Installation

As with most mice, installation was quick and painless. After making sure the battery pack was charged and in the mouse, the receiver just needs to be plugged into a USB port (either the one on the charger station or any other one), and the mouse should be detected and be made ready to use by Windows. No reboot was needed, and all the buttons worked fine, with the thumb button acting as the "Back" button in applications. However, if you wish to install SetPoint, Logitech's drivers and customization software for the G7, you may need to reboot after installation. (Note that SetPoint is not needed to use the mouse but if you want to customize button assignments then you'll need to install it.)

As with other mice, SetPoint allows you to assign a multitude of functions, beyond to default, to just about any button on the G7. This is almost overkill, but for those used to this high level of customization, Logitech has ensured that this functionality is fully present and working. There is also a game settings page that allows the mouse to be configured so that only default button presses are sent when playing games, overriding any custom assignments you've made to the mouse buttons. This can be useful in certain situations. The low battery level can also be set to give you an on-screen warning when the battery has reached anywhere from 5-30% of a full charge, with the default being 10%.

SetPoint also adds a special page for customization of the sensitivity features of the G7. By default, the G7 is configured for three sensitivity settings, 2000, 800 and 400 dpi, from most to least sensitive. Two more can be set, for a total of five, in increments of 50 dpi. You switch between these different sensitivity levels by using the two buttons beneath the scroll wheel, and the three status LEDs glow in orange to indicate the current setting. For example, with five different settings, the lowest one will be indicated by the only the bottom LED on; the next will have the bottom and middle glowing; the third has only the middle LED on; the fourth has the middle and top LED on and the highest has only the top LED on.

Sensitivity can also be set independently for the horizontal and vertical axis, if you find yourself moving too fast along one axis - though I didn't use this feature, it could be quite useful for some. Overall, the software is very robust and versatile and shouldn't let anyone down.

Testing

Having used this mouse for about a month now, I can say that I am fully satisfied and very happy with it. It is definitely the most accurate wireless mouse I've ever used, and probably the most accurate mouse I've used period.

Starting with the comfort, I don't think any right-handed user will find the G7 uncomfortable. Logitech went with a proven design, one that did quite well with the MX700/MX518 mice, and has carried over nicely into the G7. From the contoured shape to the bigger size offering more hand support and the easy to reach buttons, this mouse was made to be very comfortable to use for extended periods of time. My only complaint would have to be the ultra-smooth exterior of the mouse; while it makes it look shiny and attractive, I would have much preferred a grip surface on the sides as featured in previous Logitech mice. Why they decided to change this with the G7 is beyond me.

All of the buttons were also very responsive and provided proper feedback so you'd always know when a button had been activated. They were also not too loose and so they did not have too much play to them. The scroll wheel was nicely notched, and along with the side scrolling, was very easy to use. The sensitivity adjustment buttons were also with easy reach and made on-the-fly adjustments a breeze.

My only complaints here would be the lack of another thumb button. While having one thumb button is nice, having two is even better, and with other high-end mice offering even more buttons, I felt that the G7 should not have removed the second thumb button featured on previous Logitech mice. I also found the wheel to be a little too tight, requiring too much pressure to activate, and thus occasionally causing an unwanted scroll of the wheel as a result.

Precision and accuracy was top notch. Every movement, no matter how small or fast was reliably detected by the G7 and never did I feel frustrated by its performance, whether on the desktop on in games. It was a joy to use this mouse in Counter-Strike, and UT2004 and the sensitivity adjustments worked flawlessly. Being able to see the sensitivity level and battery level on the mouse was very nice, and even if you don't game, the sensitivity adjustments can be nice even in desktop situations.

I didn't notice any lag from the wireless connection, though I have read reports of some interference when things like wireless routers are placed too close. Personally, I have an 802.11g router in the same room as the G7 mouse as well as a 2.4 GHz cordless phone; I didn't notice any interference from these. The mouse was also very easy to move, as it glided effortlessly thanks to the large low-friction feet present on the bottom. The G7 also felt lighter than a regular cordless mouse and thus did not create fatigue even after long periods of use.

Battery life was very close to what was advertised. On average, I got about 10 hours of usage out of a single battery pack; this usually amounted to between two to three days of normal usage. However, if you're doing a lot of gaming, say on the weekend, you may find that the mouse will only last you just over a day or so. While this is very short, with the two batteries you will never find yourself in a situation where you don't have battery power for this mouse, and swapping out batteries takes only a few seconds. I still would have wished for a longer battery life though, as previous Logitech mice I've used have lasted much longer on a single charge, though it should be mentioned that these mice were not "optimized" for gaming. With the default low battery level warning of 10%, I found that there was about an hour left of gaming time before the battery fully expired, so ample time is given.

Conclusion

The G7 doesn't disappoint and Logitech has delivered another top-notch mouse product. With its impressive suite of features, from on-the-fly sensitivity adjustments to quick-charging batteries, and its high level of precision and accuracy, the G7 is a solid product for any consumer, especially the gamer. The unique setup of making the charger separate from the receiver adds more value to the G7, allowing it to be used more easily and shows that Logitech is thinking along multiple paths on how to improve their products. The G7 also provides a superior level of comfort, and is especially noticeable during long periods of usage. The frequent need for recharging is somewhat offset by the inclusion of two battery packs to ensure there is no downtime, and the other minor cons do not detract from the fact that the G7 is an impressive mouse.

Pros:

• Easy to setup and use

• Very comfortable design/shape

• On-the-fly sensitivity adjustments

• Very accurate and precise

• Lag-free wireless connection

• Dual Li-Ion battery packs

• Battery/Sensitivity indicator LEDs

• Separate receiver/charger

• Useful software allows extended customization

Cons:

• Battery life only around 10 hours

• Second thumb button needed

• Exterior too smooth

Many thanks go out to Logitech for making this review possible.