The logical solution (Logitech MX 310 Optical Mouse)

Member Name: babajane32

Product:	Logitech MX 310 Optical Mouse
Date:	03/02/04 (900 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: performance, price, features

Disadvantages: comfort

Introduction

The Logitech MX310 is an optical mouse with several defining features, unfortunately one that is missing is that fact that it is not cordless as the product description above suggests(cordless version is the MX700).
Being optical it doesn't have the characteristic ball in its underbelly that many automatically think of when considering the term "mouse". Nether the less it is still a mouse, an item of hardware that enables the user to move the cursor on the screen and activate/access files and links displayed, so without further ado...on with the review.


Features and technical information

6 programmed button functions
5 year parts warranty
Left and Right handed
Optical technology (MX optical engine)
USB or PS/2
PC and MAC compatible
Quick switch button
Sculpted shape
Scrolling wheel
MouseWare (included software)

System requirements - Windows 95,98,NT,4.0,2000,ME.XP or Mac OS 8.6 or later.
USB or PS2 port (USB requires Win 98,200,ME,XP)
CD-ROM drive

***** What does it all mean? ******

Programmed button functions/Quick switch button/scrolling wheel

This means you can select pre programmed functions for each of the buttons on your mouse, enabling you to dedicate buttons for accessing the Internet, selecting programs etc., Some programs can utilize this option so you can use one button to access one particular program.
Along this same theme the quick switch button allows you move back and forth between open programs and documents.

Many newer mice do include these features although the amounts of buttons and the pre program options give it competitive edge that keeps it at the higher range of usefulness in this department.
Also having 5 buttons makes it a useful addition to the avid gamer as the scroll can allow fast weapon chang

e and other buttons allow for nearly all control to be conducted without never ending keyboard use.



5 year parts warranty

Now 5 years may sound a long time to garauntee the life of the parts, especially in something as frequently used as a mouse, but having no moving parts it's less surprising that you can expect a long life span of this piece of hardware. Add to this that Logitech is a reputable and reliable company and it makes your purchase a safe bet for on-going use. Of course dropping, throwing or stamping on your mouse won't be covered so if you're a gamer with a short fuse take care of your mouse!!



Left/right handed and scultpted shape

This mouse is suitable for both left and right handed use, even with it's sculpted shape for more comforatble use and reduced risk of strain injury.
Obviously this does have advantages although I feel the eurganomic nature has been compromised by making it so adaptable.
The feel and use is fairly comfortable, bit for heavy users you'll still find that familiar discomfort in the fingers or wrist at the end of the day.
The position for holding the mouse too is pretty good, but again I feel that it is compromised and there's just the tiniest feeling that it would be a jot easier to control with a true eurgonomic design.



PC and MAC compatible

The benifits here are pretty obviouse in that it is usable on just about all computors.The fact that it works with just about all concievable operating systems is good, but fairly standard with most modern mice.


UBS PS/2

Again not uncommen to modern mice, it is effectively the connection used to connect your mouse and transfer the data to your computer.
The PS/2 adapter is a small round one and the USB a small squareish one. The difference in real terms is that USB is always a faster option with the data transfer rate (the
spee
d of conveying the information) being more speedy.
However, and it is a big however, in the case of mice like this one that primarily run through PS/2, the choice of the alternative connection (USB) is done by using a supplied adapter, hence it negates the data transfer rate as it is still limited to the spped of PS/2.
It is still advantageous in that respect that it gives you the option to use whichever connection you have available, which if you run many external hardware accessories you may have a limited supply of (i.e you've not enough spare plugs available).


MouseWare (included software)

This is basically the driver for your mouse. You'll need it so that your computor can utilize the features associated with your mouse and understnd how to allow it to work properly.



Optical technology (MX optical engine)

This is where the mouse comes into its own. Not only does having optical technology give it great advantages over the rollerball type mouse from the angle of not having moving parts, subsequently avoids getting dirty and gunged up (afecting performance) but also has less parts to wear out.
On top of that the sensativity is far greater and reactivity too, making for a more accurate and smoother actioning tool.

