Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse Review

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by Jerry Jackson

The Logitech VX Nano is the newest compact cordless notebook mouse to make a big impact on the notebook scene. While the contoured shape and hyper-fast scroll wheel on this laser mouse are quite impressive, the real news is &quot;the world's smallest USB receiver&quot; included with the VX Nano.

Before we take a closer look at what the Logitech VX Nano has to offer, below are the key features and specs for this cordless laser mouse:

• PC (Windows XP or Vista) and MAC compatible
• Cordless/storable USB 2.4 GHz receiver
• Left and Right hand usage
• MicroGear precision scroll wheel
• One-touch search button
• Forward/Back Internet buttons
• Laser technology
• Estimated 6-month battery life
• Low battery life warning
• 3-year warranty
• Price: $69.99

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Design and Features

Although the VX Nano is certainly a compact mouse, Logitech managed to keep the size and shape comfortable enough for everyday use. While some notebook travel mice are physically smaller than the Nano, none of the smaller mice I've used are as comfortable under my hand.

Both the contoured side panels on the Nano have rubber inserts which make the mouse even more comfortable. The MicroGear alloy scroll wheel allows for hyper-fast page scrolling and a pair of forward and back buttons make navigating websites as easy as possible. Beneath the scroll wheel is a one-touch search button for rapid Google searches.

Logitech includes a software CD so that you can adjust some settings on the VX Nano, but the mouse is designed to be plug-and-play so you don't need to install the software to use the mouse.

Given the compact size of the Nano the standard AA batteries have been replaced with two AAA batteries. While this does have an impact on battery life, Logitech estimates the battery life to be up to six months with average use.

While the VX Nano mouse is certainly impressive in its own right, the real story is the Nano receiver. Calling this receiver small doesn't do it justice. The tab on a can of soda is larger than this thing! When you first remove the Nano receiver from the packaging it hardly looks like a USB receiver at all. As pictured below, the receiver just looks like a USB plug with a tiny piece of black plastic on the end.

That said, don't let the size fool you. I was able to control my Windows desktop using the VX Nano from across the room ... so the reception range is still impressive.

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Of course, the VX Nano also comes with a black carrying case similar to the cases that are now a common sight with other Logitech accessories.

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Usage

Everyday notebook computing with the Nano was simple and less complicated than with other mice I've used. Rather than having to plug in the receiver every time I wanted to use the mouse I just left the receiver plugged into my notebook's USB port. Leaving the receiver in the USB port isn't an issue since the Nano receiver sticks out less than a quarter of an inch from the USB port.

I cannot overstate how impressive the receiver is. You never need to remove the receiver! Just leave it plugged into the notebook and remember to bring the mouse with you when you travel.

As with many cordless mice designed for notebook users, the Nano turns itself off automatically when the receiver is inserted into the storage bay. If you store the receiver in the bay rather than in your notebook all you have to do is press the small orange eject button next to the receiver to remove it.

The battery compartment and storage for the receiver. (view large image)

One minor annoyance I ran into while using the Nano was the removable battery cover. Almost every time I removed the battery cover to insert or eject the Nano receiver I ended up dropping the cover plate on the floor. This problem could be easily solved by attaching the cover plate to the bottom of the mouse with a hinge. Granted, if you just leave the receiver in your notebook's USB port all the time you don't have to worry about removing the battery cover ... you just have to remember to turn off the mouse with the on/off button when you're not using it.

An image with the receiver inside the storage bay. (view large image)

Another minor issue I ran into while using the VX Nano for some fast-paced gaming is the sensitivity of the laser. While optical mice typically feature a sensitivity between 800dpi and 1600dpi, one of the benefits of laser mice is rapid, precision movement thanks to a sensitivity somewhere between 1600dpi and 2000dpi. Logitech doesn't mention the sensitivity of the Nano anywhere in their press materials, but after some research I discovered the sensitivity is set to 800dpi. This lower sensitivity/resolution is likely a compromise to maximize battery life, but it is unfortunate that Logitech didn't give users the option to select the sensitivity they want.

That said, 800dpi is more than enough resolution for everyday computing and the VX Nano isn't being marketed as a high-performance gaming mouse. The Nano is designed to be the most convenient mouse for notebook users. In that regard, the Nano exceeds expectations.

