Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (931376-0403) Reviews

• A Perfect Mouse is Born

  
  By A2KP4CWYUTKUFO on 2005-10-31
  I have been using Microsoft Intellimouse for many years, both at home and at work. The problem has always been that my right hand ring finger would hang off the side of the mouse and drag on the mouse pad. After many years of gaming and working abuse, my fingers have developed different forms of tendentious. Currently, it affects my ring finger the most, simply because it sits so much lower than my other fingers. This started my search for a new, more comfortable mouse.
  
  It is well known that computer products designed for gamers are also designed with ergonomics in mind. The gamer is known to play for hours - the mouse needs to be able to support the hand position and its movement for all those hours. I chose the Logitech G5 for many reasons. First, the shape of the mouse now puts my irritated ring finger on the mouse itself - it no longer drags on the side. The mouse happens to be shaped better for my hand, so I cup the entire thing. This removed the necessity for severe wrist movement while operating the mouse. I can use my arm more than anything.
  
  A few things separate this mouse from anything else I have every used. First, it is a laser mouse. It is leaps and bounds above an optical mouse. It is capable of 2000 dpi, which is an extremely fast movement - faster than anyone really needs. But at about 800 dpi, the mouse is perfect to control. Since the dpi is customizable, you can configure it to your liking. The bottom line is that you don't need much effort to move this mouse to where you want to go. This saves countless amounts of stress on your arm and hand as you work the computer. Less effort = less stress. So far, I can play a game for hours without my ring finger throbbing in pain.
  
  This mouse also has a dpi control feature. You can use the software to set up to 5 dpi settings, which means you can change the sensitivity of the mouse on the fly. Playing a first person game with a sniper rifle and want absolute control? Drop it down a few dpi. Working in Photoshop doing pixel by pixel touch up or working on the details in Autocad? Drop the dpi down a notch. Want to speed up for web surfing? Click the button up and your mouse will go much faster. You can set any dpi by using the software and change its mode whenever and wherever you need it by using the buttons on the mouse.
  
  The mouse wheel is a typical wheel, but with the added feature of left and right movement. Now you can scroll left and right and up and down within one web page. This is also very useful in Photoshop and the web.
  
  The mouse also comes with a weight control system. I thought this was a gimmick, but it turns out to be very clever. You can add weight to a cartridge then slip it into the mouse to make it heavier. Some people, especially those who are used to wireless mice will find that this makes it feel like there are batteries. Personally, I keep the cartridge empty, but I like the option and it very well designed. If I want to make it heavier for very precise work (like Photoshop), it will only take seconds to make the mouse heavier.
  
  One reviewer who wrote about this product gave it a bad review because of how the mouse worked within games. His arguments are somewhat valid. If you start a game, it will only recognize the two main mouse buttons (left and right). However, if you explore the mouse software and all its abilities, you will find that you CAN customize the mouse and its buttons and have it work in any game (even the thumb button). You do this by going to the Advanced Game Settings and actually finding the .EXE file that runs the game. Adding it to the list will unlock all the mouse functions within the game. I don't know why Logitech made it this way, and it is certainly a pain-in-the-neck to do for each game, but I know it works and I don't want people to not buy this fantastic mouse because of what was previously written. In addition, the person reviewing this mouse stated that he was missing his targets and icons on his computer. That has happened to me too, and I found that if you turn off "mouse acceleration" and the "smart mouse" options, the mouse moves at a legitimate speed. Once I turned those off, I can hit my target with precision.
  
  The bottom line is that the mouse software is very complex and needs to be explored in order to get the full potential from this mouse. Most gamers will be able to do this and Logitech does provide a help button on every menu. Once configured, this is a dream mouse. It is easy to use and contoured perfectly for my hand. If you are looking for a mouse to help ease your pain, then this is it. If you are looking for a mouse to increase your gaming performance, than buy this mouse now. I have already increased my accuracy in Half-Life 2 and F.E.A.R. because of the laser and the control over the dpi. I have been very happy with the mouse and I recommend it to all PC users. The only negative - it does not come with MAC OSX software and Logitech does not have any of their website, so I will have to wait to upgrade my mouse at work. Otherwise, this is a perfect mouse - well designed, well made, and very, very precise.
  
  

• I've bought two, so far

  
  By A34XSKN7R0R74N on 2005-10-11
  I bought one G5, after reading the review on Tom's Hardware site, for a new PC I was assembling at home. After using it for a single evening, I ordered a second one to put on my PC at work. So, I liked it well enough to spend my own money to replace the mouse on the Dell PCs my employer buys. If you prefer cordless mice, the G7 (cordless) version is coming soon (as I write this in October 2005). If you remember the switch from mice with balls to the first optical mice, you know what an improvement that was. I think the G5 laser mouse is just as big a further improvement in speed and feel. Being able to change the speed with buttons right on the mouse is very nice if you switch between games that need quick response and photo editing where you want slower speed and very fine precision.
  
  

• IMO, not a good mouse for gaming

  
  By A3RY95CIYMJMGN on 2005-10-27
  I bought this mouse expecting a superior gaming experience, and as a gamer, I was greatly disappointed with it. Let me help you see through the impressive specs and hyped reviews by illustrating my problems with the G5:
  
  - NONE of the buttons on the G5 (except left-click and right-click) behave like standard mouse buttons by default. That's right: by default, you only have a two-button mouse for "gaming". By changing the default driver settings, it is possible to get the wheel-click to appear as the "middle button" (more on this later). The left-side button defaults to a custom "Back" behavior, which works fine in Internet Explorer, but is not recognized at all in World of Warcraft. There is no way to get it to act as a standard "Mouse Button 4" or anything like that. Likewise, there is no way to get either of the sensitivity buttons or wheel tilts to appear as mouse buttons--it's "Forward", "Back", or a mapped keystroke for them, that's it. Since "Forward" and "Back" don't seem to be recognized in games, that basically limits you to keystroke mapping them. FYI, keystroke mapping is not a great solution, since it uses up keyboard keys that could be otherwise used, and can cause unpredictable behavior in some games, when those keyboard keys are (or would otherwise be) mapped to other functions.
  
  - The wheel-click button requires noticeably more force than wheel-click buttons from other brands (probably at least twice the force). When clicked, it travels downward less, in more of a "binary" fashion (it's a simple click, not a gradual "push-leading-to-a-click" that makes it easier to tell you're clicking it). Given that the wheel feels a bit "unstable" (compared to the wheels of other mice) and it includes tilt functionality, these traits make it rather difficult to get a reliable wheel-click. Oops, I guess we're back to two buttons.
  
  - Due to the design and exaggerated curve of the left-click and right-click buttons, it can take a noticeably variable amount of pressure to click either button, depending on where your finger is located on the button. Try your current mouse--chances are it takes about the same amount of pressure to click it from anywhere on the button. More importantly, due to the design, there is a nontrivial amount of unusable space between the buttons (again, compare to your current mouse), and little-to-no tactile reference to where the buttons actually "begin" on the mouse. So if (like a typical FPS gamer) you like to jockey your mouse around using your fingertips, it is easier to lose track of the buttons with your fingers, and more difficult to get a reliable, constant-pressure button click. Hmm, why did I buy this mouse again?
  
