Logitech MX518 Optical Gaming Mouse

This is an excellent gaming mouse. It can be used in either a USB or PS/2 port (unlike some gaming mice which only work in USB slots). The best thing about this mouse is the adjustable dpi levels. You can set up to 5 different speeds to be used in a game, so if you find the max dpi a bit too fast (as I did) you can drop down to any other speed that you have set.

The design of the mouse is also excellent. The buttons are positioned so that you can't accidentally press them mid-game (as I've done with a previous gaming mouse I owned).

Verdict: It's a bit expensive but if you're a heavy FPS gamer then I think this is just about the best mouse you can own. My Counter Strike kills have improved dramatically since I bought this.

First off, i have got to say, this is a right-handed mouse only, the features are designed solely for right handed users. Lefty's look elsewhere...

OVERVIEW_

For me as a buyer, i rarely look at the five-star reviews. in general, they're mindless praise, they're un informative, and not thought out. i like people to give honest opinions on what they've bought, and let me know of what flaws i will run into if i buy this mouse myself. which is what i will fully intend to do, as i continue...

DELIVERY_

my package came well on time, i was kept well informed of when my purchases should arrive, and they came bang in the middle of my three day window and in perfect condition. everything was well padded, i also ordered some PC speakers, so this padding i was very glad to see. i have come to expect knocks on product packaging as the products fumble through various warehouses, thrown onto vans, stacked and restacked as things are eternally moved around. but this was well and trully not the case, both products were like they'd been lifted off the production line.

5/5

ACCESSORIES_

the mouse comes with a drivers CD, a manual, and a usb to PS/2 adapter which is crucial if you have a shortage of USB ports, a case on many older PC's. it worked straight out of the box with no drivers needed. but i installed these just to be on the safe side. There was no bumph or twaddle, just everything you needed to get going.

5/5

APPEARANCE_

this is a silver and black mouse, the dark "spots" you see on the picture, are indeed on the mouse itself, they are not indents or grooves, the surface of the mouse is streamlined and smooth. they just comprise the inner stylings of the mouse. When i first came to look at the design in my hands, it really took me a long time to get used to, my initial reaction was "what were they thinking, these spots are in no obvious pattern, and in no way adding to the effect of this mouse" but then, first impressions are often wrong. i've now come to love the distinct quality of the mouse, the spots attract you to it, and they are so mouch more interesting than a plain solid colour that is on almost every other mouse on the market. they make it individual and unique.it makes you want to do something.

5/5

EASE OF USE_

where this mouse shines, it has a thumb groove on the left hand side, and the two buttons on the left are always very easy to click. i use the extra buttons daily for photo editing, and gaming, and just two more buttons at your fingertips makes all the difference. the mouse fits easily into an adult hand, the mouse is a good solid weight, and yet it glides smoothly over a mousemat. the sensitivity switches, are instantaneous, and again, extremely handy in photoediting, more-so than gaming, where i found changing sensitivity to be hightly offputting.

5/5

FAULTS_

the only faults i can see with this mouse, is that it cant be used, or at least, it would be very uncomforatable to use if you were left handed.

the rest really is flawless.

go buy one now!

General info on high dpi mice:
1600dpi isn't needed for gaming. 1200dpi is quite sufficient, though the price on electronics is falling all the time so if you want to treat yourself, then do go for a 1600dpi mouse. At the time of writing, the highest dpi mouse available is 2000dpi. The larger the dpi, the more sensitive the mouse. Low sensitivity of mouse causes it to move unpredicatably and also means it does not work as well upon shiny surfaces. With very low sensitivity mice (ie under 599dpi) you lack control and overshoot your target.

General info on the mouse:
Just over 13cm long, 6.5cm wide, and just over 4.5cm high. Not heavy. Fast response time.

Problems with the mouse:
The biggest issue is whether you will find the mouse comfortable. Logitech mice have quite a large but comfortable hump. If you have small fingers then this is the best gaming-standard mouse available (at time of writing). The only other company who I'd consider buying a gaming-standard mouse from, Razerzone, sell mice which are substantially longer, with less hump. My fingers can not reach to the mouse wheel on Razerzone mice. However, if you have large hands then your little finger is likely to trail on the desk when you use this mouse. There is no groove on the right of the mouse for your little finger to sit on. This is only a problem if you got medium-big fingers (for a guy).

Other considerations:
The Logitech mouse lets you set it's sensitivity to multiples of 50. I normally have it at 1000dpi. I never use the mouse at 1600dpi for two reasons.
Firstly it doesn't cope well with major accelerations at it's maximum dpi. So if I turn rapidly and suddenly it will struggle. At a lower dpi (1400 or below) it is fine - no problems even when I do fast spins.
Secondly if you want to keep the amount of desk space you use to turn 180degrees the same, the higher your mouse dpi, the lower your the in-game sensitivity will need to be set. The smaller the number you are changing the higher the % change of the number. With older games, at 1600dpi I am making 3% changes with each setting change, and this is too inaccurate.

Summary and few extra points:
why buy?
- play FPS games
- happy to splash out a bit for a nicer mouse which performs well at 1400dpi or less
- need to change your mouse sensitivity on-the-fly. if you can't think of a situation where you need to then you don't need to.

why not to buy?
- large hands/fingers (look into Razerzone)
- already have a 1200dpi mouse (if you think you need a 1600dpi mouse then get a mouse-mat and/or learn to aim)
- want a left handed mouse
- want to do fine-detailed 'art' using the mouse (go buy a graphics tablet)

neat things which are not really in the equation:
- there's a quick-program-switch button on the mouse that I rarely use. Alt+Tab on the keyboard works fine for me.

Final advice, if unsure it's for you, there's several mice of identical shape (check the logitech website) ... find someone who has one and check you like the feel.

Unsure whether to get this mouse or a razerzone, and can't do the piece of advice above? Then go by the handsize advice I gave earlier. Still unsure? Then get this one.

4 stars and not 5 because you can't change DPI by less than 50dpi in a go (not a big issue) and the black is coming off on the circular "logitech" logo below where the palm goes. I'd rather the logitech logo was plastic like everything else and thus didnt lose it's paint like it is now. Good buy. Am happy with it.

By the way, on-the-fly sensitivity changing is adored by some, unused by others. Personally I dont use it. It's not essential in any way.