UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

About the MX Master mouse

The ideal tool for improving your skills

Logitech MX Master sets new standards for laser mouse performance and precision.

You can connect it to up to three computers at once and then easily switch between them with the touch of a button. To do this, use the included Logitech Unifying™ receiver or wireless technology Bluetooth® Smart.

The variable-speed scroll wheel supports two operating modes: step-by-step scrolling with high precision and ultra-fast scrolling, which allows you to quickly view long documents and web pages. The unique thumb wheel is easy to use for horizontal scrolling.

The ergonomic shape is extremely comfortable in the palm* and ensures a natural hand position. Darkfield™ laser tracking technology provides precise control on virtually any surface, including glass* or other high-gloss materials.

To take full advantage of MX Master, install Logitech Options™ software. This software allows you to optimize your mouse for any operating system and customize its features and buttons to suit your preferences.

Note. Features described in blue require Logitech Options software.

Another advantage of the MX Master mouse is fast charging. Just four minutes of connecting to a power source, and the battery charge will last for a whole day of work. And after a full charge, the mouse will function for up to 40 days**.

* Minimum thickness - 4 mm.
** When used 6 hours a day. Battery life varies depending on operating mode and hardware configuration.

INSTALLING CONNECTIONS

Connection

The MX Master mouse comes already paired with the Unifying receiver. (You can also pair with any other Unifying receiver.)
Use the function Bluetooth Smart for wireless connection of MX Master to technology-enabled computers Bluetooth® Smart.

Connecting with a pre-paired Unifying receiver

1. Click the Easy-Switch button on your mouse to select a channel.
2. Click the Connect button.
3. Connect the Unifying receiver to a USB port on your computer.
4. Once pairing is established, the selected channel indicator on the mouse stops blinking and remains lit for 5 seconds.

This computer will be connected through this channel until you connect it through another or assign this channel to another device.

If the indicator continues to blink slowly, the mouse connection has failed.

Channel selection

1. Click the Easy-Switch button on your mouse.
2. Once the connection is activated, the indicator on the mouse lights up for 5 seconds.

The selected channel number is highlighted on the mouse with backlighting.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

With a range of useful features, the powerful, modern Logitech MX Master mouse will help you reach the top of your game.

Expand your MX Master with Logitech Options Software

Logitech Options software gives you access to additional mouse features and allows you to optimize your mouse for any operating system.

Install the software to assign new functions to buttons, control your mouse with gestures, adjust tracking speed, and do many other useful things.

Logitech Options software is available for Windows® 7, Windows 8 or later, and Mac® OS X 10.10 or later.

The variable-speed scroll wheel automatically switches between modes in response to your touch.

Step-by-step scrolling ensures precise movements and precise positioning. In Super Fast Scroll mode, the wheel rotates freely, allowing you to quickly flip through large documents and web pages.

(You can also change modes manually by pressing the dedicated button.)

Instead of an introduction: I spent a long time and diligently writing a detailed article, but in the end a random hotkey in the browser and everything that was written disappeared into oblivion. “Thank you” Habr for not saving drafts automatically, like on normal sites, I’m sure many have encountered this at least once... It’s a shame, annoying, but okay, next time I’ll use a text editor.

So, the first “hero” is Logitech MX Anywhere 2.

What are the differences between the new and previous model?

1. Ability to use the mouse on three different devices;


+ can be used simultaneously on three different devices (at home, on the road, at work)
- switching between devices occurs using a button on the rodent’s belly
- parallel work is impossible without additional usb radio sensors (but even with them, it is completely inconvenient to use switching in parallel work between a computer and a laptop, for example, because you have to constantly press the button on your belly - and this is just EPIC FAIL. It would be much more convenient to place the button switches on top, above the miniature third button)
- you need to carry the radio sensor from the mouse with you and pull it out/insert it between all the devices you use (it’s difficult to pull it out even from a laptop, because the shape of the radio sensor does not have “hooks” for nails or fingers, it’s terribly inconvenient)
- the sensor is easy to lose, because it is even smaller than the previous one and now it cannot be hidden inside the mouse (and without a sensor the mouse will not work even via a connected wire)

