Logitech's new mice: the V400, LX7, V270, MX610

Well, Logitech's gone done released a slew of mice on us here, so if you're ready to take on what they got, we'll give you the quick rundown. In clockwise order you have you have the V400 (orange) which is a dual-laser travel-ready mouse with rugged exterior ($50), the LX7 (blue) with a supposed battery life of up to eight months and 27MHz wireless ($40), the V270 (gray), a straight Bluetooth 1.2 mouse with no receiver (i.e. BYOB—bring your own Bluetooth, $50), and the MX610 (silver) which is a 2.4GHz wireless job with indicators for email and incoming IMs—something we're sure to prove itself useless when forever lit like ours would be—and battery life up to three months ($60).

[Via MobileMag]

[Christopher Kalanderopoulos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Hmm...why dual laser on the orange one?

Also, 8 month battery claim is nothing special. I bought my Microsoft IntelliMouse and Keyboard when school started last year and I haven't changed the batteries yet. Three months for just the mouse? Geezsh, my battery isn't even low, and I experience no lag after 12 months. Hmmpff..

[ming @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

ofcorse the MX610 is the only one i'd consider and they don't have any Mac drivers for it.

just figures.

[tb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

mx610 indicates emails? how much bloated logitech software overhead is necessary for that to happen?
i have seen better software come out of freshman CS students than logitech.
i own the mx3100 combo which comes w/ the mx1000 and the software was promptly uninstalled.
since my computer is connected to the reciever via fiber optic the volume control doesn't work, the forward and backwards buttons stoped working in opera and firefox, only worked in IE. i couldn't get rid of the software fash enough.

[Samuel McConnell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

When will people stop making stuff like this on the 2.4GHz range? I mean, a BT mouse I understand, but the only reason for the MX610 to have 2.4GHz is so it can have 2.4GHz. What's wrong with, say...900MHz? I don't want a 2.4GHz mouse right next to my wireless card.

[Robert @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm glad logitech bough out another notebook mouse besides the V500, it looked nice but had only a touch sensor for the mouse wheel which was not very good, there was also no middle mouse button due to this. It also cost a lot for what it was. It's actually inline with Microsoft's notebook mouse now.

[Apoco-Lips @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

What are the best value and best quality (byob-)mice for an ibook with bluetooth built in?

[Kiryen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

From the Logitech press release for the V400:
"The robust 2.4 GHz digital cordless technology is important for notebook PC users who may encounter a variety of wireless barriers or interference from Wi-Fi networks and other wireless products."

Picking 2.4 GHz to avoid interference from Wi-Fi networks, cordless phones, and microwaves seems like the smartest idea since the invention of the solar-powered flashlight. Especially for a notebook, which is more likely to be dealing with weak Wi-Fi signals than a desktop.

But damn if the price isn't sweet. Actual specs are pretty sparse though, the product page doesn't even mention how the mouse is powered (I'm assuming a couple of AA/AAA's.)

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Like lots of people, I have a microwave oven, cordless phone, and wireless router all on 2.4 GHz. Smart they picked 2.4 GHz as well "to avoid interferring" with these other devises!

[Pancake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

They finally get a bluetooth mouse that works with Mac, and leave off the top small buttons which are key for Expose, and side buttons. Why do they torment us so

[fubenkyou @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

#7 Kiryen
you quoted wrong.
"The mouse, charcoal gray in color, uses Bluetooth 1.2 wireless technology, which features adaptive frequency hopping to reduce the chance of interference from other 2.4 GHz wireless devices such as Wi-Fi notebooks or cordless telephones." --MobileMag

they were talking about bluetooth not interfering with wi-fi and cordless phones.

[Trejkaz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm sorry, but after putting the Razer Copperhead on here, you're going to have a hard time driving enthusiasm for anything else mouse-like.

[starwxrwx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

first off - UGLY.

secondly - left handers want multi-button mice too!

[theantidote @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I've got an MX610. I bought it at Costco 2 weeks ago. I was wondering why it wasn't on the Logitech site!

Anyways lemme give you a brief review of this sucker. It's a pretty little thing with a bluish-silver face and black siding. The email and messenger buttons are pretty cool, but you need the mail/messenger program to be running in the background to work. It works fine with Outlook and MSN messenger of course, not Trillian though (boo). Anyways hitting the email button on the mouse when it's lit up brings you to the new message, a nice touch. The back and forward buttons feel great, but aren't Firefox compatible (double boo), but thanks to the highly customizable mouse software that can be easily reversed (counteracts all previous boos). I was also able to make it so you can use the left and write scroll things (which nobody really uses) to switch tabs in Firefox. I've become addicted to this and can't use FF without it. There are also the volume control buttons, a pretty standard affair there. Those of course can be changed to be more useful.

The best part about this mouse is it's customizability, then again same with all Logitech mice that use the Setpoint software. This mouse though has extra buttons which become even more helpful. Setpoint can detect when your in a game and disable the desktop functions of those buttons so they can be used in a game. So the e-mail button can become the buy previous button in Counter-Strike:Source. This is extremely useful.

Overall the feel of the mouse is superb. It's soft and smooth, and it all feels high quality. The left and right click buttons are large and responsive, and also seperated perfectly so there are no accidental right clicks. People with grossly large hands may end up accidently clicking the message or e-mail buttons when resting on the mouse, but my hands are fairly large and I haven't had a problem. It just seems like if they were a bit bigger it could be an issue.

Overall this mouse deserves a 9 out of 10.

Pros:
Customizable
Feels Great

Cons:
Doesn't support all applications (could be fixed in an update)
Button placement may be an issue for big handers.

This mouse was a big step up from my Microsoft mouse though, so I may be a bit wowed by all the coolness of it.

Hope you enjoyed my review!

[brickballs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm rockin am mx100 right now, and I'd have to say its a fine mouse. the software blows, but the mouse rocks without it.

Some of the extra buttons (side scroling tilt wheel and a built in alt-tab) dont work, but that not a big problem.

I might just get that bluetooth mouse for my lappy though (minus 50 points to ibm for making me buy the $200 more bundle to get bluetooth built in)

[ranron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I should point out that the V270 is a great mouse. I have the V200 and its 1 year battery life (of continuous use-->more than 1 with periodic use) too and the V270 is better in a practical way for the traveler. The V200 although was great and responsive had the receiver (which uses a precious laptop USB). The V270 give my Bluetooth laptop a same-to-V200 mouse, but without the receiver and thereby reclaiming a USB port. Both are great and highly recommended.

[ranron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I should point out that the V270 is a great mouse. I have the V200 and its 1 year battery life (of continuous use-->more than 1 with periodic use) too and the V270 is better in a practical way for the traveler. The V200 although was great and responsive had the receiver (which uses a precious laptop USB). The V270 give my Bluetooth laptop a same-to-V200 mouse, but without the receiver and thereby reclaiming a USB port. Both are great and highly recommended.