Logitech Builds a Better Mouse

The arms race—or, should I say, the fingers race—continues. For all who have struggled to free their pointing devices from the surly bonds of wires or the confining ghetto of the "mousing surface," the laser tracking technology introduced this month by Logitech International is more than mere hype.

I found several surfaces on an eWEEK Labs desktop that could not be used by a conventional, red-LED optical mouse but where Logitechs $79.95 MX1000 Laser Cordless Mouse tracked with ease.

I took it for granted that Logitechs suggested surfaces, such as photo paper, would demonstrate the difference. I also found, though, that some of my desk pad materials and writing papers frustrated an LED tracker but worked perfectly with the laser.

The tracking laser, presumably infrared, doesnt put out the ruby-red sci-fi glow thats become a design element in the modern office. But even 007 might read the manual—or at least run the setup software (for Windows and Macintosh systems) to make use of the MX1000s array of customizable controls.

Having a single thumb button to perform (for example) a double-click action is habituating if not actually addictive.

Ergonomic improvements in the MX1000 include improved scrolling buttons in a rocking collar that surrounds the fingertip scroll wheel. The MX1000s scroll wheel also has a left/right motion for purposes such as sideways scrolling of large documents.

A built-in lithium-ion battery in the MX1000 is an improvement over the AA nickel-metal hydride cells required in its predecessor, the MX700; the charge level of that built-in power source is shown by a three-segment LED display on the mouse.

Check out eWEEK.coms Desktop & Notebook Center at http://desktop.eweek.com for the latest news in desktop and notebook computing.