Logitech G7 Mouse Review - Page 1 of 1

Logitech G7 Mouse Review

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Is the G7 a little pricey? Yes. Is it worth the extra expenditure? Absolutely! Logitech has delivered a gamers dream in their latest cordless mouse.

Logitech is known for putting out a quality product. They are also known for addressing very specific needs in the peripheral market. With their new G7 Laser Cordless Mouse they have done both things, and done them in all the right ways (sort of like me, when it comes to lovin’).

Appearance

Bottom line? This mouse is slick. What looks like metallic silver auto paint (clear coat and all) runs almost the entire center length of the unit and is flanked on both sides and top by an equally professional looking coat of metallic dark blue-green.

Buttons are black with metallic borders and the battery charge/resolution indicator is seamlessly integrated into the top stripe of silver just below where your pointer finger meets your palm. The shape is a slightly smaller and more rounded than, say, the MX1000 and, although a bit small for my oversized paws, fits one’s hand quite comfortably. The overall effect is that the mouse looks almost vehicle-like.

The receiver/charger does not fare as well, however. Although it is made up of cool translucent green and smoke colored plastic, the boxy design and protruding USB “antenna” make for a blocky appearance that just doesn’t sync with the ultra-smooth looking mouse. The receiver isn’t ugly, per se, but it isn’t pretty for damned sure.

Performance

Given the quality of Logitech’s previous cordless laser mouse, the MX1000, I expected nothing less that greatness from the G7. I was not disappointed. The unit performed well in all applications and through all functions.

As far as accuracy and response goes, you couldn’t ask for a better cordless. There was absolutely ZERO lag, thanks to the full-speed USB connection, and control was precise. This precision is due, in part, to the 2000 dpi Gaming-Grade Laser engine that operates at a whopping 6.4 megapixel per second sampling rate. Oversized Polytetrafluoroethylene feet ensure that the mouse glides effortlessly over virtually any surface you would use.

As if that weren’t enough, two small buttons underneath the G7’s tilt scroll wheel allow for on-the-fly resolution adjustment to any of five fully customizable sensitivities. This means that depending on what you are doing in-game (sniping, driving, walking) you can adjust how sensitive your mouse is for better accuracy or more forgiving control. So sweet!

Aside from the sensitivity control, two things set this mouse apart from the crowd. The first are the two (that’s right, two) rechargeable, hot-swappable batteries that come included with the unit. While one is being used in the mouse, the other is being charged in the receiver, recharger unit.

When the one in your mouse goes dead (usually between two to three days) you just pop it out, and stick in the other battery. That’s right. No more mid-game mouse failure! You can also adjust the power drain on your rig to either a “laptop” (ten hour charge) setting, or a PC (two hour) charge setting. So doubly sweet!

The second (or is that third?) cool feature of the G7 mouse is the fact that the “antenna” can be removed from the USB receiver/charger unit and carried to another computer. This means that if you don’t want to lug around the slightly larger-than-pocket-sized charging station, you can unplug the antenna (roughly the size of a flash drive) and take your mouse to the next computer in your travels. So triple-y sweet!

The software that is included with the mouse is the standard, but quite robust, Logitech Setpoint fare…but with a bonus. An “Advanced Game Settings” menu allows you to set the five steps of sensitivity control for the mouse. This menu allows for separate sensitivity settings for your X and Y axis, so you can always find the perfect balance for your application. So quadruple…oh never mind!

Conclusion

For 80 to 90 bucks, the G7 Laser Cordless Mouse is definitely not cheap. However, if you have the cash, you definitely get your money’s worth. With all of the cool features, specifically tailored to gaming needs, and a robust software suite, you really couldn’t ask for more. The only real complaints I have with the mouse are its size, which is a bit too small for those of us with larger hands, and the fact that there is only one thumb button. Other than that, this mouse is a gamer’s dream.

Highs: 2000 DPI laser engine; on the fly adjustable sensitivity; dual, swappable, rechargeable batteries; on-mouse battery charge indicator; oversized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) feet; very robust software package.

Lows: Slightly small for those of us with larger hands; battery life a little shorter than other rechargeable mice; fewer buttons that previous mice.

Verdict: Is the G7 a little pricey? Yes. Is it worth the extra expenditure? Absolutely! Logitech has delivered a gamers dream in their latest cordless mouse.

Rating: 92%

Review by Zack Stromberg.
Oct 30, 2005

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