www.logitech.com
$99.99
By: Sam Finch
As enthusiasts, we can readily point out and appreciate the differences between an elite, $400 motherboard and an entry-level $200 solution. Why is it, though, that we usually don’t have similarly discriminating tastes with our input devices? If we aren’t content with a motherboard that merely bears the requisite slots, ports, and connectors, why should we settle for a mouse that’s limited to point, scroll, and click? This year, go high-end: the extraordinary Logitech Performance Mouse MX is the best mouse you didn’t know you needed.
The Performance Mouse MX’s claim to fame is its Darkfield Laser Tracking. As optical/laser mice have evolved over the years, one stumbling block has remained an almost absolute constant—glass surfaces. Specifically, they suck for mice. Darkfield is appropriately named after dark field illumination. Putting complicated science lessons aside, rather than tracking a mouse’s LED or laser light as it reflects off a surface in order to pinpoint a mouse’s movement (speed and direction), the Performance Mouse MX’s Darkfield sensor instead uses dust and what Logitech calls “other residuals” as its pole stars, so to speak. The sensor treats any surface that the laser light primarily passes through as an opaque (hence, dark) surface, making the microparticles easier to track. On a glass or similarly transparent surface, and lacking a mouse pad, Darkfield is justifiably game-changing.

That being said, if you’re in the midst of Call of Duty tourney with prize money on the line and fractions of a second separating you from scoring a headshot or taking a dirt nap, do you really want to be caught without a mouse pad, regardless of surface? That’s the $100 question we’ll let you answer for yourself.
But while Darkfield may be of limited importance in the above scenario, the Performance Mouse MX’s other features display a craftsmanship that nonetheless make it a premium mouse. The mouse’s ergonomic design feels great (sorry, southpaws—the MX is strictly righties-only); the four thumb buttons (scrolling, zoom, and application switching) seem to be placed well, too. The MX’s scroll wheel adapts the scroll rate based on how hard you pull the ripcord. Deliberate folks can still scroll along gradually, but if you let ‘er rip, the scroll wheel can blast through a hundred-page document or 1000-line spreadsheet in a matter of seconds.
The Performance Mouse MX’s wireless mini USB receiver is also worth mentioning. Called the Logitech Unifying receiver, the nickel-sized adapter will connect to the MX and any other compatible Logitech peripheral (which happens to be a fairly short list right now). Provided Logitech adds to list of devices that support the Unifying receiver, it could save you a few USB ports in the process (we're using it with the K750, mentioned on page three of the gift guide).
If you’ve never taken the high-end mouse plunge, we think you’ll agree that there’s no better opportunity that to do so with the Performance Mouse MX.
- Headphones: Bowers & Wilkins P5
- Flash Drive: Kingston HyperX 128 GB USB 3.0 Drive
- Keyboard: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750
- Monitor: Dell UltraSharp U3011
- Custom PC: Digital Storm Black Ops Assassin
- Display: Samsung MD230X6 6 x 23" Display Array
- Networking: Netgear Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender WN2000RPT
- External Storage: Seagate GoFlex 1.5 TB USB 3.0
- Mini PC: VIA Artigo A1100 Pico-ITX Kit
- Mobile Phone: Dell Streak
- Mouse: Logitech Performance Mouse MX
- Network Storage: Thecus N4200 Pro NAS/iSCSI SAN
Agree. Those clothes weight too much.
are you kidding me?
Spoken like someone whose knowledge of female anatomy comes entirely from internet porn. That your chances of ever encountering the real thing are close to zero comes as a relief to women everywhere.
are you kidding me?
What? I'm not even sure you know what you're talking about..
Spoken like someone whose knowledge of female anatomy comes entirely from internet porn. That your chances of ever encountering the real thing are close to zero comes as a relief to women everywhere.
In a world where models have to live the most unnatural, unhealthy life just to be what the companies decide is pretty for the rest of us, this comment to these otherwise very thin women is the most out of place I've ever seen. Do you have any idea what words like these can do to some women? I'm shocked and really afraid to see an actual woman which answers your definition of "thin".
What? You don't want those girls? Perfect, I'll take them.
It's coming tomorrow!
Chris
Agree. Those clothes weight too much.
i have modeled on television. and these girls are solid.
ironically the digital storm pc is almost identical to the one i just built for myself.
if they ship girls that look like that with thier pc's ill never build my own again.
Overall great Article and loved all the selections even tho I didn't agree with the streak!
if anything they need to gain weight, i prefer my women healthy, not hefty mind you, but if i see bone it sets off red flags for me.
I think Toms realized that the blond in green isn't that good a looker so instead of putting a bag over her head they cropped the pic to not include it, lol. Funny stuff Toms.
Hope the models don't check the comments area cuz some of the comments on here are pretty blunt, 2 of them might get their feelings hurt.
Back to the article- why does the Assassin have 2 CPU coolers? Did they ship you a different model for photography?
Been a long time since I've actually commented on an article. I had to struggle to remember by username/password for this site...I'm glad I did. Now I can call you an idiot.... Idiot.