Logitech Casa evaluation: A one-stop workplace

It would now not really feel like a matter of urgent urgency, with lockdowns largely within the rearview mirror, however having a remotely first rate house workplace setup remains to be a problem that plagues hundreds of thousands of employees.

Whether or not you’re employed flexibly full-time or a few days per week, if you do not have a monitor and an entire bunch of equipment it will possibly really feel such as you’re working at a drawback. Enter the Logitech Casa, billed by its creators as a one-stop resolution for versatile working that may pack away on the finish of the day.

Design and options

The Casa is successfully a fold-out laptop stand, however one which additionally homes storage for an included keyboard and trackpad – these stow away contained in the book-like design when it is folded shut.

The concept right here is that you simply successfully have all the things it’s good to work most fashionable jobs, with the addition of your precise laptop computer, in a single bundle, together with that all-important stand for more healthy posture and viewing angles.

The outer case is obtainable in three equally-classy colors that may be matched roughly along with your laptop computer in case you’re fussed, and is fabricated from sturdy exhausting plastic, with a material outer layer to make it soft-touch.

This makes it resemble a binder or perhaps a cloth-bound e-book (if we’re being beneficiant) when it is closed, and it is compact sufficient to stow away pretty simply and take up perhaps double the area of a laptop computer.

That stated, I’ve examined folding laptop computer stands just like the Roost that fold away to slim rods, so that is undeniably bulkier than some choices.

The Casa additionally is not adjustable – you open it up and magnetically clip it into place, and your laptop computer sits in it on the solely peak accessible – one which’s miles higher than a desktop, however nonetheless won’t be good for everybody and which is not all that top.

If it is slightly cumbersome, although, that is as a result of the Casa is not only a stand – it additionally homes a keyboard and trackpad, caring for extra storage for you.

These two equipment are color matched and properly low-profile, each slim however good and strong. The keyboard is not mechanical, so it is nearer to one thing just like the MK470 when it comes to actuation, which I am going to develop on beneath.

They’re each pretty to have a look at and simple to fit out and in of their respective grooves contained in the Casa. There’s yet another compartment left over for cable storage and no matter else you wish to squeeze in it – it is not too massive, so you will not match all that a lot.

Keyboard and trackpad efficiency

So, if the precise laptop computer stand consumer expertise that the Casa affords up is strong however not huge inspiring, it is also received an fascinating twist within the type of keyboard and trackpad combo.

Whereas Logitech is the grasp of the mouse world, producing a bunch of our favourite mouse options for productivity and gaming alike, amazingly it is by no means made a trackpad earlier than, making the Casa Contact (because it’s referred to as) one thing fairly distinctive.

The concept right here is that folks used to laptops do not wish to study new muscle recollections with a mouse, which I discover slightly exhausting to swallow – I am satisfied it is simply because a trackpad’s flat sufficient to suit into the storage compartment with out making it unbearably chunky.

In spite of everything, whereas it is a very strong trackpad, it is nonetheless simply worse to make use of than virtually something from the superb (and doubtlessly actually compact) wi-fi mouse roster that Logitech boasts.

Gestures are helpful in case you’re into them, however for precision and pace an actual mouse is an workplace staple for good cause, and the Casa Contact does nothing to dispel that, even with good responsiveness and construct high quality, plus helpful multi-device swapping.

Fortunately, the keyboard is much more spectacular, with a stunning low-profile feel and appear, all of the buttons and shortcuts you’d hope for, and a welcome diploma of customisation by way of Logi Choices+ on each Home windows and Mac.

The factor is, although, Logitech additionally makes nice keyboards – and the Casa actually has to come back collectively right into a bundle that outweighs the choice: shopping for a laptop computer stand, a keyboard and a mouse, and storing them much less aesthetically.

Whereas the Casa keyboard is sweet, it is not a standout, in contrast to the astoundingly satisfying Logitech MX Mechanical Mini that I’ve used daily for ages now.

Whereas that comparability is harsh given the MX Mechanical Mini prices two-thirds of the Casa’s worth in a single go, it nonetheless leaves me pondering that purchasing my alternative of keyboard, then a $50 mouse and virtually any low cost laptop computer stand would depart me with extra flexibility than the Casa.

What it would not get me, although, is a storage system that packs all of it away extraordinarily neatly on the finish of the day, and is reliably straightforward to pack into a piece bag.

That leaves the Casa as a little bit of a conundrum – all its elements work solidly, even when I would a lot fairly have a mouse than a trackpad – however I nonetheless assume I would fairly purchase its element elements individually.

Verdict

The Casa is a extremely fascinating product from Logitech, and for that it deserves credit score – in case you’re seeking to get a extremely properly matching house workplace setup, however {that a} monitor is off the playing cards, that is actually a easy choice.

That stated although, shopping for an reasonably priced keyboard and mouse (from Logitech itself, almost definitely) may see you save a heck of a wedge even with a pleasant laptop computer stand within the bundle, so I am not satisfied that it represents worth at £179 (with a US launch but to be confirmed or priced).