Last year , I raved about Logitech ’s then - new Revolution wireless laser shiner — specifically , the ship’s company ’s MicroGear Precision Scroll Wheel technology , a “ freewheel ” intention that lets you speedily scroll through pages and pages with a simple flick of your finger’s breadth . ( See my original write - up , linked above , for complete particular . ) The full - size MX mannequin earned a 5 - shiner military rank in our official followup , and I ’ve in person foretell the more - portable VX model the best laptop mouse I ’ve used .
So I was plain interested in the company ’s tardy offering , the even - more - portableVX Nano($70 ) . After testing the fresh Nano , my impression are for the most part positive .
Like the original VX , the Nano is much small than the flagship MX . However , the Nano is even smaller than the first VX : or so half an inch shorter ( front to back ) , and a morsel more than a one-quarter - column inch thinner ( top to bottom ) ; the width is about the same . Although this does n’t seem like much space savings , the Nano feel much smaller in your deal . And in a move that ’s sure to appeal to left-hander , the VX Nano ’s body is symmetrical , making it operable with either paw .
The VX Nano ( leave ) and the original VX ( right )
The downside to this smaller , double-dealing plan is that whereas the original VX was a near - perfect size of it and shape , at least for most right - handers , the VX Nano feel more like a reliable locomotion mouse . I could use the original VX all day with my background Mac ; the VX Nano is a bit too small ( for me ) for full - metre exercise . Still , for a portable mouse it ’s quite comfy — good than most I ’ve test .
The other major difference between the two model is in the sizing of their respective USB receivers . ( Both shiner practice 2.4 GHz tuner - frequency [ RF ] engineering science , which require you to plug a little receiver into a USB port wine on your computer . ) The original VX ’s receiving system was already quite little , but the Nano ’s is the tiniest I ’ve ever seen — by far . In fact , as you could see in the range at in good order , it ’s not much bigger than the USBconnector ; only a small nub protrudes from your computing equipment . According to Logitech , this design lets you leave behind the pass receiver plugged into your laptop ; you do n’t have to unplug it whenever you want to move your laptop .
The RF receivers for the VX Nano ( left ) and the original VX ( right )
For the most part , this is a fair call ; however , the receiver still protrudes a bit , so you ’ll want to be thrifty not to sic your laptop down on that edge , or slide it across a desk on that edge . But during my testing , I ’ve indeed left the RF receiver stop up into my MacBook Pro and neither the receiver nor the computer has suffered any ill effects . ( If you do n’t desire to keep the receiver plug in , it tucks into a nifty saltation - load slot behind the mouse ’s battery door . )
As a side notation , some hoi polloi have lamented Logitech ’s decision to apply releasing factor technology instead of Bluetooth in its Revolution black eye . I mistrust the primary reason for this is compatibility : although every Mac laptop includes ramp up - in Bluetooth , it ’s still fairly rarified on the Windows side — which mean a ( more expensive ) dongle would be necessary anyway . For what it ’s worth , I can tell you that after several age of test both technologies , I ’ve personally come to choose a in effect RF black eye to a Bluetooth one . unnilquadium computer peripheral work more reliably , in my experience ; you do n’t have to allot with Bluetooth pairing issues ; there ’s no annoying postponement while the shiner and computer “ wake up ” and reconnect ; and I do n’t have to leave Bluetooth active all the metre ( which deoxidise assault and battery life ) . The only real drawback to RF has been the inconvenient RF dongles , and the VX Nano ’s super - small version is a dependable enough workaround for me — for now .
The Nano also uses a slightly different ( and slightly smaller ) scroll wheel than its declamatory sibling . You still get the freewheel lineament I make love so much last year . The conflict here is that whereas switching to a received “ step ” ringlet - wheel mode on the larger VX need you to plow the mouse over and flip-flop a permutation on the bottom , with the VX Nano you could simply dawn the scroll rack itself to toggle between freewheel and pace modality . This means that you mislay the scroll - wheel - click for other uses , but it ’s a fair tradeoff , in my judgment .
The Nano also loses the original VX ’s Zoom slider , which let you soar upwards the screen or document in and out , but retains left , right-hand , hunting ( Spotlight ) , up , and down buttons . My only ill here is that the programmable up and down button were easy accessible with your thumb on the original VX ; on the Nano , they ’re project to be squeeze by your index digit ( if you ’re right - handed ) and the down button require a piece of an awkward bend . In fact , if you ’re left - handed , those buttons may in fact be easier to press ; when using the computer mouse depart - handed , I was able to easily press them with either my midriff or ring fingerbreadth .
verbalize of programmable clit , that lead me to the one trouble I had with the VX Nano : Logitech ’s Mac software system . I ’ve been hearing occasional charge aboutLogitech Control Center(LCC ) for Mac OS X for yr , along with praise from people who ’ve used it successfully . I ’d in person had only good experience in the past , using it with a bit of Logitech products , including several I ’ve reviewed . But after set up the software on my MacBook Pro and plug away in the VX Nano , I was n’t so lucky . LCC launch all right and let me configure the Nano ’s place setting ; and those setting worked well . However , whenever the silver screen would blur and I would assay to “ wake it up ” using the shiner — not from a unfeigned sleep , which puzzle out delicately , but from just a dimmed filmdom — I would get a meat panic . Uninstalling LCC fixed the problem .
I should point out that I did n’t have this job on a MacBook I tested , and given my preceding experiences , I suspect many people wo n’t see such a problem a job at all . But in the context of other complaints I ’ve heard about LCC , my experience here is deserving mentioning . ( If you ’re LCC - averse , it turns out that SteerMouse , which has improved quite a number since I reviewed it , and USB Overdrive each work very well with the VX Nano ; I was able to configure the various button as desired when I examine these third - company mouse driver . )
The Nano requires 2 AAA batteries ( include ) , which Logitech claims should last up to to 6 months — or longer with judicious use of the on / off button on the bottom of the mouse . The mouse also includes a padded carrying sac and a USB dock with a five - foot USB cable for using the computer mouse with a desktop computer .
If you ’re a right - hander looking for a mouse to use both on the route and at home , I still recommend the original VX Revolution ; its bigger size and ergonomic design makes it a honorable all - day mouse , even if it does take up a bit more space in your laptop bag . But if you ’re a lefty laptop computer user , or just face for a great compact shiner , the VX Nano is bad to tucker out , despite the software issue I experience . It ’s quite comfortable as small mice go , its trailing and overall operation are first-class , and once you ’ve used the freewheel scroll - wheel way , standard scroll roulette wheel feel positively klunky . If Logitech ’s Mac software package was more racy , I ’d be able to recommend the Nano without reservations . Still , this mouse ’s ironware is so good that I still think it ’s worth a try for any route warrior .
