My Most Essential Tool for Design

I can sketch designs and record ideas on scratch paper with a random pen I pickup, but when it comes to design, I’m really picky about my mouse. It is the one tool that I can’t go without – the mouse definitely deserves more credit. Thought I’d do a quick review on my recent purchase.

I’m a pretty old fashion guy – no fancy tablets for me (just yet?), everything’s done on paper, then transfer onto le computer. After using quite a few mice intensely in the past couple of years, I sorda have a good idea on what I look for:
1.) Mobility- a lot of my design-process happen in coffee shops – the mouse has to be portable (not necessarily small, just not too bulky)
2.) Comfort – I spend more than 7 hours on a mouse, it has to be comfortable – a full-sized mouse.
3.) Smoothness (in performance. in look would be a plus) – Laser tracking for precise movement on various surfaces.
4.) Wireless – I don’t like wires and therefore, I also look for one that has long battery life.

A year later, I finally snapped and could no longer stand the magic mouse. So here come’s the Logiteh Wireless Mouse M510

↑Indeed, I was a sucker for good looks when I purchased the magic mouse. Slick design with multi-touch surface – hot dam. Soon after, I find it less of my expectation. Double the price, yet no significant advantages. (Not bashing on Apple; I still prefer my macbook pro over any of my previous computers.)

Quick comparison in design:

↑Hands down, the magic mouse looks better. Clean and smooth, but having a slick-looking device is no longer my priority.

Logitech vs Magic Mouse: Ergonomics
The moment I snapped was when I had to massage my hand while I wait for Photoshop to start-up.. because it hurts so badly from previous design sessions. Perhaps I have bad postures, but nonetheless, the magic mouse didn’t workout for me.

I even purchased a “Magic Mouse Fix” to improve it ergonomically – didn’t work.

The Logitech, on the other hand, fits my hand perfectly.

↑Been using it a few couple weeks now, so far so good.

Logitech vs Magic Mouse: Battery Life
I’m not sure if I were the only one, but I had to replace batteries for the magic mouse MONTHLY. No joke. It was sucking those battery dry like there’s no tomorrow. As far as I know, Logitech’s been pushing on its long battery life for this particular mouse. (I’ll update you in two years to see if I’d be changing any batteries then)

Multi-Touch vs 5 buttons
Perhaps one of the best features of Magic mouse. especially after installing [“Magic Pref”], I was able to bring out the full potential of the mouse. Though, not as flexible as the magic mouse, the logitech M510 has 5 programmable buttons ( button 3 can be tilted left and right for extra usage.)

↑ I use tilt left and right for page back and forward. Button 3’s not expose, 4’s show desktop, and 5’s dashboard. Works out pretty well.

Bluetooth vs USB
Magic mouse’s a bluetooth device, which I like very much. Less is more. Though, Logitech uses USB receiver, it’s INCREDIBLY small. And it’s compatible with multiple other Logitech devices.