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Logitech is Relaunching the MX518 Gaming Mouse (venturebeat.com)
From a report: Logitech has announced it is bringing back the "legendary" (the company's word, not mine) MX518 gaming mouse. The announcement says "many consider [it] to be the finest gaming mouse of all time." I am definitely one of those people. Logitech first released the MX518 in 2005, as the successor to the already-pretty-good MX510 gaming mouse released in 2004. The MX518 was around for six years before Logitech tried to replace it with the G400 gaming mouse in 2011. I say "tried" because, well, it just wasn't the same. Logitech has finally admitted as much, after eight years of trying. The company is promising that the reborn MX518 will have the same shape and feel as the original. The materials have been updated, and there's a new "Nightfall" finish but, crucially, it's still an MX518.
Is the cable still designed to break after 1 year of use? I have like 3 of them in my drawer, with loose cables that randomly stop working once in a while.
still going strong.
Now that I already invested a shit-ton of money in a lightspeed pad and mouse, I sure as hell am not going to buy another mouse.
Not to mention that lately only chinesium crap came out of Logitech. I can buy honest chinesium crap for a fifth of the cost and have the same user experience.
Ever sense the move to the laser sensor from the roller ball. The default mouse that comes with the PC, or the one you get for $10 really seems to be good enough for most activities, including gaming. I am sure the MX518 may be good for the real competitive gamers, but for most of us our general skills at the game, will not be enhanced with a better mouse technology.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Using dongles sucks. However the M585 with both Bluetooth and a dongle, to be switched between at a button-press is about the most geek-friendly thing I've ever seen. I can use Bluetooth on my own laptop, shove a dongle into whatever I'm working on and switch at a button press. Great for servers, working on user equipment, setting up new systems you haven't paired Bluetooth with etc...
I've been grilling Logitech for years about bad choices in wireless connectivity, it seems like they're waking up finally.
As for a gaming mouse? Meh. Blue laser seems to be the best thing I've ever used and Logitech isn't the place to get that.
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I've had the model just prior to the 518, the red one. The 518 runs CAD at the office now. My G502 KSMFOPC now. G502 is pretty nice. I'd say it's better than my 518. The addition of onboard memory and higher resolution closes the gap though.
The electronic gagdet that I'd really like to see make a comeback is the ipod nano 7. I fear for the life of my current ipod. We have done many pushups together.
In recent years my favorite mouse has been the G700s. Just the right amount of side buttons for my needs. I bought a few spares back when they were still $40.
I'm not sure why just about every Logitech gaming mouse at this point only has 2 thumb accessible buttons. There is the G602 with 6 buttons, which I have as a backup, but it just isn't as good.
This would be a better product to resurect
Seriously, now that my oldest is 12, he wants his private pilot license. Flight controls with MS SIM, and flightgear go a long way to helping.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
I also enjoy the addition of Bluetooth to their lineup. I mostly enjoy premium mice because I find them more comfortable and the extra buttons useful, I usually don't have the sensitivity turned all the way up. With a blue laser vs a red laser... what application are you using the mouse for that the 300 nm difference is noticeable? When they replaced the old optical sensors with lasers, it seemed to primarily improve what surfaces it could be used on more than anything else. I wouldn't think color would matter much but was curious to hear your thoughts.
but he swears by his gaming mouse. I have one of his hand me downs (it was too small for his hand) but I honestly can't tell the difference. That said, I'm mostly a console gamer who happens to play on PC.
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... they have no new idea's for the mouse after 20 years? I've had a tonne and even failed ideas like the strategic commander form microsoft had people experimenting with input devices.
Basically the button placement on the mouses being designed by these companies are made by people who obviously don't use computers. I've had lots of thoughts about what could be added to mice in various games/software I've used over the years that would need some more testing/refinement as to get the placement right.
I've always wanted to put a dpad or small analog joystick on the right side of the mouse but do it in such a way as to make it non intrusive, aka you can have it slide/retract inside the mouse and cover it if you don't want to use it for instance. Many functions could easily be mapped onto the mouse but stupid ass "MMO" mice and idiot designs by people who don't use compturs regularly reign. Like the razor naga/trinity, a big laugh of a design where the buttons are too close together.
from even the lightspeed mouse being wireless?
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After I got a Logitech Trackman Marble, I pretty much stopped using mice. You lose some precision, but the comfort is priceless. Wrist pains almost completely gone.
Circumcision is child abuse.
