[sensorfreaky]

First off, I bought this mouse based on recommendations from these forums and the seemingly unanimous praise from everyone who ditched their original one-button mouse for the MX500.

Thank you all. So far, this mouse delivers as promised. Not only is it as comfortable to hold as everyone has mentioned, it so comfortable in fact that now, I feel compelled to find uses for ALL the buttons for ALL the applications I run. I want to use this mouse... and I want to use it often. Just today, I found myself web-surfing for no apparent reason except for the simple fact that it was enjoyable to do so with this mouse in hand. Ok, perhaps I'm just very jazzed about the newness of having more than one button. Maybe the novelty will wear off eventuallly but nevertheless, I sense this newfound functionality may be dangerously addictive. I've never felt this way about a peripheral since they first invented mice. It may be hard to even go back to using my PB's 2-button scroll mouse.

Now the LCC driver works great. However, it cannot specify button functions between applications. Has anyone had any success with USB overdrive and the MX500? I've read various conflicting information during my searches and some report that there may be issues with USB overdrive not being able to detect some buttons on the MX500. Has this been fixed in the latest version? Also, is there any compromise as to the scroll sensitivity and speed of the LCC driver versus USB overdrive? As it stands, the LCC driver's mousing and scrolling control over the MX500 is perfect. I wouldn't want to lose any of that if I go with USB overdrive. USB overdrive costs $20 and I want to justify its purchase only if it can incorporate application-specific functionality without sacrificing LCC's mouse "handling"

[schk]

how is the logitech control center software in os 10.2.x? i just bought this mouse also, and it's great. however, i did not install the logitech software as i had heard bad things about it previously.

[slider]

You should get USB overdrive, it's what I use for my logitech mouse and it's great. I have never had a problem with it through the OSX upgrades.

www.usboverdrive.com

[sensorfreaky]

Originally posted by schk:
how is the logitech control center software in os 10.2.x? i just bought this mouse also, and it's great. however, i did not install the logitech software as i had heard bad things about it previously.

LCC version 1.0.4 with 10.2.4 works fine. I have not experienced any of the problems that has plagued other users in previous versions of LCC and OSX. However, it is missing a key feature that defeats the whole reason for owning an 8-button mouse like the MX500, application-specific functionality. As of this morning, I started using USB Overdrive in lieu of LCC. It works much better on all counts and it has complete application-specific button assignments (see below).

Originally posted by slider:
You should get USB overdrive, it's what I use for my logitech mouse and it's great. I have never had a problem with it through the OSX upgrades.

www.usboverdrive.com

You are right! I just tried it and I'm convinced. LCC is now gone from my system and USB Overdrive works beautifully. I don't understand why some folks are having problems with this excellent piece of software using MX-series mice in Jaguar. It does everything that LCC does flawlessly together with application-specific functionality and a cherry on top. Perhaps those negative posts were referring to an older version of USB Overdrive (which was recently updated Feb 10) or using an earlier version of Jaguar? I am currently using version 10.2.1 of OSB overdrive with version 10.2.4 of Jaguar on an iMac 17" using an MX500 and 10.2.4 Jaguar on a Powerbook 12" using a M$ Notebook Optical. No problems. Works as advertised. Life is good.

I do have a few more questions though... I've heard USB overdrive has unusually high-CPU utilization. This true? And how do I assign mouse functions with USb Overdrive for the actual Finder application since it can't be found in the Applications folder? (not that there is a dire need to assign buttons for Finder)

[sensorfreaky]

Oh and speak of the devil... looks like Alessandro just updated USB Overdrive yet again! Wasn't there an update just last week?

Anyhow, good to know someone is at work improving software that to me at least, already seems perfect.

[AssassyN]

Thanks for this post man! The MX500 will be my mouse to buy when my Mac ever gets here.

[michaelb]

On the right mouse pad (heavy rubber with smooth cloth top), the MX mice feel like moving your hand through silk.

By comparison, most other mice (including Apple's cheese scraper and Microsoft's lightweight lego brick) feel like scraping your fingernails down a blackboard.

Go Logitech!

[sensorfreaky]

Originally posted by michaelb:
On the right mouse pad (heavy rubber with smooth cloth top), the MX mice feel like moving your hand through silk.

By comparison, most other mice (including Apple's cheese scraper and Microsoft's lightweight lego brick) feel like scraping your fingernails down a blackboard.

Go Logitech!

Cheesescraper. LOL! Never thought of describing it as that but you are so dead on. I have one of those thick cushy neoprene-covered silicone mousepads and the Apple mouse always makes an irritating scratching noise when the mouse if moved up or to the right, but never down or to the left... kinda like a cheese scraper that only shreads pieces of cheese on the upstroke

Anyhow, update: I just exchanged my MX500 for an MX700. After using the MX500 for a day, I liked it so much that I started thinking how could things possibly get any better than this? Then I remembered there was a wireless version of the same mouse at the store. The only reason I didn't buy it in the first place was the overall bad impression of all wireless mice I've had in the past: unresponsiveness, lag (bad for games), all due to a low refresh rate. But I had to give it a try... and I'm glad I did because the MX700 is the first wireless mouse that performs as well as wired mice. No joke. I've played RTCW, Unreal, WC3, and even edited some images in photoshop and I would've sworn this thing was wired. But it's not! Unbelievable. How is this possible? What kind of freakish technology is logitech employing that other makers of wireless mice can't do?? Whatever it is, bravo to them. This is now the most perfect mouse is the world. The rechargeable batteries last a long time too. Just have to remember to throw it in its cradle once in while. If anyone is in the market for a new mouse, let me save you the research and do the following:

1. run to the store and buy it now.

2. download USB overdrive and register it.

3. don't bother installing logitech's bundled LCC software.

[AssassyN]

Sounds great man...but for ppl like me interested in USB Overdrive, but still hesitant, could you give some written explaination of what it does, and in particular, what you do w/ it that makes you like it so much? Thanks!

[sensorfreaky]

Originally posted by AssassyN:
Sounds great man...but for ppl like me interested in USB Overdrive, but still hesitant, could you give some written explaination of what it does, and in particular, what you do w/ it that makes you like it so much? Thanks!

The LCC driver that the logitech mouse came with is good. Problem is that the 8 buttons can only be specified to do certain actions THE SAME WAY across the board for all applications. You can't specify different button actions depending on what applicaion is running. For example: In Safari, the scroll wheel will scroll up and down the page while the thumb buttons go forward and backward between pages. When I run Final Cut Pro, I don't want it to scroll up and down the file browser, nor do I need to go forward and backward pages (there's no pages in FCP to go to). Instead I want the scroll wheel to scrub through a video clip and the thumb buttons to advance or retreat one frame at a time. USB Overdrive allows me to do this. Another example: in iTunes... say I want the scroll wheel to adjust volume instead of scrolling down my list of songs, etc, etc.... you get the picture.

I actually like the LCC driver's interface better. It acts more like Apple's system preference panes and it looks cleaner. Plus when used with the cordless MX700, the LCC displays how much charge is left on the mouse. Very cool. I wish Logitech would've improved their driver to have the application-specific features and then it would be perfect and I wouldn't have to pay $20 to register USB overdrive since the mouse already cost me an arm and a leg.

[AssassyN]

Ahhh, perfectly clear now. Thanks a bunch man, that sounds like an awesome program, kinda like the one that comes w/ the Griffin PowerMate! Thanks!