Conclusion

The Logitech VX Nano packs impressive performance and convenience into a tiny mouse. Although there are smaller mouse designs on the market, none of the smaller mice are as comfortable to use ... and none offer such a convenient USB receiver.

Size does matter for notebook users. Now we finally have a cordless mouse and receiver combo that isn't a hassle to use. As of this writing, I think it's safe to say that the Logitech VX Nano is the best mouse currently available for notebook users.

Pros

• &quot;The world's smallest USB receiver&quot;
• Excellent scroll wheel
• Comfortable shape and rubber grips
• Auto-off feature when receiver is stored in mouse
• Wow! that receiver is small
• Did I mention the receiver is tiny?

Cons

• Only 800dpi
• Battery cover should be hinged to prevent loss
• A little expensive (no pun intended)

 

Nice review, Jerry! The size of that receiver is incredible.

 

Awesome! Excellent review, Jerry. I'm glad you did review this mouse, because I'm really hoping to buy it soon.

Thanks!

 

Nice review Jerry. I'll vouch for the sheer smallness of this receiver, you could swallow it easier than most pain relieve pills. I wouldn't try doing that though.

The design is very nice, I definitely have envy with this mouse, I might just try and steal it from Jerry.

 

Do you think you can get a picture of the receiver in an actual USB port? I know it's small, but how small is it?

Awesome review, very nice mouse!

 

Thanks for the review. That solves my mystery question about whether there is an on/off button for those who would like to have the receiver stay in the laptop.

 

Okay. Hopefully there are enough items to give you an idea of scale.

 

That's pretty sweet. Plug and forget, thanks Jerry!

 

Those are some gorgeous pics in the review, Jerry. Thanks!

Does it use SetPoint? Or something else?

 

The software, if you want to install it, is SetPoint 4.0 (H).

Again, when I first used the VX Nano I just plugged it in without installing any additional software.

After the first day I installed SetPoint but then un-installed it because I felt it was useless for my needs.

 

When they come out with a bluetooth version I will be stoked.

 

Awesome! Thanks for this review JerryJ! Have been looking (and requesting) a review of this product for a while!

Just as a side note - have you installed UberOptions or tried UberOptions? It provides a lot of extra hidden features and options for your Logitech product.

http://www.mstarmetro.net/~rlowens/

I'd just be interested in what hidden features it may provide or have for the VX Nano

EDIT: I wanted to ask you - does the mouse turn off if you are not using it for a certain amount of time? I didn't see any mention of the mouse's power management with the receiver left in the laptop - I just wanted to know how would the mouse fare in terms of battery life if I just kept the receiver in my laptop instead of removing/replacing it all the time.

 

Nice review!

How difficult is it to get out of the USB port. I figure that it'd be left in most of the time anyways, but if you needed to get it out, how hard is it? Can you actually grab it or do you have to use tweezers or something ?

 

I'll have to try that UberOptions program sometime to see. I've never heard of it before.

As for power management, the mouse will go into a power saving mode (where it doesn't leave the laser on all the time) if you just leave it on. It never completely turned off while I was using it unless I pressed to power button on the bottom of the mouse or put the receiver into the bay next to the batteries.

It may turn off on its own if you leave it on and motionless for a long time, but I never left it on and motionless for more than about an hour.

It wasn't difficult to remove from any of the notebooks I tried it on, but if you had this receiver plugged into a USB port next to several other USB ports with things plugged in you might have to remove the other items in order to grip the receiver.

I never needed tweezers ... but I also didn't have multiple USB thumb drives and cables plugged into other ports next to the receiver.

 

Ok. Cool, thanks.

Yeah, uberOptions is actually universal in terms of it being independent of what Logitech product you use I believe. It works with SetPoint kind of like as a mod, I guess.

 

How much smaller is the mouse than the VX Revolution?

 

They are actually about the same size, but the Revolution is a little larger than the Nano.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the Revolution uses a larger USB receiver and one AA battery (4 months of battery life) rather than two AAA batteries (6 months).

Two features the Revolution has that the Nano doesn't are:

1) A zoom slider (not an issue for me)
2) A four-stage battery indicator with multiple LEDs so you know when the battery is getting low rather than when it's almost dead. (The Nano's single LED just flashes red when the battery is almost dead ... so you won't know the batteries need changed until the last minute.

 

i wonder if you could just get the receiver and use it on the vx revolution.

