$70 Cordless Notebook Mouse with No Scroll Wheel

superfloungmous writes "CoolTechZone.com has reviewed Logitech's latest V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse that uses 2.4GHz wireless technology to transmit signal and has a scroll panel instead of a scroll wheel. The concept behind a scroll wheel is you simply move your finger in up, down, left and right directions to use the function. The mouse has a whopping $70.00 price tag as well. Could this be the end of scroll wheels? Here's a quote from the review, "One of the unique things about the V500 is its scroll panel, and this is the very first mouse to actually use this concept. Throughout our testing, we are nothing but impressed with Logitech's new idea. It worked perfectly, and it's actually better than a scroll wheel in many instances. It looks like the era of scroll wheels is short-lived if Logitech applies the same design to its desktop equivalent products."

Comments

small nit to pick

[justforaday]

One of the unique things about the V500 is its scroll panel, and this is the very first mouse to actually use this concept.

Kensington's been making a mouse with a touch panel in place of a scroll wheel for well over 2 years now. Admittedly it only does the up/down thing (no side to side action). Either way, 70 bucks is still way too much for a mouse of any kind as far as I'm concerned...

Re:small nit to pick

[theantipop]

My theory has always been that you spend the most time interacting with you monitor, keyboard and mouse so why not get an exceptional product that meets all your needs in those area? What good is a $600 video card if you can't see the image or interact with them in a meaningful way?

Re:small nit to pick

[dustbin]

In addition to Kensington's product that came out in '02, there was at least a prototype displayed at CES a few years before that by Fujitsu. Never saw it for sale in the states, but it looked like production plastics, so it was probably available in Japan.

The interesting point about the Logitech design is their best ergonomic feature isn't being noticed - it isn't even called out by Logitech. The very small sensor they're using lets them push the sensor way up to the front of the mouse. It's long been known that the mice "feel" more responsive the closer you get the sensor to a point midway between the fingertips that are guiding the mouse. Most sensors have been too big to fit up there, so they're positioned farther back, where they don't move as far as the fingertips do.

Real ergonomics is too subtle for marketing, I guess. Maybe it's because the "ball forward" concept was originally used to promote the Microsoft Dove Bar mouse http://www.ideo.com/portfolio/re.asp?x=12328 and the standard Apple ergonomic mouse of the ~90s.

Re:small nit to pick

[ebuck]

Next they will implement a mouse that handles all of it's navigation through the touchpad. That way you wouldn't need to move the thing around on your desk.

Miserable editing

[nganju]

The concept behind a scroll wheel is you simply move your finger in up, down, left and right directions to use the function.

I think you mean scroll panel, not scroll wheel. Does anyone even read these before posting them?

Tactile feedback

[guyfromindia]

One think I like about scroll wheels is the tactile feedback.. (bumps when you roll the wheel)
It gives me a perspective on how much I am scrolling.
without it, I am not sure it will be a good experience..

No middle click!

[thule]

Since there is no way to press down on that panel, that means there is no middle click for us X users out there. That middle click turns into the command for left scroll.

Other than that, the mouse is pretty nice. No moving parts except for the right/left buttons. When the mouse is in off mode, the right/left buttons dis-engage.

Why isn't anyone using Bluetooth?

[fsck!]

Why are Logitech and friends not using Bluetooth? It seems the most logical choice--broad compatibility, better utilization of that narrow and crowded frequency range, plus they can at a lower price because so many laptops and desktops already ship with Bluetooth support.

Re:2.4 GHz

[Jeff DeMaagd]

The thing that bugs me is that it isn't Bluetooth. Bluetooth is 2.4GHz too, but it seems to coexist fine with WiFi, and will work with many more recievers than just the one in the package. I keep a Bluetooth mouse with my laptop, in part because my laptop has an integrated bluetooth reciever.

A proprietary USB dongle just means something more to break off, more potential wear on the USB ports and such.

First were keys.

[SharpFang]

First of all were keys. Separate. One press, one effect.
Then keys on top of keys. Shift plus a key... And keys on top of keys of keys. Double bucky :)
Then, paddles. One manipulator - one rotary wheel, plus a key. Two of them, separate. Plus one key on each.
Then came standard joystick, essentially four keys connected into one. Plus one separate (fire).
Then came mouse. Two paddles connected into one. Plus two keys on top.
About the same time came analog joystick. Two paddles connected into one, but with ability to return to original position by itself. Sometimes better than mouse, sometimes not. Of course, keys on top.
Then some aberrations like trackball (mouse on its back) or driving wheel with pedals (2 paddles mounted in specific positions), mousepad without mouse (touch tablet), mousepad without mouse on top of keys (touch pad) micro-joystick on top of keys (trackpoint), etc - marginal use. And all with lots of keys on them.
Then they added another paddle on top of the mouse. Wheel mouse.
Analog joystick evolved. Two more joysticks were added in paralell (PS gamepad).
Sometime along yet another paddle was added to top of mouse. (a4tech etc 2-wheel mice).
Some more aberrations. Paddle on top of keys (keyboards with scrollwheels), Joystick on top of joystick (multiple levels of freedom), triple paddles (steering wheels with throttle), touch tablets on top of screens (touch screens), etc.
Now we learn Logitech put a joystick on top of a mouse.

Still waiting for mouse on top of a mouse (trackball instead of wheel), mouse on top of a joystick (trackball again, seemed like xbox2 would have it but not), and whatever comes next, following the pattern.

Remember: keys and paddles.

And of course screens on top of screens (windows).

Re:I have one

[glesga_kiss]

It's very irritating to lose my middle-click open new tab function. If I had realised you couldn't use the touch pad as a button, I wouldn't have bought it.

Pester the maker for a driver update, there is no hardware reason why it won't work, provided they have just thrown a laptop touchpad in there (which accept clicks nicely).

Re:Whatever happened to BlueTooth?

[Mac Degger]

Heh :) Only the AC comes close to a correct and comprehensive answer :)

Bluetooth is overkill and way too expensive for a mouse. It's also too complex. Why use a tech which is more difficult to integrate than RF when you only need up/down/left/right/buttonclick info to be sent; why use a tech which eats a lot more power than 'just' RF; why use a tech which is more expensive than RF, as bluetooth means having to buy a chip and integrate it wilst RF only needs a transmitter/reciever antenna hooked up to some logic?

In short, using RF means using the propper tool for the job, instead of using the equivelant of a jackhammer when you could use a tiny screwdriver to unscrew something.

Re:Whatever happened to BlueTooth?

[screensaver400]

Why? Because RF isn't standardized. It isn't built into any computers like Bluetooth is. I have a Powerbook, and all I want is a Bluetooth v500, because I don't want something sticking out of the end of my 'book. If Bluetooth is overkill, fine. Make me some kind of standard that will be internal in laptops, and will support wireless mice and the like. Also, by your complexity argument, all mice should use a serial port, since USB is really overkill. But I'm just nitpicking there. ;-)