Logitech MX518 Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

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The Logitech MX518 High Performance Optical Gaming Mouse is not the company’s top of the line model. But, thanks to a wealth of features, many gamers will find that this mid-priced model is all they need or want without breaking the bank. The MX518 is the follow on to the MX510 and retains all its good attributes, while representing a very respectable improvement.

First and foremost is the comfortable grip. Ergonomics is always a personal affair but the MX518 will fit a very wide range of right-handers, and left-handers will still find it usable with some practice. The slick feet on the bottom surface add to the usability, making fast gliding easy.

Also nice is the ability to change the resolution on the fly without special drivers. All the control you need is built right into the mouse. Accessing the web is, of course, a breeze for everyone these days but keeping up with driver changes and dealing with bugs is not always. That lack of driver needed is also beneficial for Linux users who can plug this mouse in and get going right away.

Watch this great review of the Logitech MX518 gaming mouse

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The resolution can be set (or changed on the fly) up to 1600 dpi, too. That number doesn’t wow quite the way, say, the company’s G500 model’s 5,700 dpi does. But past a certain point – around 2,000 or less for almost any game – the difference is probably undetectable anyway.

Even better, a simple press on the + or – buttons lets you raise or lower it to find your personal sweet spot. You can cut the number in half with a single tap of the minus button; a second press puts you down to 400 dpi in a snap.

That high dpi count and fine level of control is also very beneficial when you’re not gaming. Yes, there are times when you have to do other things. Bummer. Editing photos is a breeze since the high setting lets you pick out individual pixels easily. Lowering it lets you decrease the sensitivity so the mouse doesn’t drive you crazy while performing ordinary tasks.

If you do install the driver software, you then have access to the Advanced Game Settings panel. It lets you assign up to five different dpi toggles, change defaults, and add even more granularity to tailor the MX518 to your personal style. While the case is clearly designed with right-handed players in mind, the ability to tweak the handedness of the buttons can make this mouse usable for everyone.

The most demanding gamers may want to pay extra for something like the G700. But for just about anyone else, this model is a fine piece of gaming gear. Five programmable buttons, with two more located above and below the scrollwheel, as well as an application-switching button (equivalent to Alt-Tab), make it highly flexible. That it works so well for everyday tasks – photo and document editing, web browsing, and dozens more – is icing on the cake.

Few mid-priced mice offer so many features as the Logitech MX518 in such an ergonomically friendly case.

Read what other users of the Logitech MX518 have to say about it:

Yu-jin C.,
“I’ve used an MX-518 for over 3 years, during which it saw extensive daily use both for work and games. Aside from some of the paint wearing off, it works just as well today as it did when I got it. The precision of this mouse is such that it’s really not distinguishable from much more expensive laser mice. The buttons are fully configurable and very well placed; it’s second nature using them and does not cause any finger or wrist strain even after hours of use. If you need to adjust sensitivity on the fly, there’s controls for that as well. The shape is ergonomically superior without being totally weird, and it functions well with or without a mousepad. It is also extremely tough- I’ve dropped it, stepped on it, tripped over the wire… you name it, it’s survived it. On that note, it isn’t a wireless and that’s a plus in my opinion- it really seems the batteries on wireless mice die at the worst possible times…” Read full review

RunninWild,
“I bought this mouse to replace my Logitech G5. I like this mouse just as much as my G5 and I can tell no difference other than the feel of the gray outside and it’s a tiny bit lighter. The G5 was a little rougher and this is smooth. It is easier to keep clean because of this. The buttons are all easy to touch. I highly recommend this mouse for any gamer that wants a comfortable responsive mouse. This mouse is worth every penny…” Read full review

Alter,
“I’m an ambidextrous mouse user and this mouse, although designed for a right hand, is also comfortable with the left. The smooth rubber sides on it are good and its very responsive. On the fly sensitivity adjustments are a great bonus, with no special software required to take advantage of it. I’m a gamer and am very picky about hardware… if there was a weakness with its performance I would have found it by now…” Read full review

C.R. Heady,
“I bought this mouse 8 years ago. The mouse has held up perfectly, and performs just as well now as it did the day I bought it. I came online a couple weeks ago and saw that the mouse I bought 8 years ago was still for sale, unchanged, and about 2/3 the price so I did the only logical thing I could think of: bought another. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!…” Read full review

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Logitech G700 Review by Peter Brennon

My Overall Rating:

Save on the Logitech G700 gaming mouse for a limited time at Amazon.com!