 

Thanks. Sounds like a great mouse. I have the MX610 and on the odd occasion that I want to move my laptop I have to unplug the receiver b/c otherwise it won't fit in my backpack or might break off or whatever.

 

that will not work. and you wouldn't be able to get the receiver by itself anyways.

 

Jerryj, thanks for the data. I do not think that for those features, I will change mice right now.

 

heh, the USB adapter is pretty small (DUH!)

 

argh logitech, why don't you have a revolution bluetooth mouse!?

 

Amazing. Although I have a VX Revolution already, I may just have to pick up a Nano. The thought of leaving the USB dongle attached to the laptop at all times just seems too good.

Aside from a Bluetooth version of this mouse that is...

 

I would wait, I mean a bluetooth version must be coming soon. How Logitech has not made one already is beyond me.

 

Thanks, Jerry!

And I totally agree with you - I'd have no use for the software myself, especially on Linux

 

Since it has been mentioned.... is there a bluetooth version coming?

Matt

 

Probably not, since the whole point of this really is the small dongle. BT mice don't have dongles...and I doubt you can get laser dpi's on BT radios...maybe you can, but I haven't seen it done.

Plus, the sleep/connect issues.

 

See the following post I just created a minute ago:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=148828

This might be an interesting alternative to the VX Nano, since it comes with Bluetooth and Laser.

 

Hmm how do you activate the Hyper-Fast Scrolling function?

I have a VX revolution (actually two, but the 2nd one is due to a RMA, my original could barely last a week on batteries) but being able to keep the dongle in all the time is very very appealing.

 

you click the middle mouse button to activate hyper-fast scrolling, so another plus over the VX rev

 

Nice review, and looks like a great mouse. I liked it from the moment I saw the previews of it.

I cant justify 65$ for it tho when I just got a G7 a few weeks ago...

So this will have to be something I will keep an eye out for on the deals section of the forums where it has some kind of sale and I can grab one cheap.

 

Sweet. When my current USB mouse croaks that is the first thing I am gonna buy. I always worry about my current receiver breaking off in the socket!!!

 

This looks like my ideal mouse, with the tiny USB adapter and awesome frictionless scroll wheel.

However, its a bit pricey at $70, and since my MS Laser mouse is serving my purpose pretty well right now, I don't think I can justify blowing so much money on this. There are more productive things I can buy, like coursebooks and such.

That said, I really want this mouse

 

Yeah its a nice lookin mouse but why did they take out the battery indicator and other feature? It just now feels like you're paying more for less just cuz of the tiny receiver! I would however definitely consider buying this if it was cheaper, like VX price. Let us know if the battery actually lasts 6 months Jerry cuz my last experience with a logitech mouse (MX900) they kept claiming long battery life but I had to recharge after 1-3 days

 

JerryJ, do you know its dimensions?

Thanks in advance.

 

The dimensions, at the largest points, are about 3.8" x 2.25" x 1.25"

 

Hmm...it's not as small as I thought it would be.

Thanks again!

 

I just got a VX Revolution about a month ago for $30. If I could get the VX Nano for a similar price, I might consider it. Otherwise, the Revolution will serve me fine.

 

Thanks for the review. I'm almost sold, but one thing I don't see mentioned (unless I just missed it). Does this mouse have left/right scroll-wheel buttons, so you can click the scroll wheel left or right?

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, you can see the arrows next to the middle scroll wheel in the images.

All Logitech mice these days have this feature.

 

Thanks for the reply. Adding this to wishlist!

 

When is this thing out?

 

It should be available for purchase sometime in August. The review units that Logitech is shipping are production units (inside the same packaging you see in stores). That usually means that they are also shipping production units to retailers ... or will be soon.

 

you can get it from circuitycity for $65 although they're showing as unavilable as of right now in any of the stores, but you CAN order it from online.

 

Gawd...wish this thing was out. That little USB receiver is ace!

 

Circuitcity still the only place to get this?

 

no, there are others. just froogle it.

 

nice mouse i think my v400 is due for an update..

btw i was reading this review

http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=526

and it states that it comes with a usb cord?...

umm whats the point?

 

It comes with an extension for the nano receiver, that's all. So if you have a desktop it makes it easier to plug it in and remove it.

Btw, has anyone actually seen this thing anywhere retail-wise?