Logitech MX1000 - new technologies at old prices

Not long has passed since the times of war between MX700 and MX900 of which the consumer has almost forgot and chosen the mouse to taste. But time is going on, and no qualitatively new level of producing pointing devices has appeared yet. But Logitech is usually ahead of technologies, so we are not surprised at all that it is just this company is releasing a new "right" product. No one has yet encroach upon the basic part of optical mice, and due to that no one has yet seen true novelties of the sphere. A photo-cell plus a powerful LED - that's about all of the tricks. MX1000 opens a new era of optical pointing devices, laser-based. Yes! It's just a laser that became the basis of the brand-new pointing device. This solution offers a number of advantages which move aside those implemented in the traditional optical mice. To start with, the bright backlight has been removed. In its stead, a laser which operates more precisely in the normal working conditions is used. As we have already said, Logitech has made the first mouse based on a laser diode. By the way, you no longer have to use a mat if your table is white. A laser mouse easily works without an issue on a white surface. Relative to the regular photodiode, the precision of a laser mouse is about 20 times as high. After this phrase, many gamers have already decided they will buy just the MX1000. Shall we try it?

Logitech MX1000 package bundle

They at Logitech are not afraid of difficulties, and it's a real pleasure for them to build up obstacles. Why so? We don't know that, but it's very hard to unwrap the package of MX1000. Especially if you want to save it (the package) in its original form. After ripping off and ungluing the numerous "scotch-taped" stickers, we saw the package bundle itself.

• MX1000
• USB-PS/2 adapter
• «cradle» for the mouse with the USB interface
• AC adapter
• CD with Logitech SetPoint software
• user manual
• guide on safe use of MX1000

Exterior

MX1000

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Logitech's traditional design of expensive pointing devices has left its footprint over here as well. Despite being absolutely new, the product hasn't undergone any changes to the usability and buttons layout. Logitech is positioning the product as something entirely new unexplored laser miracle whose analogs will appear in no earlier than a year. We don't share such optimism, since developments of such mice have been going on for a long time, and in the nearest future A4tech will most certainly demonstrate its vision of a laser pointing device. The left- and right-hand click buttons harmonically continue the lines of the housing due to which they are pressed not at one point alone but at almost over all the plane for the forefinger and middle-finger. Here is a list of the function buttons:

• fast-forward scrolling button
• fast downward scrolling button
• "forward" navigation button
• "back" navigation button
• button for switching active windows

The scroll wheel does three functions. Apart from the 3rd button, it allows not only vertical scrolling of the active image, but horizontal as well. A solution like that was first implemented in Microsoft mice. On the bottom part of the mouse housing there is a switch and a button for searching the carrier frequency. The design of the laser and optics itself is hidden from the stranger's eye with a silvery plastic ring. In all the remaining aspects, MX1000 is a regular Logitech ergonomic mouse.

Receiver

The receiver is plugged in to the power supply unit in order to charge the batteries, with a USB cable welded in originally. Due to the well-thought design of the receiver, MX1000 is firmly held in the improvised "glass". The mouse is recharged only when the PSU is connected to the receiver. It is hard to explain why the USB charging current is not enough for MX1000. This results in extra wiring, which users don't like. The PSU stands out with its Logitech marking.

Operation

The mouse can be installed in Windows XP without using the additional software. The mouse does not require any tuning to operate via the radio channel - in our case, the the pointing device worked immediately upon detection by the operating system. The ease of use of the mouse is seen immediately, which does not require additional tests. We have a regular testing methodology for optical pointing devices, and we don't see any reasons to subject MX1000 to such tests. Remember that the following tasks are included into our tests:

• regular operation of MX1000 (office applications, Internet)
• operation of MX1000 in graphic applications (Adobe Photoshop)
• operation of MX1000 with games (Quake 3, Diablo 2, Warcraft 3)

Prior to running the tests, let's sort out with the specifications of the pointing device. Here they are.

Note the "Work duration without recharging" item. In fact, it was announced that the mouse is able running for as long as 20 days with a single battery charge. We are not casting doubts upon the suggested data, but unfortunately the time of tests amounted to two weeks only during which the batteries didn't run out completely. On the top part of MX1000, there is a charge indicator made up of three green segments. Once the battery charge is approaching zero, a red LED lights up. At that, we are finishing description of the main operating features and go on to describing the tests straight away.

Photoshop

In this test, we normally evaluate the operating convenience of the pointing device in general, since the total result of operation in Photoshop fully depends on the ergonomics and sensitivity of the optical photo-cell. But since Logitech MX1000 is not being positioned as a designer's tool, we'd better not dwell on its use for graphic editors. The general impression of the drawing convenience is good.

Operation in office package

At that, there is only one shortcoming of MX1000 - its dimensions. Although the impressive precision makes up for the weight of the pointing device, users with small hands may come up against some issues. In all the remaining aspects, operating office applications has nothing to complain about. Most likely, the mouse will appeal to all without exception. MX1000 will especially suit to users who have never experienced using expensive pointing devices.

Games

At games, wireless mice are almost always inferior to their hard-wire analogs. That is why professional gamers prefer using "caudate rodents" and are actively advertising them. I remember making distressing conclusions of its unsuitability for serious gameplay while we were reviewing Logitech MX900. Its bottleneck is the USB channel and, what is important for all "radio mice", they disable the optical part to save on the battery charge. The period during which the mouse resumes its operating is negligible, but even that second is enough to fail.

Quake 3 is a traditional test for establishing professional suitability for any pointing device. MX1000 made a good showing in the game - even more, we can say it is the first wireless mouse which can be recommended for 3D-Action games. During the test, we found no problems in MX1000 typical of wireless mice.

Diablo 2 – everything works simply fine here. The hand does not get tired, the buttons press easily, and its wireless make adds a lot of positive emotions. Convenience without excesses.

At Warcraft 3, MX1000 is definitely the best choice for fans of strategy games! Multibutton solutions by any firms are always in honor with strategy game fanciers. Of course, MX1000 will be the best choice for this genre of games.

Some notes on the laser

Now, coming up to the final part of our review, we'd like to distance a bit from the ergonomic and technological solutions by Logitech and draw the readers' attention to the features offered by the laser. I think it doesn't make sense to explain what a laser is. We'll surely tell how it works and what is used for in MX1000. In the already customary optical mouse, the operation scheme looks very simple. The optical sensor "looks" at the surface illuminated by the bright diode, and depending on the surface type it recognizes fine details. That done, the acquired data is processed by the graphic processor and is transmitted to the PC. The user sees the result on the screen - the cursor is moving. With the laser mouse, all is somehow more difficult. Unlike the diode, the laser is a focused light beam. There is no dissipation and thus the image that is sent to the photo cell is far more precise than with using a LED. Due to that, the laser-based optical mouse offers higher precision of graphic data on moving along the surface to the computer.

Summary

The high-class product by Logitech having no analogs is available at quite reasonable money (around 80 US dollars). MX1000 suits to almost all users, without any restrictions. As a wireless solution, MX1000 is an undisputable solution still being second to none and having no analogs. For games, this mouse seems to be the best choice of what Logitech produced before the release of the laser pointing device.