  - Oh that's right, the laser and 6.4 Mpixels/sec 2000dpi optical sensor. Smooth, nifty. However, it doesn't work on "all" surfaces as some statements would have you believe. Actually, it gets lost quite easily on a translucent glass desk (from experience) or an Icemat (from what I hear). It does work a bit better than a standard optical mouse on unpatterned, rough, opaque surfaces, though I have no idea how it performs on a glossy mahogony desk (but seriously, what gamer doesn't use a mousepad of some sort?) For some reason, I still can't get used to the pointer movement...I'm always overshooting my intended target. Maybe it takes three weeks of "shaving" before one really gets used to it. Maybe it's because the Setpoint drivers are broken, so that even though you can select four levels of pointer acceleration, it always gets set to "Low" or "None".
  
  - The G5 lacks a right side button (a disappointing trend in modern "gaming" mice).
  
  - I like the mouse cord (gasp!). It's got a well made, tough, woven fabric outer sheath, and a low-profile USB connector. However (gasp!), was the large ferrite EMI suppressor really necessary? Not a big deal.
  
  - The "ergonomic" shape makes performance gaming handling (ie. fingertip jockeying) more difficult (ie. you cannot accurately hold this mouse between your thumb and ring finger, particularly due to the "ergonomic" shape of the right-hand side).
  
  - The drivers do not allow using a single button to loop through sensitivity settings. If you want to enable sensitivity selection, it requires you to use both sensitivity buttons for that. So it's either +2 keystroke-mapped buttons, or sensitivity selection...one or the other. It loses points for not using the extra buttons to their full potential.
  
  In conclusion: Logitech should have spent less time on the gimmicky weight-tuning package and lame pseudo-iridescent paint job, and more time on just about everything else. It's not a horrible mouse, but I would personally prefer even a standard Optical MS Intellimouse for gaming.
  
  For those concerned, my gamer qualifications: in college, I my major was nominally Computer Science, but was actually closer "FPS Gaming" with a minor in RTS and MMORPGs. Doom 1-3, Quake 1-3, Half-Life 1-2 (with Counter-Strike and Natural Selection!), Command & Conquer (the original), Starcraft, World of Warcraft. Hell, I got my start on the original monocrome King's Quest.
  
  

• Hands down the best mouse I've ever used

  
  By A3U1X630S1OOY2 on 2005-09-30
  Started out with a Microsoft Intellimouse v3, then graduated to a logitech 510 and finally to the G5. Everything about this mouse is perfect for games
  
  Pros
  -laser, 2000dpi, 6.4 megapixel processing
  -can be used on almost any surface
  -great grip
  -adjustable weighting
  -on the fly sensitivity changing
  -scroll wheel also tilts
  -software is simple yet robust
  -mouse feet are super slick for good gliding
  -even the cord is really great
  
  Cons
  -can't go back to using older mice after you've tried this one out
  
  

• Generally disappointed.

  
  By A30L1TZXGV9DBH on 2005-11-27
  I expected Logitech to learn from past mistakes with their MX-series mice, but they haven't. I purchase most of their mice, only to find them disfunctional or downright broken in numerous respects. The G5 is no different from all the rest of the MX-series mice, and in fact, is worse if you compare price to what you're getting.
  
  1. The fact this mouse claims to track at 1200dpi matters not; you can adjust all of this by adjusting mouse acceleration in Windows (or for gamers, in the actual game itself). You gain *absolutely nothing* with such a high "resolution" -- all it does is increase the default acceleration of the mouse. It's pure marketing, folks. Anything above ~600dpi is marketing schmooze.
  
  2. Continues to exhibit the high-pitch-noise problem that all the other MX-series mice do. Logitech continues to deny this problem, despite thousands of users reporting it. The IR receptor/transmitter inside of the mouse used for the scroll wheel emits a high pitch noise (similar to that of CRT monitors and televisions). If Logitech does not address this soon, it will eventually become class-action lawsuit material.
  
  3. The underside of the mouse is never shown in any publicity photos. When you get it, you'll be amazed to see a gigantic rectangular hole with cheap orange plastic inside. This is used for adjusting the weight of the mouse -- a legitimate need/requirement for gamers. However, how it's implemented is shoddy and makes the mouse look more like a cheap Tonka toy than it does an actual piece of computer hardware. The weights are also *way* too small in size (and are round, while the insert spot is rectangular -- why?!)
  
  4. There is no Forward button on this model of mouse. Yes, that's correct, they removed the Forward button -- the same button their MX500/510/518 mice sport. For some reason Logitech felt it was necessary to go back to the days of the MX300/310 where only a Back button exists. This makes no sense from ANY perspective.
  
  5. On-the-fly adjustable speed/acceleration buttons are either too sensitive or too difficult to press.
  
  6. The mouse cord is now *tethered*, and is THINNER. Meaning, the cord isn't plastic -- it's some sort-of tether-like material, making it feel more like cloth than rubber. This doesn't matter for most people, but for those of us who use mouse cord holsters (like the ones from X-Trac), it matters quite a bit -- as the holsters now become 100% useless.
  
  7. The sides of the mouse have some sort-of rubber "grip" applied to them (feels a lot like spray-on rubber). It has a strange feel to it, almost as if you're gripping a piece of particle board. Very odd, and very non-normal.
  
  If you're not concerned with any of the above issues (although #2 affects anyone with sensitive hearing), then this mouse is more than suitable for you. Otherwise, buyer beware.
  
  
• G5 is NOT a gaming mouse...
  By A2KBD1UW414PH2 on 2006-02-26
  The G5 is an utter disappointment. If you want hassle free "working right out of the box" gaming mouse, get another brand of laser mouse. Don't get me wrong. The G5 is awesome as far as hardware is concerned. But it falls fast, flat and hard when it comes to drivers.
  
  This is what you can expect, pretty much every and any game out there will ONLY recognize the G5's left and right mouse buttons, and the scroll wheel. The middle mouse button on the scroll wheel and the back mouse button is non-existant. You can buy a much cheaper two button mouse then the G5 and get a whole lot more functionality without any hassles.
  
  Take a basic gaming classic such as Counter Strike. Go into options, keyboard and edit any option to use the scroll button or back button. The game will prompt you to press the button you want to map to the game function. You can press the scroll wheel button or the back button until you're blue in the face, the game will never recognize the button as ever being pressed.
  
  My 1996 MS Optical trackball's scroll wheel button is recognized by EVERY game as middle mouse button, or MOUSE3 in counter strike. Here we are in the next century and Logitech's tour de force Gaming Mouse defaults the scroll wheel mouse to "Zoom".
  
  I thought I bought a gaming mouse, not some MS Office productivity mouse. Sadly I have yet to find a game that recognizes the G5's scroll wheel button, nevermind the back button. I can purchase a cheap MS optical mouse and counter strike will automatically detect the scroll wheel button as MOUSE3. Logitech's touted gamer mouse can't even do that.
  
  The mouse design is great, the mouse is great... "a gaming mouse made by gamers" the way they market it. Now if they could just take that a step further to ..."a gaming mouse driver and utility made by gamers", then you'd have a real gaming mouse. This game mouse with drivers and mouse button defaults made by spreadsheet geeks doesn't cut it.
  
