Good Wireless mouse with low-friction scroll wheel

[Stringtheory]

I like the design of the Logitech Revolution MX, but after having the same failure (left mouse button bounce) on several Logitech products, I'm giving up on them. They are not the same company that they once were. Problem is that I need to replace several bad Logitechs now.

So, I may as well either spend the same money for a better quality, or spend less for the same quality as Logitech (disposable). I'd like to find a wireless USB mouse that has the same sloped ergonomic design, and has a low-friction scroll wheel.

Any opinions?

 

[USAFRet]

I like the design of the Logitech Revolution MX, but after having the same failure (left mouse button bounce) on several Logitech products, I'm giving up on them. They are not the same company that they once were. Problem is that I need to replace several bad Logitechs now.

So, I may as well either spend the same money for a better quality, or spend less for the same quality as Logitech (disposable). I'd like to find a wireless USB mouse that has the same sloped ergonomic design, and has a low-friction scroll wheel.

Any opinions?

I've gone from the Revolution, to the PerformanceMX, and now on to the MasterMX.
I like the Master almost as much as the Revolution, and slightly better than the PerformanceMX.

And yes, I had the same issues as you with the left button dying.

 

[Solandri]

The problem with the button dying or bouncing (phantom double clicks, or clicks releasing) is due to a bad microswitch. About 10(?) years ago Logitech changed their supplier for these switches and their mouse buttons just haven't been the same.

With a bit of practice, you can fix the switch on your own. Usually just by bending some metal, though a more elaborate fix involves cannibalizing a switch from another broken mouse and soldering it into the new mouse.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=logitech+microswitch

The RevolutionMX and MasterMX feature wheels which automatically shift from ratcheted to free-spinning depending on how quickly you spin the wheel. I know of no other mouse which has this feature. I bought a spare Revolution when Logitech dropped this feature in the PerformanceMX, so I'd have a backup when my original Revolution eventually died.

 

[Stringtheory]

The problem with the button dying or bouncing (phantom double clicks, or clicks releasing) is due to a bad microswitch. About 10(?) years ago Logitech changed their supplier for these switches and their mouse buttons just haven't been the same.

You'd think that Logitech would take a better interest in their rep. Most of the comments that I see about them these days are about the left mouse button. I used to be a Logitech fan, but they have really taken a turn for the worse.

I believe I have some Omron microswitches around that will work in Logitech mice (is that still the plural of mouse?), but what a pain.

Re the velocity-keyed click engage: I don't mind the mouse wheel free-spinning all the time. Don't need the clicks. So I was hoping that someone would have a mouse with that feature.

 

[Stringtheory]

And yes, I had the same issues as you with the left button dying.

I think that makes it unanimous. 🙂 Seriously, all the negative comments are about the left mouse button. Logitech could save their reputation and save 90% of their tech support calls by fixing that one thing.

 

[Solandri]

I think that makes it unanimous. 🙂 Seriously, all the negative comments are about the left mouse button. Logitech could save their reputation and save 90% of their tech support calls by fixing that one thing.

Well, both mouse buttons are affected. The left one just fails first because it receives so many more clicks. A cheap fix is to take a soldering iron and swap the left and right microswitches. You don't click-drag with the RMB, and double-clicking the RMB doesn't do anything different from single-clicking. So the RMB is tolerant of a bad microswitch.

And yeah, I dunno why Logitech doesn't switch to a more robust microswitch which costs a few cents more. I have personally gotten 6 replacement mice under warranty for this exact failure (I buy most of the computer products for my extended family). A 7th failed recently but rather than replace it under warranty, I just bought a different brand mouse to see if it would hold up better. Logitech must be bleeding cash from this issue. Their warranty used to be 5 years on their high-end models, 3 years on others. But their newer models (MX Master) only have a 1 year warranty (their gaming mice still have a 3-year warranty).

 

[Stringtheory]

Agreed that it's the left button cause it takes more punishment, of course. They'll see some serious flak as the newer, more expensive Master model starts dying in droves. Gamers, especially, are not going to enjoy losing due to spurious mouse clicks. That's happened to me on online chess games (drops the chess piece short of where it's supposed to go), and it's no fun to lose a game like that ("@$%* Logitech")

I'm very good with a soldering iron (ex-hardware engineer, gone to software), but I have never resoldered one of those switches. Sounds like a pain. I do have Omrons that should fit, so I'll eventually give it a try.

Which alternate mouse did you end up with, Solandri? Does it work OK? I was looking at cheap Rapoo's on Ebay that seem styled after the MX series. At under $5, they're disposable, if they work at all.

 

[Stringtheory]

With a bit of practice, you can fix the switch on your own.

For fun, I narrowed down your search to Logitech + microswitch + left + button:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=logitech+microswitch+left+button

Damn, look at all those videos! Imagine the sheer number of dead mice and frustrated users out there. I thought at first that they were just trying to save a penny on each mouse, but you're right--they're probably hemorrhaging money if everyone is getting warranty replacements. Someone at Logitech needs to be fired before the company takes a major nosedive, both in terms of money and reputation.