Logitech MX500 vs. Intellimouse Explorer 3.0

Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited January 2004 in Hardware
Ok, so I've got an Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 on the KVM switch I have on my desktops. How much better is the MX500? It's identical to the MX700 except it's corded, so the optics are all the same and everything...

Also, WHY does it really matter? I don't play many FPSes at all, and I don't see any difference between my Intellimouse Optical and my Intellimouse Explorer 3.0... How does the superior sensors in the MXes matter for everyday use? I see people going on and on about how great the MX700 is, but I don't understand why it makes a big difference. :confused:
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Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    The MX500/700 has double to triple the optical accuracy of the Intellimouse Explorer 3.

    It is most DEFINITELY noticeable once you come from a IE3 mouse, to an MX5/700 as I did. You immediately notice how much smoother and responsive the 5/700 is, and when going back to the IE3 mouse, you notice how innacurate that mouse is and how slow it is on identical sensitivity.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Have you tried the MX700 on a hard plastic mousepad like a ratpadz or something? When I tried a regular (non-mx) logitech optical mouse on one, it couldn't track properly and went crazy, even when it wasn't being moved very fast...
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I use a regular rubber/cloth mousepad, functions very well.

    I don't like the plastic mousing surfaces, I like some drag on my mouse movements as it improves accuracy in photoshop and gaming.
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I fully agree with everything Thrax has spoken thus far.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I agree with Thrax. Just use a regular old foam pad, and a MX500 you won't be disapointed. The Logitech mouses are awesome.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Mx700 on my ratpad is the shizz! almost to accurate in UT Kinda scary!
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    well, there is a deal going on from some company, I got an Intellimouse Explorer 3.0a for $23 shipped. Basically, even if it has triple the accuracy it really doesn't make that much of a difference.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    reelbigfish said
    well, there is a deal going on from some company, I got an Intellimouse Explorer 3.0a for $23 shipped. Basically, even if it has triple the accuracy it really doesn't make that much of a difference.

    I don't think it's possible for me to disagree more with that statement.
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    why not just get this
    Logitech MX700
    1.OfficeDepot.com is carrying this cordless rechargeable optical mouse for $59.71
    2.During checkout, enter $15 off $50 Coupon Code "10853472" in the Referral ID/Coupon Code box and click on "Apply" (Expires 09/18/2003)
    3.OfficeDepot.com offers Free Shipping on all orders over $50 (Before Coupon and/or rebate)
    4.Your Final Price: $59.71 - $15 = $44.71 + Free Shipping

    Or this
    Logitech MX500
    1.Amazon.com is carrying this Optical Mouse for $36.94
    2.There is a $10 Rebate on it until 09/30/2003
    3.This item is eligible for "Free! Super Saver Shipping" on orders over $25
    4.Your Final Price: $36.94 - $10 = $26.94 + Free Shipping
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Cordless- I'd loose it.
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    it's a mouse. there isn't much difference especially when you are on the desktop. You move the mouse, the cursor moves. What more is there to it?
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Um, my MX700 happily resides in its charger base when not in use. I use an allsop rain drop pattern mouse pad, it loves it. The "earthscape" plastic pad had a dead spot for this mouse, it woudl start jitterbugging when it was hovered over it. The hard plastic thing hit the trash in about a week.

    Note, no battery changes with an MX700 and no cord. Let's see, four months running and no problems. It even turns its LDE red when it needs charging NOW, blinks it when you have it seated right, and the charge contacts are claenable with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol on a rag or swab(Walmart for that), clean just mouse bottom contacts and not base ones which seem very corrosion resistant.

    One codicil, do not try to use it in a shallow cola or water puddle, it will go ape (not short out, just the mouse cannot track in water as the water layers move with mouse.).

    John-- with a GREAT working MX700 (the price difference is the NiMH AA batteries that come with it and the combo charger base\transmitter\receiver relay to USB).
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    reelbigfish said
    it's a mouse. there isn't much difference especially when you are on the desktop. You move the mouse, the cursor moves. What more is there to it?

    Acute observation. The desktop is the place this community spends the least time on. You game? This mouse will change your score. You use photoshop? You'll be more accurate. You 3d model? You'll have finer control. Etcetera.

    Above this, it's in the aesthetics of motion. The mouse is four times more accurate, so you need use that much less mousing surface to go edge-to-edge on your screen. The mouse is smoother to control, with less (READ: no) jerkiness, no stuttering.

    That's how much more there is to it.

    As for battery life: With the default rechargeables, my mouse seems to get about 4 days and 56 hours of use all told. That's when I wasn't putting it in the charger to test battery life. Additionally, the charger shuts off when it's done charging the mouse (Which a lot of NiMH chargers don't do), and it has an LED in the top that tells you when it's fully charge, needs charging, or is charging.