  And here's an idea for Logitech, in the mouse utility program where they've defaulted the scroll mouse button to Zoom.... add the option to turn the scroll mouse button into....gasp... a middle mouse button. They could even setup the back mouse button with option to be mouse button 4. Instead they've given us a useless mouse utility that turns these mouse buttons into page forward or page back, etc.
  
  It's a gaming mouse, with driver defaults that imply that gamers really want to open a spreadsheet up in the middle of BF2 to do their tax returns.
  
  The G5 should be recognized by almost every game right out of the box. Non-gaming mice can do this, without having to create mouse driver profiles or downloading additional utilities. The G5 can't, it's pathetic. Sadly, here we are way after release and the problem is still there.
  
  
• Great Mouse, Poor Driver Software
  By ALZ8VDY1W03K7 on 2005-11-23
  This is a very, very nicely designed piece of mousing hardware.
  
  Unforunately, the driver CD mysteriously forces installation of Windows Media Player 9. You actually cannot install the mouse driver software from the CD without also installing WMP 9. Their tech support department mysteriously claims the SetPoint driver "requires" Windows Media Player 9 for "proper functionality of the device". [Note: In response to follow-up queries, they back-peddled on this claim, admitting that WMP was not required.]
  
  Save yourself the aggravation and download the latest version of SetPoint from the Logitech web site. This version doesn't require WMP9.
  
  
  
• Gamers should read this
  By A24389V5TOUJ5V on 2006-07-10
  I am a gamer. I've had this mouse for over 4 months. I didn't just try it for a day, feel it in the store or "see" someone who had it. I've played with it extensively in fps games, mostly my oooold favorite Quake 3. I'm also a graphics artist/web designer.
  
  Ok, let's get down to business.
  
  Ergonomics:
  
  The shape of this mouse is fairly comfortable; much more comfy than your typical Microsoft optical mouse. It fits the hand well, and my hand never cramped up even after 14 straight hours of use. Although the shape is great, the Logitech MX 510 is WAY more comfortable than even this one. Even with all the weights out, it is still 30 grams heavier than the Logitech MX 518, its predecessor. I personally think this mouse is too heavy even without any of the weights. More on that later.
  This mouse only has one thumb button. I use this button as a shortcut to the back button when internet browsing, and it does come in handy in a few games. I never used both of the buttons on my previous mice, so I could care less that there's only one. I welcome this change, because I don't have to feel for which one I am pushing. I push it, it works, I'm happy.
  
  Texture:
  
  The texture on this mouse is supposed to be a no slip grip. I say supposed to be because it's just the opposite. The strange black rubber coating makes the mouse feel as though it was constantly dusty and it's just horrible for fps games. I have to hold the mouse with a lot of pressure for it not to slip and react to every little finger movement.
  
  Size:
  
  I have medium sized hands and the size is perfect for my hands. My fingers don't over reach the mouse, and neither my thumb, nor my pinky finger, drag on the mouse pad.
  
  Appearance:
  
  Let's face it, this is an ugly mouse in comparison to all the other gaming mice out there. It gets the job done, but not with a lot of style.
  
  2000 dpi laser engine:
  
  I feel that it is an absolute necessity if you're using dual monitors like I am. I use the mouse on the highest dpi (2000) but I have removed the acceleration completely because it increases accuracy. It takes getting used to, but it's well worth it.
  Looking at the mouse from the bottom, you'll notice that the laser is not centered. I believe that this is a major flaw that no one seems to comment on. When using a mouse, you don't just use your wrist, you also use your fingers for rotating the mouse. This is quite awkward to do with the laser not being in the center as it will not behave in a natural manner.
  The BEST feature for gaming about this laser technology is that you only need to lift the mouse maybe a third of an inch off the pad when repositioning the mouse before it loses tracking. This is a reallllly good thing for fps. When you need to turn around quickly or put that crosshair on your target, you don't want to be lifting your arm in the air when repositioning.
  
  sensitivity switching :
  
  Your brain needs to get used to the speed of the mouse in fps games so that you can move without thinking and with perfect accuracy. Switching the dpi destroys this conditioning process and could actually harm your skillz.
  I do however use it constantly when working on graphics, and that's where this feature REALLY shines. I can work a lot faster due to the fact that I don't waste time squinting, sticking my tongue out and hoping to get the pixel I want.
  
  Adjustable weight cartridge:
  
  As I've stated earlier, this mouse is already too heavy without any of these weights. Why would anyone want to make it even heavier? The lighter the mouse, the less pressure you have to apply to move it, the longer you can work or play without fatigue. It IS a gimmick, and just because it's cool doesn't mean it's really good for anything other than to show off.
  
  Conclusion:
  
  I would say that if this mouse looked like and felt like the Logitech MX 510, and weighed 30 grams less, it would be THE best mouse in the world. Unfortunately, it has some flaws that cannot be overlooked, the biggest of which is the grip. Pricy, but you get what you pay for; it really is precise and smooth. It's well packaged, the software is easy to use, and the mouse is very reliable.
  
  
• Logitech G5 versus Razor Copperhead
  By A1XX79QIT0PEG6 on 2006-04-26
  I tested both extensively on Counter-strike Source. They are both great mice. Preference depends on whether you use "finger" control (Razor) or "palm" control (G5). Using "palm" style with the Razor results in over-shooting your target or jitters due to the light weight and smaller teflon pads (ie. lower coefficient of friction). Using "finger" style with the Razor tends to cramp your hand faster. Also, if you're a "finger" player, you're also gonna have to stretch to reach the scroll with your fore-finger (since your hand is set back farther on the mouse). This leads to a feeling of uncertainty when you're playing. Another drawback of the Razor is that you can accidentally press the thumb button if your thumb slips off the left rail.
  
  Since I am a "palm" player, I naturally prefer the G5. The heavier weight and larger teflon pads have just the right amount of friction to prevent the "jitters" (often caused by the cord). It feels more stable under my hand and also gives you that feeling of accuracy/momentum (for those multiple head-shot kills). The scroll is also better positioned for a strong roll in either direction (I use it for zoom in/out). The DPI switch is more accessible on the G5. I also like the added assurance given by the LED DPI indicator. The single thumb button is well within reach but far enough away so that you don't press it accidentally.
  
  
• Excellent mouse, horrible software.
  By A3M88BYKRP2ALY on 2006-08-06
  For some reason, optical mice never worked out for me; it seems like regardless of the surface I use them on, they've always given me tracking problems at one point or another, sometimes to the point that using my optical mouse was about as bad as using a mechanical mouse with a gunked-up ball. I seem to be the only person I know with this problem, though; everyone else I know thinks optical mice are a godsend but somehow I've just found them to have their own set of annoying frustrations.
  
  In any case, I decided to give this laser mouse a go, and I'm pleased. Aside from the flawless tracking that this mouse provides, it's got a very solid feel to it. And after I got the very buggy software it comes with to work, I appreciated the 10 buttons it provided me for playing World of Warcraft.
  
  The software, dubbed "SetPoint", is a pain to use. Out-of-the-box, WoW wouldn't recognize any of the buttons other than the standard ones, which was understandable, but once I configured the SetPoint software to have the extra buttons simulate keystrokes, WoW still wouldn't recognize them. After doing some hunting online, I found out that a new major version of SetPoint had been released, yet oddly enough the "check for updates" feature of my SetPoint software disagreed, so I had to manually download the 45mb installer from Logitech's website.
  
