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Logitech MX310 Optical Mouse |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
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Page 2 of 2
After you install the drivers you'll find Logitech-specific mouse properties. The Quick Setup tab is self explanatory. Pointers let you select various images for your mouse. The Buttons tab lets you configure your mouse as you see fit. By default, the two side buttons are back and forward respectively and the application button functions in a manner similar to Alt + Tab, though I haven't found it to be particularly useful. Fortunately you can disable or reconfigure any of the buttons to your tastes.
What I don't like is the limited amount of configuration options; users should have the ability to at least add their own custom action to any button. For example, launching IE when you click the app key. The final option deals with the scroll wheel. Variables here are none, 1 line, 3 lines, 6 lines, and page. This affects how much you move through a document per single scroll. As far as button placement goes there's a lot of debate and my opinion is purely subjective. My biggest gripe with placement of side buttons on Microsoft's IntelliMouse was that they were in the way of regular hand movement when navigating the mouse and were also too sensitive.
This would cause me to repeatedly go back and forward between web pages without wanting to. After clearing a few online forms due to accidental page surfing, I disabled them entirely. For me Logitech's placement of buttons is a lot more suitable as they don't interfere with my normal hand placement, but at the same time are easy to reach. The application switch button, on the other hand, could have been scooted up a notch; it's a bit far to be accessible without moving your entire hand.
The Motion tab is a familiar sight. Here you can change speed and acceleration. Acceleration in games is disabled by default; I would keep it this way. We all know what cursor trails are, but Smart Move is a feature not found in all mouse software though it is by no means new. What it does is automatically jump to the first highlighted button on a page/form/application. While this takes some time getting used to, it's incredible helpful in certain situations.
I do a lot of Photoshop work in school and this feature significantly speeds up my productivity (clicking twice instead of changing a setting and then dragging your mouse to hit "ok" saves lots of time in the long run). The Devices tab lets you select from a list of installed Logitech peripherals. The image you see above is what comes up when using the Quick Switch feature: a window pops up on the screen listing all applications currently open on the taskbar. As I mentioned earlier, I haven't found it to be any more useful than Alt + Tab, but that's just me.
Testing the MX310 was also subjective. I compared it to my horrid Mitsumi optical mouse on my laptop and I must say the tracking is a lot better, especially on patterned surfaces such as wood or "dirty" plastic. For gaming I compared it to my IntelliMouse in a few good hours of CS: Condition Zero and a game everyone should have by now, Doom 3. While I didn't notice too much in the way of tracking difference (if anything, the MX310 is better), Logitech's offering felt a lot more natural, in part due to the added weight and slicker feet. The scroll wheel is also a lot more fluid and is significantly quieter than Microsoft's. And the icing on the cake: a 5 year warranty for the retail mouse.
Pros
- Black/silver color scheme
- USB and PS/2 connectors available
- Generally well laid out configuration
- Good weight and slick feet
- Incredibly [accurately] responsive thanks to MX technology
- 5 year warranty
Cons
- Application switch button needs to be closer to the wheel
- Limited button configuration options/can't add your own
Coming in at around $25 the MX310 is a very good and highly recommended choice for the enthusiast on a budget. Personally I would bite the bullet and go for the MX500 (or MX510 if you like the colors) due to their native right handed ergonomics, especially since mice don't get upgraded as often as processors or video cards, but if you can't afford the extra investment the MX310 is a perfectly viable solution and should fit in well with performance mouse pads. Grab yours at Sidewinder Computers, and happy fragging.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 13 July 2007 )
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