Logitech MX610 Laser Mouse Review

Over the years I have learned that a computer mouse is not just a mouse; it in many ways defines your computing experience.  A smooth running mouse is a joy to work with, while a mouse that skips, jitters, and has a mind of its own can tack minutes or even hours onto a project.  Most of this was due to dirty mouse balls and rollers inside the body of the mouse, and could be easily resolved by cleaning the mouse.  

I bought the MX610 Laser Cordless (laser) Mouse because I was tired of fidgeting with the cord on my old Microsoft Wireless Optical mouse; the wire that is attached to the transceiver that is.  I wanted a cordless without the large transceiver and Logitech delivered with the MX610, with a unit the size of a small stick of gum and plugs into any available USB port.    

At first glance the MX610 is a little unusual; it is not shaped like any other mouse I have used in the past, and it ships in right or a left-handed version; I bought the left handed version.  The mouse fits nicely in the (left) hand and it size makes it easy to use; it's not too big and not too small.  And I will be able to take it with me whenever I travel with my notebook.  In all other respects the MX610 is a conventional two button mouse with a few extras thrown in for good measure. 

Along the right hand side of the MX610 are handy thumb-button controls that allow you to page forward and backward through web pages and documents.  Right above and slightly to the front of these buttons is another array of buttons from controlling the speaker volume and mute button.  Directly after these buttons are two LED's that tell the user when an email (yellow) or IM (blue) is received; these actually work!   An illuminated low level battery indicator that relays the current charge level of the included two AA batteries is situated at the top of the mouse dead center.

Underneath the MX610 there is housing for the laser unit and a reset button. The MX610 automatically shuts itself off when the computer shuts down; sweet and of course it saves battery power. The MX610 ships with a RF base station that connects to the computer's USB or PS/2 port with an included adapter. 

My ViewPoint

Installation of the MX610 is pretty straight forward; the mouse is plug-n-play, though you might want to install Logitech's Mouseware software in order to gain control over the MX610's various buttons.  Note: the Mouseware will install under Windows Vista, however most of the controls were folded into the applet for the touchpad on the laptop.       

Logitech makes claim that the new MX Laser Engine perched inside the MX610 is 20 times more sensitive than a standard (red) LED.  But because the laser tracks movement more accurately than a standard LED, over virtually any surface (matt or glossy, black or white), the MX610 takes more precise readings of the surface.  The result: more exact cursor movement onscreen, which Logitech claims makes for better gaming, and graphics work. 

I can testify to the MX610 smooth movement over the screen; I have had the MX610 for almost two months and in that time the cursor has never jumped, jittered, skipped, or paused.  To date I have not had a problem with the mouse losing its connection with the transceiver.  Logitech suggest you place the transceiver away from other electronics (good luck), but if your desk is a as crowed as mine, this may prove impossible. 

And as time progressed my hand steadily got used to the strange grove in the right hand side of the mouse, and now the mouse feels quite comfortable in my hand.  I can even manage to manipulate the specialty buttons and use the mouse at the same time, though I will admit that this took some getting used to.

Concluding ViewPoint

For a general purpose optical pointing device, the Logitech MX610 Laser Cordless Mouse is hard to beat.  Light weight and attractive the MX610 is comfortable, and easy to maneuver, and far more functional than any other mouse I have used.  The MX610 laser guided pointing device is reliable workhorse that keeps getting better with age.