9 ms·
I've had an MX Master mouse (the "2" for maybe 8-9 years then the "3" for 2-3 years now) and love it. Great performance, great battery life, fantastic design an
by loufe 2y ago
I've had an MX Master mouse (the "2" for maybe 8-9 years then the "3" for 2-3 years now) and love it. Great performance, great battery life, fantastic design and feel. On Windows I definitely do not love the 150Mb program to manage it (surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech.
I found Solaar a couple months ago after getting repeatedly frustrated with bluetooth connection issues. It really is exactly what it needs to be. Better interface than Logitech's, simple, lightweight. Devs have my thanks; what a great show of the goodness of open source software.
- hnuser123456 2y agoLogitech's might be a large download, but their Windows software still seems far more optimized than Corsair's. After a few days of uptime, Corsair's processes would have nearly an hour of CPU time. Logitech's would have a couple minutes at most. I replaced all my Corsair equipment with Logitech or others after seeing that.
- myself248 2y agoWhy does a mouse need an app, again?
- dmonitor 2y agoreprogrammable buttons, adjustable dpi, customizeable lights, etc
- Phlebsy 2y agoPersonally, I can understand that for initial setup but hate that the way they're implemented means that it has to always be running, and it frequently has to be restarted to recognize the mouse correctly and apply those settings. Many keyboards have figured this out and don't require anything to be running to keep their settings across multiple devices so it feels like logitech will never improve in this area for the sake of keeping their bloat/spyware on your machine.
- egypturnash 2y agoOne big thing your keyboards probably aren't doing that mouse drivers are: different settings for different apps.
- m463 2y agosome mice can have the config saved onboard, then don't require a driver.
- Brian_K_White 2y agowe need qmk for mice
- bloopernova 2y agoThe ploopy mouse has QMK. Layers on a mouse are very useful! https://ploopy.co/mouse/ https://ploopy.co/mouse/
- Brian_K_White 2y agonice
- MoreMoore 2y agoThis looks awesome. Now I just hope somebody will someday a 20 button version.
- eikenberry 2y agoAll of those should be state changes in the mouse.. IE. the software should run to make the settings then exit. There should be no reason for it to keep running.
- db48x 2y agoThey are.
- jsheard 2y agoLogitech's best kept secret is they do make a lightweight version of their software for exactly that, it edits the settings saved on the mouse and does absolutely nothing else. It's only available for Windows though. https://support.logi.com/hc/en-ca/articles/360059641133-Onboard-Memory-Manager https://support.logi.com/hc/en-ca/articles/360059641133-Onbo...
- pxc 2y agoLogitech's mice can't do basic things like output a key chord upon a button press using only what's available onboard, sadly. The onboard capabilities are more limited than they have to be, probably to drive people to G-Hub.
- bdavbdav 2y agoThey also allow you to manage the pairing of the unifying receiver from web which is neat.
- adzm 2y agoWow, this is amazing!
- MindSpunk 2y agoYou don't need to keep it open, it just puts itself in the auto run list on install and you can disable it from launching. The configuration is just state changes on the mouse
- RonaldDump 2y agoTheir best feature - and the one thing that I have most missed for years after moving to Linux - is automatically changing the active mouse profile based on the focused application. It's so powerful. Any custom buttons for any program, without ever having to think about it. On Linux, without it, I'm stuck manually cycling through the 3 on-board profiles.
- juancb 2y agoBecause there's a computer in your mouse and you need software on your host computer to talk to and peogram the mouse's computer. That of course would make it optional like with most programmable keyboards but then there's the need to manage pairing via their wireless dongles and then it quickly becomes necessary. Outside of it all being intentionally proprietary I don't see why they couldn't take an approach similar to VIA in managing their devices. There's also prior work for flashing microcontrollers from the web browser, I'm thinking of ESP32s specifically. https://www.caniusevia.com/ https://www.caniusevia.com/
- brokenmachine 2y agoLogitech devices are probably based on old code from older devices before WebUSB was a thing.
- bayindirh 2y agoTo be able to program all the configurable buttons, and upload the macros and settings to the profiles present on the mouse itself, so you can use all the features of your mouse, tailored to you, even if you don’t have the software on the target device you’re using your mouse. Yes, Logitech’s high end mice store settings themselves. The app is just a programming interface. It sometimes does per program profile switch, too, IIRC.
