Logitech MX900 w/ Dell 350 BT

Cool dude! I'm glad to hear that because that is what I will be getting so I can use Logigamer to assign all the extra buttons to gaming binds!

I have an MX 1000 on my gaming rig and a MX 500 on my browsing rig so the MX 900 will fit nicely with my XPS 2

Out of curiosity, how much battery life does it take off of you're laptop when using a Bluetooth mouse? I've been considering getting one for less hassle, and to free up that USB port since my 8600 only has 2 anyway. However, if it takes a significant amount of battery life away, I don't think it's worth it.

I usually leave bluetooth off on my laptop, since I don't use it often. So how much of an impact is turning it on and connecting to a mouse?

Logitech hub required?

jrbryner,
I have a question regarding your setup. Is the Logitech BT hub required for your Dell BT module and MX900 to work? Is not, can you use the extra keys on the MX900?

I have been reading the FAQ on Logitech.com. It says the hub is required but acts as an access point. Which makes hesitated buying a MX900.

3-4hrs? sheesh that's horrific. They should keep for a lot long than that, or at least I was under the impression they did. If your next batteries don't do better, tell us either way then I may keep off from logitech's bluetooth for awhile.

Tellerve

I was concerned with battery life as well, simply because the MX900 came with a charging cradle, so it was designed to be charged when not in use. Checked with a couple users, and with casual daily use, only needs charged once every couple weeks. That sounds about the same as the MS Bluetooth. For heavy non-stop 10 hours days, 3 days is pushing it on the batteries.

I get about one week of normal to heavy use out of my Kensington Bluetooth Pocketmouse and Energizer 2500mAh NiMH batteries.

hm, i get 2-3 days with the mx900.

complained to logitech, got a second mx900 thats also lasts 3 days..

had to remove battery lid and cut the usb on the charger on the old mx900.

but the old one works fine without the lid, so now 1 mx900 is always in the dock charging.

can the mx900 use 2300 batteries?

That's odd. When I got my MX900 I pressed the buton on the bottom (connect) and my 9300 found it, configured it and it was working in a very short amount of time. I didn't have to install any SW or drivers nor did I ever have to hook up the hub. I just use the hub for charging. All the buttons worked except the one right next to the LED with the two boxes (I assume it is designed to switch between open windows on your desktop but I would never use it anyway) The two scroll buttons next to the wheel worked fine as well as the wheel button itself. Forward and reverse worked as well.

As far as battery life, it is not the greatest. I use my 9300 mostly as a desktop replacement so dropping the mouse in the charger each night is not a big deal. The times I forgot, if I use it heavily it will not last through the second day. So for anyone looking for portability with this mouse I would advise against it. This is really for someone looking for a really nice home based cordless mouse that doesn't want to deal with a USB dongle or a hub if they have the internal card. The fact that it is full size and rechargable makes it a much better option than the MS Bluetooth in my opinion. I almost bought the MS one but the thought of changing batteries once a week (or less) was a deal breaker.

Those were the reasons I choose MS Elite Bluetooth over the MX900. (plus the fact that MS Bluetooth Elite desktop NEW was 25% less than refurbished MX900 Bluetooth Desktop combo).

Size is a little better for hand grip.
Size is much better for traveling when you throw in charger.
No need to worry about dragging a large charging base hub around. With the MX900 batteries would need to be removed and charged every other day, while the MS would last 2 weeks or more (or in the worst case, 4X as long). I have seen some reviewers of the MS bluetooth state same batteries are still in use after 2 months.

If you are like me, you already have AA batteries on a charger nearly every day. I rotate them in a trickle charger, so I always have fresh batteries to use with my Digital Camera, flashlights, razer, remotes, Garmin GPS, Etc.

I've heard that you need to use Logitech's Hub and software in order to use the other buttons. You can configure what they do in it's software, but the normal Windows drivers don't do anything with the extra buttons..

Not true. I didn't load any drivers from Logitech and I have use of the forward, back, scroll up, scroll down and wheel button. The only one that does not work is the one with the overlapping boxes (switch between open windows) button.

Now I do have the Dell drivers operating the 350 module. The ones licensed from Toshiba. I don't know if that has anything to do with the easy setup. All I had to do is press the connect button on the mouse and the lappy went into action setting up the connection and put a Logitech MX900 Mouse icon on my desktop. This icon takes me to the Bluetooth settings window that is part of the Toshiba driver/application package.

http://tinyurl.com/8l7mm

It is possible I had to press the 'New Connection' button on the Bluetooth Settings window while pressing connect on the mouse but that is it. I was expecting a big process of drivers and fiddling with it to get it to work properly and was blown away at how it just configured itself.

I did go back and try to install the drivers to get that one button to work but the install s/w was looking for the hub so I just canceled out. I don't really have a use to reprogram the buttons for other functions so I didn't research it any further. I'm sure some will want to reprogram these button's functions and will have to load the drivers.