  Upgrading didn't fix my problem, unfortunately. After fiddling around with the plethora of confusing settings and scouring the internet for hints, I eventually found that I needed to enable "Game Detection" but disable "Apply Game Settings when a game is detected", as useless a combination as that seemed. Doing this made my extra buttons work but broke my middle mouse button, causing World of Warcraft to freeze for 2 seconds every time I pressed it. Then I found out that I had to remap "Button 3" from "Zoom" to "Generic Button" in the "All Programs" configuration, while keeping that same button mapped to "Zoom" in the "World of Warcraft" configuration.
  
  All that annoyance aside, though, I guess I'd still recommend the mouse overall, because once you spend an hour or two getting past the confusing configuration, the mouse works great.
  
  
• HUGE LET DOWN :-(
  By A7YOK3IKZMNQO on 2005-12-02
  I bought this mouse on the first day it was released. I couldn't wait. I hooked it up and began playing Battlefield 2. I don't follow the traditional WASP controls. I use the scroll wheel button for "forward" control when playing FPSers. I switch weapons by rolling the scroll wheel. The major issue I had with this mouse was the scroll wheel was way to sensitive. I would push down to go forward and the weapons would randomly switch as I was running forward!!! I've owned many gaming mice (Razor Diamondback and Logitech MX510 currently) and none displayed this behavor. No matter how hard I tried not to cause the weapons to switch while going forward they would switch. The left and right feature of the scroll wheel was also a minor pain. The scroll wheel would lean to the left as I was playing. I guess I've always depressed the scroll wheel in a downward left motion. I may have been able to overcome that but the weapon switching was either a defect of that mouse or the mouse design was too sensitive/cheap. It wasn't me. I returned it and went back to my Razor and MX510. If you use the traditional WASP then you should be happy. I give it a 2 instead of a 1 in case it was a defect.
  
  
• Good precision, Unpredictable middle button
  By A2WLHCCA0FXCJX on 2005-12-21
  As other users have pointed out - there is some problem with the scroll wheel sensitivity. It is too high in some positions. A middle click sometimes causes a scroll as a side effect. When I try to middle click in Firefox - the link jumps from under the pointer. It doesn't happen very often, but is still between annoying and frustrating. No software setting would cure that. I tried waiting for a week to see if my fingers would learn. I got used to the considerably higher force needed to push the middle button, but the occasional "middle click scrolling" persisted.
  
  The case was quickly closed when my gentle half complained that there must be some problem with Windows lately as the pages keeps shifting. She is a graphic designer and the main reason for buying that overpriced piece of shiny plastic. Several hours later the mouse was on its way back to Amazon.
  
  This is the second disappointing experience with a Logitech mouse. My MX518 developed a strange creacking in the left button after only 6 months of light desktop/browsing use.
  
  
• Best
  By A8XWSHDG516JE on 2006-01-20
  I have gone through countless mouses in the past. This is the best one I have ever owned. If you are like me and spend 10-12 hours in front of the computer per day doing everything like work, games and graphics, this mouse is worth every penny.
  
  
• Buggy drivers need work
  By A1T1YSCDW0PD25 on 2005-11-04
  The hardware seems great, but the drivers are buggy. For example, in Outlook, scrolling with the mouse wheel doesn't work properly. Cruise scroll doesn't work on my 2nd monitor. I didn't have this problem with the MX510. Coming from the MX510, I'm a little disappointed because I was expecting more. If they can get the bugs out then it would be a 4 or 5 star mouse.
  
  
• A for effort, but D for actual functionality
  By A36Z9SX15VL8CU on 2006-04-05
  As a very satisfied owner of both the MX500 and MX510 mice, I had very high expectations of the G5. These are the differences I liked and didn't like about the G5 over the MX510:
  
  Pros:
  **Two customizable buttons with the addition of the tilt wheel (although, at the cost of a thumb button)
  **Smooth feet, glides very nicely
  **USB cord feels really smooth and nice. Will possibly reduce cord friction and tug. (Although, the mouse itself feels constantly dirty due to a textured surface)
  **That's about it!
  
  Cons:
  **Tilt wheel too sensitive: when middle clicking the wheel, I will often click left or right on the tilt wheel. (A Microsoft mouse I had had the exact opposite problem, it took too much effort to tilt the wheel. Someone needs to create a balance.)
  **Middle wheel is perpendicular to the ground instead of the surface of the mouse (where your hand goes). This contributes to the sensitivity problem. The surface of the mouse is slightly angled downward to the right, but you must depress the wheel at a 90 degree angle to the floor (as if the mouse where a solid square block). This caused me to repeatedly hit-right tilt.
  **SetPoint software must be installed to use tilt wheel. Tilt Wheel isn't recognized as buttons; must be assigned a keyboard value to have them do anything other than scroll left/right (can/must be customized for each program); even then you still need to software. The MX510 worked fine, if not better, without the software.
  **"Enhanced Pointer Precision/Mouse Acceleration" functionality doesn't play nice. If you're used to this feature like I am, the G5 will give you some trouble. When the feature is on and you're using the mouse on certain surfaces, the pointer won't move if you move the mouse extremely slow (happened with my generic mouse pad, but worked fine on the table). I never encountered that problem with the MX510.
  
  Stuff that wasn't much use:
  **Dynamic DPI adjustment: unless you're really playing a game where the mouse speed varies during different parts of the game, this feature won't come in handy much at all.
  **Extremely high mouse tracking ability: didn't notice any difference from the the MX510.
  **Customizable Weight: I liked my mice light, so I didn't even use it.
  
  
  Conclusion:
  _ As you might notice, my main gripe about this mouse is with the tilt wheel; it's just ill-designed. Imagine playing a game and you have a tilt side set to "Throw Grenade" and the wheel-down button set to "Zoom." Chances are, 3 out of 5 times you try to zoom, you'll accidentally lob a grenade. This could be dangerous if you're trying to be stealthy. The sensitivity of the tilt-wheel limits the possible functions you would want to assign to them to mainly innocuous functions that won't affect what you're doing in the game, such as Voice Chat. For Batlefield 2, I had one tilt direction set to BattleCommo and the other set to my Ventrillo talk key. But what if I'm playing a game where I don't need two different talk commands? Even applications suffer from the sensitivity; on Firefox, I have the tilt wheel set to change tabs left and right, and whenever I try to open a link in a new tab (middle click), I accidentally tilt the wheel and go to another tab!
  _ Not having the tilt commands register as normal buttons also hurts the mouse, since in order to use the buttons in a game, you must first start the game, configure your controls and assign two keyboard keys to the actions you wish the tilt wheel to perform, then exit the game (or alt/tab; I had to completely exit with Battlefield 2), and create a profile for that game assigning the tilt directions to those keys. This isn't too much of a problem unless you decide to change your mind as to what key does what in the middle of a game.
  _ I have decided to go back to my MX510. I notice absolutely no difference in the sensitivity of the mice; the only difference is that the G5 glides along surfaces more smoothly, although it could just be because it's brand new. Some of you might be saying that I just have giant fingers that are too clumsy to middle-click correctly, but I've had a Microsoft mouse with tilt wheel and I never had had a problem middle-clicking. The MS Mouse also had a much wider wheel (so maybe I do have fat fingers, but there have been other complains too!). The only problem I had with the MS Mouse was it had that icky smooth-scrolling wheel.
  _ If you're planning to buy this mouse, try it out first by buying it at your local retailer and actually playing some games with it for a few days. That way you can easily return it if you end up not liking it. If you find that the tilt wheel bothers you, your mouse pad doesn't work well with your mouse preferences, and you hate the Logitech software, I can whole-heartedly recommend the MX510. There's no tilt-wheel the deal with (although one less button), works fine for on numerous surfaces with any tracking preferences, and no extra software required to take full advantage of it. The MX518 looks pretty nice too, but I haven't tried it out yet.
  _ The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because it could just possibly be that I just have fat fingers.
  
