AfterDawn: Tech news

Microsoft to buy Logitech?

Written by James Delahunty @ 10 Jan 2008 6:48 User comments (36)

Microsoft to buy Logitech? It is rumored that Microsoft Corp. is looking to take-over Logitech, a company based in Switzerland that specializes in equipment for PCs, audio system, games consoles and more. Shares of the company surged in value on Thursday as rumors circulated amongst traders. Logitech has a market capitalization of around 7 billion Swiss francs, and Microsoft reportedly bid at 48 francs per share.
"Rumors are rumors. I can't make any specific comment on them," Daniel Borel, co-founder, and the company's largest shareholder, told Reuters. Logitech would be a good acquisition for Microsoft, which is always trying to further its stretch into the living room with Windows Media Extenders, like the Xbox 360 console.

Logitech recently showed off new products at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Source:
PocketLint.co.uk

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36 user comments

110.1.2008 21:33

I hope not

210.1.2008 21:42

gggaaaa........do not want....DO NOT WANT!!!!

310.1.2008 22:18

i for 1 will no longer buy logitech if this happens.

410.1.2008 22:38

All of you are over-reacting. Microsoft and Logitech BOTH make some of the best peripheral devices on the market. This would be like having Coke buy Pepsi: it's a monopoly. Well, there would still be competition, but hence, not really. Say what you want, but keep your Windows and 360 comments away from here, because MS actually makes REALLY GOOD mice, keyboards and gamepads for PC's. (As does Logitech too.)

510.1.2008 22:43

i had(still do) an ms wireless desktop. It was horrible! too many reasons to list. I gave the keyboard to my 1yr old daughter, so she wouldnt screw with my really cool, new logitech set.

610.1.2008 23:10

I personally hope this does not happen as I like having the choice to choose between MS and Logitech mice and keyboards for my computer systems. W/ the competition between the two companies almost every time I upgrade I somehow end up switching between the two brands because one brand outdoes the other in features and price, a sign of healthy competition that gives me more choices which is welcome in my book.

710.1.2008 23:45

Please Logitech, please don't go...

I'll miss your products too much: the mice, keyboards and definitely the Driving Force Pro, which I'm hoping to try out on the new Gran Turismo 5!

@ LOCOENG
Sry about my sig...didn't know you guys changed the rules. Edited this post, I'll fix it asap.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 12 Jan 2008 @ 2:38

811.1.2008 00:03
Ludikhris
Inactive

I own MS products.. I own Logitech products... if they merge, I will own neither. The competition of the two makes me happy with options. I will just become the consumer of someone else and say "screw em" because MS has their hands in too much. If they want to monopolize the high end PC peripheral market I will just buy low end to protest it. This does not make me happy.

911.1.2008 00:39

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...........

I have owned both. Never had any problems with Logitech keyboards and mice. I have a logitech serial mouse that has outlived 3 MS mice. Or maybe it's just the cheese I fed them...... oh dry humor wheres the writers guild when you need them?

1011.1.2008 00:44
SamNz
Inactive

Originally posted by Blackjax:
Or maybe it's just the cheese I fed them...... oh dry humor wheres the writers guild when you need them?
lol classic

1111.1.2008 05:46

leviticus,

Your sig is too big. You can have 3 lines of text with a picture sig or 5 lines max without a picture. Fix your to comply with forum rules ASAP!

1211.1.2008 05:50

Originally posted by LOCOENG:
leviticus,

Your sig is too big. You can have 3 lines of text with a picture sig or 5 lines max without a picture. Fix your to comply with forum rules ASAP!
how off is my sig?

1311.1.2008 09:02

I too first owned a wireless MS desktop set, keyboard and mouse. It was horrible! I then went looking for another, was about to go with MS again, then at the last minute chose Logitech and have never been happier.

With MS I bang on the keyboard and have to keep rearranging things to get a better signal. But with Logitech I often have to correct mistakes of multiple entries because of its sensitivity. Minor flaw, probably my settings.

1411.1.2008 11:40

Originally posted by c.trigger:
I hope not
I hope not too. I am not a MS basher but my personal experience is that Logitech is better that the rest including MS. My Logitech mouse finally gave out after years of abuse. Before that, other products would just crap out.

1511.1.2008 14:57
OhCrap
Inactive

Originally posted by SProdigy:
All of you are over-reacting. Microsoft and Logitech BOTH make some of the best peripheral devices on the market. This would be like having Coke buy Pepsi: it's a monopoly. Well, there would still be competition, but hence, not really. Say what you want, but keep your Windows and 360 comments away from here, because MS actually makes REALLY GOOD mice, keyboards and gamepads for PC's. (As does Logitech too.)
That's your personal opinion. As far as I'm concerned microsoft makes crappy keyboard and mouse combos. The one I bought lasted about six months. Logitech makes good products that are relatively inexpensive, I hope they keep it up and MS doesn't change them too much.

1611.1.2008 15:24

I have owned Logitech mice exclusively for more than a decade. I've had to use some MS mice, and while they were okay, and I could see why the owners liked them, they've never made anything that felt quite right in my hand.

OTOH Logitech's mouse and keyboard software is one of the biggest jokes in the peripheral industry. I learned long ago that Mouseware was not my friend and should never be loaded. Recently I've started using a Logitech wireless keyboard which has a slider on the left side (right where my pinky sits for hours each day, and it occasionally decides to zoom the screen for me, a feature which I can neither turn off or reprogram. I finally found a more direct solution and put tape over the slider.

