You stated the scroll wheel took too much pressure to register a click. I call that quality. My feeling is that you are just used to the weak scroll-click of all those cheap mice. I personally like the need for added pressure; it prevents accidental clicks. The same goes for the sideways tilt of the wheel.

I really can't address your claims of cheap construction; I've not found that to be the case. My MX1000 still looks as good as it did when I took it out of the box. And yes, I do use it quite a bit.

I just don't understand your complaints about the tracking. My MX1000 continues to track better than any other mouse I've used. Perhaps the surface you are using has something to do with the tracking problem you're experiencing. Gone is the need for a mouse pad or dedicated mousing surface. Today's optical and laser mice can track on virtually any surface. But, like the old trackball mice, the optics need to be cleaned from time to time. I use a damp Q-Tip, followed by a clean, dry one. And even at that, I only do this a couple of times a year.

I'm sorry, Scott, that you aren't pleased with your MX1000, but since you didn't buy it on my recommendation, I don't feel at all responsible. From time to time, products will come off the line that are below standard. There is frequently no way to know this until those products are out in the market. Deficiencies in quality control can arise due to compromised cleanliness conditions in the manufacturing process, poor quality parts from a third-party supplier, an inattentive attendant on a run prior to or following a holiday. A lot of things can contribute to a bad run.

I am of the opinion Scott, that you, and probably a lot of others, were the victims of a bad run. My MX1000 is nearly two years old, and it looks and works as well as it did the day I first powered it up. I'm very pleased with my MX1000, and still have no complaints. Considering my track record with Logitech mice, I expect to continue using it for another year or two. [I have a Logitech MX700 that I bought and have been using and abusing it for nearly 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, for at least two years. It's been rock solid. -- DG]

We always welcome your thoughts, comments, and letters here at ZATZ, keep them coming. We may respond personally, we may use it for a Letter to the Editor feature, or both. But rest assured, we always read them, and sometimes can even offer a solution. Or maybe just poke a little fun.

Heather Wardell received her first Palm handheld in 1997 (from a boss who couldn't get the hang of Graffiti) and has never looked back. She worked in banking as a systems analyst for four years, and then moved into elementary education, teaching computers at a private elementary school for four years. Heather is now a full-time writer with two main specialties: articles that explain how a particular technology works, and short stories that usually involve technology run amok. You can reach her on the Web at http://www.heatherwardell.com.