The Best Laser Mouse

The Logitech VX Nano Laser Mouse is a very good product that fills a big need for mice: a powerful and convenient wireless mouse for mobile use. You can use this mouse for your desktop, but it's really ideal for your laptop on the go. Sure you can take any mouse with your laptop, but the short receiver, small size and included travel case make this mouse extra portable.

Over the past year of using this mouse, I have come to further appreciate its good features as well as become more aware of its short-comings. This is still one of the better laptop mice you can get, but the size means it will be more ideal for women and smaller children than for men. After using it for hours at a time, I have found that even though I have small hands for a man it's just not as comfortable as some of the larger models.

PROS:
+ The tiny receiver works great! Leave it in your USB port or store it in your mouse!
+ Great optical mouse lets you use it anywhere; no mouse-pads!
+ The side grips have a nice dimpled texture for moving your mouse in comfort
+ The included buttons (L-click, R-click, forward, back, slow) are just enough for most users
+ The buttons can be reprogrammed, though only the *slow* button behind the scroll is worth possibly changing
+ The LED light on top alerts you to a weak battery and when turned on or off
+ The premium scroll wheel switches from normal to turbo with a quick press; can be used to "click" or "hyper-scroll" for normal to superfast scrolling
+ Nice convenient storage compartment for USB receiver inside the mouse
+ Convenient On / Off button for conserving battery power when not in use
+ The AAA batteries are convenient and will last a few months between replacements
+ Great comfort for those with small hands, like women and teens
+ The mouse works for right and left handers; lefties need to click the forward / back buttons with their ring finger or pinkie

CONS:
- The size of the mouse will be too small for extended use by those with medium sized or larger hands, including most men; might be OK for short stints, but over time it becomes tiresome
- The forward / back buttons are placed in a strange location on the top but still off to the side; this actually is more comfortable with the left hand than the right hand
- Logitech's Setpoint software is often the source of complaints, though it has improved with updates over the past year
- The lack of extra function keys limits this mouse from power users
- The list price is in the ball-park, but not a great value

INSTALLATION AND SET UP

This mouse generally works upon plugging it in. The software that comes with it allows you to customize the buttons, but for this mouse I didn't have a need to do that. Only the center button behind the scroll wheel is worth customizing. By default it's set to *slow scroll* mode where you move your mouse to control the direction and speed of scrolling. The rest of the buttons are standard and probably don't need to be changed.

FEATURES

This mouse is sleek and fits nicely in your hand. It's got all the standard buttons, and the scroll button is head over heels above all others. The extra *forward* and *back* buttons are now basically standard requirements.

The VX Nano uses 2 AAA batteries, which means no you can use regular or rechargeable batteries and can replace them when they fail. I burned through my first set after about 3 months of usage. I have found since then that I sometimes need to change batteries every month. Sometimes I can get about 2 months out of a set with light usage.

Even when your batteries are dying, you can squeeze out some more time by switching the batteries or turning the mouse off and on again. Turn it off when it's not in use to preserve power. The power button is on the underside of the unit. The mouse also comes equipped with a slot to store the USB plug on the bottom.

In fact, the best feature of this mouse is that USB plug, which is almost flush with the back of my computer when plugged in. Most other wireless mice have plugs that stick out 1-2 inches. This receiver only sticks out about a quarter of an inch. This is the first wireless mouse plug I don't have to worry about forgetting in my laptop. I just toggle it on and off on the bottom and go!

Unfortunately, the forward / backward side keys are in a weird spot, particularly when using this right-handed. You have to move your pointer finger over in such a way as to be uncomfortable. Left-handers can click the forward / back buttons with their ring finger or pinkie, which is much more comfortable. You can even use your middle finger if you are *left-clicking* with it, which is the same as *right-clicking* with your right hand. So if you are ambidextrous, it's better to use this left-handed.

I found the placement of those buttons to be less than ideal when using either hand. They are so small that it's difficult to find them, and after not using them much it's easy to forget they are even there when you need them. They do work a little better left-handed, but in general I wish they were bigger and not so far off to the side.

CONCLUSION

This is a very good mouse that is great for mobile computing. The discrete USB plug makes it convenient for laptop users on the go. The small size means that over time those with medium or large sized hands will want to step up to a larger version. Some may decide that the nano-receiver is not worth the smaller mouse and choose the Logitech MX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse or the Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse instead. Logitech has been adding to their lineup of mice that use the smaller mini USB receiver. That includes the Logitech V450 Nano Cordless Mouse- Black and the Logitech V550 Cordless Laser Mouse, among others. So unlike at the time I got the VX Nano, you do have other options.

If you've ever had to replace your computer mouse, then you know that Logitech covers a wide range of the market, from wireless to corded, from tiny to ergonomic, from no-frills to bells-and-whistles. The VX Nano Cordless was designed specifically for use with laptops, although it can be used on desktops.

The "Nano" refers not to the size of the mouse (it is *not* one of those ultra-portable mini mice) but of the wireless USB transmitter. When plugged in, the transmitter extends a mere 1/4 inch; you can leave it attached, slip your notebook into your case, and carry it away without worrying about snapping it off. If you choose not to leave it attached, the mouse itself has a storage compartment underneath that locks in place so you don't lose it. The mouse itself is 3 3/4 inches long, with contoured, rubberized sides for a comfortable grip. The mouse might prove to be too small for large hands, although most people won't want anything larger for their laptops. It beats the mini mouse I have and rarely use.

The tracking sensitivity of the mouse is excellent, and the scrolling feature is lightning quick. Although you can plug in the Nano and start using it right out of the box, you need to download the installation software to take advantage of the more advanced features such as internet search (really cool!) and browser back/forward at a touch. (Mac users have to download the appropriate installation software at the Logitech site, while Windows users can use the enclosed CD.)

The VX Nano comes with two AAA batteries, a soft case, a Windows installation CD, and an adapter for desktop use. The adapter is primarily for computers that do not have a USB connector at desk level; it consists of a USB connector at the end of a cord, with a port for the transmitter. The port is lightweight and can be easily skewed by accident, but its flat bottom keeps it from tipping over. I have an older Mac desktop, with a low-speed USB port on the keyboard, and I was able to plug the transmitter directly into the keyboard to use the mouse.

This device works as well on my MacBook as it does on a Windows laptop. Going online to download the Mac driver doesn't take any longer than it does to slip a CD into the drive and install from there. The only flaw I discovered occurred when I opened the back of the mouse while the transmitter was still plugged into my laptop's USB port, which turned off the mouse power; my laptop displayed a message that it needed to be rebooted, and the screen was completely frozen, disabling the normal restart/shut down menus. I learned quickly that I had to remove the transmitter *before* opening the storage/battery door.

I own two other Logitech mice, but this is by far my favorite. However, no-nonsense laptop users who plan to navigate documents only might find this mouse too pricey. I, however, have already packed mine in my laptop case, where it will travel from home to work and back again.


Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks (Black)