Logitech MX Revolution Review
Reviewed by Chad Clites on November 18, 2007

Newegg.com Price: $79.99 U.S.
Category: Input Device
Logitech Info: MX Revolution Product Page

In the box:

The MX Revolution is packaged in a green and black box containing the following components:

• Logitech® Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse
• Recharging Station
• AC Power Cord
• USB Micro Receiver
• Logitech® Setpoint Software CD
• User's Guide

The Mouse and USB Micro Receiver come packaged in a clear plastic shell that keeps the mouse and dongle firmly in place. This same plastic, though, made it surprisingly hard to remove the mouse and receiver if you didn't follow the listed removal steps properly. I also found that though the mouse comes with SetPoint software, you would be better off using version 4.0 of the SetPoint software, which can be downloaded from the Logitech site.

Installation:

I installed the SetPoint software on my Vista-powered HP Pavillion. The installation was typical, but with a few noteworthy exceptions. The installer recognized the fact that I was installing on a laptop with a Synaptics touch-pad pointer, and altered the installation to not interfere with the touch-pad. Apparently there is some sort of conflict, but I was not able to discover the specifics. There are two other installation options to watch for as well. First, you will be asked whether or not you want to install the Logitech Desktop manager that, among other functions, will "deliver relevant post purchase information to your desktop." The manager is further described as a service that checks for updates, and delivers information about new Logitech products and services. I chose to deselect that option. I was also asked if I wanted to install the Logitech Yahoo Toolbar. It was disabled by default, and I was not inclined to install it. The installer is very clear about the various available options, so as long as one is paying attention, there are no surprises.

I plugged the USB Micro Receiver into a USB port, and rebooted the system. Once the system was rebooted, I was presented with a configuration screen, which allowed me to update the drivers if necessary. After some tinkering, I was ready to go.

Features:

The MX Revolution is not just a mouse; it is a full-featured input device. Other than the typical left and right mouse buttons, scroll wheel, and the shape, any resemblance to a mouse ends there. The Revolution is built for right-handers. The thumb rests comfortably inside the cupped area, along side the second scroll-wheel. Directly above that is a two-axis toggle button and directly behind the top-mounted scroll wheel is a search button. There is also an LED that indicates the level of battery power.

The top scroll wheel has a bit of a secret. If one clicks the wheel, it toggles into a 'free-spin' mode. It was a little strange at first, but when scrolling through a long document, a quick spin of the wheel allows one to scroll to the end of the document very quickly. There is a trade-off though. If you happen to be a Firefox user, the center-click capability that allows one to open a page in a new tab no longer works. I was able to work around that, and I will share my solution in a moment.

The customization menu allowed for a variety of tweaks that can be saved as different profiles that I can switch between as needed. The button behind the top scroll wheel can be used to conduct Internet searches on a highlighted word seemingly anywhere from within Vista, whether it is in a document or the meta-data of a program. Should one so desire, the button can also be configured to fire up a media player, toggle between documents, or emulate keystroke combinations.

Most of the buttons have multiple options. For example, the side-mounted buttons can be mapped to move back and forward in your browser, or scroll through albums in your playlists. The side mounted scroll wheel makes full use of Vista's Windows-Flip feature, allowing the user to move between open windows with a flick and click of the wheel. The top-mounted scroll wheel also allows for side to side movement, resulting in an additional two degrees of use that are also fully customizable. It is two if these features that allowed me to solve my Firefox issue. I simply mapped the proper keyboard shortcut (CTRL+ENTER) to the 'right scroll' feature. It took me a grand total of maybe five minutes to solve, and most of that was trying to identify the proper keyboard combination.

To charge the MX Revolution you simply need to place it in the included charging cradle. When fully charged, the SetPoint configuration manager claims it is good for 15 days, but after a day of use, it is now down to 12 days. Still, it beats buying batteries. I have not tracked the time it takes to charge, but it is not very long. Images of the mouse in its charger can be seen below.

For fun, I hooked my laptop up to my television so I could play a game or two, and kicked back in my recliner about eight feet away. The Revolution worked just fine. Although I can't really think of too many instances where one would have to use the mouse from that far away, it was sort of fun to try it out.

Certified for Windows Vista hardware:

This product was sent to BleepingComputer.com on loan from Microsoft in order to review hardware that is Certified for Windows Vista. Hardware that is certified means that the product was thoroughly tested by Microsoft and its partners for not only compatibility with Vista and its premium features, but also for a higher level of performance and quality. From what I understand, in order for a mouse to pass this certification process they must have accurate pointing and integrated scrolling. As most mice have these features, I am not 100% sure how much of an advantage this particular criteria of the certification is.

When testing the mouse, I can, though, say that we had no problem using it out of the box, nor did it cause any compatibility problems with other devices running on the Vista laptop. In fact, when the mouse software installation changed its install routine due to the Synaptics touch-pad pointer being present on the laptop, it showed a more intelligent installer that keeps hardware compatibility in mind. This is a nice change from the typical hardware installation that does not care too much about what else is installed on the computer.

For those who are interested in more information on the Certified for Windows Vista logo program, you can read about it here.

Reviewer's Conclusion:

The Revolution felt heavy when I picked it up, but glides across the desktop easily. It is certainly heavier than any other mouse I have used, but at the same time moves easier. The scroll wheels have good texture, which means little force is required to turn them, which further adds to its comfort and ease of use.

I only have two issues with the mouse. The first being that the included manual is short on details, so there was a bit of trial and error in discovering some of its features. The other problem I had is that the thumb wheel is too far forward for me to use comfortably. My hands are of average size, yet the wheel lands just at the end of my thumb. I think if the thumb wheel were moved back a half-inch, it would be much easier to use.

The MX Revolution is a full featured and well-designed input device. Flexibility and ease of configuration means that it can be easily customized for any task. This is a high-end device, to be sure, but the functionality means I can more quickly accomplish whatever task is at hand, and the ability to easily configure to a particular task means that I can adapt the MX Revolution for whatever that task may be. Given that I can save the profiles of different settings, I am able to save time and money, and make it worth the price. As a final note, I see that Logitech has a laptop version called the VX Revolution in which the USB receiver is stored in the underside of the mouse.

System Requirements:

PC:

• Windows® XP
• Windows Vista™ (requires Internet connection)
• Available USB port
• CD-ROM drive

Mac:

• Mac® OSX 10.3.9+
• Available USB port
• CD-ROM drive
• Internet connection

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