- lsaferite 2y agoAnd yet, my keyboard can do almost (no per-program switching) all of the same FROM A WEB PAGE. WebHID should be all that's needed for advanced input devices. If you want some sort of per-program profile switching, sure, release a dedicated app that handles sending a special HID command sequence to trigger a profile switch.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- xboxnolifes 2y agoAnd if Logitech had a webpage to configure settings, HN would be up in arms about not being able to configure while offline.
- Fnoord 2y agoWooting has their utility offline and online. I guess it uses WebHID.
- lsaferite 2y agoIf the webpage was required to be connected back to Logitech to function, yeah, deservedly so. If, like Via, it can run fully offline then all you'd need is to save the page for offline use and that would be acceptable.
- Scion9066 2y agoThey do have a web page to do pairing at least: https://logiwebconnect.com/ https://logiwebconnect.com/
- newsclues 2y agoExactly, the OS should have the functionality and UI.
- bigstrat2003 2y agoTo be fair, it doesn't. I have Logitech mice and I have never once installed an app for them. They work great just with normal USB HID drivers.
- happymellon 2y agoTo pair the mouse with the Universal Receiver/Bolt dongle rather than Bluetooth, and then to expose the other APIs such as battery levels.
- dmd 2y agoSo your mouse driver can have AI in it, apparently. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/software/logi-ai-prompt-builder.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/software/logi-ai-prompt-build...
- fwn 2y ago> So your mouse driver can have AI in it, apparently. Just to highlight: The offline installer (supposedly for business environments) does not include AI. It can be installed directly on top of the regular application. https://prosupport.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/10991109278871-Logitech-Options-Offline-Installer https://prosupport.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/10991109278871...
- dghlsakjg 2y agoIt doesn't need the app. You can use their stuff without it. If you want to use some of their more advanced features, you need to use the app. For example, I have it setup so that if my macbook is on, I can push my cursor to the far left of my windows screen and my mouse will automatically switch to the macbook bringing along anything in the clipboard.
- HeavyStorm 2y agoMy mouse have loads of features like programmable buttons. I don't think it should be memory resident - probably could work by opening, configuring, saving to firmware and shutting down, but at least its existence is justified. Wasn't it shit, I would be OK with it.
- sebazzz 2y agoBruce Dawson has a blog post about Corsair. Apparently their processes constantly leak handles.
- sirsinsalot 2y agoI found the Logitech software absolutely horrid, and a massive resource hog. There was weird agent software hogging CPU and using memory. Also, why does my mouse config software need AI features? Uninstalled.
- brewtide 2y agoSame. It also, on install, turned on a feature letting me know caps pick on/off every time I hit it ,but on the screen. It drove me nuts until I finally realized it started after installing... My new mouse. No need Logitech. It's a mouse.
- LeoPanthera 2y ago> surely sending a torrent of unnecessary telemetry data back to Logitech To give Logitech some credit, there's an off switch for "diagnostic data" right there in the settings.
- bigfishrunning 2y agoIf they want more credit, they should make it an on switch
- rizky05 2y ago[dead]
- ghjfrdghibt 2y agoI think it's implicit that a switch has to be on/off. Do you mean opt-in rather than opt-out?
- ziddoap 2y agoNot parent, but yes. A switch that must be turned on (opt-in), rather than a switch that must be turned off (opt-out).
- bdavbdav 2y agoThat would imply there’s a third, indeterminate state prior to opting one way or another (which is the ideal situation - ask on install with a non defaulted option)
- teddyh 2y agoA master programmer passed a novice programmer one day. The master noted the novice’s preoccupation with a hand‐held computer game. “Excuse me”, he said, “may I examine it?” The novice bolted to attention and handed the device to the master. “I see that the device claims to have three levels of play: Easy, Medium and Hard”, said the master. “Yet every such device has another level of play, where the device seeks not to conquer the human, nor to be conquered by the human.” “Pray, great master”, implored the novice, “how does one find this mysterious setting?” The master dropped the device to the ground and crushed it underfoot. And suddenly the novice was enlightened. — The Tao of Programming, Geoffrey James
- orev 2y agoThis says it’s for Linux, and a search doesn’t find a Windows version. Are you using this on Windows?
- loufe 2y agoI suppose that could have been clearer. I use Windows on my desktop and Linux on my laptop.
