- CNET Editors' Rating 8.5/10 Excellent Editorial policies >>
The good: Media-friendly features in a gyroscopic mouse; extra sensors always know that up is up, even if the mouse is turned sideways.
The bad: No trigger for gyroscopic mode may make it difficult for beginners to use; gyroscopic mice in general are an acquired taste.
The bottom line: The gyroscopic mouse finally gets a mainstream makeover with the Logitech MX Air, aimed at Media Center users.
Specs: OS Required / Type: Microsoft Windows XP; Form factor: External; Interface required: USB See full specs >>
Price range: $127.49 - $149.99
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 07/12/2007
There are a lot of reasons why you may want to move your mousing out of the standard 2D, flat-on-the-desk mode. For computer users with persistent hand and arm pain caused by poor ergonomics or repetitive motion (sometimes called mouse arm), gyroscopic mice like those in the Gyration line have been good solutions, letting users lift the mouse up off the table and control the cursor by moving the mouse through the air. Later on, home theater enthusiasts also discovered gyroscopic mice, and these devices have become a popular, if not exactly common, choice for controlling the functions of a Media Center PC from the living room couch.
The MX Air is aimed clearly at the home theater market. Besides left and right mouse buttons and a touch-sensitive scroll panel (replacing a traditional scroll wheel), the mouse includes a dedicated Play/Pause button that works in most media-playing apps, and a volume button. When the mouse is on a desk, the Volume button mutes and unmutes the sound. When you pick up the mouse in your hand, hold down the Volume button and move the mouse to the left or right, and a volume meter will pop up on the screen, allowing you to raise and lower the volume with a wave of the hand. Logitech's included driver software lets you reprogram these buttons as well.
The mouse has a built-in rechargeable battery, and sits in a small recharging dock when not in use. A tiny RF receiver, about the size of a USB memory key, plugs into a USB port on your system.
With other gyroscopic mice, if you hold the mouse sideways and move your hand up, the cursor will still go sideways. We especially liked the extra sensors in the MX Air, which forced the cursor to move in the direction we moved our hand, no matter the physical orientation of the mouse. One feature we missed, however, was an underside trigger, common on the Gyration mice, which could be used to freeze the cursor while the mouse is in the air. It makes for much more precise movement, especially when trying to click onscreen buttons. Instead, the MX Air offers the option of an oversize cursor while the mouse is in the air, making it easier to see and control.
It takes a good 24 to 48 hours to get used to, but trying out a gyroscopic mouse can be an eye-opening experiment for any desktop or laptop user.
User opinions
Rating from 3 users
WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW How would you rate this product?
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4/10 Mediocre January 24, 2008
"If you are used to the Gyration air mouse, this will be a problem" Read more >>
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9/10 Spectacular May 8, 2008
"I am deadly in love with this mouse," Read more >>
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9/10 Spectacular April 7, 2008
"Best mouse used yet" Read more >>
- WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEWSee all 3 user opinions >>
Where to buy
| Store | CNET Certified | In stock | Shipping | Price |
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Yes | $4.99 | $127.49 |
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Yes | Free | $136.82 |
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Yes | $7.99 | $129.99 |
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Yes | $5.65 | $139.00 |
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Yes | $8.97 | $139.99 |
See Logitech MX Air prices from 17 stores.
