Aug 12 2008
Logitech MX Air Wireless Rechargeable Mouse
Not much has changed in the world of the Graphic User Interface for the mouse, but with the advent of the Wii, we can see there’s a place for movement in screen-based navigation.
Logitech figured this out too, and has used it to get your mouse off the desktop. It doesn’t hurt that the mouse is also a stunner in terms of looks. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
A Mouse in the Air
The hallmark feature of the MX Air is the ability to pick it up and move your curser without a hard surface. It is ideal for presenters and couch potatos alike. The control you experience with the Air is similar to that of a Wii remote. Rather than hold down arrow keys on a traditional remote, you whisk your arrow across the screen with the flick of your wrist.
This mouse is natural and intuitive in its air-based maneuvering. It is direction independant, so you can be pointing away from your screen, but still move up and down it naturally (think presenting facing the screen with your back to your MacBook). It takes a little getting used to for precision control (and may even require an adjustment to your tracking controls). All in all, the airborne function of the MX Air is an unexpected surprise, and a killer for natural control of your media center or Keynote slideshow.
The Air on the Desktop
The MX Air makes a great mouse too. Its comfortable, and works well without drivers. I’ve had bad experiences with mouse and keyboard drivers from Logitech and others, so I appreciate a set that works ‘driverless’. Of course, if you’re in to reassigning all your buttons go grab the drivers and reassign to your heart’s content. The MX Air has a good balance of buttons. Right and left click, scroll (more about that later), volume, mute and back.
Mac Compatibility
As I mentioned above, the mouse gets good marks on compatibility. Without drivers, the mouse works great. The buttons mentioned above all worked as advertised.
Construction and Feel
The packaging Logitech put together is nothing short of Apple-esque. You get the feeling even before you get the mouse in your hand that you have something special. There’s a polishing cloth and brief instructions. There’s a charger that requires no syncing or setup. And then there’s the mouse.
I saved this part for last. The Air is probably the coolest looking mouse you’ll ever see. The thing is so sleek. When charging, glowing bars indicate the charge level. Those lights are accompanied by button labels and marks under the plastic skin that you won’t notice until they illuminate. These indicators light when the mouse is in motion and gently fade away when the excitement stops. I know its a little thing, but it gives you the feeling that you’re using something designed by Jonathan Ive.
The scroll wheel isn’t a wheel, its a panel you glide your finger up and down. It works well too. Audible ‘scrolly sounds’ replace the tactile feedback you’d get from a moving wheel.
Conclusion and Product Information
My immediate impression using this mouse was “why doesn’t everyone have one of these?” Then I looked up the price and found out why. It is not a cheap mouse. The whole experience – from the VIP packaging, and the amazing design to the ease of use (and price) – smacks of Apple. It is not cheap, but once you get it in your hands you won’t want to put it down. It is also a very forward-thinking peripheral as desktop Mac’s evolve into entertainment machines. You can tell I loved it. It is probably the coolest mouse our there – on the desk or in the air.
More at Logitech.com or buy it now at Amazon ($136 at press time).