2. Reduced USB signal reception/transmission sensor;
- at a steep 1000 DPI, the radio sensor still operates at the prehistoric 125Hz, which completely negates the advantages of a high-resolution sensor (despite the fact that the minimum comfortable frequency for working with graphics, modeling or for games can be considered 200Hz. Take any gaming mouse, there’s no frequencies below 200Hz. You can check using the Mouse Rate Checker program)
- if used on several devices, it is completely inconvenient to remove and insert (except for working with one device - insert and forget)

3. Built-in battery, instead of AA batteries;


+ the mouse has become lighter
+ can be recharged via wire
+ no need to bother with AA batteries
- work without recharging has been reduced from 4 to 2 months
- the battery tends to degrade, losing capacity (over time, your radio mouse will turn into a wired rodent)
- batteries are not removable (as was previously the case on some game models of the gaming series)

4. Recharge the mouse from a USB cable during operation;
+ recharging during operation
- the wire is short
- charging only, you can’t work through a wire, as for example on the gaming G700s (if you lose the radio sensor, you will get a beautiful brick, unless of course you find another radio sensor, but I haven’t seen them on sale)

5. New modified sensor;
+ two diodes instead of one
+ DPI from 400 to 1600
- due to the idiotic limitation of 125Hz, DPI above 400, alas, does not play a special role (you can check it using the Mouse Rate Checker program)

6. New design;
+ made well and with high quality
- there are no metal elements that gave this series of mice an expensive look

7. New software;
- no functionality for changing DPI

8. Price.
- the price for such a device, $70, is completely unreasonably high (at the time of writing, RUB 5,500 - 09/12/2015)

An honest evaluation: 2.5 points out of 5.

CONCLUSION: The rodent turned out to be clearly crude and unfinished, its price is too high, and its characteristics are significantly below average due to the idiotic limitation of 125Hz. I don’t recommend buying it, unless you are a victim of marketers and not a fan of spontaneous purchases of a new device just because it has a new color, a slightly different shape and a cool new inscription on the case...

The second "hero" - Logitech MX Master.

There is nothing special to add, all the same sores as the first copy.
- battery charge is even less - 40 days, instead of 2 months
- the price is even higher - $100
- the same poor 125Hz
- mouse only for right-handed people
- there are no side rocker buttons on the main scroll wheel
+ the scroll wheel switches automatically to high-speed mode during a sharp jerk
+ there is an additional side scroll roller for your thumb
- side roller slow

At prices of $70 (5,500 rubles) and $100 (6,800 rubles), I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND these crude devices, which are practically no different from the MX Anywhere prototype.

P.S. I hope that representatives of the once legendary company Logitech, which has recently lost its ground, will read this article and think at least a little about the fact that instead of spending millions on redesign and marketing, it would be better to return to the roots and continue the tradition of releasing cutting-edge devices. which in fact once had no equal. Now it’s just technologies spread across model ranges and the absence of truly high-quality products.

P.P.S. Previously, modified drivers circulated on the Internet that made it possible to bypass the 125Hz limitation and use rodents at 200Hz, but now I have not seen such drivers for new OSes. If anyone knows how to make a rodent work at frequencies above 125Hz, I would be very grateful for the information and would even write a detailed article on this topic with your help, not to mention the rays of goodness and great gratitude on my part.

The Logitech MX Master is a wireless optical laser mouse that is an upgraded version of the Perfomance MX. A special feature of the new mouse is its unusual design and laser sensor, made using Darkfield technology, allowing the manipulator to work even on glass and highly reflective surfaces. The maximum sensor resolution is 1600 dpi. The ability to quickly switch between the MacOS and Windows operating systems is also implemented, for which the mouse has two interfaces.

Unique ergonomic shape

The Logitech MX Master is ergonomically designed to precisely follow the curves of your palm and provides excellent hand support. The mouse has an original and extremely comfortable body. It was made based on a sample that was manually created by Logitech specialists. The Logitech MX Master features a variable scroll wheel for large documents and web pages. It allows you to automatically switch from step-by-step mode to ultra-fast scrolling mode. There is also a unique thumb wheel that is designed for horizontal scrolling.

Darkfield laser sensor

Logitech MX Master features Darkfield laser tracking technology, which ensures flawless operation even on glass and highly reflective surfaces. The mouse can be connected via Unifying radio, using a USB receiver, or using Bluetooth Smart wireless technology. A convenient quick switch button is located on the inner surface of the mouse. It is also possible to connect up to three devices via the Unifying radio channel thanks to Easy-Switch technology.

