Capsule Review: Logitech's G100s, G500s, and G700s Gaming Mice
by Dustin Sklavos on March 30, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Mouse
- Peripherals
- Gaming
- Logitech
The Logitech G-Series Software
One thing peripheral vendors have been notoriously awful about has been software. I was never especially happy with the software Corsair uses, to say nothing of Thermaltake's and even Logitech's older software. The old G500 used the SetPoint software kit, separate from their gaming software, but with the new G series, all of the new mice and keyboards fall under a single unified software umbrella. This is immensely appreciated, as most vendors are using separate drivers and software for each of their products.
As it turns out, the G-series software is pretty good, too, and remarkably simple. Someone at Logitech seems to have decided that existing software was too clunky or not functional enough, because this software is lightweight and incredibly easy to use.
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Strangely, the G100s is the only one of the three mice tested that has more than one configuration page; one page handles the DPI levels while the second handles the limited button configuration. It seems really bizarre that they would take that approach with this mouse, as it's unnecessarily involved. Nonetheless, the software is very simple and intuitive, something that will be consistent across these three products.
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When you get to the G500s, you see most of the same functions as the G100s but lose some granularity in the sensor; the "Advanced" settings are all gone. The first window actually lets you choose between storing your settings in the mouse's on-board memory or storing them in software; from there it takes you to the single configuration window. Changing a button's setting is as easy as clicking on that button in the window, where a dropbox lets you choose between using the default or going to a page that lets you assign a macro, key, or basic mouse function (including multimedia controls.)
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Finally, the G700s ups the ante one more time by allowing you to store and toggle between up to five different profiles, but other than that it's essentially identical to the configuration options for the G500s. It does add the ability to choose a power mode, and I found the Max Gaming mode was enough to make the wireless connection undetectable; under the other two, there's just a little bit of perceptible lag even with the mouse right next to the receiver.
This is really clean, well made software and a major step forward for Logitech. If it loses anything, it's that it's not as robust as the ridiculously configurable Kone mice from ROCCAT. Those mice use illumination to identify different profiles, and they're frankly still going to be almost ideal for users who want to get as much utility out of their mice as humanly possible.
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Lyianx - Thursday, April 11, 2013 - link
"Unlike the G500s, there's no LED on the mouse to tell you what speed it's running at,"Um, yea there are bud. Those 3 lights on the side serve multiple functions if you bothered to read up on the mouse.
1. Default is a battery level (Green, Blinking Red when low)
2. When switching between profiles, it indicates what profile you are on (Orange)
3. When switching DPI, it tells you what DPI profile you are on (Red) {since they are not set and programmable, it uses profile number)
LifesABeta - Sunday, April 14, 2013 - link
Anandtech should do in-depth mouse reviews like GPU, CPU, Monitor, mobile phone etc etc. I see Dustin takes note of upgraded DPI levels for example for the g500s. Casually mentioning the DPI has been increased to 8200. What he didn't mention was the sensor being used. Most likely the avago-9800 laser sensor. From there he could've tested for hardware built-in acceleration. Also, tracking accuracy, i.e. how accurate the mouse will track relative to sudden burst of movement speed and also at differing level of DPI. There's a whole world of in-depthness that mouses can be put through and should be.Riddick51PB - Thursday, April 18, 2013 - link
Question: Is the laser in the G500s a "predictable" laser? I'm trying to get a mouse that doesn't have a predictable laser.boomerbsg - Saturday, May 25, 2013 - link
I registered to say. Recently getting back into pc gaming after quite a few years of console gaming. I upgraded my Xeon x3220 to an i7, and my GTX 460 to a GTX 660Ti. I dusted off my Saitek II keyboard (still works great, through 3 moves and being tossed in boxes etc), and my G500 thats years old (I think I've had it easily since its original release date, I still have my old MX518 as well.This G500 has been tossed around, fallen to the floor, kicked, swung, beaten up badly, braids on the cords have been tangled, and cut to see bare insulated wire beneath, and it STILL functions perfectly! I'm in the market now to replace it.. but not because it doesn't work like it should I just want something new, and thanks to this article the G500s will be purchased within a weeks time.
Razer products dont fit my hand well enough, and I've never liked them in general. My money will always go to Logitech for my mice, I know I paid a pretty penny for this G500 on release, and got my moneys worth out of it tenfold.
cheers
anon29929292992 - Friday, May 29, 2015 - link
Had this G700 mouse fora few years now. Good mouse contour/shape design but the wired connection port on the mouse has now gone bad from plugging and unplugging....I use it on 2 computers...1 wired 1 wireless...meaning the mouse now disconnects constantly during wired use....in overall the quality isn't 5 stars with most of their products and it's usually due to a mixture of hardware and software....I expect more for $50+ products that are priced this high.