The MX optical engine, something innovative and less common to other optical mice on the market, really is the making of this specific mouse.
Encorperating many aspects such as sensor size, frame rate, Image processing power and resolution it takes the performance of this mouse above many of its competitors and sets new benchmarks for performance.

With the sensor size in this case capturing pictues up to 80% larger than other sensors on the market, it means that it is able to see much smaller surface detail captured in each image it uses. This means it is able to cope with much rougher surfaces and all surfaces much more effectively. A com
putor desk
or even your trouser leg will provide a good enough surface for this mouse to perform its tasks very well,leaving you more freedom of movement and no longer reliant upon awkward mouse mats.

Frame rate pertains to the time/quantity of data used to gather information by your mouse. To put it simply, how many times per second your mouse/computor gathers information about the mouses movements.
The higher the frame rate, the more often you gather information, thus the higher the better as it gives a better input of movement details. This is very important in performance especially where uneaven sufraces are encountered or when you are moving your mouse at a very fast rate, especially useful in gaming.

Image processing powers is again a combined technology,but to all intensive purposes it is that the amount of image data (information) the optical sensor is capable of processing every second.Measured in megapixals/second it's very important as collecting the data is one thing, processing it into usable information is another. Again a key function in determining motion accuracy.

Resolution is mostly relative to the size of your monitor, with monitor sizes having increased over rescent times there has been a need for improvement in the mouse area.
Most mice have a resolution of 400 Dpi (dots per inch) which equates in real terms to the mouse needing to move 400 pixels per inch of the screen it is moving across.It mightn't sound that much, but when moving across a 17 or 19 inch monitor it means moving your mouse a fair distance. To compensate for this the drivers for mice, including this one, have written into them speed and acceleration controls which allow it to combine datas to minimise the amount of distance required to travel by the mouse. The problems come when the compensation increases too much, magnifying highly at fast speeds to shorten the travelling distance, where data is less accurate and the mov
ement of the mo
use becomes jerky.
The MX optical engine has a resolution of 800 Dpi, twice that of most optical mice. This may be less noticable on smaller screens, but on larger monitors it out performs many of it's competitors and is it's best use and selling point.


Yet more features are encorperated into this impressive engine and the software intelligance incorperate into its algorithms adds another way of interperating all the information into accuracy and depth.
Add to that the optical path that has been enhanced by improving the illumination pattern of the LED and the design of a superior lense and itmanages to obtained more defined and detailed pictures of information(the information it collects is more detailed).
These final improvements have also reduced the amount of power required for running the mouse. Possibly less notable as this mouse is neither cordless or rechargeable, but any reduction in resources needed to run hardware is good in the overall picture of running your pc.
************************************************** **

Value, price and it's place in the market


Available from most computor suppliers, retailers and many non specialist stores both on and off-line for between £20 and £40, this is quite a reasonably priced mouse.
I notice that Amazon are presently selling them at £27.29 ,Pc world £29.99 and on my local computor fair stall £20 (bargain). I rescenlt bought my husband one which I paid £40 for at PC world, so it's worth shopping around and taking note of any specials that may be coming up.

I find it difficult to campare it directly to its competitors as so few have the extent of features and qualities of this particular mouse, but the few that fall into a similar scope are either lacking of a few key points or are priced well above this model. The effect of this being that it has it's own place in the market and gives excellent value f
or money.


When considering a purchase I always try and take into account the function i need it for, the amount of use it will have and the importance of its function and the expected duration of its use. Taking all of these factors into account I immediately justify the expenditure and find it fulfills my requirements. Had it indeed been cordless it would have fulfilled everything I could possibly ask for, but in order to get that as well I would have to spend twice the amount, unesessary when this one does all but the one smallest inconveniance.

I have on occasion been highly amused at the concept of spending alot of time on your computor, playing many games, spending a large amount on top end graphics card...then only to break the bank with your £5 bog standard mouse! So if that's you, splash out £20, you won't regret it.



Additional information

The manufacturers website URL - http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/GB/EN

Latest drivers, frequently asked questions and support can be found at the webiste.



Summary

Brilliant mouse, great value and a must for anyone who spends more than 10 minutes a day on their computor.
It deserves all five stars, despite a couple of minor misdameanors it's merits outweigh them by a huge amount.

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