Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
| reply to BlitzenZeus
Re: [Rant] Logitech Quality has gotten far worse
said by BlitzenZeus  :Seriously Logitech can't tell me where to find this battery when some oem even put a Logitech sticker on it for them?? Talk about planned obsolesce, and e-waste from something so easily replaceable. That could well be the idea. Personally, I've never been a fan of products that use non-user replaceable batteries (e.g. couldn't Logitech have perhaps built a AA/AAA battery compartment into the device instead?) and your post helps illustrate why. It's not so much the e-waste that bothers me as much as the idea of flushing money away by having to toss something that can be fairly easily fixed does.
Like: »www.sewardweb.com/applepromouse/
Of course, it's only fair to acknowledge that Logitech only makes money when they sell end users new gear, not when they help them to maintain their old stuff.
Anyway, if Logitech can't/won't tell you where to find a replacement battery, why not start an "identify this battery" thread under General Questions and see if one of the geeks knowledgeable folks who frequent the forum can help to identify the battery?
--
We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
|
BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to BlitzenZeus
My replacement wireless mouse(mx revolution) isn't doing so great, I've had it for a month, the middle button(scroll wheel) seems to be getting looser with use, and pressing down the scroll wheel is only intermittent unless you really hold it down. I had to go back to using it as I had been using it for years with all my other mice. It will also respond more than once at times when pressing it down once. Seems like yet another poor design for a scroll wheel.
So I've opened up my old mouse, and I'm gonna try to replace the battery.
The battery doesn't need to be soldered as long as I can find another with the same connector, it has a standard connection as long as the polarity is the same, otherwise I can just twist wires to change the polarity. I can probably find something pretty easily, 1700 mah li-ion, 4.2v, as long as it's able to accept the same type of charge.
Seriously Logitech can't tell me where to find this battery when some oem even put a Logitech sticker on it for them??
Talk about planned obsolesce, and e-waste from something so easily replaceable.
--
My hourly rates:
$25 per hour.
$35 per hour if you want to watch.
$45 per hour if you want to help.
$75 per hour if you tried to fix it, and failed.
$125 per hour if you called tech support, and didn't fix the issue while making things worse |
|
Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
1 edit | reply to La Luna
said by La Luna :I know this topic is basically about mice, but someone else mentioned it and I have to agree.....it drives me nuts when the letters wear off the keyboards, UGH. I've had that happen to every keyboard I've had (Microsoft and Logitech). I think I'm working on my third or fourth right now. The keyboard itself works fine, but the damn letters are gone from the most used keys. I can type fine without them, but it looks crappy and other people who occasionally use my computer have issues with not being able to see the lettering. Why can't they make the lettering so it doesn't come off?  Have you looked into the possibility of seeking out an older keyboard with laser-etched (or, better yet, dual injection molded) keycaps and swapping keycaps with your newer one?
I don't know what the stems of the keycaps for the newer keyboards look like, but it might be worth rummaging around a local thrift store or two to see if you could do this. [shrugs]
Are there any keyboard manufacturers that now boast about using laser-etched keys on their keyboards? I mean, have keyboards now been cheaped-out to the point where having laser-etched keys is considered a major bragging point?
--
We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
|
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to HuKaShI
said by HuKaShI :So when this mouse fails again in about a year, i'll just call in again and get a new one!!! Kind of blows away their scheme of cheaping out in manufacturing.
-
does the warranty period "reset" with the new replacement device or is it whats left on the original device?
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee |
|
Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31 | reply to DataDoc
Certainly would keep the fecal matter of the bristles. Never will forget that episode of Myth Busters. 
--
"Facts not FUD!" |
|
DataDoc
My avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC
 ·Suddenlink
| reply to Grail Knight
I'm gonna try that with one of those toothbrushes that change color as it wears, so it'll last longer. 
--
"You see what you want to see, and you hear what you want to hear" - The Rockman |
|
Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to La Luna
quote:
Why can't they make the lettering so it doesn't come off?
