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Hardware New Logitech, Microsoft Mice on the Way
Brandon Hill (Blog) - August 24, 2006 12:09 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 26 comment(s) - last by JeffDM.. on Aug 27 at 11:16 AM

Microsoft Habu

Logitech Revolution MX

Logitech Revolution VX
Logitech and Microsoft continue their battle in input devices

Microsoft and Logitech are releasing new mice to appeal to business users and gamers alike. Both have announced two mice each that will be available within the coming months. It seems as though the ongoing mice battle between these two companies has no signs of backing down as each tries to one-up the other.

First up is Microsoft's revamped IntelliMouse. The IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 can track at 9,000 FPS, features a "Precision Bolster" switch between the standard mode and precision mode, and a Gaming Toggle for use in your favorite games (i.e. to switch weapons in an FPS). The wired mouse will be available for $39.95 when it is released in October.

Next up is the Microsoft Habu which was developed in conjunction with Razer. The Habu has a 16-bit data patch and a 2000 DPI laser sensor. To give gamers more control, the side panels of the mouse are interchangeable to accommodate different hand sizes. The mouse also features seven programmable buttons, onboard memory to store up to five game profiles, Teflon coated feet and "GlowPipe" side rails. The Habu will also be available in October for the price of $69.95.

On the Logitech front are the cordless laser MX Revolution (desktops) and VX Revolution (notebooks) mice. Both mice feature a new alloy MicroGear Precision Scroll Wheel which can spin freely for up to seven seconds allowing users to scroll through hundreds of pages at a time. Also of note is One-Touch Search which enables users to select a word or phrase and get its definition with a single click. The MX Revolution and VX Revolution are available now for $99.99 and $79.99 respectively.

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Return of the King?
By BigLan on 8/24/2006 3:26:04 PM , Rating: 2
Is the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 a refresh of the classic IntelliMouse Explorer? The images on the MS page looks just like the old one, except in black instead of silver.

Hopefully they're just updating the optics and not screwing with the ergonmics/weight. If so, it's just in the nick of time as my 5 year old model is starting to get unreliable.




RE: Return of the King?
By feelingshorter on 8/24/2006 5:23:02 PM , Rating: 2
Thats what im hoping for. I really hate how every time logitech releases a new mouse, it becomes bigger, and bulkier, not to mention a million more buttons. For people with small hands, that just doesnt work. While using the mouse, you want to be able to use your fingers to flick it it quickly for games or just regular web browsing. Bigger mouses require that your whole hand is on the mouse, making it much harder to use your finger for small movements. When I play CS, sometimes i tend to only use my fingers and not even put my palm on the mouse because its easier to make very small movements. I have a logitech MX300, which is basically the first optical mouse of its kind. Great mouse, and its cheap.


RE: Return of the King?
By mindless1 on 8/25/2006 2:14:45 AM , Rating: 2
yep, eventually they'll sell a mouse that looks like a table on wheels, that you grapple with both hands and a gas peddle. ;-)

I love my MX300 too. I don't have small hands but being able to use only my ring finger and thumb to move it makes it great, even better with the internal weight removed.

They did a rehash as of the MX300 as the G1, but unfortunately it didn't make it very far into many markets.


RE: Return of the King?
By Araxen on 8/25/2006 12:46:15 PM , Rating: 2
I love bigger and bulkier mice. My hands are huge and a big sized mouse is always a plus for me!


RE: Return of the King?
By JeffDM on 8/27/2006 11:16:21 AM , Rating: 2
If nothing else, you can use mice made for notebooks. Frankly, I would like a mouse that can support my pinky so it's not feeling numb and just dragging.


RE: Return of the King?
By digitalSTU on 8/25/2006 10:59:49 AM , Rating: 2
intellimouse 3.0
By agent2099 on 8/24/2006 3:53:08 PM , Rating: 3
I must admit I'm excited about the new I.E. 3.0. I've had my intellimouse 3.0 for about 4 years and I've tried to upgrade but nothing has come close to combination of ergonomics and weight of the original Intellimouse 3.0.

The new version seems to improve on an already solid formula.

It does however seem odd that they did not choose to give it a new name. Perhaps "Intellimouse 3.5"?




RE: intellimouse 3.0
By RyanM on 8/24/2006 5:24:42 PM , Rating: 1
I'm a lefty, but even I use my right hand to mouse like Xerox Parc intended. Which leaves me left hand free for...uh....my graphic tablet. Yeah, uh...that's it.


