My current mouse is a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth. It is incredibly comfortable, offers 5 “clickable” buttons (including the scroll wheel), and works over Bluetooth so that I don’t have to have a dongle sticking out of my PowerBook G4. It has stellar battery life… lasts weeks with hardcore use.
So, now the problem. The scroll wheel is almost useless now. It slowly started getting gummed up, and hard to scroll. “No problem,” I thought, “I’ll just open it up and clean it.” That was an adventure. The mouse is held together by a single screw at the top of the battery compartment. It appeared to be a torx screw (you know, that crazy six-pronged star thing), but for the life of me, I couldn’t get my torx drivers to turn the thing. After about 30 minutes of wrangling, I finally noticed a microscopic defect in the screw. There was a little metal burr in one of the star’s recesses. I managed to chisel the bur out with the smallest flathead screwdriver in a precision screwdriver set, and finally the screw came off. About 15 minutes later I had the thing disassembled (I had to use the small screwdriver as a lever to pry the scroll wheel out, and it took so much pressure the screwdriver was bending… I was afraid the plastic would break!) I cleaned out the hair and dust and grime, and oiled the wheel up. I reassembled it, and just barely got the torx screw back in (I think my burr removal caused me to lose some traction on the screw head). It worked great… for about 48 hours. Now it’s back to painfully slow scrolling.
The problem is that the scroll wheel is made of a soft rubber material. It deforms, and catches, creating friction. I need something better.
So… did someone want to buy me a Logitech MX Revolution mouse for Christmas? It has a metal alloy scroll wheel. Normally, a slow spin gives you the tried-and-true ratcheted scrolling mechanism. But if you give it a fast flick, a motor retracts the ratcheting mechanism and allows the wheel to free spin for up to seven seconds! Hot. It doesn’t run on Bluetooth, which means I’m going to have a dongle, but I’ll likely just plug that into my monitor, which functions as a USB hub. I don’t really bring a mouse for portable computing, the PowerBook’s track pad is adequate.
Look how sexy.
I would prefer the logitech mouse. But there is a reason against a mouse without cable. Every time you the need your mouse, e.g. in a computer game, the batteries were empty. I know this prob so a switched back to a mouse with a normal usb connection.
Marcus
I rock the Logitech MX518. So far so good!
I would prefer the Mitsumi mouse. It’s great for gamers and I never had problems with it.
I bought the Logitech MX 400 Laser Mouse and i have had no problems with it. Logitech Mouses are the best for me. Very exact and ergonomic. Good for long gaming nights…
I have a Razer Copperhead and its very good for gaming. no lagging and it is really fast. I have made very bad experiences with wireless mouses
well… it looks like you got your wish 🙂 the mouse is no longer on your wishlist, so someone must have bought it for you! How cool! I just might have to start asking for specific wishlist items on my own blog 😉 hahahaaha..
Happy 5th day of Christmas!! 😀
I also use the Logitech MX 400 Laser Mouse and it is the best mouse I’ve ever had. By the way, is it mouses or mice?
I use a OEM Logitech RX300 which is cheap and great at the same time !!!
Mouses sound odd… Shouldn’t you use mice or mouse devices?
I bought the Logitech MX 400 Laser Mouse too – very exact and ergonomic for a long gaming time.
The new MX Mouse looks good, but I read that the middle-button is only for changing the wheel-mode. Thats stupid for me, I really need a middle button in the Firefox.
I prefer Logitech. My newest modell is running 14 hours/ day and there are no problems with batteries or others things. The Logitech mice have also a good weight. I like them more than too light mouses.
I’m very glad for using mx310, great mouse.
I’ve been using touchpad for already 3 years 🙂
Usually I prefer Mitsumi mouses, but this look great!
Mitsumi ? What the hell is that ?
>> Mitsumi ? What the hell is that ?
Mitsumi – is a great Japan corp. wich make a great mouses!
Ok. I never heard of them.. 😉
I also prefer Logitech mouses – since 1997 🙂
I like Logitech OEM mice best.
Great and excellent article t’s realy helpful. Thanks again.
Wow. Very impressive.
Interesting, thx for posting! Regards …
im uisng optical mouse Logitech since 2004!
It looks like pretty new. i love this mouse
I think these blog is really useful for new comers and Excellent resource list. It´s a very interesting Blog and simple answer of many questions.Keep up the good work!
Thanks it helps me a lot…
I had the pleasure of having Logitech send me a Logitech MX Revolution to review, and now at work I curse the fact that I only have one. Its one of those things that once you start to use it, the bar that is your computer experience rises. The closest comparison is dual monitors vs a single monitor. The scroll wheel is my favorite feature especially for web development, or even should the need arise scroll through 3000+ emails in Outlook with a single flick of your wrist. Its sexy and functional, what else can you ask for in a mouse?
Thanks for very interesting article. btw. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. So please keep up the great work. Greetings.
I think these blog is really useful for new comers and Excellent resource list.
It´s a very interesting Blog and simple answer of many questions.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks it helps me a lot…
It seems the wheel on the photo looks better than in real. (Looking at my dirty logitech mouse)
Optical mouses are the best, it’s incredible, how stron they are