The Logitech G500 is a superb gaming mouse. Hard to see how it could be beat. Well, if any unit can, it would be the Logitech G700.

The look is quite different from the other model. Among other things, it lacks the silvery surface. But it retains the roughened texture and features equal control along with some great extras.

Going beyond the G500′s ten programmable buttons, the G700 offers 13 – 4 by the thumb, 3 by the forefinger, 3 for the scroll wheel, 1 under the scroll wheel, and of course, the left and right buttons. It can scoot the cursor along at 165 in per sec (or, more helpfully described, takes only 6 ms to travel an inch).

Ergonomics is always a personal affair, to be sure. But despite all those controls, you won’t find buttons getting in your way during active play. Logitech did its homework and the buttons are close to hand, but not intrusive. Pressing any of the four triggers on the left is sure-fingered, thanks to their thoughtfully designed ridges.

Watch this great review of the Logitech G700 gaming mouse

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While built with the right-hander in mind, the curves will fit most everyone pretty well. Logitech wisely placed the buttons slightly away from where your thumb naturally rests, so you can grip the mouse as tightly as you want and still play plenty fast.

That also makes the G700 a great tool for ordinary computing tasks. No need to swap mice when you’re not playing to get optimal office-task efficiency. And, with the ability to program the buttons to perform Windows functions, you could enable multiple-step tasks like copy/paste to execute in one press.

Like the G500, the G700 includes the Setpoint software to control and program everything imaginable. Adjust the laser sensor’s dpi setting on the fly up to a breathtaking (and probably overkill) 5,700 dpi. Set it individually for each of the x and y axes. Configure individual macro functions for each button. Create up to five profiles to tailor your experience for individual games. Use a small button behind the scroll wheel to move with a tap from clicky to freewheeling for long scrolls.

Going where the G500 can’t, the G700 is wireless or wired, as you wish. In wireless mode, you insert the receiver into your PC (sorry, no Mac support) and you have a lightweight gaming mouse at your disposal. Plug the micro-USB connector into a free USB port and the wireless feature is automatically disabled and the battery recharges while you continue to play.

Don’t worry about battery life in wireless mode, though. You can play a couple hours a day on a week-long vacation and still come back with 70% of your battery available. Of course, if you plan on playing more than a couple of hours a day, maybe you should stay home for your vacation. You won’t see the sights anyway. Still, some users report up to 14 hours a day of gaming over a 2 week period before having to recharge.

There’s also something lacking in wireless mode that will please gamers: delay. There isn’t any. You get maximum flexibility and still enjoy all the rapid, responsive moves you want.

The Logitech G700 just might be the perfect gaming mouse… until the clever designers there come up with the next one.

Read what other users of the Logitech G700 have to say about it:

Tomthumb,
“Logitech has another homerun hit with this mouse. Buttons are placed perfect for quick access. I cannot say one bad thing about it!! Love the cord for charging. Like the warning for battery low to help me stay in play. Easy macro and button configurations with the set point software included with this mouse. The new G series products are just awesome… ” Read full review

Eric S.,
“The G700 is certainly the most complex mouse I’ve ever used, but it’s highly customizable and great for both gaming and productivity. If you’re seeking just a productivity mouse, go for the MX revolution. If you’re out for a gaming mouse, the G700 should definitely be on your list of mice to consider as its feature set is quite impressive…” Read full review

Slitt3r.,
“Okay, I was looking for a decent gaming mouse and I gave the G700 a shot and I am not regretting it. The mouse is very smooth, no drop outs, no lag in the mouse movement. I used to have a bluetooth mouse and it used to lag in its movement. the G700 is working like a charm. I mainly use it to play games online like bad company 2. With High DPI the mouse is even smoother…” Read full review

Get the Logitech G700 gaming mouse at a discount for a limited time at Amazon.com!