Logitech MX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse user reviews (Black)

Pros Ergonomics, thumb wheel/ratchet, fly wheel, Docking Station & power indicator, Great looks.

Cons At this time (10/06) the software needs work, and MOST of the buttons have Significant sensitivity issues.

Summary This opinion is based on a product that’s likely to come from one of the first production runs so if your opinion the review many months after the releases date, things are sure to have improved. Logitech is a big company that seems to know how run a production line.

The golden egg in this flagship product is supposed to be a ratcheted scroll wheel that turns into a fly wheel when you want. When you want; well not with the current version of Setpoint / 3.1. The program erratically and frequently resets to what I assume is default settings and on multiple systems. Unless you want this on all the time this is a problem, if you want it off, get a different mouse. But in reality you wont want it on all the time, it’s too imprecise.

If you use a middle mouse button and would like to keep using the scroll wheel as you probably do now, this is not the mouse for you. The middle button/scroll wheel seems to have 2 levels of compression. The first, which seems to have something to do with the control of the ratchet system, is erratic and sometimes not present. The second requires more force than I’ve ever had to apply to a scroll wheel.

The thumb ratchet is overly sensitive in the forward direction and sometimes fails to disengage. Right and left main buttons sometimes fail to make contact, specifically they make a clicking noise but nothing happens, happens about half a dozen times in a days use.

The battery lasts 2-3 work days but charges quick.

If you like this mouse I’d wait a while and these problems will likely be ironed out by Logitech.

Pros Slick, comfortable, extended control, smart scroll wheel

Cons Software holding it back

Summary This is so far, the best mouse I've ever used. Logitech has done it again! If you like the MX 1000, you will love the new MX Revolution which is a lot more precise and responsive, might take you a little bit to get used to the wheels. The new smart wheel is truly a smart invention. Not to mention the new SmartShift and HyperFast scroll wheel technology that will make scrolling a breeze, the improved side buttons and one touch search plus the side wheel just boost the mouse to it is "Revolution" title.

Cross-platform is another huge plus for this mouse. It doesn't matter if it's PC or Mac, as long as you have the Logitech Control Center software installed right, it'll just take you to the next level. However the software design is a bit confusing and lack of full control for the hardware, hope Logitech will improve on the software.

It will take you a little while to get used to it. Although price is a bit high but consider this, it'll last you YEARS and it comes with a 3-year warranty program. If having a precise, accure, powerful and make your life easier mouse is your priority, besides input devices are one of the mose used computer equipments, then the Logitech MX Revolution, is your choice.

Pros East of setup. Amazing number of options. A real joy to use.

Cons None, other than possibly the price.

Summary I'm not a gamer - just a power business user. Moreover, this is the first non-trackball mouse (other than with laptops) I have ever used.

I will never go back to my beloved MicroSoft Explorer 1.0.

This is a very comfortable mouse to use - and the scrolling feature is easy to get used to and a real step forward in design. I did not find any problem with it as reported by the cnet reviewer.

I have very large hands (which is why I have traditionally used a trackball), but this fits my right hand very comfortably.

I don't write many reviews, but when someone produces a product that stands out from the crowd, I feel compelled to take the time to recommend it. This product is a real stand-out.

Pros Cogito, ergo I dig the ergonomics - it's solid & substantial in my hand. Laser accuracy with freedom - the first wireless mouse I've had with no interference or jitter. Programmability for the plethora of wheels, buttons & rockers is good.

Cons Minor: No double-click speed adjustment within SetPoint software.
Major: Left-click button has flimsy internal switch; tends to mush out & register as double-click after months of serious use.

Summary Fair warning: This mouse is not for southpaws, shoot-em-up gamers, or diminutive folk with delicate hands. MX Rev is the first mouse from Logitech to dispense with ergonomic compromise. Finally, a rodent fit for us six-foot-plus guys; if you can throw a spiral with a football, or feel comfy with a Skil Saw, the MX Rev is highly recommended.

