More than five years ago (in 2005 I believe) Logitech introduced its wireless optical mouse model MX620. However, that launch was overcast by the much more sparkling event in the computer mice history—the introduction of the world first laser mouse Logitech MX1000.
Of course, MX1000 is one awesome mouse. It was undoubtedly the best one in the 2005 — 2007. But the MX620 (and its left-handed twin-brother MX610) was the most ergonomically perfect product of that times. Its simple yet carefully designed streamlined body fit the palm of hand (at least average sized one) like a glove.
There are a number of high-end mice manufacturers on the market nowadays. Only one of them—Razer—is focusing on the gaming mice, the rest are much less specific and make a lot of nice general purpose mice including such pretty interesting ergonomic solutions like Microsoft Natural Mouse. But none of them, in my strong and strictly personal opinion, can compete with the Logitech MX620 and its successors.
Obviously, the Logitech model MX620 is no longer in production, but it has enough time to become one of the Logitech’s most popular model and brought life to a number of different models like MX400—a wired and priced down variation. MX400 was lacking MX620′s steel wheel and some additional buttons but inherited its perfectly ergonomic form.
In 2010 MX series mice lost X is their names and, in the same time with a dozen of different new models Logitech M500 laser mouse was introduced.
And just like five years ago this launch was dimmed down by another one. This time it was perfect lower high-end Marathon M705 mouse. Its little more “shapier” muscular body looks like it’s a crossbreed of MX620 and MX1000.
The middle range mouse Logitech M500 won’t promise you three years of battery life like Marathon M705 but only because it’s wired and doesn’t need any batteries at all. On the other hand, it’s two times cheaper than the Marathon.
Ergonomically, M500 is a well known MX620, just more shiny, even more well-built, and significantly lighter since the lack of heavy batteries. All the great MX620′s features are here: the steel wheel with the hyper-fast scrolling (switchable) and the full (in mid range terms) set of buttons, as well as precision laser sensor.
Logitech M500 is a perfect replacement for the old wired MX400. However, if you’re looking for a MX620 replacement and think that a hundred bucks for the Marathon is too damn much, try M500. If you aren’t moving around with your laptop a lot or even if your main computer setup is a desktop, you will get used to the cordedness of M500 pretty quick.
There is no other mouse on the market you can buy for less than $40 that is partially as good as Logitech M500. All other options (and most of them are from Logitech again) are at least twice more expensive.