Logitech CEO shrugs off Microsoft takeover rumors, causing more rumors

We've heard nothing since January when the first rumors broke of a Logitech buyout by Microsoft. In fact, the rumor mill has been so quiet that we nearly forgot about the prospect. Now Logitech CEO, Guerrino De Luca, told an Italian newspaper over the weekend that a Microsoft takeover would be "an operation without sense." Kind of like a MicroHoo after all the engineers quit to join Google, eh Geurrino? He says that, "without competition Logitech would lose the great pressure to innovate. Moreover there would be problems from antitrust authorities seeing as the two companies together would have a virtual global monopoly in mice and keyboards." Come to think of it, that sounds more like a warning to Microsoft to think twice about making a hostile takeover bid than it does a flat denial of rumors. As usual, having officially commented on the rumor only serves to perpetuate speculation.

[Via GamesIndustry]

[Rik @ Mar 10th 2008 7:02AM]

It's more like: MS stop buying everything! You're a shop-a-holic :-P

[AutoTom @ Mar 10th 2008 7:18AM]

they just want someone to love them

[PopsG @ Mar 10th 2008 12:36PM]

So I went over to newegg to check out how many companies make mice alone. You know since Logitech said this would create a monopoly. Here is the list...

Microsoft,Kensington,Logitech Inc.,Targus,Spec-Research,Adesso,3D Connexion,3M CORPORATION,A4Tech,Anyware,APC,ATRIX,Belkin,BTC,Creative Labs,Cyber Snipa,DCT Factory, Inc.,Evoluent,Ezonics,FELLOWES,Flexiglow,GE,Gear Head,Gyration,Hewlett-Packard,ideazon,INLAND,IOGEAR,i-rocks,Kanguru,KEYSPAN,KeyTronic,KINAMAX,Labtec,Linkworld Electronics,Logisys Computer,MSI,Newton Peripherals,OCZ Technology, Inc.,OFFSPRING TECHNOLOGIES INC.,QUMAX CORPORATION,RAZER,Revoltec,Rosewill,Saitek,SteelSeries,Sunbeam,Syba,Total Micro Technologies,Trust,VERBATIM,VisionTek,WENGER,Wolf King,Zalman Tech Co., Ltd

54 in all. Unless I counted wrong, but I don't plan on double checking.

[Justin @ Mar 10th 2008 12:44PM]

you should probably count market share instead of number of manufacturers ;)

[reticulate @ Mar 10th 2008 7:10AM]

As long as a takeover stipulated someone actually fixing Logitech's perpetually broken software, I'm all for it.

Although, to be fair, I couldn't really care either way. Face it, you were always going to buy a keyboard or mouse from one of the two anyway.

[Rynth @ Mar 10th 2008 7:39AM]

Have you seen some of the latest microsoft releases?

Bloody fanbois

[/sarcasm]

[jtc970 @ Mar 10th 2008 9:12AM]

You use Logitechs software?

Actually I've only bought 2 microsoft products.
1. a mouse/keyboard combination. the mouses rubber wheel shredded after a couple months of continuous use, and the ctrl-key on the left of the keyboard stopped working.
2. another mouse same rubber shredding.

I would rather have quality hardware sans software than shoddy hardware with quality software.

[tekdemon @ Mar 10th 2008 12:22PM]

My microsoft mice have been pretty reliable (I'm not a fanboy, I own 3 logitech mice), and my logitech mice do the rubber shedding thing too on the side grips, but they still work fine.

The logitech software does leave a lot to be desired though.

I've used Logitech and MS keyboards both also, and there've been crappy keyboards on both sides, but right now I'm using an MS keyboard because they have the better ergonomic keyboard. Logitech is winning the mouse war with me, but honestly it's mostly because I didn't like the huge tilt-wheels MS switched to. I'm not really a big fan of the freespinning revolution middle mouse either though-I like the freespin but I hate the fact that the middle button is now 100x harder to click.

[AutoTom @ Mar 10th 2008 7:17AM]

oh my god if those #(*@ heads at microsoft take over logitech i will be so mad

[Brendan Sheehan @ Mar 10th 2008 4:21PM]

Yeah.. they'll go around taking credit for the MX Revolution the way they take credit for Halo.

[theCardinal @ Mar 10th 2008 7:40AM]

I seriously hope that this would be blocked on anti-trust grounds. There are NO other decent mouse companies that could offer real competition.

[Kurian @ Mar 10th 2008 8:02AM]

The currently available mice by Logitech are WELL sufficient for the next plenty of years.. Seriously who needs more than a 4000dpi mouse.

[shaliron @ Mar 10th 2008 11:40AM]

Well, don't forget about Apple.

[adml_shake @ Mar 10th 2008 9:11AM]

God I hope not, while I like MS's stuff and will use it with out much complaint I would go with logitech's stuff if given the choice.

[Rusty @ Mar 10th 2008 9:22AM]

I've got a logitech nano for the laptop thanks to the SMALL usb receiver. I would get a BT mouse, but they don't make one that works for LEFT HANDED people. The nano works for me as a lefty.

[Jeff @ Mar 10th 2008 1:58PM]

I used to have microsoft everything but now I am a logitech tool. Z-5500 stereo, g15 keyboard, quick-cam, a headset and an mx400 mouse are also used daily. Man I feel like a whore.

Also, I am all for competition.

[Chewedtoothpick @ Mar 10th 2008 10:25AM]

To me, after reading the original article, it sounds more like he is saying:

"Stop your speculations. Your idiotic postulation is ridiculous by any and all means."

Of course, it helps that he does say that he says, "The speculations are nonsense."

[Crap @ Mar 10th 2008 11:19AM]

A word from: M$ global monopoly good

[Loban @ Mar 10th 2008 11:40AM]

logitech mice > microsoft mice
microsoft keyboards > logitech keyboards

This is the way of things. So says me.

[jawsogre @ Mar 10th 2008 12:31PM]

I agree with me....

[Robert @ Mar 10th 2008 2:03PM]

I have been using SLimDevices media products in my house for years. They are just about perfect. Logitech bought them, which made them slightly less perfect. If MS buys them I'm sure it would go down the tubes as the entire product is based on open source. I am getting sick og MS buying up the stuff I use.

[Kleeq @ Mar 11th 2008 2:45AM]

I love Logitech since they came up with left handed mouse. ;)