Notebook Mouse: Logitech vs. Microsoft

[VinDSL]

Anybody got any suggestions? 🙂

I just bought a Toshiba A215. Love lappys, hate touch pads...

I need to buy a mouse today, and I'm *thinking* about going wireless (some ppl told me to go wired).

Radio Shack has a Logitech V200 for $24.99 sale / $9.99 MIR.

Best Buys has a Microsoft Notebook Mouse for $24.99 sale.

This a V similar in size, price, features - snap in receiver, resolution, et cetera...

Any thoughts? 🙂

 

[TheStu]

Logitech VX Revolution /poll

it is small, yet comfortable in my hand (fairly large guy), wireless, ejectable reciever, can switch to free-spinning mode for the wheel for long documents, side buttons, zoom button, search button, laser sensor for high DPI resolution, and only takes 1 AA battery (i usually use lithiums, but it doesn't read them right due to how lithiums discharge).

It is more expensive than what you have listed, but is worth every penny.

And I can understand why you hate trackpads, you are using a Toshiba. They have IMO, the worst trackpads on the planet. Too small, have this weird wall thing around them, making them not sit fluch with the palmrests, and on the larger Toshibas, they put images on the trackpad that I can only assume are some sort of touch sensitve controls of some kind... further destroying functionality. I used to not be a huge fan of trackpads myself, but then i got my MacBook. Trackpad teh size of an ipod (almost exactly actually) not too sensitive, 2 finger scrolling and right clicking capabilities... I almost never use my mouse, except for games and Windows.

 

[VinDSL]

Yep! You're right...

The Toshiba pad (made by Alps I think) sits in a hole, buttons are smallish and stiff, yada, yada, but that's NOT the reason I want a mouse. I simply hate pads - all of them! LoL!

I can see a use for them, like sitting in a cramped seat on an airplane, using those fold down TV trays, et cetera, but if I got a desk available, I'm using a mouse - period. - exclamation point! 😀

I'm inclined to go with Logitech - used them for years - usually buy them OEM at PC Club, but I *thought* I might try a MS mouse.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[TheStu]

I used to hate Logitech mice. The fact that all the 'nice' ones seem to be built only for righties (I am one) and what not really made them uncomfortable in my hand, but then I tried out the VX Revolution, and I pretty much refuse to use any other mouse voluntarily.

I really used to like Microsoft mice, and pretty much all their peripherals, but the VX won me over.

 

[VinDSL]

Interesting!

Ppl (including editors) love the VX Revolution, however, the V200 ranks right up there with it on C|NET.

I think I'll go buy one. Red-hot deal at Radio Shack ($9.99 MIR)! Most online places want $30-$45 + shipping.

If I like it, I'll do a post in the Hot Deals forum... 😉

 

[VinDSL]

w00t! That's more like it! This V200 is great! 🙂

The silver/black color matches my Toshiba nicely. The batteries add weight to the mouse, which actually makes it feel better than the Logitech on my desktop machine.

The software CD that came with it was so old that Vista wasn't even listed on the label (ver. 2.31a) so I went over to the Logitech site and downloaded/installed ver. 4.0. Afterwards it said there was an update (4.00.121), so I installed that too.

Anyway, so far, so good! Now for the rebate... 😀

BTW, does anyone know why mouse drivers require 60MB of disk space?!?!?!?

 

[alkemyst]

if you are traveling with a laptop, a wireless mouse is a pita. Personally I usually bring two mice with me travelling. A full sized one for back at the hotel and a mini one for planes and terminals.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
w00t! That's more like it! This V200 is great! 🙂

The silver/black color matches my Toshiba nicely. The batteries add weight to the mouse, which actually makes it feel better than the Logitech on my desktop machine.

The software CD that came with it was so old that Vista wasn't even listed on the label (ver. 2.31a) so I went over to the Logitech site and downloaded/installed ver. 4.0. Afterwards it said there was an update (4.00.121), so I installed that too.

Anyway, so far, so good! Now for the rebate... 😀

BTW, does anyone know why mouse drivers require 60MB of disk space?!?!?!?

It's not the drivers its the software... but why even that requires that much space is reprehensible. Developers are incredibly lazy individuals, we could really see impressive performance out of systems, but as hard drives grew developers started to get the idea that it was no longer important to optimize. As an example... iTunes when installed on OS X takes up 90MB!!!! once you remove the PPC code and the extra languages the size is now 25MB, so something like 65% savings and that is the same for almost every app on my system. But I have an excuse, extra languages and code packages for older systems. What is the windows app designers excuse?

 

[AmberClad]

I have the Microsoft wireless one that you linked (came with my work laptop). Boy is it small -- I can palm the thing easily and I have to scrunch up my fingers to be able press the keys. Did I mention that I'm a 5'4" gal with tiny hands? You didn't mention anything about being a midget, so I suspect the size of that mouse is going to be an issue for you. (Then again, my normal mouse is a MX500, so I just might not be used to the small notebook mouse.)

Also, the scroll wheel is rather slippery. It's not like the Logitech ones, where you can both hear and feel the wheel click as you spin it.

I would just recommend going with a regular-sized mouse, whether wired or wireless.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I have the Microsoft wireless one that you linked (came with my work laptop). Boy is it small...

Did I mention that I'm a 5'4" gal with tiny hands? You didn't mention anything about being a midget, so I suspect the size of that mouse is going to be an issue for you.

I'm a 6'3" guy with huge hands... 😀

Actually, that's one of the reasons I did NOT buy the Microsoft mouse - the size!

However (and I'm not just saying this because I like Logitech mice) this lappy mouse feels every bit as good as (or better than) my desktop mouse.

No kidding!!!

Here are a couple of snappys (pardon the yellow pad, I needed something for contrast):

Snapshot #1

Snapshot #2

As you can see, there isn't a whole lot of difference in size... plus the wireless actually *feels* more solid & stable due to the increase in weight from the batteries! :thumbsup:

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
As you can see, there isn't a whole lot of difference in size... plus the wireless actually *feels* more solid & stable due to the increase in weight from the batteries! :thumbsup:

That one actually looks pretty manageable, only a little smaller than a normal mouse. Unlike the Microsized Microsoft mouse that I got stuck with 🙁. I could probably use it for a keychain fob 😛.

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind a smallerish mouse with more buttons, like a Logitech MX/G mouse, but in the size of the mouse you got. (While the MS wireless mouse looks tiny in my hand, my MX500 looks huge.)