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Logitech MX700 Cordless Mouse

Logitech MX700 Cordless Mouse

Written by Charlie Sinhaseni on 10/28/2002 for PC  
More On: Logitech MX700 Cordless Mouse
Logitech and Microsoft have had themselves quite a battle for the crown of peripheral supremacy. It seems like right when one of them comes out with the “next big thing” the other is quick to counter with their own new and improved version of it. Thankfully this usually equates to not only better prices for the consumer but also better products. While the battle rages on in the joystick and controller area, it is perhaps most fiercest in the mouse realm.

Logitech offered some amazing mice last year but they seemed to be lacking in design and ergonomics. This time around Logitech is out to prove that they are not only capable of proving a highly technological mouse but also one that is beautiful to look at. Thus the MX family of mice was born, perhaps the most accurate and well-designed series of mice ever.

The MX700 is in essence, the wireless version of the corded MX500. The design of the mouse is nearly identical with the exception residing in the absence of the cord and the difference in weight. The MX700 requires 2 AA batteries to be inserted into the unit, adding quite a bit of weight. This actually works out to be an advantage, it adds more weight to the mouse and makes the entire unit feel much more sturdy than the corded mice, I was already beginning to fall in love with it.

Unlike Logitech’s last cordless mouse, the MX700 features rechargeable batteries so that the consumer can be spared the chore of having to purchase batteries. The charger itself is in the receiver of the unit which plugs into the wall and into the USB port of the computer. To recharge the batteries you simply just place the mouse onto the cradle and the charger does the rest of the work. This integration of receiver and charger is definitely a huge plus in the convenience department.

Battery life is much more longer than I had expected, I accidentally left my mouse off the charger at night and awoke to find the mouse still fully operable. In fact it lasted me for the better part of the morning but required a recharge by midday. If I had to estimate I’d say that the battery life is in the neighborhood of 5-10+ hours on a full recharge. Charging time is also kept to a minimal and is convenient since the unit can be recharged when it’s not being used.

Much like the MX500 the mouse features 5 additional buttons that populate the surface of the mouse. There are two buttons that essentially perform the functions of the scroll wheel, the forward and back buttons and an especially neat addition in the task switch button. The task switch button is by far the best thing to happen to mice since the wheel and the optical eye. Essentially, it allows you to perform the alt+tab function with the press of a button. Perfect for office work and people who are multitasking, you can change tasks with the click of one button.
The design itself is a nice blend of black and gunmetal. The top portion and the left and right clicks appear to be one construct but actually operate separately. The sides of the mouse are rubberized to offer maximal grip while the thumb groove allows for a comfortable hold. There is also an additional groove on the right side of the mouse to accommodate the ring finger of your right hand. Sadly though, southpaws might find themselves having a hard time with this mouse. Everything seems to be designed with right-handers in mind including the grooves and the buttons.

Though the design and construction of the mouse is excellent, nothing can compare to its performance. This is by far the most accurate mouse ever designed, using the new MX technology, you’ll get the smoothest mouse movement in the business. The optical eye just does an amazing job of picking up on even the slightest of movement, allowing me to have a much easier time picking off enemies in first person shooters. Just by tracking my cursor in Windows with my eyes, I can notice the amazing improvements. The cursor moves across the screen much smoother than my old Microsoft Intellimouse Pro Optical and seemed to be far more responsive. The improvement in the technology is immediately apparent; once you go MX you’ll never want to go back, period.

The range on the mouse is also quite exceptional. I’ve been able to receive non-lag gameplay from distances of about 8-10 feet from the receiver. I did experience quite a few problems after that so I wouldn’t recommend you going any further than that. If you have a setup where you own a wireless keyboard and work with a projector or some sort of output then you should seriously consider using this mouse. It can provide adequate range without substituting performance.

As far as gaming goes, MX technology gives a noticeable improvement over the competition. I was able to snipe enemies in Medal of Honor and No One Lives Forever 2 with much more precision then before. Picking off small targets from afar was much more easier due to the MX’s enhanced tracking capabilities. I also noticed an improvement in games like Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 where selecting and moving objects was much easier than before. However, the most noticeable improvements came in Photoshop where precision movements are required. I had little to no problem touching up and refining the fine edges of my images thanks to the smoothness of the mouse. The enhancements are easily noticed, from the most demanding games to the every day tasks, this mouse can do it all.
Nothing’s perfect and the MX700 eventually succumbs to a few faults. The included software negates the usage of the scroll wheel in some applications and games. It seems to be entirely random, the wheel works in Medal of Honor but not in Unreal Tournament 2003 and No One Lives Forever 2. The problem can be remedied by simply shutting down the Logitech Mouse program but it still shouldn’t exist. Logitech has informed us that a fix for this problem is currently in the works and should be released in the very near future.

The high price point also places this mouse out of the range of the average consumer. Paying $79.95 for a mouse that is essentially an un-corded version of the MX500 might be too bitter of a pill for one to swallow, especially when the MX500 can be had for $49.95 or less. The designs and performances of the mice are exactly the same so you’re essentially paying $30 to rid yourself of a cord that doesn’t really prove to be too burdensome in the first place.

When John, the resident GN hardware guru, informed me that Logitech had sent him a pair of racing gloves to prepare himself for the mice, I admit that I had quite the chuckle. I knew that Logitech would deliver an amazing mouse but I didn’t think that it would impress me quite this much. I’m often fearful of wireless mice because they can never seem to keep up with the demands of today’s fast-paced shooters. I can say wholeheartedly that the MX700 suffers from no such problems. There were no problems keeping up with my jerky movements and I never once had the mouse go haywire on me. At times I forgot that this was a wireless mouse and found myself instinctively tugging at the nonexistent cord. The Logitech MX700 is by far the most advanced and well-designed mouse to ever appear on the market.
Logitech goes back to the drawing board to deliver the best mouse to ever appear on the market. Great for work and excellent for gaming, the only thing stopping you from purchasing this mouse may be the high price point.

Rating: 9.4 Excellent

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.


About Author

Gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I could remember. I can still recall many a lost nights spent playing Gyromite with that stupid robot contraption for the old NES. While I'm not as old as the rest of the crew around these parts, I still have a solid understanding of the heritage and the history of the video gaming industry.

It's funny, when I see other people reference games like Doom as "old-school" I almost begin to cringe. I bet that half of these supposed "old-school" gamers don't even remember classic games like Rise of the Triad and Commander Keen. How about Halloween Harry? Does anyone even remember the term "shareware" anymore? If you want to know "old-school" just talk to John. He'll tell you all about his favorite Atari game, Custer's Revenge.

It's okay though, ignorance is bliss and what the kids don't know won't hurt them. I'll just simply smile and nod the next time someone tells me that the best entry in the Final Fantasy franchise was Final Fantasy VII.

When I'm not playing games I'm usually busy sleeping through classes at a boring college in Southern Oregon. My current hobbies are: writing songs for punk rock bands that never quite make it, and teasing Bart about... well just teasing Bart in general. I swear the material writes itself when you're around this guy. He gives new meaning to the term "moving punching bag."

As for games, I enjoy all types except those long-winded turn-based strategy games. I send those games to my good pal Tyler, I hear he has a thing for those games that none of us actually have the time to play.

When I'm not busy plowing through a massive pile of video games I spend all of my time trying to keep my cute little girl fed. She eats a ton but damn she's so hot. Does anyone understand the Asian girl weight principal? Like they'll clean out your fridge yet still weigh less than 110 pounds.

Currently I'm playing: THUG, True Crime, Prince of Persia, Project Gotham 2 and Beyond Good & Evil. View Profile