Just one question about mice

[Ilmater]

Seriously, can anyone tell me a single good reason not to have two side buttons? Why did Logitech do that? What in the world made someone there walk into a room and say, "We have got to get rid of one of those side buttons"?

 

[corkyg]

Good question. Probably the result of market research, i.e., the loss in sales for lack of that feature would be less than the cost to implement it in production.

I've never needed or wanted a side button at all. But, I am not the market - or am I? 🙂

 

[bunnyfubbles]

[the sarcastic truth]They did it so that they can release a new version with two side buttons / still rake in sales for their older MX518.[/the sarcastic truth]

Their excuse is that they claim many "gamers" only want one button so they don't accidentally miss the one button they need. This is excuse is retarded because with drivers you can easily program both buttons (if there were two like on past MX models) to perform the same function - or even simply disable the button from having a function at all.

Clearly they can convince enough sheep with such market speech but it was a bad move and one of the reasons I didn't jump on that ship. Although to be fair to many buyers who might not be sheep, it wasn't like there was any choice on the matter when it came to gaming grade laser mice in a right-hand oriented hand-use design as the only major competition for Logitech has been from Razer and they (until very recently) have focused on ambidextrous finger mice. But now that there's the Habu and the DeathAdder, I don't think Logitech will be sticking with a one (side)button design for much longer.

 

[Looney]

Cuz it's awkward to press the button with your pinky or the finger next to it. I'd much rather use the thumb. They may have taken the ride side button, but there's still 2 buttons on the other side.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: Looney
Cuz it's awkward to press the button with your pinky or the finger next to it. I'd much rather use the thumb. They may have taken the ride side button, but there's still 2 buttons on the other side.

What are you talking about?

 

[Bill Brasky]

I read somewhere that Logitech did some "research" and found that it didn't get used hardly at all. They also claimed that users reported it was too awkward to use.

Personally, I love having two buttons and think it had more to do with a marketing or design issue. Except, I can't understand how it could be that much more expensive or complicated to add one more thumb button...

 

[StopSign]

Originally posted by: Looney
Cuz it's awkward to press the button with your pinky or the finger next to it. I'd much rather use the thumb. They may have taken the ride side button, but there's still 2 buttons on the other side.

Umm...???????????????????????????

 

[alcoholbob]

Originally posted by: Looney
Cuz it's awkward to press the button with your pinky or the finger next to it. I'd much rather use the thumb. They may have taken the ride side button, but there's still 2 buttons on the other side.

Uh...not only was a "right side" button not part of the discussion but...I wasn't even aware Logitech ever implemented one.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev
I read somewhere that Logitech did some "research" and found that it didn't get used hardly at all. They also claimed that users reported it was too awkward to use.

Personally, I love having two buttons and think it had more to do with a marketing or design issue. Except, I can't understand how it could be that much more expensive or complicated to add one more thumb button...

Windows operates with 5 button mice in mind (and a wheel). While the G series Logitechs may have 6 buttons the other buttons are meant for things like switching DPI.

Maybe gamers are just too lazy/apprehensive to bother with installing drivers that may be required to put two side buttons to full use, but it is surely outside of gaming where the lack of the other button draws the most criticism - you end up missing out on the 5 windows button (perhaps best known for its "forward" function).

So the extra button may indeed be desired most outside of games, but to be a truly great gaming mouse I believe the more (programmable) buttons a mouse has (provided they are laid out in an easy and intuitive design) the better it is for gaming because you can offset some keys or even macros onto your mouse to take the stress off your keyboard hand. Thus the G series mice aren't as exceptional as they could be because they lack this easily accessible thumb button.

 

[Lonyo]

I use both side buttons in pretty much every FPS I play. I could have them assigned to keys elsewhere, but having them as buttons makes them easier to get to. I don't think I could go back to a single side button.

 

[Blain]

I hate two side buttons.
That's good enough reason for me. 😛

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: Zaitsev
I read somewhere that Logitech did some "research" and found that it didn't get used hardly at all. They also claimed that users reported it was too awkward to use.

Personally, I love having two buttons and think it had more to do with a marketing or design issue. Except, I can't understand how it could be that much more expensive or complicated to add one more thumb button...

Windows operates with 5 button mice in mind (and a wheel). While the G series Logitechs may have 6 buttons the other buttons are meant for things like switching DPI.

Maybe gamers are just too lazy/apprehensive to bother with installing drivers that may be required to put two side buttons to full use, but it is surely outside of gaming where the lack of the other button draws the most criticism - you end up missing out on the 5 windows button (perhaps best known for its "forward" function).

So the extra button may indeed be desired most outside of games, but to be a truly great gaming mouse I believe the more (programmable) buttons a mouse has (provided they are laid out in an easy and intuitive design) the better it is for gaming because you can offset some keys or even macros onto your mouse to take the stress off your keyboard hand. Thus the G series mice aren't as exceptional as they could be because they lack this easily accessible thumb button.

Well said, however I wasn't clear. I actually meant two side buttons, not two buttons total. I game with an MX518, and I completely agree with your last comment about taking stress off the keyboard hand. Another thing about my keyboard (left) hand, is that I'm not 100% confident in my key stroke accuracy all the time. So it does require some thought, whereas the mouse buttons are very fast for me like second nature.

Edit: I haven't had much enthusiasm to upgrade to a g-series mouse because they only have one side button.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

I agree - one side button is stupid. Forget gaming for a second, I use the two buttons for back/fwd on my browser.

 

[Sforsyth]

I like the side bottons, I use the right side botton for chat in CS:S and it for back while broswing the net.

My Logitech cordless laptop mouse dosen't have them so I changed the scrolling side bottons my back and forth botton no big deal for me.