Built-in battery

Logitech MX Master is equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery with a capacity of 500 mAh, a full charge of which lasts up to 40 days of battery life, and 4 minutes of charging will allow you to use the mouse throughout the working day. An indicator light indicates the battery's charge status, and recharging is quick and easy. Simply connect the mouse to your computer using the micro USB charging cable. Logitech MX Master continues to operate while charging.

Peculiarities:

• Ergonomic shape that follows the curves of the palm
• Wheel with adjustable scroll speed
• Unique thumb wheel
• Darkfield laser tracking technology
• Two connection methods
• Pair up to three devices
• Built-in, rechargeable battery

Greetings to all guests and guests of the Experts Club.

Today I have another new rodent from Logitech to review, but this time it’s not a gaming one!

Today we will talk about the new non-gaming flagship mouse - Logitech MX Master. They have been waiting for this rodent in Russia, or rather they are still waiting for it, for a very long time. According to the manufacturer's promises, the rodent should be fantastically comfortable and thought out to the smallest detail. And it is not surprising that many fans of the brand became interested in the new product and began to look forward to the release of the new product on the market. To begin with, I suggest watching the official presentation video.

I specifically emphasized at the beginning of the article that the rodent is not a gaming rodent, so that the reader would immediately understand what it is worth and what not to expect from this device.

At the moment, the price of the device is about 6,000 rubles. And perhaps many will wonder what could be in an ordinary “working” mouse that would make them pay that kind of money for it. I won’t hide that before the rodent came to me, I asked myself the same question. But even after a short acquaintance with the device, you understand that you wouldn’t mind paying more for this mouse. Yes, yes, the mouse is actually worth the money.

The main advantages include excellent appearance and design - the mouse looks very expensive and stylish, the ability to simultaneously connect to Three! Devices, the ability to connect without using a complete receiver, two scroll wheels, one of which is located under the thumb, the possibility of inertial scrolling, ergonomic shape and much, much more.

I can say a lot more words of praise about this mouse, but I won’t test your patience and will go directly to the review.

Specifications

Sensor: Darkfield laser sensor

Resolution 400 to 1600 dpi

Battery life: up to 40 days of operation on a single full charge*

*Battery life may vary depending on usage and hardware configuration.

Battery: rechargeable lithium polymer battery (500 mAh)

Number of buttons: 5

Scroll wheel: There is

Gesture recognition area: There is

Wireless range: 10 m

Wireless technology: 2.4 GHz advanced wireless technology

Dimensions

Mouse(length x width x thickness): 85.7 mm (3.4 in) x 126.0 mm (5.0 in) x 48.4 mm (2.0 in)

Mouse weight(including battery): 145 g

Packaging and accessories

The rodent is delivered in a cardboard box decorated in dark colors.

On the front part there is an image of the mouse itself, and the model is also indicated.

The main advantages of the device are listed at the back.

As has become fashionable lately, the front of the box opens and we are presented with the rodent itself in all its glory. The connection process is also schematically described here.

Inside, the rodent and the rest of the delivery set are secured in a plastic blister.

In the box we will find:

The rodent itself;

Receiver;

Charging cable;

User guide;

Warranty card.

The receiver is standard.

Design and construction features

The mouse has undergone significant external changes compared to the younger model. The design of the rodent is as strict as possible, but at the same time the rodent does not look boring or “usual”. The mouse is decorated in black and gold tones.

The shape is asymmetrical. The mouse is designed for right-handed users. The shape is thought out so well that when you take the rodent in your hand, you get the impression that you have been using it for many years. The rodent fits just perfectly in a man’s hand.

The main material of the case was matte plastic, which is quite pleasant to the touch. Despite the absence of the popular Soft Touch coating, no problems arise during operation. There are absolutely no complaints about the quality of materials and workmanship. All parts are perfectly matched to each other. All gaps are completely uniform.

All controls are concentrated on the top and left sides.

At the top we see the classic right and left keys, a scroll wheel and a key to turn on/off inertial scrolling. For greater convenience, the keys are tilted to the right. The wheel has a rubber coating and boasts almost silent operation in standard mode (I'm glad that the G502 errors were taken into account and successfully corrected). In inertial mode, there is no sound from the wheel at all.

