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| | Manufacturer: Logitech | | Min OS X: Any Version  Requires: USB Port |
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Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks
July 7, 2004 | Scott Turner | |
At first sight, I thought maybe I had caught the mouse at an awkward angle. Surely, it couldn't be that tiny. Was I supposed to add water, or was there a second piece to attach to make the full sized mouse?The dull answer is that nothing strange occurred to this mouse in shipping. It is curiously small. The Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse, which is linked via a wireless USB device to a computer, is targeted specifically for laptop users, even those who bought a computer prior to Apple's inclusion of Bluetooth wireless capability with all its newer laptops. This is certainly a viable market, as many people, including myself, dislike using a trackpad, yet don't have room in a laptop bag or at the work area for a full-sized mouse. This little beauty comes in a soft, trendy-looking zippered case with pockets for both the USB connector and the mouse itself, and it fits snugly in both the laptop bags I squeezed it into. The result? A remarkably well-tracking optical mouse that fits almost anywhere on the go, and will have even the largest hand become used to and fond of its small form factor in no time. Oh, and its cool blue color looks neat, too. That's...that's it? Not only is the mouse surprisingly small, but setup for this mouse is rediculously easy. The mouse's base station, which uses one USB port, is roughly the size of a flash memory card, only slightly thicker. Once plugged into the USB port, you simply flip an on-off switch on the bottom of the mouse after inserting two included AA batteries, and then press a single button on the base station to connect. A green light blinks lightly on the base station, the beautiful glow of optical tracking illuminates the tiny mouse, and you're good to go. I never had any connection failures, and the mouse was never out of range for interface with the base station. For all the computers I worked with, while the included input software is Windows only, the scroll wheel was configured from the start, along with the right mouse button set as a control-click, all sans software. There is a problem with this mouse I had not had with other multiple-button mice that came without Mac software. Some games I had would not recognize the Logitech mouse's right mouse input properly, and thus I had to bind a button to the right mouse click. This was unusual, as my Kensington mouse that I have no software for has four buttons, and yet I have no trouble with its configuration. While this might send some die-hard gamers away, I liked the mouse so much in other respects I was able to live with it. Handling on Sharp Corners One thing that is important in a portable mouse is the ability to work on any surface. While some may be content to bring a mouse pad with them, I find this tends to get in the way frequently, and it is far more convenient if the mouse can work on a variety of surfaces. The Logitech mouse certainly passed with flying colors, tracking accurately on different grains of wood which can confuse some optical mice, on a vinyl mouse pad, and even admirably on upholstry. This is a huge plus for the mouse, as when you can fit its small base on any surface, you can also track just about anywhere. The mouse's tracking didn't skip once for me.As for the mouse's feel, if you are impatient, you may not stick with the mouse long enough to discover the real beauty of the unit. The sensitivity of the mouse is likely higher than a mouse you are used to using, and those who draw or naturally choose a slower track speed may find this off-putting. The advantage to this is that the mouse requires little to no "picking-up" from the surface you're on (a real killer in fast-paced first-person shooters) and also saves space. The mouse has flat sides which may not seem ergonomic, but when even small hands like mine spill over the sides of the mouse, it is highly convenient to be able to grip the mouse firmly from all directions and not have it squirm away like a bar of soap. Those with larger mitts will appreciate the design, given time. The buttons are all very responsive and solid as well, and the symmetry of the mouse also makes it highly accessible for south paws as well as right-handed folk. One for the Road I had always settled for the trackpad when on trips with my laptop, and I only brought a large mouse if it was absolutely neccesary. The full-sized mouse would bulk up my laptop bag, and the cord would be just another hassle to interfere with portability. With Logitech's Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks, all these problems have been solved with a good looking and very tightly functioning unit.This mouse travels amazingly light, has an awesome carrying case, and setting it up is a breeze. Having no cords will allow you to place it almost anywhere, and excellent tracking and grip allow even the oddest shaped and textured surfaces to provide the perfect mousepad. Increased sensitivity allows a much smaller footprint for the mouse, and while it may take a day or two to get used to a smaller mouse and higher tracking speed, in no time you'll be wishing your desktop mouse didn't feel like such a chore to push around. While some mice are to be had for less than $39.95, for a device you use constantly every day and which works so well, that price is a steal. Logitech has a real winner with this mouse, and any laptop owner who prefers the feel of a mouse over a trackpad would be remiss in not picking up this little critter!
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