Call me crazy, but I’ve never been a big fan of the Apple mice. I’m a quick mover on the computer, constantly multitasking and clicking between different windows and Spaces, and even the wired Apple Mouse could never keep up with me. Logitech’s Anywhere MX is the only mouse that has been able to offer what I need, so I’m curious to see if the company’s two new offerings are just as effective.
The shiny, ergonomically shaped Touch Mouse M600 features a responsive touch surface that works the same as the Magic Mouse. Swipe down and your page follows. Swipe to the left, and Exposé shows the windows you have open. The scrolling behaves a lot like on your iPhone, but it works best if your mouse is free of fingerprint marks. Beyond that, I was disappointed that there weren’t more gestures available. The mouse is supposed to utilize Flow Scroll software to provide smoother scrolling for browsers, but it’s only available for PC users. As a result, there are no back and forward gestures or buttons for the Mac, which does not promote multitasking.
The M600 is good at quickly switching between windows and dragging things around, but finicky when working with programs like InDesign. The angle that the index and middle fingers rest at felt awkward, and sometimes the multi-touch didn’t properly respond to my fingers. I also had difficulty navigating the document because of the M600’s multi-touch. This is not a mouse for power users, but rather the casual web surfer.
The Cube is something completely different. About the size and weight of a Bic lighter, it can be used as a portable mouse for your MacBook and as a slideshow remote. Its tiny size allows room for only one finger to scroll up and down and left-click. To right-click, you move your index finger lower, and then click. It sounds odd, but it’s actually very intuitive after a bit of practice.
Using the Cube as a presentation remote also has a bit of a learning curve. After you click play, you can pick up the Cube and left-click to advance forward, and then flip over the Cube, point it at yourself, and click its back to go back a slide. It may sound confusing, but it’s easy to remember after a few tries. Unfortunately, you can’t use the cursor during a presentation, so highlighting and using the pen are out of the question.
The Cube charges with a microUSB port via a USB port or a power adapter, and a full battery is good for up to a week. A light indicator on the side lets you know when it’s time to plug it in. The M600 also has an interesting battery situation: you can use either one or two AA batteries, and the mouse will last between three and six months. Both devices connect to the Mac via the Logitech Unifying receiver, which allows you to connect up to six Logitech devices at once.
The bottom line. The M600’s finicky optical sensors and weird multi-touch offerings are too complicated for my multitasking needs, so I’ll stick with what I’ve got. However, I’m definitely looking to the Cube as a mouse to use while I’m away from my desk.
Touch Mouse M600
Logitech
logitech.com
Price: $69.99
Requirements: USB port for the receiver, one or two AA batteries
Pros: Fast tracking. Uses multi-touch for scrolling up and down, as well as a gesture for switching between windows. Takes either one battery or two.
Cons: Not a good mouse for power users. Multi-touch doesn’t always respond properly. Flow Scroll software for smooth scrolling only available for Windows users.
Cube
Logitech
logitech.com
Price: $69.99
Requirements: Mac OS 10.5 or later, a USB port for the receiver
Pros: Small and compact. Uses multi-touch scrolling gestures. Also works as a presentation remote.
Cons: Learning curve for using the mouse. Can’t use the cursor in presentation mode.
