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Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

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Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they want more credit, they should make it an on switch

For even more credit, they should leave all the extra telemetry and other crap out of the download, so it's only a megabyte or so, instead of 150MB, and let people opt-in to downloading that junk.

You're assuming most of that space is taken up by telemetry software. 100MB of that could easily just be the UI toolkit!

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#102
post #86

I'd love to see this ported to Mac. Just discovered the bloody AI prompt builder enabled by default in my mouse driver today. After patiently declining input recording permission for months. Managed to get rid of the most of bloatware using their corporate "Offline" version which supposedly doesn't phone home and doesn't ask for extra permissions. YMMV. https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/11570501236119-Lo...

I use BetterMouse with my MX Anywhere 3S and it does everything I need it to. It’s a few dollars but it has a trial and is available via Homebrew.

https://better-mouse.com

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#103
post #67

Is there anything like this on Windows? Logitech mice are mostly nice, but one of their major flaws is that their macro capability is not onboard but requires some kind of supplemental software like this, so even just binding a single button to multiple keystrokes as a chord is not possible without G-Hub. Linux has stuff like Solaar and Piper/libratbagd, which is great. For macOS, it looks like SteerMouse does quite…

Their major flaw is that they purposefully use shitty switches that fail, sometimes within months. This is true even with their absurdly overpriced gaming mice. I have never had a mouse whose buttons failed until I bought a logitech. Every person I know raves about them until you ask them how many they've had to buy.

Warranty will often get you a new one. I had a mouse fail about 2.5 years in and they sent a new one.

OTOH, it speaks terribly of their quality; a mouse should work fine for 10-20 years, like some mice from 20 years ago.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#104

Is there a same thing for macs? The native logitech solution requires me to install a .pkg and I'm not really a fan of it to say the least. I'd rather install something from homebrew.

I use BetterMouse: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42457393

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#105
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yooo, I've been so frustrated with Logitech! I have an MX Mechanical Mini keyboard and MX Ergo mouse. For some reason they don't pair to the same dongle because the dongles are different and not interchangeable. In addition, whatever dongle is plugged into the right USB-A port of my laptop always lags for some reason. Does Solaar solve those issues?

I've found that using a short usb extension cable with those wireless dongles, rather than plugging them directly into the computer, works loads better and fixed "lag" issues for me. Maybe some kind of EMF interference?

Also, try using a USB2 port instead of a USB3 one.

USB3's high speed produces EM inference with some receivers.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#106
post #3

I've had an MX Master mouse (the "2" for maybe 8-9 years then the "3" for 2-3 years now) and love it. Great performance, great battery life, fantastic design and feel. On Windows I definitely do not love the 150Mb program to manage it (surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech. I found Solaar a couple months ago after getting repeatedly frustrated with bluetooth connection issues. It rea…

IIRC I installed the Logitech software in a VM, programmed the the mouse, deleted the VM.

All I wanted to do is turn off the rainbow LEDs

Next time I get a new mouse I'll try Solaar.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#107
post #67

Is there anything like this on Windows? Logitech mice are mostly nice, but one of their major flaws is that their macro capability is not onboard but requires some kind of supplemental software like this, so even just binding a single button to multiple keystrokes as a chord is not possible without G-Hub. Linux has stuff like Solaar and Piper/libratbagd, which is great. For macOS, it looks like SteerMouse does quite…

Their major flaw is that they purposefully use shitty switches that fail, sometimes within months. This is true even with their absurdly overpriced gaming mice. I have never had a mouse whose buttons failed until I bought a logitech. Every person I know raves about them until you ask them how many they've had to buy.

I can't confirm that. I have a few Logitech devices and they are still fine after years of heavy use (mx ergo, and master series).

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#108
post #86

I'd love to see this ported to Mac. Just discovered the bloody AI prompt builder enabled by default in my mouse driver today. After patiently declining input recording permission for months. Managed to get rid of the most of bloatware using their corporate "Offline" version which supposedly doesn't phone home and doesn't ask for extra permissions. YMMV. https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/11570501236119-Lo...

Logitech implements the forward and backwards buttons on macOS in a REALLY weird way. It simulates swipe events. And you cannot set them to the default Mouse Forward and Mouse Backward (M4/M5). https://superuser.com/a/1216049

On Windows that is what I do to make sure behavior is consistent across applications.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#109
post #67

Is there anything like this on Windows? Logitech mice are mostly nice, but one of their major flaws is that their macro capability is not onboard but requires some kind of supplemental software like this, so even just binding a single button to multiple keystrokes as a chord is not possible without G-Hub. Linux has stuff like Solaar and Piper/libratbagd, which is great. For macOS, it looks like SteerMouse does quite…

Their major flaw is that they purposefully use shitty switches that fail, sometimes within months. This is true even with their absurdly overpriced gaming mice. I have never had a mouse whose buttons failed until I bought a logitech. Every person I know raves about them until you ask them how many they've had to buy.

Nah, I deployed Logitech for ~300 users in a manufacturing environment for years and they were just fine. You got unlucky or are beating the shit out of them.

Re: Solaar is a Linux manager for many Logitech keyboards, mice, and other devices

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For even more credit, they should leave all the extra telemetry and other crap out of the download, so it's only a megabyte or so, instead of 150MB, and let people opt-in to downloading that junk.

You're assuming most of that space is taken up by telemetry software. 100MB of that could easily just be the UI toolkit!

iirc they shipped an electron app the last time I used it on Windows. The 150 MB are likely just 30% Chrome, 40% graphics (their UI is fancy and has images of connected components) and, 10% bundled js code.
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