RE: intellimouse 3.0
By Wwhat on 8/27/2006 12:22:46 AM , Rating: 2
I have an intellimouse explorer 3.0, and it's an awful annoying crap effort of M$, when I use it via USB it keep suddenly turning itself off until I unplug/replug it, but if I use it via the adaptor and connect it to ps/2 it almost never switches itself off, but still once in a while though, great piece of engineering there....



Damn...
By splines on 8/24/2006 10:48:28 PM , Rating: 2
And I just bought a MS Laser Mouse 6000 - Nice mouse, useless side buttons though.

That new Logitech looks like the sechs.




RE: Damn...
By Nocturnal on 8/25/2006 2:04:19 AM , Rating: 2
You got that right. They finally came to the conclusion that their current so called gaming mice were crap. The Laser 6000 is a POS in my honest opinion. The 3.0 and the Habu look to be real winners.


RE: Damn...
By Myrandex on 8/26/2006 10:08:26 AM , Rating: 2
You have that right. I love my MS Intelli 3.0, but it is getting a little banged up. The new Intelli's wheel is pure crap in FPS, because it is "smooth scrolling" meaning it is very easy to scroll too far, however with the 3.0's old click wheel, if I want to scroll one notch to swap weapons in CS, I can w/o hesitation. I hope the Razer has the click wheel, as I know the new 3.0 will.


dude...
By Lazarus Dark on 8/24/2006 1:43:58 PM , Rating: 2
that new logitech looks badass. i've been trying to decide what wireless mouse to get and i think i just found it. that freespinning wheel is genious too. i've never drooled over a pic of a mouse before. i like my tech/comp/gadgets/clothes/cars/bathroom tile black on black on black




RE: dude...
By kitchme on 8/24/2006 2:02:13 PM , Rating: 2
I like the Microsoft/Razer one (preferablly no lights though). It looks like it's the best of both worlds.


RE: dude...
By mendocinosummit on 8/24/2006 2:18:19 PM , Rating: 1
Extremetech did a review on the logitech


3.0?
By cosmotic on 8/24/2006 3:26:47 PM , Rating: 2
The intellimouse explorer 3.0 was out 4 years ago. I did a google search and apparently the current intellimouse explorer is the 2.0. Whats going on with these version numbers?




RE: 3.0?
By CK804 on 8/25/2006 9:43:53 AM , Rating: 2
The Intellimouse Explorer everyone is referring to is the wired version. The current wired version is 4.0 while the current wireless version is 2.0.


Lefties?
By Frank M on 8/24/2006 4:54:44 PM , Rating: 2
Are they going to put out any left-handed versions this time, or will they just ignore 10% of the population as usual? I like Logitech's mice more than Razer, because of the button access, but Razer will continue to get my business until Logitech puts out some leftie versions.




RE: Lefties?
By TheFro on 8/24/2006 5:42:33 PM , Rating: 2
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details...

They have one so far; it's not much, but it's a start.


Razer
By Marlowe on 8/24/2006 5:18:07 PM , Rating: 2
First pic is from a joint Microsoft and Razer article.

Microsoft and Razer Team Up on PC Gaming Experience
http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=3919




RE: Razer
By Marlowe on 8/24/2006 5:19:04 PM , Rating: 2
doh you mentioned.. my mistake.


MS 3.0
By gramboh on 8/24/2006 5:40:41 PM , Rating: 2
This is the best mouse ever made in my opinion, for a combination of desktop use and FPS gaming. I've gone through 3 MS 3.0's, the last 2 I had to buy on eBay because it was impossible to buy them new. They are really popular in the FPS gamer/"pro" crowd. Going to be picking up a bunch of these and using them for years to come.

The other new MS sounds interesting. Having 5 buttons instead of 7 (assuming it's MS 3.0 with two extra buttons on the right side) would be nice.




Sorry but...
By Shivian on 8/24/2006 9:40:08 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
and a Gaming Toggle for use in your favorite games (i.e. to switch weapons in an FPS)

switching weapons is not the only use, so you should use "e.g." -> "for example" and not "i.e." -> "that means".




True Bluetooth?
By kelmon on 8/25/2006 6:48:55 AM , Rating: 2
As mice go I'm more interested in a wireless one that uses Bluetooth without any silly dongles. A lot of laptops ship with Bluetooth built-in these days so I want a mouse that will connect immediately to the laptop with needing to connect a USB dongle first. Not sure if Bluetooth is suitable for use in gaming but it's got to be best for convenience, surely?




in my day...
By Souka on 8/24/06, Rating: 0
Features Schmeatures...
By phaxmohdem on 8/24/06, Rating: -1
"Nowadays you can buy a CPU cheaper than the CPU fan." -- Unnamed AMD executive

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