  
• Good mouse precision, lousy scroll wheel
  By A1STSJPIRRQRVB on 2006-12-06
  I find the Logitech G5 to be a good mouse, but far from perfect. Compared to my trusty Logitech MX500, the G5 seems noticeably more precise - the main reason why I wanted to get one in the first place. Now, I can hardly fault the mouse for lousy aiming in FPS games! Unfortunately, the tilting scroll wheel, while neat in theory, is flawed in execution. While I have hardly used the tilting function at all, I can say that the 'normal' scrolling action is a disappointment.
  
  First of all, it takes a bit of force to press the scroll wheel down (for use as a middle mouse button). Normally, this wouldn't be too bad - I could get used to it. The problem is: it's easy to tilt or scroll the wheel while pressing down on it. The tactile feel of accidently tilting the wheel is also similar to that of pressing the middle mouse button - which sometimes causes me to not click the middle mouse button. All of this really messes me up in games and web browsing since I use the middle mouse button often.
  
  Fortunately, the scroll wheel isn't smooth scrolling like most Microsoft mice - you can feel the notches while scrolling like you could a standard non-tilt-wheel mouse. This is very important to me as a gamer. Unfortunately, the scroll wheel is very imprecise. Normally, the scrolling should happen every time you scroll the wheel a notch. Considering that the G5 is a gaming mouse, precision is important and the scrolling action should happen at a fairly precise moment when spinning the wheel. However, every 10-15 notches, it would often stop scrolling for a notch. Or it might scroll without even spinning the wheel through a notch. For a premium gaming mouse, this is unacceptable.
  
  Finally, I miss having the second thumb button (which is present on the MX500). I understand why Logitech might have removed it - it wasn't the easiest button to reach. However, it was a button that I could've (and would have) used. It's not like it was in the way, so why get rid of it?
  
  All in all, the Logitech G5 is a decent mouse if you can live with a less than stellar scroll wheel. As for me, I'm going to see if I can pick up an MX518 and hope that its standard wheel will lack the quirkiness of the G5. If all else fails, I could just go back to the MX500...
  
  
• Works great on Mac OS X too.
  By AM0QLU79O05JR on 2007-01-15
  Logitech has not provided any Mac drivers for this mouse. I've never understood why they do for some of their periphals but not others. Anyway it works great with OS X especially if you use the SteerMouse drivers. It's my favorite mouse for my Mac at home and my PC work laptop. Even though I don't game alot (Halo and Counterstrike on my Mac) I still like the precision and feel of this mouse. I'm knocking ot down one star though because my first G5's scroll wheel died after about a year of use.
  
  
• A superbly responsive mouse - and not just for games!
  By A33775AIB1A664 on 2007-01-25
  (UPDATED Sept 20 2007)
  
  Logitech categorizes the G5 and G7 as "gaming mice," but they are not only for gamers. If you need a flexible, highly responsive mouse that is effortless to use, they may suit your needs well for both games and other programs. With the release of SetPoint 4.00, Logitech now supports XP, Vista, and (with version 3.10) some older versions of Windows. But: the most important advantages of the mouse do not require the software, so you will benefit from using this mouse on Mac or Linux as well.
  
  The difference between G5 and G7 seems to be limited to the wireless (radio-controlled, not IR) feature and a battery indicator in the G7 (G5 does not need batteries). Where the G7 has a battery, the G5 has a tray that holds weights to make it heavier. Because my keyboard has a USB port in the back-right, the G5 works well for me in the office.
  
  The Basic Mouse
  
  The bottom pads are very slick, so it slides around the desk surface smoothly and with very little drag. The shape and design with side contours fits my hand very well, requiring almost no pressure of my fingers to hold it firmly. The mouse moves effortlessly with minimal exertion. While I have never had carpal tunnel syndrome, I guess that this mouse is less likely to cause it than others I have tried.
  
  If you find the G5 mouse too light, or if it slides around too freely for your taste, a unique feature is a small tray of weights that you can place into the bottom. You can use up to 8 weights, and they supply 8 each of 1.7 and 4.5 grams, so you add weight from between about 1.7 to 36 grams (36 grams is about 1.25 oz). The additional weight increases the sliding friction and amount of exertion to move it noticeably. Having tried with and without weights, I like it better without, but you can have it your way.
  
  The buttons require just the right amount of pressure and distance to click. If it required less, I would trigger accidental clicks more often (like I did with my old mouse). If it required more, there would be more exertion required to click. While the required pressure is not adjustable (it is a mechanical function), I think they got this at exactly the right balance for most people. There is a small amount of tactile feedback and a small, audible "click," again exactly the right amount for ease of use.
  
  When you plug it in to the USB, the mouse powers on and initializes to the mid-sensitivity setting (800dpi resolution). With no software installed, you can switch the resolution between three pre-configured 400dpi, 800dpi, and 2000 dpi sensitivity settings using the + and - buttons located just below the scroll wheel, and there are small indicator lights on the mouse to tell you the current setting. With some practice, it should be easy to switch settings without looking, useful while playing real-time games that demand a lot of attention.
  
  400dpi requires a fair amount of movement of the mouse to move the cursor. This setting is the same as the older Microsoft Intellimouse I've used for a few years. Of course you can use the Windows Control Panel to adjust how much the cursor moves for a given mouse movement, and you can introduce "acceleration" as well. 400dpi might be useful for some detail work.
  
  800dpi, the "normal" setting (the one you get when you power it up with no software installed), makes the mouse a bit more zippy than my old Intellimouse, because it is twice the sensitivity. I find this mode suitable for my regular work and most games.
  
  2000dpi is the highest sensitivity setting. Small movements of the mouse cause greater movement of the cursor. You could turn down the mouse movement in the control panel, resulting in small movement with high precision, though in practice, I find it easier to use a lower resolution with normal settings in the control panel.
  
  All of this is without any software installed, so you can expect these advantages on systems where Logitech does not supply control software - Linux, Mac, or any version of Windows other than XP and 2000 SP4. I expect and hope they will support Windows Vista soon. Assuming your operating system supports it, the left and right mouse buttons and the scroll-wheel (which also works as a middle button) should work.
  
  SetPoint: The Configuration Software
  
  My mouse arrived with old (v2.4) SetPoint (mouse settings) software, but at this writing version 4.0 is current, and there are versions for both 32-bit and 64-bit XP and Vista. Version 3.10 is available for Windows 2000, ME, 98. You should download and use the latest version from Logitech's support area. While SetPoint adds useful features, the most important advantages of this mouse are available without SetPoint installed.
  