I might consider this mouse for the fact that the original had no rubber coating on the buttons, but I don't believe the original was 100% coating-free. If they skip the coatings, I might try it out. I'm getting tired of having to replace my mice every few years because the coating gets all gunky.
What I want back is the original Trackman Marble USB Wheel, M/N T-BB18. But this time, I want them to use microswitches from someone more competent than Omron. I've re-switched this trackball three or four times now.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Using my MX518 from 2005 right now. That and a gaming mousepad i bought at the same time. Both have been through hell and still work great. Almost every day i roll up the mouse mat and coil up the MX518 and throw it in my backup. Can't risk WFH w/o it. I was hoping to see they made this a wireless version because that is one thing i would have hoped in 13 years they could fix the performance of. The cord is a hassle. All my coworkers fine it odd too that i have a wired mouse. No one does anymore but they also don't realize what an amazing piece of equipment this has been.
Scott
Can you really show me A/B testing that shows it is 6 times better than the $10 mouse at Fry's? How about even twice as better as the $5? It's like selling $500 sneakers to aspiring pro athletes.
I had one for a couple of years, and by today's standards it's not that great, frankly. The biggest problem are the glide pads underneath, which are quite small and will wear off completely, so it doesn't last that long. The ergonomics aren't that great, either.
Actually the G9x was the best gaming mouse Logitech ever produced. No nonsense, rock solid, adjustable weight, adjustable grip, and the usual adjustable profiles. It was so reliable, I still have two working after over 10 years, I almost suspect it was the reason Logitech stopped making it. Once you owned one you never needed to buy another gaming mouse again. I must not be the only person to think so as original boxed versions go for hundreds of dollars on Ebay.
From the article:
"The company is promising that the reborn MX518 will have the same shape and feel as the original. The materials have been updated, and there’s a new “Nightfall” finish but, crucially, it’s still an MX518."
Let's hope the materials have gotten better. I have a 2004 MX510 but didn't start using it until around 2010 (it was lightly used and given to me around 2006). During those years of non-use, the rubberized parts of the mouse's surface turned to goo. I managed to wipe all the goo off using rubbing alcohol, exposing the underlying plastic, and have used the mouse ever since. Other than the rubber turning to goo, the mouse has held up well, but is certainly showing wear. Two of the five bottom teflon pads have either worn off or fallen off and most of the paint on the Logitech logo at the top has worn off. Overall, it's been one tough mouse.
As someone who has used the MX500, MX518, then the G400S (in succession) over the past 15 years, I can say they are all roughly the same
Further, I've found that the G400S was probably the best variant from a mechanical/comfort standpoint
That said, I'd buy whatever "clone" mouse of that style is available when I need one
All of the logitech with more silly features and sharp edges/angles don't look too appealing to me
having 20 buttons
I only have 17 tentacles!
Have gnu, will travel.
A good start Logitech. Now please bring back the Marble FX Trackball. This was the best thing you've ever made! https://www.facebook.com/Bring...
I really wish they would bring back the original K310 keyboard. Logitech discontinued it, then brought it back but with different (i.e., cheap and crappy) keyswitches. At least I wish they had changed the model number when they did this like with their mice. Then at least I'd know if I've found a vintage one that isn't crap.
I do not belong to the church of the lowercase 'i'
History will show that the trackball was the real game changer.
Yawn, let me know when they re release the G5.
It was the only mouse with a button above the scroller. I went through 10 of them in quake 2 days.
I happily second this. More wireless peripherals should have cost $10 more and have a BT radio built in, it's so much nicer to not need to swap a dongle around between my laptop and server racks at work.
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
I've just found that it works better on more surfaces. The resolution is nice, but at my previous job the desk were all various sorts of wood for the most part, some with shiny varnish where normal optical mice tended to have issues (and a mouse pad left in place would grow legs - quickly), and I've found other various surfaces where laser mice, blue ones especially, seem to do better. Despite having hated Microsoft with a passion in the past, I caved due to lack of Logitech options in the past and started buying Microsoft mice - and was quite happy I did, their BlueTrack stuff made me a believer. I've also bought some Lenovo laser mice, I'm not sure what laser tech they use, but it appears invisible but works about as well as Microsoft's - though I did have some issues with the way they handles power saving. Those issues seem to have been patched out of the Linux distros now though.
So blue vs. other types of laser - wins by a nose.
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A few extra buttons to bind to hotkeys and a free-spinning wheel are all I need.
