All too often games, and computers in general, have the focus placed on what’s under the proverbial hood. What’s the video card? How fast is the processor? How much memory does it have? All these things are important, but just as important—if not more so—is how you actually interact with your PC. That’s where Logitech steps in. Not content with just any ordinary mouse for your gaming pleasure, Logitech has attempted to create the ultimate gaming mouse.
Rather then limiting the options to one just mouse, however, Logitech have introduced two new laser gaming mice. Much like the optical mouse before it, these new laser mice offer significantly more precise tracking then the previous generation of mice. What this means, is that you’ll be able to more accurately control where that cursor or those crosshairs are going. Before you get all worried about this laser getting pointed in someone’s eye or being attached to a shark’s head as part of some sort of nefarious evil plan, this laser is safe. It is a class 1 laser, the lowest class of laser and is incapable of producing any sort of damaging levels. In addition, the laser only shoots approximately one inch, meaning you’d have to get pretty up close to have any chance of doing harm (which you can’t, since it’s just not powerful enough…)
Both of Logitech’s Wireless G7 and the wired G5 models have similar features. They both connect via the USB interface. They both feature four standard buttons, the left and right, the middle-click on the wheel and a fourth for the thumb. They also both feature the aforementioned wheel which not only enables the standard vertical scrolling, but also horizontal scrolling. In addition, there is also a pair of sensitivity switches which allow you to adjust the DPI, or the precision of the mouse, between 400, 800 and 2000 DPI which allow you to select between these three options on-the-fly.
Obviously, the main difference between these two mice is their connection options. The G5 features a very sturdy, lightweight cord that sports a braided exterior to prevent any permanent bends or twists in the cord. I’m sure we’ve all had those old wires that just refuse to go straight, and the braid in the cable is designed to prevent that. The G5 also features something I had never seen, or even thought of before: an adjustable weight cartridge. Basically, this cartridge contains numerous slots to insert included weights that allow you to adjust just how much this mouse weighs. This weight cartridge seemed to me like just a silly gimmick when I first opened the packaging, but after playing with it and adjusting the weight, I found that it greatly altered the feel of the mouse and made it more comfortable to use once I had found the ideal set up that worked for me.
The G7 Cordless mouse, as the name implies, features a wireless connection—no cords to get in the way or tangle at all. The receiver is a small, little mini-jack which is virtually invisible and features no wires like other wireless mice, something that I was very thankful to see. The wireless uses the 2.4GHz spectrum as opposed to the more conventional 27MHz and should provide for less interference and greater response. I noticed zero mouse “lag”, or slow response times, and never had any problems with the signal. It was exactly as if I was using a conventional mouse with a cord. The mouse also comes with two rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs and a USB charger. They can be swapped out in a matter of seconds and charge relatively quickly so you should always have a fresh battery ready to go. The mouse and the Logitech software both also feature a low battery warning, giving you plenty of time to plug in the new battery before it goes completely dead.
Both mice performed wonderfully in gaming and for general Windows use. The sensitivity switch was a very unique addition, but I didn’t find it all that useful for gaming. The games where I could find it useful, such as first-person-shooters, didn’t give me enough time to worry about switching the sensitivity as the pace was too frantic to concern myself. The included software, which was thankfully very easy to use, provides for up to 5 separate DPI settings for gaming and enables you to find tune just the right settings, regardless if you want to utilize the sensitivity switching or not. The sensitivity switching came in very handy for Windows use, however, especially when working with programs such as Photoshop, where fine control comes in very useful. While the gaming use wasn’t of great use for me, the control that it allowed me when doing graphic design more then made up for it!
The lack of a fifth button disappointed me. Having previously used a five-button mouse for all my needs, this step back took some getting used to. It not only came in very handy for Windows use, allowing me to use the 4th and 5th buttons for forward and back respectively, it also came in great use for gaming. Having more buttons and my fingertips, especially with greater complexity in modern gaming, would have been nicer.
Another complaint that I have concerns the G7 Wireless mouse and its battery life. I found the battery would only last for a full day of use before needing replacement. If, for whatever reason you forgot to recharge the second included battery, you’d be without a mouse until the battery charged.
Both mice fit very comfortably into my right hand and, due to the form factor, are not designed for left-handed use. With their polytetrafluoroethylene foot pads, which is a fancy term for “slides-well”, the mice performed exactly as billed. While I did have a few complaints, these mice worked extremely well for gaming and for general, everyday use. If you can make do without the fifth button and need to have the greatest control and accuracy for your camping, I mean sniping needs, then either one of these mice should fit your needs perfectly.
I've been playing games ever since I was a wee lad. My favorite games as a child were the classic Pitfall and a game called SNAFU, which was a sort of puzzle game along the lines of Tron Light Cycles. I've had most of the major console systems since the early days and have a wide range of tastes of games and I'm always eager to give a new one a try.
