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Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700
Score: 98%
Developer: Logitech
Device Type: Controller


Function:

A gaming PC is specially designed to play games. Your mouse should be, too. Whether you've built a high-performance gaming rig from scratch, your off-the-shelf gaming PC came with a vanilla mouse or your last gaming mouse finally subdued to your hours of unrelenting gameplay, you need a mouse that is comfortable, wireless, rechargeable and can conform to the way you play games.

Performance:

The Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700 is definitely a handful of mouse, with a nice heft to it, feeling solid, but not overly heavy. The G700's form is sculpted to fit the right hand, with a curved left side to help support your thumb while you're using it and a slight concave curve on the right side for your index and little fingers. These curved surfaces have a slight texture which enhances your grip, while the top surface of the G700 has a smooth, but not slick feel to it.

If you need a mouse that lets you map commonly needed actions to buttons for easy and quick use, the G700 is ready to serve. In addition to the left and right buttons (buttons 1 and 2) and the scroll wheel (pushing down is button 3), there are 11 uniquely shaped and layed-out buttons which are easily accessible and identifiable by touch. These 11 buttons have actions mapped to them by default, but you can create your own profiles and assign the values you want to these different buttons. In MMORPGs, for example, you might map buttons to switch between weapons, take healing potions or simply walk forward or back, letting you move around in your game without the keyboard.

The scroll wheel also has tilting action, left or right, which can be programmed to whatever you like, as well. The G700's scroll wheel is actually dual mode, either clicking as you scroll, in metered amounts, or free wheeling, letting you smoothly scroll up or down documents. When in free-wheeling mode, it can be surprising just how long the wheel will continue to turn. It is precision-engineered, weighted and balanced, so the wheel will spin freely with little to no detectable sound or vibration. There is a toggle button just behind the scroll wheel which toggles between these two modes, allowing you to quickly change from one mode to the other, if need be.

The response time of the G700 seemed lag-free, with no stutter or dropout until the batteries ran out. If you're running low on battery charge, however, you can plug in the included charging/data cable and your mouse seamlessly becomes a wired mouse, not only charging via the cable, but communicating its data via the cable - perfect for using in an area with a lot of wireless interference or high-stakes gaming matches that you don't want to leave up to the possibility of wireless issues.

In order to really unlock the programmability features of the G700 mouse, you'll need to download a program called "SetPoint" from Logitech's Website. With this installed, you can program single actions or even macros into the different programmable buttons. You can even configure the G700 to use certain mouse setup profiles for certain programs and it will automatically change when you switch between programs. For my fellow tweakers, there's a whole lot to tweak here.


Features:
  • Rechargeable Battery (Included)
  • Very Small Wireless Receiver (USB)
  • Storage Compartment for Receiver
  • Three Power Usage Levels
  • Quick Connect Charging/Data Cable
  • Onboard Memory for Up to 5 Game or Player Profiles
  • Fast Wireless - 1,000 Reports Per Second
  • 13 Programmable Controls
  • Ergonomic Sculpted Shape for Comfort
  • Dual Mode Weighted and Balanced Scroll Wheel (Free-Spinning and Metered)
  • Macro Capability
  • On-The-Fly Sensitivity Adjustment

Drawbacks & Problems::

I mentioned the possibility of wireless interference, but I personally didn't experience any problems at all with the wireless communication of the G700. I found the G700 to have covered the bases pretty well. You've got programmability, a variety of buttons, wireless and wired functionality... the G700 is really a well-rounded mouse, for gaming and general computer use; all that's missing is a carrying case of some sort to make it easier to protect it when you're taking it around with you. It does have a storage compartment for the wireless receiver to be safely stored right next to the battery, so if there was a bag to hold the mouse and the optional cord, it would be my constant companion.

In the end, I really have no complaints. I, personally, found the G700 fit my hand like a glove. The G700 might not be quite as perfect for people with small hands, but for medium to large hands, I highly recommend it.


-Geck0, GameVortex Communications
AKA Robert Perkins
Minimum System Requirements:

Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, Powered USB port, Internet connection for software download
  Test System:

MS Windows XP Home Edition, AMD Dual-Core, 3.11 GHz, 2 GB RAM, Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG, Gateway HD2201 21" HDMI Monitor, ATI Radeon HD 4200 (256 MB), USB MixAmp, A30 Gaming Headset, 1.5 TB Western Digital Caviar Green SATA Hard Drive, Sony DVD RW, Cable Modem, VAIO Mouse

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