I knew I had gone too far when one mouse I bought came with a set of 5 weights you could add to it to fine-tune the mass inertia, I guess. I'd have rather had a spare rechargable battery, which I could not find a replacement for online, or even in the battery store.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
I gave MX518 mice away to people who didn't believe me when I said this was the best gaming mouse I'd ever used. I was sad when they vanished, and sadder still when I wore two out and lost two (I think one was stolen, the other went missing when I moved house). I am using G400 mice (at work and home) at the moment, and yes, they are not as good. Wearing out an MX518 takes several years - I have worn through the teflon pads on two, and worn out the buttons on another. Never had the cable break (unlike the first poster).
I will buy one or two to start with, but this time I'll stock up - I reckon maybe 10 of them should last the rest of my life :-)
I don't know that I like it better than my G403, though, and possibly even the other way around.
Palaces, barricades, threats, meet promises
I have several of the G9 and G9x mice, they are great - had them for years, no need to change.
No wireless rubbish for me, just plain good old wire - and that magnificent trackball. 2nd hand ones get high amounts on ebay and others - why is that? Because it's such a beautiful and well designed trackball. A magnificent tool.
I had to buy a japanese trackball to replace this one (i bought a whole bunch of this because it's the only trackball that comes in the neighbourhood of the logitech trackball - the last one with usb-cable - secure and affordable).
I'll pick one up though as my boomslang is dead, dead, dead.
I've been using a Logitech G5 Laser as my primary desktop mouse for close to a decade now, on an indigo Func Industries Surface 1030 mouse pad of the same vintage (smooth side).
Both remain optimal for desktop work.
Apparently there were some G5 mice that lacked the thumb buttons. Mine has two thumb buttons, and a tilt wheel, and the DPI controls.
I'm right handed, but I switched my mouse to my left hand a long, long time ago to reduce back pain. By doing so I position my mouse hand closer to my midline: my ancient Compaq keyboard has a full numeric keypad on the right hand side, which adds an extra seven full inches to my hand travel distance (6" home-to-mouse on the left side, 13" from home-to-mouse on the right side).
Irony: this makes the "thumb" buttons relatively useless.
Logitech G5 Laser Mouse: When an update is not worthy of a new name — July 2007
Reading more closely, I discover that the my G5 is the second edition of the G5, which is basically an MX518 upgrade product, with the same internal engine.
———
My experience
I'm using maximal ballast weights which for me greatly improves proprioceptive feedback. Because this is a super sensitive mouse, I have my mouse response cranked up almost to ludicrous speed.
I have 45" of horizontal display travel (three 23" monitors, one in landscape, two in portrait). My full-bore mouse flick (45" bezel-to-bezel) measures just under 2" on my mouse pad. My 23" vertical throw on my portrait monitor measures just under an inch. (These are consistent numbers.) When I creep across, my horizontal throw measures closer to 3" instead of 2". (Turns out, I have far more speed and far less acceleration than I believed, prior to making this measurement just now.)
Interesting algebra: 100 dpi screen resolution * 20:1 fast-movement mouse response ratio = 2000 dpi mouse resolution requirement to address single pixels. Three resolutions available on mouse: 400/800/2000. For the 13:1 slow-movement response ratio (usual speed at the landing site), I'd need 1300 dpi for single pixel address. (Meaning that I do have to switch down to slow speed to access individual pixels, but once I do, I have a decent margin.)
I'm using roughly 5 square inches of mouse mobility to manage three 23" screens in text-selection mode, and ranging over all of 2 square inches for window and focus management.
Super important tip: use double-click drag to select text in full-word mode as often as possible. I always aim for the middle of my target word, double-click to select the full word (do not release the double-click) and then drag to select a word region, aiming for the middle of the final word, where I finally release the mouse button.
Sometimes one end of your text selection contains a weird punctuation mark, which makes for a narrow target. There are three solutions for this. The first solution is painfully precise initial aim (down to a single letter). This is bad. Try reversing the selection by starting at the other end (it's fairly rare that both ends are problematic). Painfully-precise final aim is still better than painfully-precise initial aim, because you're usually coming in much slower after starting the selection, and
A gaming mouse significantly improves over the standard three-button + scrollwheel mouse. Back and forward rockers are quite useful when navigating in a web browsing. And gaming mice are much more ergonomic over the standard mouse counterpart, which is good for those with arthritis or carpal tunnel tendencies.
