At work, I use a Logitech LX5 laser mouse and keyboard. They are functional and ergonomic- all I could really ask for. If it had been up to me, I would gone with a corded keyboard + mouse.


Why use corded when it looks so much cooler to have a wire-free desktop?
Because I hate replacing batteries: it's inefficient, expensive, and not in line with that one popular movement going on.



The mouse uses 2x AA batteries. One day, there was a pop-up that "my batteries are critical" and to replace them. As an experiment, I waited it out to see how long it would take for total battery death. It took 4 WEEKS. WTF, Logitech?


Why not alert the user at 5% of batter life?


It took ~3 months of constant Mon-Fri usage to get to this point. I wonder how many batteries are prematurely replaced when there's still life in them (this is a great solution to that problem). So at about 25% battery life, Logitech's driver kicks in to alert the user it's time!


Are batteries more likely to leak when they are completely drained?


I just did a quick Google search and the answer is... yes! Apparently, using the battery gradually wears out the metal in it- eventually causing the internal chemical reaction to leak out (i.e. leakage in flashlights). Even though if an user disposed of batteries at 25% life to prevent leakage, it only delays the process. I don't know what happens to batteries when they are "properly disposed of" but I bet that most people just throw away their batteries in the trashcan.


Conclusion: Avoid disposable batteries. Utilize alternative and more efficient methods of obtaining power for devices. I have never talked about batteries to this degree...