Introduction to the "Forever Mouse" Concept
Last fall, Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber was ridiculed for suggesting the company would produce a “Forever Mouse” — a mouse with a monthly subscription fee for software updates. This idea seemed to betray a lack of understanding, as many people who buy mice don’t want software at all, much less software they have to pay for; the idea they’d pay every month is ridiculous.
The Need for a "Forever Mouse"
But as I sit here with a perfectly good Logitech mouse, the best I’ve ever owned, I’m starting to think some sort of “forever mouse” wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Logitech has an opportunity and a responsibility to make its mice last longer, and I have part of the proof right underneath my palm. I use a great mouse that is slowly disintegrating. In some ways, my wireless Logitech G502 Lightspeed is already a forever mouse. I may never have to charge or replace its battery again, because I use Logitech’s magic wireless charging mouse pad to automatically keep its battery at the perfect level.
The Problem with Current Mice
Luckily, the mouse’s buttons and sensor have held up well over the same period, as far as I can tell. But the soft rubber grips that let me hold the gadget? After just a few years of use, they’re reaching the end. They’re worn down, so grubby and discolored that I can’t simply clean them anymore. Worst of all, one of the grips is beginning to delaminate from the mouse’s frame and is starting to peel off. It squishes uncomfortably under my thumb every time I grip the mouse.
The Solution: Replacement Parts
There’s one obvious solution: Logitech should sell replacement mouse parts. The company even claims it sells mouse parts via the repair site iFixit. Logitech chief operating officer Prakash Arunkundrum said, “Normal wear and tear is inevitable, which is why we strive to make it simpler for people to access original Logitech replacement parts for their devices.” But as of today, Logitech doesn’t actually sell the parts that would address “wear and tear.”
Current Replacement Parts Offered
Here is the complete list of parts you can buy for a Logitech mouse on iFixit: $10 for a set of screws, $15 for a set of mouse skates, and $20 for a battery. Don’t get me wrong, it’s refreshing to see official parts on the open market. But these aren’t the parts I, or anyone who wants to repair a Logitech mouse, truly need. We need grips, buttons, shells, mouse wheels, and optimally, microswitch assemblies.
The Importance of Repairable Products
I told Logitech and iFixit that for now, I simply need the grips. Several months later, Logitech’s part selection has not expanded. I haven’t found replacements anywhere (though Amazon will happily sell me some grip tape). I can’t imagine replacing an entire $100 mouse over a couple of pieces of rubber. If I have to, I probably won’t pick Logitech again. Peeling rubber coating is exactly why I had to stop using my beloved Logitech MX518 over a decade ago.
A Call to Action for Logitech
I don’t expect mice to truly last forever, but I think it’s worth sending the world’s leading peripheral maker a message that you can’t build disposable products while claiming they’re repairable. How much loyalty could Logitech inspire if its mice were truly repairable? How many more mice might it sell if word got out that — like Logitech’s legendary C920 webcam — they were made to last? That if you buy Logitech, you don’t have to trash a device that fits you like a glove, don’t have to keep retraining your hand for slightly different shapes of mouse?
Conclusion
What if, at a minimum, Logitech shared 3D printer files like Philips just did with shavers, so we could print our own buttons and grips? Or do Logitech’s profits rely on people trashing perfectly good mice just because they’re starting to get gross, I wonder? I’d hate to think that. Thankfully, Logitech now has a way to disprove that idea. Forever Mouse, but forget the subscription; embrace the idea that mice should last.