At least if we are talking Logitech or Microsoft mice, they are those things. If they are el-cheapo bargain Chinese knock-offs on Amazon where they focus on LEDs and stupid shapes to look "cool", then forget everything I said.
I play SOME video games but mostly use a gaming mouse for standard office work. I also use a regular mouse at my day job. I love my gaming mouse. I want to toss the one at work and get a gaming mouse.
I guess I do more cut and paste than your average keyboard monkey, but here's one more tip.
When you need to select more text than fits into your window, don't do that horrible slither-drag where you take your mouse outside of the text window, causing your window to continuously smooth scroll in the desired direction.
At least on my system, the smooth scroll is never smooth enough, and if you're the least bit impatient, you never see the target coming until you overshoot.
For long selections, I almost always start by positioning my target at the bottom of my 23" portrait screen, then begin the selection by double-clicking the center of the last word of the last sentence, thus to begin an upward word-mode selection drag. Go up an inch or two to establish a visible region, then pause.
Maintaining your drag operation (with the mouse button held down), press Page Up until your target scrolls onto your screen, then complete the mouse drag with the page at rest. I begin at the bottom of my monitor so that ending the selection is almost always an upward motion into my primary field of view (the very bottom edge of my display is barely an inch above desk height, which is not my favourite sight line). Of course, Page Down will correct an overshoot.
[*] In my Firefox, there's a bug where scrolling under your mouse with the keyboard does not update your selection region if the mouse remains motionless relative to your display (rather than your document). If you experience this problem too, jostle the mouse a bit while doing this to the selection region visible.
[**] There's a second bug in my Firefox: I can't do Pg Up select in a text input box without into disjoint, multi-select mode, and for incomprehensible regions, too.
One more thing. My security mode in Firefox means that many scripts don't run, and my layout is often fubar.
It's not unusual for one end of my desired selection to wind up underneath some other text object, where the other text region grabs the initial double-click.
Again, start at the other end, if possible, and extend your selection into the overlap (your selection is now securely anchored to the right text layer). For some reason, it's often hard to get the mouse to end such a selection precisely where you mean to.
Once again, the shift arrows to extend your selection in the text-flow domain instead of layout domain are your eternal friends. But here you'll find many good reasons to use ctrl-shift arrow to advance your selection in full word units.
By starting your drag at an internal letter boundary within a word, you can get half a word at the starting end, and still advance your selection region in speedy word units. And then you can release the ctrl key at the end, and fine tune the end selection in character unit, too.
New discovery
Actually, I already knew that you could resume mouse drag by pressing the shift key before clicking down, and that if your original selection was in word mode (or line/para mode) it would resume your original mode as soon as the mouse began to move.
What I hadn't noticed is that right at the point of click, it selects exactly where you click (middle of a word, no problem).
You can actually start your selection with the shift key depressed (one to three clicks), release the mouse button, travel to your destination as a letter boundary, then single-click to extend your selection to exactly that point.
In fact, you can single-click to drop an invisible selection anchor, then shift click at the other end, and the whole selection appears all at once (but you don't get any feedback on the accuracy of your initial click if you do this, not until the full selection is complete).
I suppose I could monkey around with visible text carets in my Firefox settings. But that doesn't seem necessary for now.
It would actually be nice in some ways to double click on the first word alone (release the mouse), then double click on the final word (this
The VX Nano is the one mouse I wish Logitech would bring back. Loved the feel of the wheel and the general shape overall.
Interesting! Thanks for the further details, it didn't seem like the sort of thing that normal reviews would cover well.
Britain and Germany Will Not Ban Huawei, Citing Lack of Spying Evidence
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Didn't you go to great lengths to tell us all how the secret info from your secret friends would be so persuasive?
Guess it's only gullible people like you (or are you paid) who believe that shit.
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I'm on my third battery, but I'm still using my Logitech MX1000 from 2004. I still haven't found a reason to "upgrade".
Just because you disagree doesn't mean it's not true.
So, out of pure happenstance, I was using my Lenovo laser mouse on my jeans last night. It worked for a while, then got "laggy". I was blaming my computer at first, which I just reinstalled to upgrade (always keep /home on a separate drive for just such an occasion). Turns out it was using it on my jeans that got to it. I don't think the Bluetrack is quite as bad, but it's subjective.
Still, I highly recommend the Lenovo mice. I don't even think that one was meant for the US market, it came in a box without much English on it even though the logo itself is the English one.
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