  For most devices that can be adjusted, installing the drivers or support software causes additions to the Control Panel. SetPoint installs as a separate program. I consider this to be an insignificant flaw.
  
  When I explored SetPoint, the first thing I noticed was that all but left and right buttons can be programmed for other purposes than click. You can reprogram the sensitivity + and - buttons, for example for forward or back functions for a browser, a keystroke assignment, or any of a long-list of special-purpose buttons (close, copy, paste, page up or down, disable, and several others). You can reprogram two "generic buttons" to a variety of purposes - though this puzzles me, as I only see one other button, the arrow button on the left side, that might be affected, and I have not experimented yet.
  
  It also allows you to adjust the responsiveness of the mouse via Pointer Speed and Acceleration, add and adjust pointer trails or enable "Smart Move", the scrolling amount... nearly any way I could think of adjusting the mouse. SetPoint can detect that you are playing games, and use special settings that only applies to these games.
  
  Then I was surprised to discover that in the Advanced Game settings, the three default mouse sensitivities can be changed to any value between 400dpi and 2000dpi, in 50dpi increments. You can also enable two additional sensitivity settings (for a maximum of 5), or disable settings, so that the + and - buttons cycle between 1 and 5 settings. The three lights on the mouse indicate all five modes in an intuitive fashion. You can even adjust X and Y resolution settings independent of each other, so that it is 400dpi vertical but 2000dpi horizontal, for example. You can enable notification of changing the sensitivity, in which case a sound is played when you click the + or - buttons.
  
  I love the flexibility of the configurations in SetPoint, and I will use some of these features, but for me the main value of the mouse is in the basic mouse features, so don't worry if SetPoint does not work for your operating system.
  
  Cons
  
  I am an adult male with average-size hands, am right-handed, and have no carpal tunnel syndrome; the mouse seems perfectly designed for me. This suggests that it might not be as well-suited for some others. Unless they introduce a left-handed version, the design of the mouse will probably not be suited to left-handed people; such people should look for left-handed mice, or symmetrical mice such as the G3. The mouse could be a bit large for younger children or others with small hands.
  
  The G5 and especially the G7 are more expensive than many other mice. Since I use the computer a lot, and this mouse improves accuracy and ease of use, the cost is justified for me.
  
  You can't use the G7 during most plane flights because of restrictions on RF devices.
  
  SetPoint configuration software is only provided for Windows 2000 and XP at the time I wrote this, though the basic mouse features should work in other systems that support mice.
  
  Some people may prefer more buttons, but for me the G5 and G7 are just right.
  
  The paint design on the G5 seems odd to me (YMMV), and I prefer the look of the G7, but function wins over form.
  
  Conclusions
  
  PC Magazine calls this the best mouse ever, and other reviewers call it the perfect mouse. I can only agree wholeheartedly that this is true for me; I remember saying "WOW!" the first time I used it, and that was before I looked at the configuration software, which got another "Wow." For my purposes, there is nothing about it I would change, and there are no features I can think of that would improve my use of this mouse. It is among the most flexible and tuneable mice I have seen, both mechanically and electronically.
  
  Unless you are left-handed, have especially small hands, etc, I don't think you can go wrong with this mouse.
  
  
• Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse
  By A36NR38UDVNZWQ on 2007-01-27
  I've been playing around on computers for over ten years. Never in that time had I thought that I would ever buy a "specialty" mouse and keyboard (Keyboard Reviewed Elsewhere). However, with my long time attraction (addiction) to COD-UO, a "First Person Shooter" game, and a cheap failing wireless mouse and keyboard setup, it was time to get serious about my gaming equipment and spend $40-$50 on a laser mouse if I was going to take my gaming to the next level.
  
  I have heard rave reviews about the Logitech G7 cordless gaming mouse, I made the choice to get "wired" this time with the Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse for two reasons. First, my headphone cable would cause interference, and sometimes a drop in signal if its cord was too close to my old wireless keyboard, giving me an overall mistrust in wireless systems in general and causing a great deal of head movement trying to find the sweet spot where everything would worked properly. Second, I have enough items that require recharging around here already and since I don't intend to be moving my setup around much, a wired system would just bring me more inner comfort. ;-)
  
  So, after much research I decided to give the Logitech G5 Laser Gaming Mouse a go and I can say that I am very pleased with the decision. Aside from the flawless tracking that this laser mouse provides, it's got a very solid feel to it. The mouse is shaped better for my large hand, so I can cup the entire thing comfortably. The shape of the G5 puts my ring finger on the mouse itself so that it no longer drags alongside of the mouse like with my previous mouse. It has a rubberized coating along each side that increases gripping potential, plus the sides are grooved to fit your thumb on one side and your pinky finger on the other, making it very easy to lift it up off of whatever surface you're using for a mouse pad and repositioning it. You'll find the texture to be a little strange feeling at first, but you'll get used to it quickly.
  
  This mouse also has a dpi (Dots Per Inch) control feature. You can use the software to get up to 5 dpi settings, which means you can change the sensitivity of the mouse on the fly. It is capable of a maximum 2000 dpi, which is an extremely fast movement - faster than anyone really needs, But at about 800 dpi, the mouse is perfect to control. Playing a first person shooter game with a sniper rifle and want absolute control? Drop it down a few dpi. Working in Paint Shop Pro doing pixel by pixel touch up? Drop the dpi down a notch. Want to speed up for web surfing? Click the button up and your mouse will go much faster. You can set any dpi by using the software and changing its mode whenever and wherever you need it by using the convenient buttons on the mouse. Being able to change the speed with buttons right on the mouse is very nice if you switch between games that need quick response and photo editing where you want slower speed and very fine precision.
  
  This mouse only has one thumb button. I use this button as a back button when Internet browsing. It can also be programmed for other functions for gaming. I never used both of the buttons on my previous mice, so I could care less that there's only one on the G5. I welcome this change, because I don't have to feel for which one I am pushing. I push it, it works, I'm happy. And the position is perfect, easy to reach with my thumb, but yet not in the way and accidentally being pushed in the middle of a game or other activity like with my old mouse.
  
  The mouse also comes with a weight control system. OK, I thought this was a gimmick at first, but it turns out to be very ingenious. You can add weight to a cartridge then slip it into the mouse to make it heavier. Some people, especially those who are used to wireless mice, will find that this makes it feel more like the weight of a battery operated mouse. Personally, I'm still playing with the weights trying to find the prefect balance. Mostly I keep the cartridge loaded with the heavier weights, at least for now. It gives me more control for very precise work (like Paint Shop Pro or sniping), and gives it the same heft as my previous wireless mouse that had a couple AA batteries inside.
  
  The mouse wheel is a typical wheel, but with the added feature of left and right movement. Now you can scroll left and right and up and down within one web page. The wheel button does seem to take a little more pressure to operate, and it lacks a reassuring "click" when you depress it, but that's a minor issue that you'll get used too swiftly.
  
  I actually like the mouse cord (gasp!). It's well made and very tough with a woven fabric outer sheath and a low-profile USB connector. If you have pets that like to chew on your cords this extra tough protection just might help keep your mouse alive.
  
