Not long ago we took a gander at the brand new Saitek Gaming Mouse, we now have a Logitech MX518 on our desks and we're trying to figure out what exactly they did to the plastic on the surface to make it look like a platinum-plated moonscape. The optical mouse with an optical illusion.
Like the Gaming Mouse the Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse comes with buttons for adjusting sensitivity- however, the MX518 has three levels of sensitivity with previous/next buttons for selecting which one to use. For those of us who never thought to bind sensitivity settings in Counter-Strike to keys on our keyboards this is a godsend. And, remember, you're adjusting REAL sensitivity this time, not just the games interpretation of your mouse input, meaning control is faster, smoother and more responsive whether you are using 800, 1200 or 1600. What's more, the resolution settings are hardware-controlled meaning it works flawlessly not only on Windows but Mac OS and Linux even though the software doesn't.
This means the MX518 is great for the graphics designer who hasn't already discovered the merits of a graphics tablet, and even better for the gamer who wants to slow down that ultra-responsive cursor for precision sniping.
I conducted a through study of the MX518s suitability for gaming. That is to say I played Counter-Strike: Source solidly for a few hours to see if it would enhance my dire marksmanship skills. Surprisingly, the MX518 did improve my gaming, the mouse is smooth, responsive and doesn't have a sleep mode. This means I could aim quickly and precisely, switching the mouse resolution between modes for sniper shots or up-close pistol mayhem, and I could also camp (sit still in one place) for insanely long times without the mouse falling into sleep mode and taking an extra precious second to wake up before I could aim. Several brownie points to Logitech for that feature alone!
There is not an awful lot else I can say about the MX518, it's your standard 5 button affair with an additional application button and the resolution switching buttons on the top. All of the buttons are comfortable and easy to reach. It's a delight to hold, and it boasts excellent in-game performance. Long story short, if you are looking for a great gaming mouse then you should buy one now. Alternatively you can wait for the Logitech C5 or C7 mice, but expect the price point to be considerably higher.
The MX518 has found its place alongside my laptop for general gaming use, displacing the Saitek Gaming Mouse to my desk at work where it matches beautifully with the Gamers' Keyboard. The lack of a sleep function brings the Logitech MX518 just that little bit closer to perfection for gaming, and is a department that the Saitek mouse, sadly, fails in. It seems that while Saitek have produced the King of Joysticks, Logitech still have the edge in the mouse department.
