Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse

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Title : Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Author : Logitech
Release Date : 20020829
Binding : Electronics
Regular Price : $
Amazon.com Price : $37.94 ( %)
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Buyer Reviews :
I've been using the MX500 for a couple of weeks now as my primary mouse at home, and I'm overall happy with it. I chose the wired MX500 over the wireless MX700 because I didn't want yet another thing (rechargeable base station) taking up an outlet on an already overtaxed powerstrip. Plus, I like the ability to just yank the USB cable and pop it over to another computer.

Pros
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*** Great ergonomic design ***
I was a little hesitant of the deep side groove for your thumb, but it acts as a wonderful little shelf. The rubberized paint keeps the thumb from slipping.

*** Precision ***
No problem at all; works as advertised. It would be hard to go back to the old rollerball mice.

*** Buttons ***
Yes, there are a lot of buttons. And yes, I find that I click all of them, even the seldom-used Forward button.

The two side buttons (Back and Forward) are well positioned for thumb operation, and they offer a nice tactile feel. I found that I would sometimes accidentally hit the Back button on my MS Intellimouse; this seldom if ever happens with this mouse.

The all-in-one piece for the Left and Right Click also works great. I have larger hands and I like how these two buttons extend longer to accommodate my fingers.

The Auto Scroll Up and Down buttons have also become mainstays in my mousing habits. There are really only two problems with them (one software, one design) listed below.

Though less useful, I do find myself using the Application Switcher Button periodically. But the old Alt+Tab habit is hard to break. ;-)

The Scroll Wheel/Button has a decent feel to the spin and click. But unlike the Intellimouse, it is not grooved. It's smooth like an old tire inner tube.

*** Software ***
Incorporates into the Mouse Control Panel. The device comes with a logical scheme right out of the box, but you can customize any of the buttons to your whim.

*** Aesthetics ***
I know color doesn't do anything to enhance usage, but I like how the black and silver matches my laptop.

Cons
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*** Buttons ***
The oft used Auto Scroll Down button is located between the Scroll Wheel and the Application Switcher. I too often find myself clicking on the Application Switcher when I meant to scroll down. A possible workaround is to disable the Application Switcher or assign Auto Scroll Down to it. But I haven't done that yet since I want to see if the Application Switcher gains more value over time.

This is the only real hardware problem with the mouse. They could further improve on the design by giving the smooth surfaced Scroll Wheel the grooved texture found in Intellimouse.

*** Software ***
The software isn't as intuitive or universal as the MS Intellimouse. For example, I'm not sure if you can customize mouse behavior per application. I use Mozilla for some of my internet browsing, and I liked how I could Middle Click (the Scroll Wheel) and have it open a new tab. However, I only get the Software Auto Scroll with this function.

And the Auto Scroll - either the buttons or the mouse-movement variety - is not as smooth as the MS software. It seems to jerk line-by-line instead of scrolling smooth. This is not horrible, but it does take some getting used to.

*** Price ***
This mouse is a tad pricier than comparable offerings. But it is also brand new and will certainly drop down in price.

Conclusion
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I use the MX500 at home and an MS Intellimouse Explorer at work, and I can honestly say that I would rather have the MX500 also at work. Minor flaws aside, I find myself looking for those few extra buttons at work. And the overall ergonomic shape of the MX500 wins hands down, something that truly surprised me. Logitech did some serious human factors work when sculpting. The MX500 was a good purchase!

(by An electronics fan)

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