If you're new to the SetPoint software, your learning curve may be a bit steep - don't give up on the mouse itself simply because the software can be confusing. Once you've sdjusted the speed & acceleration to your taste and become accustomed to the buttons & wheels, this mouse will feel buttery! Switch back to an older one, and you'll notice how stiff & harsh your previous pointing devices have been. The wireless system is capable of a sample rate faster than the eye can detect, even in complex & demanding AutoCAD work, so no more wireless jitters. The range is said to be fabulous (up to 90 feet or more), but a word to the wise: Make sure all your power and monitor cables are of high quality & properly shielded if you plan on pushing the range envelope.

The bleeding-edge Scroll/Freewheel wheel system has elicited oodles of discussion elsewhere, and seems to work perfectly as advertised. I generally use Firefox as a browser, though, and prefer the Grab & Fling add-on (or the Universal Scroll elsewhere) - so I don't feel qualified to comment on this feature much. The wheel's side-tilt horizontal scrolling is not as smooth as it ought to be - try as I might to tweak it via it's control panel .

To the battery system. I'm just flat-out flummoxed by reviewers who complain about having to recharge every 3 to 6 days! Unrealistic and immature expectations seem to go hand-in-hand with lazy prepurchase research. This complaint is akin to reviews panning a cell phone because, "it doesn't match my purse". I'm well acquainted with battery systems for various electronics, and the MX Rev's internal lithium-ion unit is utterly first-rate. As a self-employed designer, I've often done deadline work for 48 hours straight. This mouse will last at least that long in continuous use (more if one remembers to use the "off" switch during meal breaks). Battery charge is indicated by a four segment green LED bar integrated into the left palm edge; it's subtle, cool looking, and extremely helpful. The MX Rev doesn't plug in for recharging either - you simply set the mouse into a small (but not flimsy) cradle. The green charge indicator bar segments light up in sequence while charging, and when all four segments show steady green, it's fully charged. It goes from fully discharged to topped off in under 40 minutes. I've had absolutely no problems with the charging system. My advice is to frequently brush out the cradle, making sure the mouse slides down its guide groove securely.

While this mouse is a thoroughbred among rodents, it's still a cousin to rats. This kinship shows up most irritatingly in the MX Rev's left-click mechanism (I'm sure the right-click button is identical, but it's used far less often). The problem: After a few months of heavy (though not violent) use, the microswitch wears down and begins to send false double-clicks intermittently. With most high-powered software this creates an intolerable headache, and this wonderful (and expensive) tool becomes highly unreliable and/or innacurate. Pushing this very annoying defect over the edge into hair-tearing, teeth-grinding frustration is Logitech's refusal to acknowlege it. Hours of web research yielded two glaring facts. One: The left-click deterioration problem is specific and hugely widespread, apparently common to a whole Logitech mouse family; most of the technical forums I surfed listed this defect in around 30% of topic titles. Two: Any and all troubleshooting knowlege-bases or forums linked officially to Logitech are obviously sanitized frequently regarding this topic; you'll find NO discussion of this dirty little secret according to the corporate line (even speaking to a living, breathing support tech will get you a, "What? Never heard of that."). Can you say "WEASELS"??

And yet, the balance of all - good and bad - which makes up the MX Revolution is weighted far too heavily toward the advantages and unique innovations to toss the thing in the trash. My choice is to venture off the Logitech corporate reservation, learn what's involved in high-tech rodent surgery, and fix the darned 98-cent microswitch myself. An hour or so submerged in concentration, and a set of new glide-pads (which cover the four screws holding top and bottom together), and I'm happy to saddle up & ride my MX Revolution into the sunset once again.

Updated on Feb 6, 2010

Two updates on the left-click problem. First, Logitech has changed to a sealed microswitch which is hard soldered - thoughts of reshaping the internal spring have vanished. Second, I found (after removing the glide pads & screws) that the screw directly under the left button was overtorqued - loosening it may have solved the problem for now.