Laser Optics and Nano Receiver: Logitech V450 Nano

One of the things that came along with my new job was an older laptop (it might more accurately be described as a "boat anchor"), and along with it came a ginormous "portable" wireless mouse. The thing comprised mouse and receiver, both about the size and shape of a VW Beetle (the old style). Luckily, before I had to tote laptop and gigantic rodent appendage across ten time zones, the mouse stopped working (well, it might have had a le-e-e-tle help there...) In its stead, I talked the office manager into ordering an eensy-beensy cordless laser mouse, the Logitech V450 Nano to be exact, based on my positive previous experience with a pair of Logitech V220s.

Here are some basic specs for the V450 Nano:

•      The mouse operates on two AA batteries that are - get this! - included.
•      It's plug-n-play under Windows XP or Vista (32- or 64-bit) or Mac OS X 10.39 and later. You may be able to get drivers for Windows 2000 and older, but check with Logitech before buying. Ditto for Linux.
•      It requires a USB port for the receiver.
•      The mouse is about 4" x 2½" x 1½", slightly larger that the V220
•      It's ergonomically shaped to fit in the palm of the hand, and can be used either right- or left-handed, with a soft rubber grip notched on either side for the thumb
•      It's beyond optical, it's a laser optical mouse, with higher precision and finer resolution than "ordinary" optical mice
•      A 2.4GHz wireless signal is highly reliable: I've never experienced a dropout or delay, even from across the room

Like its little brother, the V450 is a two-button mouse with a scroll wheel that can be programmed to act as a third button (for Linux fans, among others). You have to download Logitech's SetPoint program and drivers from the corporate website to do so, however - and to enable other mouse features as well. It operates like a standard "dumb" mouse with the default Windows mouse driver.

So why do they call it Nano? Hold onto your hat: the 2.4GHz wireless receiver for this baby is MINUSCULE! It's a tiny (about ½" x ¼" x ¼") plastic blob sitting atop a USB plug. It's so small that they call it a "plug-and-forget" Nano Receiver. It's no longer necessary to unplug the receiver from your laptop and stow it in the mouse like you do with a V220 or V320; just leave it plugged in and go. If you absolutely insist on storing it, the Nano Receiver tucks into a special slot in the battery compartment (and turns the mouse off at the same time). Or you can leave it plugged in and turn the mouse off with a bottom-mounted switch - your call.

A small green LED lets you know the power's on, turning red when the battery's low. According to Logitech, battery life is 12 months. My V220 specs out at 6 months, and regularly beats that mark.

Special programming features: If you download SetPoint, the V450 has additional functions. By default, the wheel's programmed to scroll the current window right-left with a wheel "tilt." If you press and hold the wheel, you get software zoom to enlarge/reduce the current window. Both actions - tilt or press - can be re-assigned to several other functions, one of which is volume control for the speakers.

Living with the V450:

Installation is dirt-simple: it's plug-n-play. No software's included in the packaging; Logitech supplies no drivers for pre-XP or -OS X operating systems. My laptop still runs XP, and the mouse worked immediately upon installation.
Download: The download software (Logitech's SetPoint software) is HUGE; it compresses to a 60 MB self-extracting file! It includes the Yahoo toolbar, which can be rejected at install, but has no other switches. Installing the software creates a desktop icon and a tray icon, both of which pull up a rather crude GUI that duplicates mouse controls normally found in the control panel - handedness (right vs. left), the number of lines scrolled per spin of the wheel, and cursor sensitivity and speed. It also controls programming of the special wheel functions, so you can't get around downloading it if you want those functions.
Physical stuff: The receiver only projects about 0.25" out from the USB port so you really can plug it in and forget (though probably not so much if it's on the back).
Range: It's a minimum of ten or twelve feet from the receiver, at least with fresh batteries. I definitely find that useful for presentations.
Surface Sensitivity: It's worked fine on a plain countertop, rubber mousepad, magazine surface, newspaper, cloth, and wooden desk without any tracking problems.
Portability: It's quite compact, though it still weighs about the same as a conventional corded mouse (a few ounces).
Buttons: Many add-on mice come with extra buttons under the thumb and ring finger for additional controls; if you're used to them, you'll not find them here. If you're not, you probably won't care.

Is it really Ergonomic? Well, that might depend: the V450 is less "chunky" than the V220, as it's the same height with a slightly larger footprint. It's still rather small for a large hand, however. If portability isn't your driving need, I'd suggest a larger wireless (or even corded) mouse like the two-bugs model that died to get me this one.

Overall: A nice little mouse with few shortcomings. Logitech sells nicer mice, but they cost more than this one's $50 price tag. I'd recommend the V450 for medium to heavy use, though not for cursor-intensive pastimes like CAD or gaming; and I especially recommend it for travelling, where its light weight and plug-and-forget Nano Receiver will be a blessing. Oh - and replacement receivers are available from Logitech for a mere ten bucks, so you can literally forget the receiver as well!