On the left are two programmable keys, an additional scroll wheel and a battery charge indicator. The location of all the keys does not raise any questions. They are exactly where they should be. Due to its large size, the mouse is ideal for palm grip.

There is also a thumb rest on the left, which is also not without a surprise. Of course, its presence today will not surprise anyone, but for this rodent, the stand is another additional key.

Having turned the rodent over, from the abundance of all kinds of indicators and keys, the eyes begin to run wild. But having looked at them better, everything becomes simple and clear.

Here we see a power switch, a key for pairing the mouse with a PC/laptop, an optical sensor and a key for switching the signal receiver (the mouse can be connected to three PCs at the same time).

Also, to improve sliding, there are four Teflon pads of different shapes and sizes.

Usage and software

Connection

The mouse can be connected using the included Logitech Unifying™ receiver or Bluetooth® Smart wireless technology. I would like to note that not all PCs and laptops support the second technology.

To connect your Logitech® MX Master to a Bluetooth Smart-enabled computer, you need:

Windows 8 or later or Mac OS X 10.10 or later.

If your computer doesn't support Bluetooth Smart technology or you're using an older version of Windows or Mac OS, you'll have to rely on the Logitech Unifying™ receiver to connect.

How to check if your computer supports Bluetooth Smart:

Windows:

On the Windows Start screen, find “Device Manager”

Select “Device Manager”

Select "Bluetooth"

If the description says "Bluetooth LE Enumerator (Microsoft)", your device supports Bluetooth Smart technology

Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen

Select “About This Mac”

Click “System Report...”

Select “Bluetooth” from the “Hardware” drop-down list

If “Yes” is displayed next to “Bluetooth Low Energy”, then your device supports Bluetooth Smart

As has often happened lately, the rodent does not come with any driver discs. Those who are not interested in additional settings can install a simple utility Logitech Unifying™, which only allows you to connect a mouse to your PC.

The connection process is as simple and straightforward as possible.

Those who are not used to being content with the minimum should install the utility Logitech Options™. Both utilities will have to be downloaded from the official website yourself.

On the main window of the program we see an image of a mouse and the designation of all the available keys. Not all of them can be customized. Right and left are not customizable. The only thing you can do with them is to swap the functions of the right and left buttons.

The remaining keys can be configured and assigned one of many values.

The most extensive list of settings is available for the gesture key, which is located on the thumb rest. I would like to talk about it in a little more detail. This key is capable of performing a huge number of functions (listed in the screenshot). By default, it is assigned to switch windows. To activate it, you need to click on it and move the mouse in the appropriate direction.

On the second tab, we are given the opportunity to change the sensor resolution, select the scroll wheel operating mode, specify its speed, etc.

The settings section displays information about connected devices and software version.

Usage

Let's start with ease of use. I didn't have any complaints about this option. Everything, from the shape to the location of the keys and the materials of the case, is thought out to the smallest detail and it’s impossible to find fault with anything. The mouse fits perfectly in the men's one. The layout of the keys is intuitive and does not require any habit. After just 10 minutes of use, you will remember all the additional keys and begin to fully use them. The rodent has excellent glide and is also very well balanced. Thanks to this, your hand does not get tired at all during long-term work. The rodent is great for working in various graphic editors, since it is quite simple to make minimal movements with the cursor. There are no false clicks or sudden jerks. Pressing the buttons is soft and accompanied by a characteristic click. The response to pressing is uniform across the entire plane of the keys, regardless of where the click was made - at the very tip of the key or at its base.

There are also no complaints about the operation of the wheel. Scrolling is quite quiet with characteristic barely noticeable clicks. The click is moderately hard and is accompanied by a characteristic sound. In inertial mode, the wheel does not make any sounds at all. I'm glad that the mistakes that were made during the development of the gaming G502 (as we remember, the wheel clicked noticeably during normal scrolling) were taken into account and corrected.

The rodent shows excellent results on almost any surface. Even on glass and other glossy surfaces. We can thank Darkfield technology for this.

Technology Darkfield

Optical and laser mice use surface roughness to track direction and speed of movement. This is why regular mice don't work well on smooth, shiny surfaces. The Darkfield laser tracking system comes to the rescue. Darkfield uses minute surface detail to create a micro-map of the surface, resulting in greater precision on a wide variety of surfaces, even glass

Maximum resolution accuracy of 1,600 DPI. In my opinion, this is quite enough to perform almost any task. I say this as the owner of a mouse with a resolution of 12,000 DPI.