They could but the cost would shoot up.
I did this for my Logitech MX 3000 keyboard.
Popped off the keys and put them on waxed paper then sprayed them with a coat of Super Clear plasti kote paint.
Same thing w/ the mouse. Removed the shell and sprayed it.
All said about 45 minutes worth of time and a quarters worth of plasti kote.
The lettering so far looks just as good as it did when I first bought it. Same with the mouse.
--
"Facts not FUD!" |
|
BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to La Luna
They changed the method to a cheaper, and faster method considering the avg lifetime of a package consumer computer usually is 4-5 years unless the people don't do much more than browsing the web and e-mail. However all of these were the cheap oem keyboards to begin with. Instead of methods like laser etching they used silk screening, or other similar methods.
I have a museum of keyboards...
An very old Logitech rf Cordless, still works to this day, ps2 connection, and even came with an AT adapter for those with older motherboards. Most computers still have ps2 connections, but most people don't even really use them anymore. This keyboard was made with the older methods, the keys are not quiet, the letters were etched into each key. I didn't intentionally replace it, I got another desktop set for another computer, and once that old computer was no longer worth using I just retired that keyboard.
I also have the logitech rf cordless sitting around from the above desktop set I mentioned, the mice no longer worked as it should. I replace this keyboard as I wanted something with a longer range to use across the room.
I got the mx 5000 bluetooth set to control my pc from across the room to control some audio software, and even connect to a tv as a monitor at times. Again, mouse needed to be replaced, however this was in the warranty period so they sent me a new desktop set, since the 5000 was no longer available they sent me the 5500 set.
I'm currently using the 5500 keyboard, and mouse for the main reason of it only takes one usb port. The 5500 keyboard is much lighter than the 5000, but has little things fixed that I found annoying about the old one so that is another reason why I use it.
This doesn't include the two corded logitech keyboards I have laying around, but I always keep a corded device around when I use wireless devices. I'm good on having batteries at hand, but you never know when something can go wrong.
So to summarize, I have three cordless keyboards, 2 rf, 1 bluetooth sitting around, and one corded usb keyboard sitting around.
--
My hourly rates:
$25 per hour.
$35 per hour if you want to watch.
$45 per hour if you want to help.
$75 per hour if you tried to fix it, and failed.
$125 per hour if you called tech support, and didn't fix the issue while making things worse |
|
La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
1 edit | reply to BlitzenZeus
I know this topic is basically about mice, but someone else mentioned it and I have to agree.....it drives me nuts when the letters wear off the keyboards, UGH. I've had that happen to every keyboard I've had (Microsoft and Logitech). I think I'm working on my third or fourth right now. The keyboard itself works fine, but the damn letters are gone from the most used keys. I can type fine without them, but it looks crappy and other people who occasionally use my computer have issues with not being able to see the lettering.
Why can't they make the lettering so it doesn't come off?
--
You can chain my body to the earth, but still my spirit flies!
13,525 DEADLY TERROR ATTACKS SINCE 9/11 |
|
MikeA1972
join:2008-02-06
Brantford, ON
| reply to BlitzenZeus
Never had a problem with Logitech. Still use an old optical mouse, must be 8 years old now..never a problem. Still use an old Navigator keyboard, same age.. again, no problems. Logitech speakers about 7 years old, work like new. Very satisfied with Logitech. |
|
DataDoc
My avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC
·Suddenlink
| reply to BlitzenZeus
I'm still using an M-S69 (and the original keyboard) I got with my Gateway from 8 years ago. Both used for hours 7 days a week, moved to my new pc last year.
My wife also uses her original keyboard and mouse (from an identical Gateway) on her new Dell. The Dell's keyboard and mouse were too flimsy feeling for her.
This may prove your point about older stuff being higher quality.
--
Every Kurt has his Courtney. You need a Yoko to do it right.
|
|
Hollow
join:2009-06-12 | reply to BlitzenZeus
I have a Logitech G5. Works flawlessly. |
|
Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31 | reply to BlitzenZeus
It was my old Harmony and evidently they must have had some spares laying about and sent me a new one still in the packaging.