    It's priceless, this MX700.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Ageek, there's a pretty good chance I'd loose the charger base too... (see that "post your desk" thread and you'll see what I mean...). If I get one, it'll be a MX500- same thing, with a cord.
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Having a carpal tunnel in mt right wrist makes me want to mouse less so I incorporated more of the features in my keyboard and thus use my left hand as much as my right now. cutting back on mousing except for gameplay and PS. Ever wonder why my PS and Paint illustrations look so bad? Because it hurts and I can't do it for long. But I did find a happy middle ground with my Logitech "Dual Optical" mouse which is just great in games. I don't know that I have ever liked any MS mice.
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    He said he's not playing lots of games, so thats not an issue. I don't really believe that a mouse makes such amazing changes in games/PS/etc. I don't have trouble getting across my screen, I don't have to move the mouse that much, I dont have any jerkiness or stuttering. I can edit everything just fine in PS and 3dsmax. Granted the MX500 is a good mouse, you're not going to suddenly become the best gamer in the world just by buying the mouse, you won't magically start making your pictures better, and 3dmodels will look the same. Granted if you can find it cheap by all means go for it. But it's not the miracle mouse which will make everything you do better. A mouse is a mouse. You point, you click. There are other factors which more directly impact the things you say the mouse does better. In gaming, lower latency will make you more many times more accurate than a mouse will. Basically it's a preference thing. I feel M$ has a better warranty dept, I like the feel of the mouse more, and I don't feel that more lasers and more dpi are that dramatic of an improvement.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    mtgoat, my mom had carpal tunnel. If you haven't got one, I suggest you get a wrist strap. Also think about a trackball. In my experience, they require much less wrist movement.
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I feel M$ has a better warranty dept, I like the feel of the mouse more, and I don't feel that more lasers and more dpi are that dramatic of an improvement.
    I bought another Logitech because the last one I had I sent in on a long shot for warranty as it was close to 2 years old with no receipt or anything and they sent me a brand new one with a nice letter hoping I was happy with my product. At close to 50 yrs old I Go on experience more than blind brand loyalty. So I'm not just spouting $h1t from my A$$ when I say what I've said.
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    thats good to know mtgoat, I've never actually had to deal with logitech support. M$ warranty only requires you scan/copy the bottom of your mouse so that it shows the product ID, fax it to them, and they mail you a new one pretty quickly.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    I'm sorry... I find this funny tho. You guys RMA a mouse? By the time you get thru dealing with it, isn't iit easier to just chuck it and buy a new one?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    No. Because it only costs $5 to ship it.

    When you're paying in excess of $50 for a mouse, and the company sends you a new one within 6 days, why in the hell would you spend $50 more?
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Depends. Personally, I've got a couple reasons:

    1. I'm an impatient SOB- there are times when I'd rather have it NOW for $50 than in a week for $5
    2. Better technology- depending on the age of the mouse you had, a new one may be better (e.g. the mx5/700 vs. the intellimouse explorer)
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    even if you couldn't wait, which is understandable (either it's a bussiness need or you don't want to wait) why not just buy a new one, then RMA the old one. This way you get a new mouse when you need it and a replacement. You can keep the replacement as a backup, you could sell it, use it on another computer. I mean, if it's still underwarranty, you're entitled to a new working mouse. Why not get what you deserve?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Geeky1 said

    1. I'm an impatient SOB- there are times when I'd rather have it NOW for $50 than in a week for $5

    ...Wow.... :skeptic::rolleyes:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    What can I say, I'm impatient. I took 2hrs off work a few weeks ago to drive up to fremont, pick up the NF7-S, and drive back (which cost me something like $30, if you factor in the time I wasn't at work and everything...) instead of paying ~$7 to have it shipped by Fedex/UPS ground and have it arrive the next day... :rolleyes:
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited September 2003
    reelbigfish said
    it's a mouse. there isn't much difference especially when you are on the desktop. You move the mouse, the cursor moves. What more is there to it?

    So why not just use a nice old ball mouse? If it moves the cursor on the desktop there's no use throwing $20 around, when you could purchase a ball mouse for $3 at a garage sale.

    The truth is that i have had both. I have 2 M$ explorer 3.0 wireless mice. I have an mx700. With the explorer 3.0 you can not play games. It will seriously fubar your skills, it will make your drawings look like you have ataxia, and it will basicly piss the hell out of you with ms' crap drivers.

    On the other hand the Mx700 installed nicely. Improved my accuracy in games (coming from a corded logitech mouse), battery life is excellent, i don't need to buy new batteries. The grip wasn't quite as nice as the MS mouse, but there were wayyy too many buggy things with the Ms mouse that really made the experience painful.

    Geeky, take it from a person who has owned both. I've even had the Bluetooth version (AHHH BUGGY!). Buy the damn logitech mouse.

    Oh ya, i have a fUnc pad along with my mouse and it works very nicely. In games the mouse did nothing but help. Anyways, sorry for the choppyness of my posts. I'm not totally coherent at the moment, but definetly purchase the mx500 or 700.
  • HawkHawk Fla Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I have all three mice, M$ Explorer 3.0 wireless, Logitech MX 500 & 700 wireless. I found that the mx500 was better than the m$ Explor, better control all round, and the mx700 was decidely better than the two previous in all phases of mouse use, especially gaming. Acuracy and response are the best I've ever seen. And I have a bin with 6-7 extra mice in it. I have family members that I upgrade their pc stuff too, so I get to keep the older parts.
  • reelbigfishreelbigfish Boston, MA Member
    edited September 2003
    al, could you please list some of the bugs you have found with the 3.0 explorer? I'm curious as to what they are, because I haven't noticed any. And my gaming definitly hasn't gotten any worse. My install of the 3.0 was painless as well. I plugged it in, installed the latest software from M$'s website and I was off.
  • botheredbothered Manchester UK
    edited September 2003
    I just had a look at Dabs.com The MX700 is £47. Guess I'll stick with my explorers for now.

    bothered.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    I have an MS 3.0 mouse. I use one on my secondary system. I have no problems with it, I come in first place regularly in FPSes...But the MX700 is still a noticeable and well-received upgrade for me.
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