Logitech MX300 Optical Mouse

Review by Michael Tran on 06.03.03
Cowritten / edited by Harry Lam

Introduction:

Logitech's MX Series:

Logitech's new MX series of mice are made up of the MX300, MX500, and MX700. This MX features Logitech's new MX optical technology. MX300 preserves the "time-tested" shape of Logitech's most popular line of mice: their standard optical wheel mouse. The MX500 and MX700 feature a new shape that fits the contours of your hand. The MX700 is a fully cordless model, with all of the advantages of the MX500, and without any of the disadvantages that are present in previous generation cordless mice.

Why Optical?

Ball-based mice are dependent on a central ball and roller design, is based on a kinetic principle.  When the mouse moves, the central ball will move, in turn moving rollers which are connected to digital "sensors" that measure the amount of movement. Optical mice use light instead of kinetic movement. All optical mice have an oblique beam of light that illuminates the surface beneath the mouse. An optical sensor observes the surface through the lens and takes "snapshots" every 1/2000ths of a second and transforms the differences between these snapshots into movement.