There are no complaints about the quality of the sensor. The response to movements is excellent. As a conclusion, I can say that the mouse can handle any task. Over the entire period of use, I have not encountered a single situation in which this rodent would fail.

Conclusion

What do we have in conclusion? And we have an excellent rodent for everyday work. Logitech MX Master showed its best side. And with practical use, even more advantages are revealed than indicated on the manufacturer’s website in the official release. Having examined a huge variety of mice, I have not seen a more convenient and thoughtful rodent for a long time. So those who are looking for a high-quality functional mouse, but do not need gaming gadgets, can safely consider this rodent for purchase.

Pros:

Ease of use;

Excellent functionality;

Availability of inertial scrolling;

Build quality and materials;

Very useful and convenient “Gesture Key”.

Minus:

Not detected.

That's all for me. Happy shopping everyone and see you again.

I would like to express my gratitude to Logitech for providing the device for testing.

The new Logitech MX series of mice are "stylish and cool," according to Logitech. We completely agree with this. However, the last significant step in computer mouse technology was made more than three years ago.

The first Microsoft "IntelliEye" mice (or little mice or rodents, whatever you want, but we'll call them mice from now on) were released in 1999. They used Hewlett-Packard technology, which was later improved upon, but the basic idea remained the same; At the bottom of the mouse there is a small camera that tracks the movement of the device. The red light that all these mice have is actually an LED needed to illuminate the surface. The built-in digital signal processor determines the direction of mouse movement, and in accordance with this information, the cursor begins to move on the screen. No balls, no moving parts: nothing will spoil or wear out.

Before 1999, optical mice needed a mouse pad to work (actually they needed one to work well, but you could get by with any non-reflective surface). Today, an optical mouse is a mouse that works on almost any surface, meaning they will work on the floor, on a desk, and on your foot without any problems.

Modern optical mice have a higher frame rate, which allows you to move the mouse at high speeds. The resolution has also been improved, which again has a positive effect on movement. But the basic idea has not changed, and even the first generation of multi-surface optical mice will be quite satisfactory for most users.

Of course, mouse manufacturing companies are unlikely to be happy about this situation. After all, they produce products that practically do not wear out. The bottom surface of the mouse may wear out and the cable may break, but otherwise the mouse lasts almost forever. It will serve you reliably for many years, as long as you don't spill beer on it, of course.
It is quite difficult to convince a buyer to change an optical mouse once a year.

Here are three new mouse models.

Luckily, the MX series mice are all new Logitech models and not remakes of last year's new products. Of course, we don't mean electronics, which are unlikely to have changed.

The sensor in the MX series of mice is called the "MX Optical Engine". Logitech proudly claims that it captures "up to 4.7 megapixels of motion tracking information" in a second. Of course, this one is higher than in previous generation sensors. But Logitech stopped mentioning the number of surface images the mouse takes per second, and we didn’t find any information about resolution either. Therefore, it is difficult for us to say what is hidden under the indicated number of megapixels.

If we take the MX series mice to have a frame rate of 6000 (like Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0, we don't think Logitech's is higher - then they'd probably say so), then "4.7 megapixels per second" means "up to 783 pixels per shot" or "28 by 28 pixel sensor".

Overall, the MX mouse's sensors should be as good as Microsoft's v3.0 mice, which work on absolutely all surfaces and can be moved at lightning speeds, completely satisfying natural gamers who play fast-paced games.

Below are descriptions of the three new mice: MX 300, MX 500 and MX 700. The MX 300 is the basic model, the MX 500 has two additional buttons and a cut-away design. And the MX 700 is arguably the best wireless mouse out there. Provided you are right-handed.

The MX 300 mouse costs $29.95, the MX 500 costs $49.95, and the MX 700 costs $79.95.

Which one do you like best?

MX 300

The MX 300 is the only mouse from the new line that is also suitable for left-handers. Since the MX 500 and MX 700 mice have a thumb groove and two buttons on the left side, it is unlikely that a left-handed person will be able to hold it comfortably.

The MX 300 bears a slight resemblance to Logitech's standard ambidextrous design, and looks very similar to the classic First Mouse Plus. The MX 300 is perfect for people with any hand size.

