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Microsoft to buy Logitech?

10 January 2008 18:48 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 36 comments

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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LOCOENG (Moderator) 11 January 2008 5:46
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! Don't forget about your Buddies The rules ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 11 January 2008 5:50
*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? For all the console/game fanboys out their. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles...Console-Rundown Oh god I can't stop laughing!!! --- And for the format nazi's I bring you HHD DVVD BVD's!! [ + quote]
romeogq (Newbie) 11 January 2008 9:02
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. [ + quote]
ikari (Junior Member) 11 January 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. [ + quote]
OhCrap (Inactive) 11 January 2008 14:57
*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. [ + quote]
vurbal (Staff Member) 11 January 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. Freedom of speech is ultra important so stupid people will make their stupid statements so we know how stupid they are. - Ted Nugent [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 11 January 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. [ + quote]
chubbyInc (Member) 11 January 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. [ + quote]
sammorris (AfterDawn Addict) 12 January 2008 7:27
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! :) [ + quote]
puterman (Junior Member) 12 January 2008 9:28
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. [ + quote]
sammorris (AfterDawn Addict) 12 January 2008 9:34
Microsoft are the only company I've used to date to have made a keyboard that has broken, electronically! How card can it be? [ + quote]
Amir89 (Senior Member) 12 January 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. Current Specs: Intel82801BA Mobo, Intel D 945G @3.4Ghz, 2x2Mb L2 Cache, 1Gb DDR2 SD RAM @677Mhz, 250Gb WD Caviar @10,000Rpm, GeForce7600GT 512MB GDDR2, ASUSTek Tiger Digital/Analog TV Tuner, Samsung SyncMaster941BW 19" LCD, LG H20L DVD�R/RW DL LightScribe, LG GSA-4167B DVD�R/RW DL, Logitech Z-5500 505Watt 5.1 Surround [ + quote]
marcusita (Senior Member) 12 January 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. [ + quote]
Amir89 (Senior Member) 13 January 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. Current Specs: Intel82801BA Mobo, Intel D 945G @3.4Ghz, 2x2Mb L2 Cache, 1Gb DDR2 SD RAM @677Mhz, 250Gb WD Caviar @10,000Rpm, GeForce7600GT 512MB GDDR2, ASUSTek Tiger Digital/Analog TV Tuner, Samsung SyncMaster941BW 19" LCD, LG H20L DVD�R/RW DL LightScribe, LG GSA-4167B DVD�R/RW DL, Logitech Z-5500 505Watt 5.1 Surround [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 13 January 2008 14:08
MS has better software tho..has anyone hacked the MS,mouse software to runany mouse fully? For all the console/game fanboys out their. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles...Console-Rundown Oh god I can't stop laughing!!! --- And for the format nazi's I bring you HHD DVVD BVD's!! [ + quote]
sammorris (AfterDawn Addict) 13 January 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. PC Specs: http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/2255 Updated December 19th 2007 For cheap US components, check out http://www.newegg.com. For cheap UK components, check out http://www.scan.co.uk For cool HD Desktop wallpapers, check out http://www.interfacelift.com I do not endorse any of the above websites, I merely recommend them. I will be away from 29th December until 6th January - happy new year everyone! [ + quote]
spydah (Junior Member) 13 January 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. http://raptechnician.zoomshare.com/files/JWheelz00.jpg [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 13 January 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. For all the console/game fanboys out their. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles...Console-Rundown Oh god I can't stop laughing!!! --- And for the format nazi's I bring you HHD DVVD BVD's!! [ + quote]
dsgtrain (Member) 14 January 2008 7:25
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! [ + quote]
Amir89 (Senior Member) 15 January 2008 5:00
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. Current Specs: Intel82801BA Mobo, Intel D 945G @3.4Ghz, 2x2Mb L2 Cache, 1Gb DDR2 SD RAM @677Mhz, 250Gb WD Caviar @10,000Rpm, GeForce7600GT 512MB GDDR2, ASUSTek Tiger Digital/Analog TV Tuner, Samsung SyncMaster941BW 19" LCD, LG H20L DVD�R/RW DL LightScribe, LG GSA-4167B DVD�R/RW DL, Logitech Z-5500 505Watt 5.1 Surround [ + quote]
pmshah (Newbie) 18 January 2008 1:34
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. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 18 January 2008 3:28
*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 ^^ [ + quote]
sammorris (AfterDawn Addict) 18 January 2008 7:53
Each to their own, I've used a wheel mouse since my first PC and hate doing without one. [ + quote]
spaul40 (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 9:00
*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. [ + quote]
spaul40 (Junior Member) 22 January 2008 9:05
*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. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 22 January 2008 16:43
This would be a great partnership if Microsoft lets them be a part of the growth. [ + quote]