I have to agree with the poster who said the competition is important. Regardless of what you think of either company, if they merge, the market needs another company to step up to compete. Meanwhile I think I'll buy a couple of spare MX 620 mice since they're cheap. If you spend as much time on your computer as I do the right mouse isn't a luxury item.

1711.1.2008 16:08

Originally posted by SProdigy:
All of you are over-reacting. Microsoft and Logitech BOTH make some of the best peripheral devices on the market. This would be like having Coke buy Pepsi: it's a monopoly. Well, there would still be competition, but hence, not really. Say what you want, but keep your Windows and 360 comments away from here, because MS actually makes REALLY GOOD mice, keyboards and gamepads for PC's. (As does Logitech too.)
try their first BT mouse and KB set..that thing was horrid.....

I really wish MS would unlock its drivers so you can use them for any mouse, thats the only nice ting abotu the MS mice the utility software is good.

1811.1.2008 19:29

Well if they do buy logitech, that name would probably stay separate from the Microsoft brand. Just like Alienware & Dell.

since '95 I've been using Logitech products, never disappointed.

1912.1.2008 07:27

Logitech make high quality stuff, but never think the design through properly. Microsoft design things well, but never quite make them properly.
Together, that's a recipe for disaster.
Logitech don't thrill me in the keyboard/mouse style peripheral market any more, but it's things like top-end PC speakers where they see most of my business. Just don't give MS any control over that part of the company, and I won't get too upset! :)

2012.1.2008 09:28

Nooooo!!
Say it isn't so. Logitech makes the best accessories on the market, Micro$oft makes the worst. Once again if they can't beat'em....put'em out of business or take'em over.

2112.1.2008 09:34

Microsoft are the only company I've used to date to have made a keyboard that has broken, electronically!
How card can it be?

2212.1.2008 10:34

Speaking from past experience whatever MS consumes it generally drags down with it. I'd like to keep the two firms separate.

2312.1.2008 12:03

Originally posted by sammorris:
Logitech make high quality stuff, but never think the design through properly. Microsoft design things well, but never quite make them properly.
Together, that's a recipe for disaster.
Logitech don't thrill me in the keyboard/mouse style peripheral market any more, but it's things like top-end PC speakers where they see most of my business. Just don't give MS any control over that part of the company, and I won't get too upset! :)

Logitech make beautiful keyboards,far better looking and designed than the MS ones.

2413.1.2008 10:00

Logitech>Microsoft when it comes to any form of peripherals in my opinion, but especially gaming devices and audio.

MS make too much of that horrible ergonomic, 110% user-friendly crap with unwieldy layouts and poor support.
Logitech are far better quality in my opinion.

2513.1.2008 14:08

MS has better software tho..has anyone hacked the MS,mouse software to runany mouse fully?

2613.1.2008 14:28

Agreed, but it's still far from perfect. For one thing, MS software is programmed to uninstall all rival software when it's put on there - so if you have drivers for any other peripherals installed, you can't use them if you wish to use MS' software. Logitech's is just a bit rubbish from the start though, and Razer's is even worse.

2713.1.2008 15:00

Doesnt Logitech make PS controllers? This would be a sad thing. M$ screws up everything they buy out and own. We dont need another good company that will gain a bad rep from poorly made equipment that M$ will produce in their name.

2813.1.2008 15:13

Originally posted by spydah:
Doesnt Logitech make PS controllers? This would be a sad thing. M$ screws up everything they buy out and own. We dont need another good company that will gain a bad rep from poorly made equipment that M$ will produce in their name.
they make controllers for everything but nintendo ands sega.

2914.1.2008 07:25

If Microsoft gets hold of Logitech, they will most probably pull the plug on all of there competing products. So not more Logitech accessories for PS2 and PS3, or that RumblePad that looks like a DualShock controller as that would be infulencing there XBOX 360 controller for PC.

Dave!

3015.1.2008 05:00

True we would probably say goodbye to the G-Series, which makes Microsoft's "Gaming" peripherals look like toddler's toys.
When it comes to gaming-specific peripherals Logitech>Microsoft.

3118.1.2008 01:34

Even today I refuse to use the scroll mouse & continue to use my 3 button - non optical mouse.

So far as the MS keyboards are concerned I am extremely uncomfortable with the re positioned & resized keys - especially the 6 - insert/end page up/page down etc.

At the age of 62 and having used the original layout keyboards I simply refuse to change.

3218.1.2008 03:28

Originally posted by pmshah:
Even today I refuse to use the scroll mouse & continue to use my 3 button - non optical mouse.

So far as the MS keyboards are concerned I am extremely uncomfortable with the re positioned & resized keys - especially the 6 - insert/end page up/page down etc.

At the age of 62 and having used the original layout keyboards I simply refuse to change.
must not be a gamer...I love my wheel mouse ^^

3318.1.2008 07:53

Each to their own, I've used a wheel mouse since my first PC and hate doing without one.

3422.1.2008 09:00

Originally posted by Amir89:
True we would probably say goodbye to the G-Series, which makes Microsoft's "Gaming" peripherals look like toddler's toys.
When it comes to gaming-specific peripherals Logitech>Microsoft.

3522.1.2008 09:05

Originally posted by Amir89:
True we would probably say goodbye to the G-Series, which makes Microsoft's "Gaming" peripherals look like toddler's toys.
When it comes to gaming-specific peripherals Logitech>Microsoft.

250Gb WD Caviar @10,000Rpm

The WD Caviar is a 7200rpm drive - only the Raptor from WD is 10,000rpm.

3622.1.2008 16:43

This would be a great partnership if Microsoft lets them be a part of the growth.

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