Logitech Alto Takes Notebook PC Comfort to New Heights

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Logitech (NASDAQ:LOGI) (SWX:LOGN) has made using a notebook PC more comfortable. The company today announced the Logitech® Alto™ notebook stand, a one-piece notebook riser with an integrated, full-size keyboard – a product that levels the notebook screen with people’s eyes and frees people’s hands from the constraints of a cramped notebook keypad.

Notebook PCs are fast-becoming the standard PC choice in homes around the world. But the compact form of a notebook PC often comes at the expense of comfort as people assume awkward postures to type on the small built-in keyboards, often with non-conventional key layouts, and stare down at the low-lying screens. The Logitech Alto addresses these comfort issues with a simple, all-in-one solution that opens like a book to reveal an integrated full-size keyboard on one side and an angled platform for the notebook PC on the other. The keyboard gives people the typing experience they are accustomed to having with a desktop PC, complete with a number pad, a media panel and a standard key layout, while the easy-to-set-up platform raises the monitor to eye level and establishes an ideal distance between the monitor and the user’s eyes.

Perfect for use at the desk or the kitchen table, the Logitech Alto takes less than 30 seconds to set up; it’s as simple as placing a notebook PC on the stand and plugging in the USB cable. And it’s designed to be equally as simple to put it away; by collapsing the stand and folding the product in half, reducing the size of the product to a slim and compact 9.33-by-16.84-by-1.41 inches (23.7-by-42.8-by-3.6 cm), making it easy to tuck away and clear valuable surfaces in the home.

“Notebooks offer a tremendous advantage because people can use them around the house and take them on the road – but when it comes to sitting and using a computer for an extended period of time, people miss the comfort and advantages of the raised monitor and the full-size keyboard that a desktop PC offers,” said Denis Pavillard, Logitech vice president of product marketing for keyboards and desktops. “The Logitech Alto notebook stand helps solve the comfort problem. And unlike a more complex and expensive docking station, Alto is simple to fold up and stash away when the notebook is not in use, so that people can also enjoy the benefits of open desk space.”

Designed with Comfort in Mind

In addition to the ergonomic benefits offered by a full-size keyboard and having a monitor at eye level, the Logitech Alto keeps people’s hands away from the heat generated by a notebook PC. In a recent study of 1,000 U.S. notebook users by research firm GfK Custom Research Inc. in conjunction with Logitech, 49 percent identified heat from a notebook PC as a drawback to using it. To offer additional wrist support, the Alto also includes a soft palm rest at the base of the keyboard.

To further enhance the comfort of their notebook experience, people can use the premium new Logitech® VX Revolution™ cordless laser mouse for notebooks. The VX Revolution mouse includes the revolutionary MicroGear™ Precision Scroll Wheel, sculpted contours, a rubber thumb grip, and low-resistance polytetrafluoroethylene feet that make navigating complex digital content more comfortable than ever.

Versatile, Stylish Design

Unlike a docking station, Logitech Alto is compatible with many notebook PC brands; it can accommodate multiple computers and can be shared among household members. Because it uses USB to connect the built-in keyboard and USB hub, the Logitech Alto works with the vast majority of Windows-based notebook PCs on the market. Its hinge is designed to support notebook PCs that weigh up to 9 pounds (4 kilograms), which includes most notebooks currently available.

The space-saving Logitech Alto is simple enough to set up and use on the kitchen counter on a moment’s notice, and it’s easy to pack it up and put it away. But it’s also versatile enough to serve as a hub for other devices if people want to connect and use their notebook in a more permanent location. Three built-in Hi-Speed USB ports are available for connecting a variety of peripherals, such as one of Logitech’s award-winning cordless mice for notebook PCs, a webcam, or even an external drive or printer, to the notebook. The Logitech Alto also includes a cable-management system that makes it easier to connect other corded peripherals without creating cord chaos.

The Alto offers a sense of style to the notebook experience with its solid black surfaces and glossy black dashboard, which includes orange backlighted icons. The keyboard also includes one-touch media and volume controls and additional hot keys that deliver quick access to favorite applications, folders, and Web pages.

Pricing and Availability

Logitech Alto is expected to be available in Europe beginning in December and in the U.S. beginning in January. Its suggested retail price in the U.S. is $99.99.

About Logitech

Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal peripherals that enable people to effectively work, play, and communicate in the digital world. Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded on the SWX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are owned by Logitech and may be registered. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the Company’s Web site at www.logitech.com.

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