Had they sent me a newer Harmony that would have been a plus.
--
"Facts not FUD!" |
|
BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR | reply to Grail Knight
Out of warranty?
That seems to be their only real silver lining, their warranty process usually is mostly painless, but if your device is older they might send you a newer device which may or may not have all the same features of the old one. |
|
Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to HuKaShI
Had similar customer service a few months back.
The press pad under a button on my Harmony Remote went bad. Called Logitech out of warranty to see about sending it back.
No Sir we do not want it so just throw it out we will send you a new one. Two days later a new Harmony was delivered.
Aside from that I have 4 other Logitech peripherals that are working fine after 2 - 8 years old.
--
"Facts not FUD!" |
|
HuKaShI
Premium
join:2001-07-11
Englewood, NJ
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to BlitzenZeus
Well, I have got to say one thing about their customer service.
I called in to customer support and reported the left click and back button issues I was having. The rep didn't give me a single hassle. He started off by saying, what is your address sir? I was like why do you need that? And he said, "we will ship you a new mouse". I was so amazed.
I got a confirmation email today with the UPS tracking for my replacement mouse.
The best part was when I asked where I send my broken mouse. He replied, "don't worry about it, just keep it". Amazing!!!
So when this mouse fails again in about a year, i'll just call in again and get a new one!!! |
|
Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
| reply to HuKaShI
said by HuKaShI : My older logitech items have held up so much better. I'm contemplating digging them up and using it again. By "older," do you mean pre-year-2000 devices?
I don't know how this is going to sound, but I think Logitech reached their apex with their mice (okay, trackballs) in '98-'99 with their early model Marbles. Those things were perfect, though from what I can remember people with smaller hands complained they weren't comfortable to use.
Then, for some mysterious reason, they introduced the BB-18 which, for me, had this funky, hand-cramping form factor. And the (to me) inexplicable change from their previous designs led me to believe that they were trying to come up with something that would appeal to smaller-handed people. Whatever. All I know is that, at one point, they sold devices that fit my hand perfectly and were a joy to use. Then they just couldn't leave the design alone.
Anyway, ever since then, it's been all downhill (IMAO).
--
We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
|
HuKaShI
Premium
join:2001-07-11
Englewood, NJ
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to BlitzenZeus
I want to add my rant to this.
I have a VX Revolution Wireless. It was a great mouse for the first month. Then I realized that the left click button wasn't responding to my clicks. Now the Back button is acting up. I can't stand it. My older logitech items have held up so much better. I'm contemplating digging them up and using it again.
Logitech quality has seriously taken a huge hit in the recent past. |
|
Mr Neutron
Hopped up on what you mopped up
Premium
join:2005-05-30
Gorham, ME
| reply to Smatchimo
said by Smatchimo :well think about this: if logitech came out with a new campaign for titanium alloy button actuators and diamond cut optical lenses on all mice, sure they might last you 100 years, but the company would be out of business within the lifetime of one of their older cheap plastic models.
Well, yes and no.
Whether or not someone replaces a given peripheral isn't determined soley by whether it's busted or not. If Logitech were to introduce new models evey 2-3 years, they might still be able to make a living selling new devices, even when the old ones are perfectly functional. I guess it comes down to how much people are driven by "fashion trends" when it comes to computing gear.
You can also make money selling spare parts. 
But it's funny that you should mention things like "titanium alloy button actuators." Because when I looked at the Amazon review for the MX Revolution, I see that the "scroll wheel" that I am familiar with has now been replaced with a "MicroGear Precision Scroll Wheel."
Why is this funny? Because I've always had a theory (we'll call it "Neutron's Theory," just to give it a name) that the more elaborately named a given device or component is, the more likely it is to break (e.g. an "interdental stimulator" [two words] is going to be 50% less reliable than a "toothpick" [one word]). And since I see that Logitech's "scroll wheel" had now morphed into the "MicroGear Precision Scroll Wheel," (four words vs. two) I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that the MPSW is twice as likely to fail as the old scroll wheel was.
