Logitech MX Revolution Wireless Laser Mouse

Reviews: Peripherals

Accessories | Gaming Devices | Keyboards / Mice | Printers

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Bradford Day
Brian
Logitech
Nov. 21, 2006

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Testing

First things first. Logitech's MX Revolution needs some code to tell it what to do. Installing the device drivers is easy; a click through job. Post-installation, a Logitech icon will reside in your system tray (on a Windows machine), awaiting your input. Clicking on the icon will bring up the SetPoint customizing software. From within the software you can alter various functions of the MX's buttons and wheels. Default settings are pretty typical; mouse wheel scrolls, upper paired thumb buttons control forward/back browsing functions, panic button initiates nuclear holocaust!standard fare.

But what's up with that tiny chrome button? The diminutive center-mounted clicker is a One-Touch Search. Depress the button and your browser will open a new window (or tab) directly to the search engine of your choosing. Even more useful is the highlighted word search. Just highlight a word or phrase and push the One-Touch Search button and up pops a Google or Yahoo! search for that word or phrase. The lower thumb-level wheel looks like a scroll button but acts as a Document Flip. Tilt the wheel forward or back and a small window pops up displaying all your active applications and folders. Navigate the menu with the tilt wheel and choose which application you would like to switch to and Poof! There it be. This feature is not much more than an updated version of a similar extension of the MX1000. The new tilt wheel iteration is a better execution of the same idea, in my opinion. For users who frequently swap between programs it is a valuable resource. I quickly found myself becoming addicted to it. And as mentioned above, the two side thumb buttons act as forward/back browsing agents. However, depending on the application their function will vary. For instance in Microsoft Word, they act as quick scroll buttons. Of course you can alter their settings from within the SetPoint software as you see fit (think Zooming thumb wheel in Photoshop). And, finally, we have the middle scroll button! which is quite strange...

Probably the most revolutionary feature of the MX Revolution is the upper scroll wheel. It does look pretty flash with its anti-slip rubber grip but more surprises lurk within. During normal use it's nothing special as it scrolls along nicely with a softly notched but predictable feel. But, depress the chrome beauty and something unique happens. A minute, almost mechanical click disengages the wheel. With a flick of a finger the wheel now spins freely like a well oiled skateboard bearing. The whirling flywheel now allows ultra fast scanning of large documents, spreadsheets and webpages (I was able to scroll down through over 7500 lines of an Excel spreadsheet with one flick of the wheel). Depress the wheel button again and the normal, clicking scroll wheel returns. Logitech has made this possible by utilizing their MicroGear system. In conjunction with their SmartShift Technology the mouse will intelligently sense when you are trying to quickly scroll through a page and automatically switch to free-wheelin' mode to ease your search. And that's not all. Depending on the application you are using, the SmartShift will alter the scroll setting to match navigation needs. So for Microsoft Word you get the clicking wheel while Internet Explorer will cause a flip to free-spin mode.

I did find that the side scrolling feature felt a bit cheap. There is a fair amount of side-to-side play despite the high quality construction of the wheel itself. However, my biggest disappointment with the SmartShift button is the lack of middle mouse button functionality. The button does depress, but only to turn the SmartShift off and on. So while perusing a webpage in Mozilla Firefox I am no longer able to use the middle mouse button to close individual browser tabs or open links in a new tab. All I can do is swap between click wheel and free wheel mode. To circumvent this issue, I was hoping to reprogram the button. No such luck. Each ancillary button is only allowed certain programmable features. The secondary buttons can be altered to suit almost any need but the center mouse wheel is permanently set as the "manual shift" for the SmartShift Technology. I was able to program the One-Touch Search button and the forward/back buttons to act as tab closers (ctrl+W) but not as an "open link in new tab" button.

I was surprised to find that nowhere in the SetPoint software is there a setting to allow any of the buttons to act as a typical middle mouse button. I'm sure the reason for the lack of middle mouse wheel customization seems simple; the mechanics of the SmartShift won't allow for alternate programmability (though I soon discovered this is not the case). However, I would like to have been able to program one of the other secondary buttons to act as that missing middle mouse button. And the final bit of silliness that negates the whole ordeal is this: If you turn off the SetPoint software, the MX Revolution acts like a standard mouse, middle button and all! But then you loose the manual SmartShift functionality (the automatic SmartShift still works) as well as the Document Flip capability (forward/back will still work and the One-Touch Search brings up a standard OS search but not a web-based one).

The tracking skills of this laser-powered cursor facilitator are top notch and on par with the G5, G7 and MX1000. Whether you are re-touching images in Photoshop or deftly maneuvering your way through a 60 page Word document, the MX Revolution will deliver pinpoint, laser-guided accuracy. The additional button programmability only serves to enhance the usability of this mouse, making it a fantastic general productivity mouse. If you spend the bulk of your day manipulating graphics or aggressively surfing the web, you'll be happy to have the MX Revolution in your right hand. It weighs in about the same as its MX1000 grandpappy and is just as comfortable to use. Teflon feet reduce sliding friction and the newly sculpted body feels quite comfortable in my hand.

I did not test the MX Revolution much with games. While it does function well with games and the precise laser engine provides excellent tracking, this mouse really isn't a gaming mouse. If you are itching to spend a lot of cash on a Logitech gaming mouse, aim for the G5 or G7. I prefer the G7 to the MX Revolution in all aspects of gaming. However, if you are in dire need of a productivity mouse and just happen to play a few games on the side, the MX Revolution will probably suit your needs just fine. The SetPoint software does have a "mouse game settings" section that helps to adjust the MX for use while gaming so the Document Flip doesn't send you to the desktop if you happen to flip that wheel. But hardcore gamers will be happier with a G5 or G7.

I'm not the biggest fan of wireless mice. I dislike rechargeable batteries I have no way of replacing. Therefore, as mentioned above, I was disappointed to see that the MX Revolution didn't get the swappable battery pack treatment that the G7 did. Perhaps there is some reason for this. Maybe the G7 battery packs had a shorter life expectancy after multiple charges. Regardless, the battery life I experienced with the MX Revolution was quite good. I charged it on a Monday and toted it back and forth from work to home and didn't have to recharge once over an entire work week. The MX's power saving shutdown kicks in about 10 seconds after the mouse's last movement. So you can expect long battery charge life even if it lies dormant for a day or three. A quick glance down at the three LEDs that decorate the left side of the mouse will give you a brief idea of how much juice you've used. And if you are the really curious type, simply check the "Mouse Batteries" tab inside the SetPoint software to see how many days (or percent charge) of life your MX has left.

And while I don't personally care for wireless mice in general (did I mention I am not very fond of wireless mice?), I have to give respect to Logitech's wireless connectivity design. Starting with the MX1000 series, lag due to wireless connectivity was virtually eliminated. I noticed no lag while using the MX Revolution. And if you prefer to mouse from across the house (see how that rhymed) take comfort in knowing the MX Revolution works from distances of 20 or more feet, should you need it to. The 2.4 GHz radio frequency is powerful enough to travel long distances yet I noticed no interference while using the mouse in the vicinity of my 2.4 GHz cordless phone.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Looks
Page 3: Testing
Page 4: Conclusion

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