The MX 300 has four buttons, two of which are regular. As well as a scroll wheel, which replaces the third button, and another small button for quick switching, which is located in the center behind the two main ones.

The quick switch button is so named because in Windows it performs only one function, namely, it opens a list of all windows (similar to the list that is called up by the Alt + Tab keys), and you can easily switch to the desired window from the list. This list takes up more space on the monitor than the usual Alt-Tab interface, since it allows you to see the entire title of a particular window, but you are unlikely to find this function very useful.

The good news is that the “MouseWare” driver included with every Logitech mouse allows you to reprogram the Quick Switch button to some additional function. With any mouse button you can associate various Windows operations and function keys, some of which are quite useful. Among them are the usual Web navigation capabilities, super fast scrolling, plus trivial F key emulation, etc.

As for the cons, either the Logitech driver development team is not very straightforward, or Windows has special hidden functions that prevent the Logitech driver from working properly and help the Microsoft IntelliPoint driver.

MouseWare can be quite useful in regular Windows applications, but on the contrary, it will ruin your life in games.

All three mice of the MX line, like other mice with MouseWare support, have absolutely crazy scrolling behavior when MouseWare is turned on. At best, you'll get uneven, jerky scrolling—turn the wheel a few steps, then watch the screen move a little, then move more lines, then a few more. Internet Explorer MX was unable to scroll faster than about eight lines per second, so you'll spend forever before scrolling to where you want to go.

And to make matters worse, sometimes turning the wheel one step will not result in any response, but if you turn the wheel again, the screen will move two lines at once. In addition, we observed another phenomenon, especially common on the MX 300, which is that when you turn the wheel two steps, nothing happens, and only when you turn it one step again will the screen move three lines at once. (Well, how do you like it, disgusting, isn't it?)

As soon as you disable MouseWare (and this can be done easily, you just need to find the process named "EM_EXES" in the list of processes in the Windows task manager and just kill it), and suddenly scrolling starts working without problems. It doesn't appear to be a hardware issue with the MX mice; MouseWare simply creates obstacles and stands in the way of normal mouse operation in a Windows environment.

To set up stable scrolling without disabling MouseWare, you can use another simple method. You just need to set MouseWare's scrolling to zero lines per wheel step. Then, using Tweak UI (versions for Win95/98/2000 can be found for WinXP), open the mouse settings options, and enable the option "use scroll wheel".

Games

With MouseWare running automatically (without using the aforementioned UI Tweak), it's unlikely that you'll be able to play using the scroll wheel and Logitech's new extra mouse buttons. Either they will not be detected, or an "unknown key" error will occur or something similar. You may be able to connect the wheel using Tweak UI, but there is a possibility that MouseWare will block the buttons. At least that's how it was for us.

Logitech is aware of this issue and they are now offering a link to update the "game_whl" driver (named "Mouse Registry File for GAMERS", downloadable). The update is supposed to only work on Windows 95/98 and NT, but those who have tried it on newer versions of Windows say it works there too.

But not with us. The ability to use additional buttons and wheels in games was not available until we manually shutdown MouseWare. Then everything worked, except for the quick switch button.

When it comes to gaming, we found that the MX 300 behaves like a regular two-button mouse with a wheel. Which is not so bad, but it doesn’t evoke strong emotions.

Logitech's claims about the very high resolution of the MX series mice seem quite reasonable. Even at very high mouse speeds, these mice allow you to move the cursor one pixel at a time. What is so good about it? Nothing special.

It's not bad to have a pixel-by-pixel mouse resolution, but it's unlikely that you'll gain much from moving your cursor one pixel rather than two or three. Of course, this is important for some applications, but not for all.

Office applications do not require a large mouse resolution; the smallest element you will work with is a letter of text. Those who do graphics work with pixels, but you're unlikely to have the whim of using a high-precision mouse to do this, you'll just apply magnification. If you don't take into account the resolution of the mouse, then most likely you do not have such a steady hand and keen eye to work pixel by pixel on a one-to-one scale.

Again, this isn't a deal-breaker at all, and those who do photo retouching or computer-aided design or the like will undoubtedly benefit more from the mouse's super resolution than those who work with text or spreadsheets. But only tablets, and not some kind of mouse, will help such graphics maniacs; the rest will be able to get by with the resolution of mice of earlier versions.

