First Thoughts: Logitech G9
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
I just got a brand new Logitech G9 by mail today. A lot of people overlook indicators of the quality of a mouse (shape, durability, friction) in the search of sleeker mice with more buttons and higher DPI. The Logitech G9 appeals both crowds. I can safely say that it is the best consumer mouse on the market, and it probably will remain the best for a while. Even the packaging has a nice, clean elegance. It is split into two triangular sections: one has the mouse, and the other has the extra cover, weights, and the manual. The two pieces of the box are held together by a small magnet, so the package makes a satisfying click when opened. At the center of attention is the mouse itself. And this attention is not unearned — Logitech G9 has some very impressive technical aspects. The coefficient of static friction is 0.14 – it feels like skating on glass. It also has adjustable weights, up to 28g. One of the under-promoted features of the G9 is the snap-off covers, which allow you to choose from three different widths to fit your hand. The reason why a lot of gamers are buying this mouse is the 3200 DPI precision. One pixel corresponds to 8μm (about 1/10 the width of a human hair) at full sensitivity. Yeah, you read that right! If the hardware wasn’t enough for you, the software of the G9 is positively stunning. Logitech decided to add onboard memory, so the mouse can remember all the settings you created, even if it is attached to a Mac or Linux computer (you still have to do the initial setup in Logitech’s Windows-only SetPoint). The built in LED’s on the mouse have adaptive color filters, allowing you to choose from 204 distinct colors to represent each profile. The G9 even comes with its own version of SetPoint, called SetPoint 5. I found it way easier to use than any of the previous versions of SetPoint, or anything Microsoft or Razer have produced. Here are some screenshots for a closer look at SetPoint 5: [1 2 3]. This quality does come at a price. The mouse responds so fast, that if you have acceleration on, you may notice significant processor use (about 1% use on a low-end Core2 Duo, which equates to 5% on a Pentium 4). Also, it costs a whopping $99 to get your hands on this device. However, if you are a hardcore gamer, the Logitech G9 is the perfect mouse for you.