(Sure, I'm kidding here, but I'm only half-kidding.)
said by Smatchimo :which brings up another point.. all of these GREEN FREAKS are have created such a hubub about saving the planet in recent years, that everything needs to be recyclable (rightfully so, id like my kids to have long full lives, and their kids and so on and so forth) and obviously none of that green goodness comes without cost, at least to the products lifespan.
That's a good point. And not having bought a peripheral in a long time, it's one I've never thought of before.
The use of lighter plastics and glued-together components (vs. screwed together) might well be a result of manufacturers needing to make their devices easier to recycle rather than a strong desire to cut costs (though I've no doubt that cheaper manufacturing costs resulting from "going green" would be welcome side effect for them).
said by Smatchimo :and these days they actually have the nerve to charge us MORE for items that are supposedly "green friendly" in some cases. Well, it would be nice if the tree huggers environmentalists could motivate manufacturers to make devices that would last forever, seeing as how a peripheral that lasts 10 years is likely to consumer fewer resources (i.e. the energy and materials required to make a single unit) than one that only lasts 2-3 years and, consequently, one that an end user will need to replace 3-5 times in that same period.
Unfortunately, tree huggers environmentalists don't always take a realistic or long-term view of things. For instance, they give grocery stores a hard time for issuing plastic bags, but they never seem to consider that people like me are not only going to use the bags for carrying the groceries home, but also for trash bags. Meaning that I'm going to be using a grocery bag at least twice.
Of course, if I don't have access to plastic grocery bags, I can always go out and buy brand new plastic trash bags. Which (you guessed it) will only get used once. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they seem to want me to do.  Which means more money out of my pocket (i.e. I have to go buy trash bags vs. using free grocery bags) and more plastic bags being produced (I can't be the only idiot who wrings two uses out of plastic grocery bags).
So, yeah, being confined to thinking purely in the short-term like that could be the way we're headed and are going to stay. People seem ready to shell out dough for anything with a "green" label on it, even if there are long-term negative consequences to their buying that item (that might have been altered or created solely in an effort to cash in on the eco-craze).
said by Smatchimo :but none of that comes without cost. and the manufacturers know this. they are so marginally on the line of producing unusable crap for as cheap as possible that 50% of any group of people will complain about it. We'll see what happens. People may start getting tired of replacing their peripherals ever year or two and start to favor companies that charge more for their gear, but also make devices that are built to last a long time. I just don't know how most consumers think when they buy computing gear.
I'm with you on the "unusable crap" part, though. Every once in a great while, I'll look at new keyboards and mice and the new models always seem to be more about styling than functionality (with longevity being a mere afterthought). The peripherals I use myself are certainly boring-looking, but I know they're going to work every time I pick them up to get something done.
--
We could use the £5,000 to buy a spoon. And then fill up with ice cream. |
|
Smatchimo
Professional Genuine Image Verifier
Premium
join:2004-08-20
Walnut Creek, CA
·Comcast
| reply to BlitzenZeus
well think about this:
if logitech came out with a new campaign for titanium alloy button actuators and diamond cut optical lenses on all mice, sure they might last you 100 years, but the company would be out of business within the lifetime of one of their older cheap plastic models.
which brings up another point.. all of these GREEN FREAKS are have created such a hubub about saving the planet in recent years, that everything needs to be recyclable (rightfully so, id like my kids to have long full lives, and their kids and so on and so forth) and obviously none of that green goodness comes without cost, at least to the products lifespan.
and these days they actually have the nerve to charge us MORE for items that are supposedly "green friendly" in some cases.
but none of that comes without cost. and the manufacturers know this. they are so marginally on the line of producing unusable crap for as cheap as possible that 50% of any group of people will complain about it.
--
By all means marry. Get a good wife, and you'll become happy. Get a bad one, and you'll become a philosopher. -Socrates |
|