In games, especially 3D ones, you need fast mouse speed and good control. High speed allows you to turn around without additional movements of the wrist, excellent control allows you to aim the weapon at a small target, in those moments when the enemy is visible in the distance as a tiny dot and knightly play is not part of your plans.

For such moments, the MX series is simply perfect. Forget MouseWare, you can always turn it off.

What's inside:

Well, of course, the same as in the photo. It's a small circuit board with quick-toggle buttons on the lid, but other than that the MX 300 doesn't look anything special from the inside.

A small metal plate is screwed to the lid to add weight. Gaming fans will no doubt want to unscrew it to give the mouse more maneuverability.

By the way, getting inside to carry out such a simple modification is pleasantly easy. The sole and top cover of the MX 300 are connected with just one screw, which is not under the foot or covered by a sticker.

The sensor chip in the MX 300 (and MX 500) is covered with a plastic cover; we remove it and see that the chip is made by Agilent (Agilent is now a division of HP that develops all types of optical technologies) with the stamps “A2020” and “A0230”. There's no information about this product on the Agilent Semiconductor Products website, but we don't think it's an ultra-hyper-custom chip made just for Logitech.

By the way, all mice in the MX line are compatible with USB and PS2 interfaces. They have a USB plug, but come with an adapter for the PS2 interface. The adapter only works with mice that support both interfaces, so don't expect any USB mouse to work on the PS2 through this adapter.

Let's move on to the middle model.

MX 500

Logitech's designers have done a great job, so the look of the MX 500 and MX 700 (they both have the same shape) is even more avant-garde than previous top-end MouseMan models, such as the Dual Optical, which can be compared to the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0.

Most likely, the MX 300 and MX 500 are the most ergonomic mice, since their main buttons are integral with the lid. One smooth piece of plastic is divided into the right and left mouse buttons, between which there is a scroll wheel. Technically, this isn’t anything complicated—on regular mice, the buttons are attached to plastic hinges—but they look really cool. The buttons work great; not too hard and not too light.

Previous generations of mice had one side button; MX500 and MX700, following Microsoft, acquired two buttons. The extra buttons are easy to use, but you're unlikely to press them accidentally, and they have the same shape—wide at the back, narrower at the front—as the IntelliMouse Explorer. All four of the above buttons and the scroll wheel have excellent sensitivity.

Three more buttons on the MX 500 and MX 700 are less sensitive and more difficult to reach. Two of them are located in front and behind the scroll wheel, they are quite small, but there are no difficulties in using them. The last one is a quick switch button, which is located even further on the “back” of the mouse, almost at its very top point.

The two buttons near the scroll wheel without MouseWare have the same effect as pressing the wheel in the corresponding direction, except that you can repeat the click by holding them down. These are certainly not very practical, but they are more useful than the quick toggle button, which again does not work without MouseWare.

Additional buttons, at least work perfectly without MouseWare, they are defined as MOUSE4 and MOUSE5, gamers should appreciate such a highlight as assigning various functions to these keys. By default, without MouseWare, Windows assigns them the functions of the "Forward" (forward) and "Back" (back) keys, which may suit you just fine. For us, the “Page Up” and “PageDown” key functions seemed more convenient, but as they say, to each his own.

If you want to assign functions to one or both of the extra buttons, MouseWare will help you do this, although such a step may cause confusion in your games. But at the end of the day, if you're annoyed and the update isn't working, you can close the software manually quite easily.

The MX 500's cover and base are held together by two screws, both hidden under a sticker, but both stickers are marked with a dotted line indicating the slots in the screw head, so you won't need to use your fingernail to find them. Plus, you won't have to take it off. This is a definite plus.

The internal layout is quite neat, as you'd expect given all those buttons. Two additional buttons and a quick switch button have their own switchgear attached to the cover. Again, there is a small metal weight located here.

The MX 500 is a fairly large mouse, about the same length as Microsoft Explorer 3.0, but more bulky. Its smooth design makes it feel very comfortable in the hand, making it suitable for those who are used to other mice. If you have a small hand, then the MX 300 will suit you, since the palm of the MX 500 will rest awkwardly on the mouse itself, since it will not cover its back.

The MX 500 costs slightly more than the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0. However, the MX 500 has three more buttons on the back of the mouse, but they only work using MouseWare.

If you want a flashy mouse, we remind you that the Explorer has a fancy rear end with red backlighting, but can't compete with the original design of the MX 500.