  Polytetrafluoroethylene gaming feet? OK, I can't pronouce it either, but I can tell you that it's slicker then snot on a brass doorknob!
  
  
  Summary:
  
  This is as near the perfect mouse as you're likely to find! Well designed, well made, and very, very precise. Computer products designed for gamers are also designed with ergonomics in mind. The computer gamer is known to play for hours and the mouse needs to be able to support the hand position and its movement for all those hours. Not an easy task by any standards but Logitech hit a home run with the G5 Laser Gaming Mouse. I can't believe I used to use that other piece of garbage. :-)
  
  
  Update 12/11/07
  This thing is still going strong after nearly a year of constant use and I love it!
  
  
• good mouse overall, bad for people with big hands
  By A2EKV754ZBG1UM on 2005-10-29
  I had previously used the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 and brought the G5 due a need to go wired after having my battery die in the middle of games. After reading some reviews, the G5 seemed to be a good choice. Overall the I like the mouse and it's quality. The features I like about the mouse is the mouse cord and the texture along the sides for grip.
  
  The biggest complaint I have about the mouse is it's too small for my hands. After the first hour of using it, I can feel cramps in my hands. Putting both the my wireless MS mouse and the G5 side by side, the G5 is a bit shorter in height. It's designed to look more sleek and doesn't have as big as a 'hump' for support.
  
  Overall the mouse is good just not for big hands.
  
  
• Mouse is freaking awesome
  By A2ZUZ3HE2Y99K on 2005-11-09
  Yeah OK, so this mouse is freaking awesome. I mean FREAKING AWESOME. I normally stick with Microsoft mouses (mouse... mouses... mice... moose... whatever) but I read all of the reviews on this mouse (freaking awesome mouse) and it said it was freaking awesome. Well guess what?!? THIS MOUSE IS FREAKING AWESOME... I suggest you buy it.
  
  (mouse is freaking awesome)
  
  
• Excellent product
  By A1OZOJ8YVQQZCS on 2006-03-22
  After having my old logitech mouse's battery die on me several times, i opted for a G5 (over the G7). The thing looks way better than the g7 and you dont ever have to have that lingering battery-death feeling. The G5 feels great in my hand and i actually noticed an increased frag rate in DOD:s. Interesting, but it might be psychological. either way, i love this thing and i dont think i'll ever buy another mouse.
  
  
• First impressions
  By A1TK35ZILILXZG on 2006-07-13
  Ok well i just got the mouse and right away i can see some pros and cons. I've read some posts and i think most problems people complain about could be resolved by adjusting the options. I believe most people don't read manuals or help fully. By default the mouse tends to not be very precise. There are options for sensitivity,dpi,acceleration, etc. You will have to play with these settings to get the controls that feels best for your use. After some adjustments, i found the control to be adequate, but to be honest, i don't think any optical/laser mice beat the firm precise feeling of a traditional ball mouse. Well i've listed here some of the pros and cons. Most of the cons is due to the design which for me seems to lack comfortability. I didn't think such thing would matter much but it really does.
  
  PROS -
  - looks and feels well built
  - different dpi settings are cool although i have yet to use it
  - the little weight set is cool
  - its laser
  - you can assign keys to buttons
  - lots of different settings
  
  CONS -
  - BIG, the G5 (as well as other logitechs) is relatively big for a mouse, i would think this mouse is made specifically for men because it is much bigger than the average mouse and i would think it requires large hands to be comfortable. It is not only greater in length and width but also height. The greater increase in height seems to put a little more strain on your hand so a palm rest would probably be helpful. The way i like to use a mouse is by resting my palm on the table or palm rest and moving the mouse with my fingers. The increase in size means that there is less area for me to move the mouse with my fingers, especiallly up and down. I would have to end up moving my whole arm to get a full stroke. You can ajdust the sensitivity so you can get a longer stroke but you lose precision.
  - the vertical movement tends to lose positioning, causing you to adjust your whole mouse more often than needed (picking it up and repostioning it). When you move the cursor up and down and then stop, it sometimes tends to 'reset' to that position. You have to move the whole mouse down more to reach the bottom of the screen. Apparently this happens mostly when i'm playing WOW, you want to reach the icons at the edges of the screen in single strokes, but having to pickup your mouse or moving your whole arm down more, especially when in battle, is not very good, a little extra work and somewhat irritating. It doesnt seem to happen when on the normal desktop though, I will have to look at my WOW mouse settings.
  - May be i need some adjusting to but the mouse doesn't feel particularly comfortable. I seem to end up turning the mouse to the 11'oclock left positing constantly.
  -The slope of the mouse is not like other mice i've used. It slopes higher to lower from left to right. I think it this adds to the strain on the hand. It's a right hand mouse but i would thinks its better for left hand. Again this may require adjusting to the mouse, but for now it just doesn't feel truly comfortable.
  - the mouse makes an annoying clicking noise. My old mouse had a nice and soft clicking noise but the G5 makes a rather higher pitch click that i'm not too thrilled about.
  
  I'll give this mouse some time to see if i can adjust to it but i feel may have to go back to a regular mouse.
  
  
• Terrible for Gaming
  By A2WGP8W0CTZME5 on 2006-07-26
  An issue that has been raised by other reviewers, but which is such a big problem that I have to mention it, is the middle mouse button: it is impossible to push without scrolling/tilting/moving the mouse. This makes the mouse incredibly frustrating to use firefox (middle-click often misses the link), much less play an FPS. There are better devices on the market.
  
  
• It is the best mouse I've ever used
  By A3ROJGJOCEICLQ on 2006-08-02
  - It has extremely High precision (which is a must have for vector drawing apps);
  - The buttons for increasing or decreasing the precision is a nice touch for FPS games;
  - The interchangeable weights actually help to increase the user comfort;
  - It has a long cord which is a good thing for someone that hates laser cordless mice that run out of battery every few days.
  - Perfect ergonomics;
  - Great design;
  - Extremely high quality built.
  
  
• Below Expectations
  By A3H5KUDCKQBQV1 on 2007-07-03
  Other reviewers have covered what's nice about this mouse. I'm going to cut to the chase and tell you what isn't so nice:
  
  - The gritty feel... you can get used to it, but you don't have a choice if you prefer a smooth, velvety or more rubbery texture.
  
  - Software is bloatware that takes up a lot of memory and doesn't "play nice" with all applications; read other reviews for dozens of examples. Unfortunately, one of those applications is Adobe Illustrator, which is critical for me. Using the scrollwheel causes two loud system beeps with every "notch" scrolled, making it unusable. Removing the software makes your mouse much less functional.
  
  - Nice to have higher resolution, but try moving your fingers 1/2000th of an inch. I leave the resolution set to normal, but that doesn't stop the mouse from unexpectedly jumping to higher-than-desireable resolutions unpredictably, especially with the Logitech softare installed. Would prefer to have greater precision than those ridiculous "speeds."
  
  As you can tell by now, I don't use the Logitech software and have it used just as a plain dumb mouse with scroll wheel. I get left click, right click, mouse wheel up and down, middle click (mouse wheel click) and the back button (whee!) but that's it. Mouse wheel tilt and the forward button are not supported, and the other two buttons become dedicated to adjusting resolution/speed, which I never do unless I'm bored and want to see the pretty lights change.
  
