While companies like Apple are working at reengineering the trackpad, Logitech is sticking with what it knows works - the mouse.
The company recently announced the MX Master, a new state of the art mouse that looks and feels even more futuristic than any trackpad on the market, and is extremely precise. We were fortunate enough to be able to test out the device for ourselves before its release.
Design
The first thing to notice about the mouse is its design. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, and certainly not in a bad way. While it's rather big, it still looks sleek and classy. It doesn't draw too much attention to itself, but still looks great next to any computer.
The real advantage to this mouse isn't the look of it, however. It's the feel. While it took a little getting used to when compared to my trusty Microsoft Notebook Mouse 5000, it took little time before it felt natural and comfortable, to the point that my old mouse now feels too small.
The mouse is 5-inches long, 3.4-inches wide at its widest, and 2-inches tall. It weighs 5.1 ounces. The mouse is certainly not the most portable, however it also wasn't built for that.
Functionality
The mouse features the standard left and right buttons and scroll wheel/middle button you would expect from most mice on the market these days. However, it also features a gesture button, a horizontal scrolling wheel, and two extra buttons. All of these buttons can be programmed to be what you want them to be, using Logitech's Options software.
This is an absolute godsend for Mac users such as myself. Apple has been building on the gestures and controls that can be performed using the trackpad. With the MX Master, I can have normal clicking functions, horizontal scrolling, the ability to change desktops using the gesture button, and two more functions of my choice. Of course the mouse also offers great otpions for Windows users, and this will likely be even better once Windows 10 is released with the addition of desktops.
The mouse also offers much more flexibility than many other mice. The mouse comes with a USB dongle for those that prefer using USB, however it can also connect via Bluetooth, and it can connect to three different devices. The user can select which device to connect to via a small control at the bottom of the mouse. For some this might be a little overkill, but there's certainly nothing wrong with having more options than you need.
It's also important to mention how precise the mouse is. Logitech's Darkfield Laser offers users great tracking, even on glass and high gloss surfaces.
The mouse also offers users a "mode change" button, allowing users to activate or deactivate the "clutch" on the scroll wheel, changing between line-by-line scrolling and infinite scrolling.
Charging
Another great feature of the mouse is the fact that it has a rechargeable battery, which can be charged over USB. In previous mice that I have used, I have had to go mouseless when batteries ran out while they were charging. Now, I can simply plug it in and have it charge, while still using the device. One minute of charging delivers a huge 2 hours of use. A full charge offers 40 days of use. Charging is done through a simple Micro-USB port. I don't know about you, but I have a million Micro-USB cables lying around.
Conclusions
While a little big, Logitech's MX Master is sleek and classy in design, while offering superior functionality. It has a host of buttons, which are easy to reach, and programmable to be exactly what users need them to be. Of course the price reflects how funtional it is at $99.99, however for those that need an extremely functional and hand-friendly mouse, the MX Master might be the perfect choice.
Images: Trevor Rodriguez | Flickr
