 for their low end speakers, so I picked her up some Logitech 2.1 speakers and now I am jealous of the quality of speakers compared to mine.

What's really great is that whether you buy the high or low end, they all seem great - exactly what you paid for too.

I just purchased the Keyboard/Mouse MX3200 combo (which is fairly new) and I love it.

I went out and got the 5.1 Z-5300e speaker system too. I think it's one behind their latest, and it's just incredible. I mean, rock the house, incredible. For $200, heck, I could never get a home theater system this nice.

kanaloa wrote:

What's really great is that whether you buy the high or low end, they all seem great - exactly what you paid for too. I just purchased the Keyboard/Mouse MX3200 combo (which is fairly new) and I love it. I went out and got the 5.1 Z-5300e speaker system too. I think it's one behind their latest, and it's just incredible. I mean, rock the house, incredible. For $200, heck, I could never get a home theater system this nice.

I have the same speakers; and sure you could get a home theater system as nice, IF it had a Logitech label (-:

yeshuas wrote:

kanaloa wrote: What's really great is that whether you buy the high or low end, they all seem great - exactly what you paid for too. I just purchased the Keyboard/Mouse MX3200 combo (which is fairly new) and I love it. I went out and got the 5.1 Z-5300e speaker system too. I think it's one behind their latest, and it's just incredible. I mean, rock the house, incredible. For $200, heck, I could never get a home theater system this nice. I have the same speakers; and sure you could get a home theater system as nice, IF it had a Logitech label (-:

Yup, same speakers here too and they 'rock' as you said. I also have a low end keyboard with all the extra 'mode' keys and I was surprised at how good the touch was for such a 'cheap' keyboard. and I still have my 5 year old optical mouse. Decent products at an affordable price. I trust them which, to me, is the highest praise that I can give them, besides my money.