Logitech G500 Programmable Gaming Mouse

This mouse's showcase is its macros. Unlike most Razer products, it can store layered keystrokes (Shift+Alt+Tab) as well as scroll wheel movements. I have a macro to switch between tabs in Firefox, this is made possible by that ability to combine keystrokes. I also have macros to switch weapons with the side button in FPS games and crouch jump with the middle button on the side. The cord is braided for those that like that sort of thing.

I have a few minor complaints which sum up to the half star off from being 5 stars, these are to be noted in addition to the main cons up above.

1. You can store delays in the macro software, but the only way to do this is to record a delay. On my Razer keyboard, I can add delays together in increments of 50ms-200ms. On the G500 there is no option to manually add a preset delay time.

2. The cord is rather stiff and sometimes catches on the edge of my mousepad and lifts it up.

3. The DPI settings are profile-specific, this is nice for when I launch a game since I don't have to manually crank up the DPI. However, I have so many profiles that I would rather just take the extra time to increase the DPI each time I game than have to constantly keep matching the current DPI setting across my profiles. Simply put, if you have a lot of profiles for different apps like your web browser, media player etc, your DPI will change to whatever you had it on last time you used that profile instead of using a global DPI setting. There is an advantage to this if you have a certain program that you need really low or really high DPI - you can edit that program's profile and move the DPI settings way down, and you won't have to give up one of your 5 DPI settings for it.

Overall a lovely mouse. It's got a nice size and fits my fingertip grip quite well.

The "best" shape for a mouse is personal, and for me this one works. The same goes for ideal weight, and the G500 comes with a small metal case with foam interior that holds 6x 4.5g weights and 6x 1.7g weights. The mouse itself has a plastic card inserted from the bottom that holds up to 6 of those weights.

The extra buttons on some mice are awkwardly placed and not useful in games. I can actually use all the buttons on this mouse without losing control in a first person game.

The sides of the mouse are covered in a rubbery, textured material that makes it easier to grip and feels great. After using mine for almost a year, there is a small hole worn through this layer where my pinky rests, exposing smooth plastic beneath.

The sensor is pretty good, but not the greatest. It has a small positive acceleration. If you use this mouse a lot, you'll become accustomed to it and then you'll be less accurate if/when you switch to a mouse with zero acceleration until you readjust.

The software looks wonderful. It apparently has some very nice features, including the ability to have your buttons automatically remapped depending on whether a certain application is open. For example, there is an option to bind the side buttons to keystrokes, and it would be handy if they'd change depending on what game I'm playing. Unfortunately, the software does not accurately detect what programs are running, and it does not automatically switch mouse profiles accordingly. I have to change it manually every time I change games.

One thing I liked a lot about the software was the DPI control. You can set 1 to 5 different speeds by moving sliders along a bar in the UI, and then pushing the DPI buttons next to your index finger will select between those custom settings. I found it very useful to precisely set different speeds for different vehicles and zoom levels that I could switch between in-game without having to fiddle with the in-game options menu.