- bayindirh 2y agoI never had Bluetooth connection issues with my Logitech hardware, but I wanted mine to work without an OS (i.e. with a Bolt receiver). Solaar handled the pairing in 30 seconds flat, and I can't be happier. The only thing is, since Bolt doesn't look like proper BT to the OS, battery levels can only be monitored from Solaar itself.
- throwaway314155 2y agoWhat's a Bolt receiver?
- resoluteteeth 2y agoBolt is logitech's newer wireless protocol (with devices using a dongle rather than bluetooth) that's supposed to be more secure than the older one.
- seaal 2y agoI think the real highlight of the Bolt receiver is being able to pair up to 6 devices with just a single receiver.
- selcuka 2y agoThe old unifying receiver was also able to pair up to 6 devices.
- teekert 2y agoI think the real highlight is that it is not backwards compatible. So I now have an MX Keys and an MX Master 3s, both on their own dongle.
- bayindirh 2y agoIIUIC, Unifying receiver used a completely different protocol, but Bolt protocol is just supercharged Bluetooth with some low latency and encryption sauces on top.
- adgjlsfhk1 2y agoMy one gripe with Logitech mice is that none of their "office" mice support high refresh rate polling.
- jsheard 2y agoAlso they've been very slow to adopt optical switches compared to other brands, a handful of their high end gaming mice have them, but the vast majority of their range still uses the same old mechanical switches that tend to start erroneously double clicking after a while.
- bayindirh 2y agoIf your mouse starts double clicking, play a game of Quake 3 for an hour, or just click a bit more aggressively for the next hour. It clears the problem, per my experience. What I understood is, the switches on these mice (I have G700) are practically abuse-proof. However, they don’t like to be used lightly and start to glitch possibly from fine dust. Using the switches more aggressively cleans them up. My first generation G700 still works great.
- hedora 2y agoThat sounds like a job for contact cleaner, assuming it’s possible to non-destructively get a tube next to the switches. I’m about to open my second bottle. My first bottle is from the 1990’s.
- homebrewer 2y agoNo, it's a job for a sewing needle or a toothpick. Logitech switches can be temporarily fixed by disassembling the switch and adjusting the contact plate inside because it gets bent out of shape and stops registering the clicks correctly. But it's easier (and more reliable) to replace them with higher quality alternatives while you're in there.
- 2y ago
- nox101 2y agoIIRC I installed the Logitech software in a VM, programmed the the mouse, deleted the VM. All I wanted to do is turn off the rainbow LEDs Next time I get a new mouse I'll try Solaar.
- beAbU 2y agoSadly the MX family of mousen need the Logitech Software for customisation. It's not saved on the mouse, so if Logi Options is not running the mouse operates in default state, with no custom button mappings, etc.
- SparkyMcUnicorn 2y agoI've used the logitech g305 for at least 6 years now, and thankfully that one lets you write a profile to the chip on the mouse.
- gosub100 2y agoit works fine for me on windows, only annoyance is google maps, switching to street view, one wheel rotation unit acts like 15, so switches back and forth uncommanded to street mode and out
- kreelman 2y agoAwesome. Thanks for the info here. I have a couple of useful Logitech peripherals too. It should be quite useful.
- 0points 2y agoMay I suggest you use the bolt receiver instead of bluetooth, and you will have a much more reliable connection.
- jwr 2y agoThat might be true for Windows, on Mac OS I get perfectly reliable connections (years of usage with multiple mice) with Bluetooth. And I don't have to use any stupid dongles.
- 0points 2y agoI wouldn't know. This thread is about Solaar and i suggested parent try the reciever to resolve their bad connectivity. You telling us that your macbook is great helps who exactly? I am a solaar user on arch linux, btw ;-)
- ninkendo 2y agoUsing Linux with an MX Master 3S, I see noticeable lag sometimes when moving the mouse cursor around when using the bolt receiver. Using regular Bluetooth gives me no issues.
- 0points 2y agoParent had this exact issue: > getting repeatedly frustrated with bluetooth connection issues My suggestion to use the bolt reciever was in response to that. Why you suggest to me and parent to just forget about it because you have such great experience is depressing to me. I have the MX Master 3 and MX Keys Mini. Using Solaar on Linux for 2.5 years without a single issue. I did have more issues using pure bluetooth with an external bt antenna (intel bluetooth hardware).