For real tough guys, a wireless mouse is a must.

So let's check out the next mouse in the MX line.

MX700

The MX700 is just as ergonomic as the MX500, albeit heavier, but otherwise the feel is the same.

The shape of the mouse is the same, but the plastic is different; it is more finely polished on the MX700 than on the MX500.

We especially wanted to know the power consumption of the mouse. Wireless mice require batteries, and many are not rechargeable, and changing batteries costs money. The MX700 comes with a pair of nickel-metal hydride AA cells with a capacity of 1600 milliamps (1600mAh AA NiMH).

And the receiving device also serves as a charger.

You simply insert the mouse back into the receiver to charge. Perfect.

The receiver/charger comes with a power cable. That is, you can recharge your mouse even without connecting to a computer. The green light on the front of the mouse informs you of the charging status.

The reason we used the MX700 isn't just because it's rechargeable; After all, there are many other wireless mice that can be recharged, and nothing can stop you from using a separate charger with a couple of NiMH cells if you don’t want to buy regular alkaline batteries every few months.

But this is not the biggest advantage of the MX700. The mouse stands out among the entire family of wireless mice with its polling rate - the frequency at which the cursor position is updated. It is 125 Hz (Hertz, polls per second). It's as fast as the wired MX family of mice, or as fast as other wired USB mice.

Most wireless mice have pathetic polling rates. For example, Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer has a polling rate of about 35 Hz. This is just as bad as serial mice.

Toy enthusiasts are very particular when it comes to things like this - there's only so much movement for 120 frames per second if your mouse is only updating your target 35 times per second. The same can be said for more practical applications, as the mouse's low polling rate simply discourages its use. Twitchy. Uneven. You can see the cursor jumping around the screen.

Macintosh users, whose mice have always had high polling rates, often suffer from trying to adapt to slow PC mice.

But the MX700 is unique among wireless mice in that it's smooth and fast.

At the bottom, the MX700 has an offset sensor, which is due to the placement of the battery compartment. This means that the mouse movement will be slightly different from the MX500, but the difference is almost imperceptible, and it will be quite easy to get used to it.

The opening battery door allows you to easily replace them if you want, although most won't need to for years. After all, the mouse is recharged in its docking station.

The MX700's lid and base are held together with two screws (one in the battery compartment, the other covered by a criss-crossed sticker), and it doesn't require any metal weights to add weight. With batteries and all electronics, the MX700 weighs about 174 grams; for comparison, the MX500 weighs 128 grams plus a few centimeters of cable.

If you are a gaming enthusiast who is waiting for fast wireless mice, then you have waited, your choice is the MX700. Just go out and buy it, just remember to turn off MouseWare before you launch the game (or don't install it right away) and enjoy.

If wireless mice appeal to you for reasons such as managing business presentations on a computer across the room, or simply because you hate cables, then the MX700 may not be for you. This is by no means a budget solution - it is a stylish and cool high-end wireless mouse. In our office, the range was about three meters from the receiver, which is more than enough for many purposes; It is possible that your radius will be further if you have less radio interference than near our computer.

Conclusion

The MX series mice aren't cheap and the software could be better, but you can handle these issues and otherwise they perform just fine.

MX 300 is an inexpensive mouse with high optical resolution, it looks nice and is perfect for left-handers; despite the fact that its additional button is useless in games (with this software). The MX 300 is a very worthy investment.

MX 500 can compete with IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0. It looks better, has a higher resolution, good sensitivity, plus it has so many extra buttons for games that even Windows doesn't support them all. Of course, it costs more.

The MX 700, as mentioned above, is the first wireless mouse that will satisfy gaming enthusiasts. True, those of them who do not care about significant weight. Speaking of us, we are not fans of wireless mice, but many people like them and everyone has their own reasons for getting a wireless mouse. If MouseWare's quirks don't disappoint you, the MX 700 is a good product, although not exactly cheap.

What mouse am I using? For about a year now - the same Explorer 3.0.

Partly because I'm used to the shape, partly because it still works great (earlier Explorers had a tendency to break the cable and had problems with the scroll wheel during use) and partly because Microsoft software These mice do not create any problems when running games.

Explorer 3.0 looks discreet compared to the MX 500 and MX 700. But their advantages are by no means limited to the “skin”. Check it out for yourself.