  I guess this would be alright except for the remaining problems, which are the biggies:
  
  - The tilt wheel function is way too easy to activate. Achieving a nice, normal, mouse wheel (middle) click is extremely difficult. Holding the wheel down while moving, even moreso. Because middle-clicking is so commonly used in illustration programs and games, it should be the opposite. The activation zone for middle click should be quite wide/generous, and a little extra effort should be required to tilt the mouse. Because of this problem, I try to avoid middle-clicking and instead use more tedious (but more dependable) methods of activating those funcitons.
  
  - The mouse wheel has begun creaking. I've only used this mouse for a couple months and even just scrolling up and down gently with the wheel gives a loud and cheap-sounding creaking noise. This is really disappointing given the premium positioning (and price) of the mouse otherwise.
  
  Overall, I would say the mouse wheel has a flimsy feel to it.
  
  If you're looking for the "Montblanc" of mice, this isn't it.
  
  
• The best of the best!
  By A17KUT759LOXQ5 on 2005-10-14
  I tried this mice like a 2 hours, and OMG!!!! the design, customization level, is superb!
  
  If you buy this mice, you will be one of the first in all FPS games! no doubt! Tried en CoD UO, UT2004.
  
  The real success with this mous is the customization level of weigth and X and Y dpi.
  
  So what the heck are you doing reading this? go on and buy it now!
  
  
  
• logitech G5 mouse is perfect.
  By A1OKP9PRBOEPI8 on 2006-03-17
  This is a great buy @ $40
  
  I wouldn't upgrade from mx518 though as the only benefit is weight catridge and slight change in feel/ egronomics. I hated that jelly feel on mx518. You also lose some buttons but I never used that many buttons anyways.
  
  Comfortable to use for hours expecially when you have a few hours of work to do. Perfect for photoshop or CAD as it is very precise, effortless to move, smoothing, and flawless. Sensitivity on the fly is good as people can who also use the computer can change it as well.
  
  Egronomics has a relaxing hand position even with my small hands. Much smaller than older MX series and similar to mx518 without the sticky feeling.
  
  The weight cartridges also a nice addition. The hands get tired without the proper balance for work and gaming. Mouse feel is very important to me. You can configure it to any weight you want and with different weight distribution. Without the weights it feels too light so adjustment are neccessary.
  
  The corded doesn't get in the way. Doesn't get snagged or get caught and feels like it isn't there. It is just very light does not have a corded mouse feeling like older MX series. I worry about the longevity of the sleeving though
  
  Mouse is great for gaming. I improved in my FPS with my accuracy being more consistent overall. I was already a very good player. G5 best both of them as an overal package but gaming wise I think people will prefer Razer and mx518.
  
  I didn't like the older optical mouses and only the new Razers are up to my taste but not good for work due to their shape. I actually used ball mouses instead and mx518 for awhile.
  
  As for the buttons, I wish it had more but its not that bad. The lack of the two thumb buttons was a bad idea for some programs but you get over it. The left-right scrolling function offsets that and you can program the changes in the software. Some people complained about the 3rd mouse click button missing. Its there but way to hard to work. I would suggest using a l-r scroll button instead.
  
  The software is about 7/10. Not great and has limitations but it gets the job done. Allows to customize the buttons if you take the time to input them in. IF gamings is important to you than you would make the changes instead of griping about it.
  
  
• Better Than Most I've Used But Not Perfect
  By A2IZPQY17M81CZ on 2006-04-28
  I've only used two optical mice in my life, so take this review with an extra grain of salt. Actually that would be three if you count my trackball. It is also the most expensive mouse I've ever purchased, including the aforementioned trackball and an ill-fated flirtation with wireless mice (whose batteries always failed in the middle of an awesome bloodbath)
  
  Pro -- Multiple DPS settings -- for BF2, I went with a 1400 / 400 (no middle) and set the mouse sensitivity in the game to 0.8. I may end up dropping the low speed to get a steadier aim. The high speed helps in a knife fight, but generally I'm not quick enough to utilize it.
  
  Pro -- Adjustable weights -- I'm a bit heavy-handed on mice anyway, so the extra inertia available does a lot to slow it down. My weight configuration is all 4.5g weights, save for one 1.7g weight in the rear center.
  
  Con -- DPS change button not well placed for me. Major reason why I can't engage "high DPS" for close-in fighting.
  
  Con -- Limited button configurability -- Would prefer the thin thumb button be configurable to a momentary "high DPS" for situations needing rapid rotation. It may be possible but it remains undiscovered by me.
  
  For gaming, the G5 has made my trackball (and all mechanical mice) obsolete. If nothing else, its' feature set should be used to judge any mouse purchases for gaming. It makes me hungry to try other optical mice as I improve my game.
  
  Update August 2, 2006 - I figured out how to make the thin thumb button be configurable to "high DPS" (actually called "increase sensitivity"), though it's not momentary as I had hoped. The SetPoint utility keeps its' configuration info in a file called user.xml (I forget the path, but it's stored in the Documents and Settings directory on XP). Editing the file itself is not difficult - because it's XML, any text editor will do. It's WHEN one edits that's important. SetPoint guards against accidental changes or deletions by rebuilding the user.xml file when it exits. So you have to do the following:
  
  1) Close SetPoint, either from the system tray or going into the task manager.
  2) Copy user.xml to user.xml.orig or whatever suffix you use to save an archival copy.
  3) Edit user.xml, by copying and pasting the tags for the normal "increase sensitivity" button to button 4. If like me you want to use it for games that you've set up for SetPoint's "game mode", you'll also have to change the section in user.xml dealing with game mode. Otherwise, the change will fail as soon as you run the game.
  4) Delete last_user.xml.
  5) Open SetPoint. In my case, I logged out of XP then logged back in to reload SetPoint.
  
  The end result is that outside of game mode, both the usual increase sensitivity and the thumb button both increase sensitivity. In game mode, only the thumb button increases sensitivity. This is because game mode has a different XML syntax than default mode. Conceivably this technique can be used to arbitrarily reprogram all of the buttons. Make sure you backup user.xml before charging in!
  
  I also lightened up the mouse a bit, going with 1.7g weights in the back row - so it's now 5 4.5g and 3 1.7g weights.
  
  Update - 2/14/2007 - Wore out the left mouse button (now it only works intermittently). I've been thinking of buying a zero tension mouse - where your wrist is in handshake position instead of pronated - and replacing its' movement engine with the G5's. Right now I'm using a stock Compaq mouse until I find a replacement. I don't trust wireless mice, so the G7 is out. Maybe if I can find an MX518...
  
  
  
• EXCELLENT MOUSE...but a bit awkward to the touch
  By A2AU73945ADTRR on 2006-08-11
  I've only had this mouse for 24 hours but I can tell you that for CS1.6, Czero or CS:S, if you don't have this mouse you might as well not have one at all.
  
  What I thought were registry problems between my PC and servers on which I played turned out to be tracking and precision problems with my $17 microsoft optical mouse.
  
  The G5 is limitless in its sensitivity and weight customizations and has notibly improved my play in the short time I've had it. However, the shape and size of the mouse is a bit awkward for my hands and I foresee cramping issues in the near future before my hand gets used to it.
  
  -PS "waltzing matilda"
  
  

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