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Building the mouse Logitech won't make

samwilkinson.io

311–320 of 332 posts

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#311
post #276
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since there is no left-handed version of the MX Vertical, I recently tested half a dozen left-handed alternatives, and ended up liking this one the best: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3D6853V

I tried a couple of the flashy Chinese junk left handed vertical mice and they were all really really light weight with stiff buttons, so every time I clicked it turned into a click-drag (the force of the click moved the mouse). Is that one different? I've been using a left handed Evoluent but they never released the latest generation wireless left handed, and the price for the old version is 3x as expensive as it wa…

All the non-wheel buttons are easy and comfortable to click and work consistently, I have no issues with them. The mouse wheel could be a bit better (it’s ratcheted, which I prefer, not free-wheeling), but is good enough for me. I generally don’t use the middle mouse button.

The gliding skates aren’t too great, I replaced them with aftermarket ones.

The RGB lights can be turned off permanently by long press on the DPI button.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#312
post #39

My favorite mouse is the Logitech Anywhere MX. It's highly comfortable despite being pretty small. The back/forward buttons on the side are indispensable for web browsing, file management, and switching weapons in first-person shooters. It takes two AA batteries which last for months and take seconds to swap out. The dongle is small and has good range. The scroll wheel switches between clicky and free-scrolling. It's…

> 1) The the microswitches go bad after a couple years. It's possible to replace them, but it's tedious and you run a very real risk of damaging the PCB (as I have already done).

I have the same problem (with a different mouse model/manufacturer). Sometimes you can even "repair" the switches without de-soldering them by opening up the case and bending the metal contact a bit. I put "repair" in quotes because the repaired switches don't seem to last as long as new ones but at least it's easy to do and doesn't need any tools besides a screw driver.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#313
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me, I'll always choose a device with standard, user-replaceable batteries over a built-in battery. 1) If the device battery is dead, I can swap it out in seconds and be up and running immediately. 2) Built-in batteries fail, and replacing them ranges from difficult to near-impossible and often involves damaging the device's casing to get the built-in battery out. When I'm spending $100 on a computer mouse, I'd re…

IMHO Sony nailed this pretty perfectly 30 years ago on devices like the Discman: Have a footprint which can support a number of standard batteri(es), but engineer it so it also accepts and detects a specially-designed NiMH pack. When the special batery is present, allow the battery to be charged anytime external power is provided. Now you have the best of both worlds: Economical rechargable use for the 90% of the tim…

IMO just having the battery pack replaceable without tools is what matters more than using a standard one. As long as the device is even remotely popular there will be cheap replacements available.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#314
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since there is no left-handed version of the MX Vertical, I recently tested half a dozen left-handed alternatives, and ended up liking this one the best: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3D6853V

Perixx makes a few left-handed variants of their mice. I’ve been using their Perimice 513L for several years. Sadly, their newer models are all wireless. https://perixx.com/products/perimice-513l https://perixx.com/products/perimice-713l https://perixx.com/products/perimice-719l

I tried the 719L and didn’t like its shape, too small/round. I should try the x13L ones, not sure why I didn’t.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#315
post #54
post #39

My favorite mouse is the Logitech Anywhere MX. It's highly comfortable despite being pretty small. The back/forward buttons on the side are indispensable for web browsing, file management, and switching weapons in first-person shooters. It takes two AA batteries which last for months and take seconds to swap out. The dongle is small and has good range. The scroll wheel switches between clicky and free-scrolling. It's…

Not sure about online mouse communities, but it intrigued me that you prefer replaceable AA batteries to built-in rechargeables. I realise now that because of my dislike (leaning towards hatred) of single-use alkaline batteries I unwittingly dismissed the benefits of having quick replaceability. Nickel metal rechargeables are a good AA/AAA substitute for devices designed to tolerate their lower voltage. For more powe…

If you have a a device that does not tolerate the lower voltage, check out NiZn rechargables. They top out at ~1.7 V when full and keep their voltage quite high until they are almost flat. (At which point they should be immediately recharged, they don't take deep discharge well.)

I use them almost everywhere nowadays. Most devices tolerate the slightly higher voltage and even expensive hardware usually cheaps out on proper battery circuitry.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#316

> My absolute favorite mouse is the MX Ergo from Logitech. I switched to using Logitech's MX Vertical mouse and I love it. There was a learning curve period, especially when it came to finer grained movements, but I'm totally used to it now and it feels much more comfortable and natural to me that any other mouse I've used. It has a USB-C port and I can switch between 3 different Bluetooth connections (press a button…

I ditched the Logitech MX Vertical for the Ergodriven Om Mouse: https://ergodriven.com/products/the-vertical-handshake-mouse.

The Logitech middle button is awful hard to click.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#318
post #235
post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've come full circle several times. I have a brake bleeder, an oil change jugs with a cap on top and the side, cellphone tool kits, and more... Sometimes it takes a while to derive the tenets of labor specialization from first principles. How many of us can make more making nets for fishermen than making nets AND fishing yourself?

Sometimes I wonder this and then look up how much it costs to get some job done and realize I'm probably still coming out substantially ahead.

You still need to account for a fun factor. I've got a nas which cost me probably $400 in parts to save on buying a $300 solution. But it's mine, janky, fun and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#319

Had a G602 for many years, and then migrated to M720 triathlon. I like the G series ergonomics, but the G604 kept breaking on me. M720 has treated me well so far and support for standard battery cells is very nice.

What broke? You can replace the switches, stock omrons are pretty garbage and it's super common for them to break.

I've replaced the switches in my G604 once, but I don't think I'd do it again. The internal construction is overly complex, so the process took far too long — even though the actual desoldering and soldering was easy. I just wish Logitech would re-release this model with decent silent switches and without the rubber coating.

Re: Building the mouse Logitech won't make

#320
post #250
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They do, but I've had severe quality/lifetime issues with them. Three Kensington trackballs, two different models, all three lasted under a year for me.

Strange. I have lots of Kensington Expert Mouse trackballs, some of which I have used for 7+ years, and none have ever given out on me. I have a stockpile of spares in case they stop making them, but they seem to be built very well. Which models did you have problems with, and what went wrong?

Never tried the Expert Mouse in particular. Two of mine were slimblades, one orbit with scroll wheel. Different failures each time -

Orbit - broken plastic around one of the bearings. ball no longer turned smoothly or straight in every direction, and dragged. Slimblade #1 - began to operate erratically. I believe it was a failure of some kind with one of the optical sensors, but I never was able to figure it out consistently. Slimblade #2 - microswitch under the LMB failed mechanically, no longer triggered.

the slimblade's were provided by my employer at the time, the orbit was purchased personally for at home - it's use overlapped with the slimblades at work.

I don't think I'm super unusually hard on my trackballs - My Elecom Huge lasted for ~6 years before the soft touch plastic finally got a bit gross from skin oil contact, but still was functionally fine, and my current protoarc is going strong two years in.

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