DiscFerret -- PCBs have arrived

[Philip Pemberton]

On 21/09/10 02:15, Jules Richardson wrote:
> On that note... yes. I like my Logitech rodents, but I always had a
> couple of spare mice in the junk pile, just because I knew I'd be using
> the microswitches sooner of later :-)

I was going to buy a bunch of the Omron switches Logitech used, except 
they were apparently a custom part. Cherry's equivalent is discontinued 
(and has a mechanical lifetime of only 5000 operations vs. 1e6 for the 
Omron part)...

... so I bought a bag full of Rapid's own "RVFM" brand switches. Specced 
for 1e6 operations, and cheap enough that if I need to swap a switch 
again I won't really care.

> Mind you, my mouse of choice for the last few years has been the
> Intellimouse. I never thought I'd find a good Microsoft product!

I've got a Logitech LX8 on my desktop, and a V450 Nano in the laptop 
bag. They're great little things, but I have had issues with them:

   - Soldering quality. The antenna on the LX8 came desoldered. 
Predictably, the operating range went from a few feet to about six 
inches. Fixed by disassembling it (lots of plastic clips!) and 
resoldering part of the RF section.

   - Switch quality. The Omron switches are utter crap.

But the good points definitely outweigh the bad:
   - The laser mice will track on just about anything, including the 
really nasty workbenches and computer desks in the university computer 
labs and library. The LX8 does REALLY nicely on my varnished pine desk, 
which has a reputation for upsetting cheap optical mice.
   - Radio range is pretty damn good (when the aerial is soldered down 
properly!)
   - Great battery life. Several months on a charged set of Eneloops or 
Duracells.
   - Spares availability. If I manage to lose the Nano receiver, they're 
available as spares for a shade under a tenner. Shame the glide-pads 
aren't on the spares list though :(
   - Ergonomics. Cheap mice tend to make my hand / wrist hurt after a 
while. I've never had that with Logitechs.

In short: if you're OK with having to perform surgery on the thing every 
year to replace the switches (or go through Warranty Claim Hell), 
they're fine. Frankly I'd just swap the switches, it saves one more 
piece of WEEE ending up in landfill.

Now if only I could find a source for some of the little Teflon feet 
that stick on the bottom... those things wear out FAST (or the glue 
fails, one or the other).

-- 
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/