Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse

The best mouse I’ve owned.

Being really sensitive to the ugliness of any kind of computer cables, I bought the MX700 wireless mouse from Logitech mostly based on its cordless design and its many buttons.As much as i really wanted to like this mouse (I really do hate cables) I ended up being frustrated once too many with the iffyness of the wireless signal connection. I simply could not find any practical spot on my desk that wasn't far enough from any EM influence. Moreover, if the base was more than 10 or 12" away from the mouse the connection became erratic. When it worked it was beautiful. When it didn't I wanted to throw it out the window!In the end I decided to send it back, and ordered, reluctantly, its corded brethen the MX500. Boy what a difference a simple cord make! I have been using this mouse for about 3 weeks now and i still get impressed and elated by the feeling of extreme precision and "confident authority" this mouse gives me whenever I use it. Indeed, I have even grown to LOVE its cable! This is how good this mouse is.The buttons are where I expect to find them with just the right amount of resistance to them. The mouse feels just right in the palm of my hand. Its weight is an improvement over the slightly too heavy MX700. Its mouse software is simple, effective and extremely flexible. The optical design virtually never needs cleaning.The only "negative" I might point to, and a very subjective one at that, is that the MX700 silver accent was a perfect match for my Dual G5. The MX500 silver is more smokey grey than silver (Yes, we Mac users, really are that picky with the esthetics of our tools ; )All in all, I cannot recommend this mouse enough. It is quite simply the very best mouse I have ever used, and certainly the only mouse I have ever felt that passionate about.

I am an avid gamer and I owned the white Microsoft Intellimouse Optical and it worked great with games and had a great feel but it was white and I converted my system to all black. So I decided to look for a new mouse. Well after reading the reviews on the mx500 and it was black and grey I decided to go with it. It works great precesion wise but I have a few gripes.1. The back and forward buttons are both placed on the left side of the mouse which are hard to get at where as when I used the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical with each button on each side I would fine I would occasional use them as they are right there.2. As a gamer I use the scroll where to cycle thru weapons and I always set the scroll wheel click (push down on it) as my jump button. This seems natural to me and I'm sure other people use it as this funtion as well. Well compared to the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical pushing down on the wheel takes some force and I've found during gaming I more often then not due to the amount of force needed to click the wheel I end up scrolling it up or down at the same time and my weapons end up changing on me. With the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical it had the easiest push down on scroll and I never made a mistake with it. So probable because of this problem I will be purchasing the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical again.3. I use a fellows mouse pad with gell wrist pad. Never have any problems with it but now with this mouse I get some friction which sometimes created a griping sound which is anoying where as my old Microsoft Intellimouse Optical flowed friction free.But don't get me wrong without this few problems would be a decent mouse. But for a gamer I highly recommend the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical not the explorer version as it is similar to this mouse with button layout.Save a few bucks and go with the Microsoft Intellimouse Optical!

Beware if you are buying this mouse for a computer in your bedroom, or any other location where it may be annoying to have your monitor unexpectedly turn on.This mouse either prevents your monitor from entering power saving mode (i.e. automatically turning off) or brings it out of power saving mode without cause.

After reading the glowing reviews I ordered the MX500 eagerly anticipating a performance jump from my year old Microsoft Blue optical mouse. The mouse is attractive and well built. I rather like the "heft" some people complain of and the design is comfortable. The problem is performance. The pointer is erractic (quivering, shaking pointer with "ghost" images flashing behind it) and the software is extremely buggy either from the CD or Logitech's site (numerous crashes that ended when I uninstalled the Mouseware drivers). Plus the CD installed Backweb Lite to faciltate online registration and updates. Little did I know that that particular program is considered Spyware by many spyware removal programs. That's really a shock from a company like Logitech. All in all I was very dissapointed with the MX500. I went back to my old MS Blue optical, downloaded the lastest drivers from Microsoft and it runs rings around the Logitech and is much more stable!

I previously preferred the Microsoft mice, but they have either gone wireless (don't want that), changed designs away from what I liked, or the worst - the quality just isn't there.I am a tech consultant and am on a computer at the very least 12 hours a day, so I need something that will last. The Microsoft mice were fantastic, I loved their feel, but their buttons weren't made well and would break quickly.The last one I had only 2 months before it broke.I bought this Logitech as a replacement and while I don't like the way it feels as much (too narrow for my tastes, but I have pretty big hands), it does exactly what I want.I will be buying these from now on, at least as long as they keep this design and build quality.I don't play games with mine, so I can't speak to how well they work for that, and I don't care how they look - I just want it to work well in daily use for a range of applications.