Ask Engadget: Best wireless laptop / mobile mouse?
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 17th 2009 9:03PM
posted Sep 17th 2009 9:03PM
"I've been looking for a decent wireless mouse for my laptop. Big fan of Logitech here, and I'm not so keen on Microsoft mice, but I'm very open to suggestions. I'm digging the Logitech VX Nano -- compact size + receiver, fancy scroll wheel and additional buttons. What do you suggest? I've heard bad things about Bluetooth mice, so I'm considering avoiding those unless someone can convince me otherwise. Price? Just not too expensive. Thanks."So, jet-setters -- what mouse gets the nod when you travel? Is Bluetooth really that bad these days? Drop some knowledge during your next layover, won't you?
logitech vx nano
Ditto -- I have the VX Nano too and it is amazing though the only downside is that you lose a USB port in the laptop,
I also have the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 which is connected by blue-tooth, since i have a blue-tooth built-in my laptop i just switch it on and presto im connected
I seriously love the weramouse (or Pokermouse, same item, different package) It's a wireless trackball, really intuitive how you hold, and use the trigger finger as the left click. I often use my laptoip for presentations, so it's a perfect fit for that! (weramouse.com) (If you e-mail and ask for a deal, they'll knock off $20)
vx revolution is awesome, can configure it really nicely with os x, slight driver issue with snow leopard but can get around it, and configure it to do just about anything; using left/right scroll for switching spaces, zoom for volume.
yes, get the nano. I love the size and feel, plus the ability to change the feel of the scroll wheel from free spinning to clicking is really nice
Thanks for the tip ListedFirst.com, I just bought one of those weremouses, can't wait to try it out.
Does anyone have issue with the VX Nano not having middle click on the scroll wheel (press down is used for the scroll mode toggle instead)?
+1
VX Nano is best for laptop - small but big enough for my not-so-small hand and works well and one battery lasts quite a while and its receiver is plug-and-forget type.
Don't be mistaken, though. You can still get a good mouse for a smaller price. But whatever it is, make it Logitech xD Razr doesn't offer budget-minded wireless manipulators.
Logitech wireless mice:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/&cl=roeu,en&page=0&filter=360&sort=0
Hope this helps.
But WTF is up with it being on 2.4 gHz? That's going to conflict with 802.11 devices and good luck using your mouse if you're on a phone call with your 2.4 gHz phone; that already knocks you off the Internet, so one must suspect that it's going to whack this mouse too.
I have been using the Logitech Vx-Nano for about six months and it is GREAT.
It worked out of the box with Windows and Linux, no need to load drivers or the extra software which came with it.
For you Logitech owners out there, there's a tool called Uber Options for Setpoint that will let you customize the buttons to do some things you normally can't with the basic Setpoint.
One either my MX or VX there was a button that you couldn't map to do a specific function that other keys could. It made no sense, it was stupid, and Uber Options let me do exactly what I wanted.
Logitech Nano=great
@ScaryFast
Thanks for the tip -- I'll try that out.
VX Nano for sure.
I have a hard time using anything else, now it is my main mouse. Great compact mouse and the back and forwards button are invaluable.
I can personally attest to the awesomeness that is the VX Nano. I've had it for almost a year now, and its been nothing short of perfect (for my use at least). You'll never know how useful the "superwheel" is until you use it and now I have a hard time using a standard one anymore.
I have the vx nano and it rocks, no other choice really.
VX Nano, nothing else compares.
My Microsoft bluetooth mouse is awesome. No receiver required is a nice feature and it's very comfortable. I've never had any trouble with it. It's not cheap though.
in my experience Bluetooth is really not bad at all. I have a Rocketfish mouse (Best Buy brand) thats works wonderfully. the only downside is bluetooth uses a little more power, so to compensate the mouse goes into a sleep mode when you havn't used it for a while. actually, it seems to have two sleep states. if i don't use it for maybe 5 minutes, it takes at most half a second for it to wake up. if i don't touch the mouse for maybe 15 minutes (not sure, i've never timed it) it takes about a second and a half to wake up. the batter life is still good because of this, i've owned the mouse for a year, moderate usage and i've replaced the batteries twice. in my opinion, not having to deal with an adapter outweighed the minor delay in waking from sleep. which reminds me, i've tried and tried, but i can see absolutely no lag in terms of pointer movement. i've used it for gaming and it does just fine.
also, you should really think about whether you really want a small mobile mouse. compared to a Microsoft bluetooth mouse, my Rocketfish is just a bit longer (it doesn't have that wide base of some full-size logitechs), so that my palm rests on it. much more comfortable than using just my fingers to control the mouse, and it still fits into a backpack or laptop bag just fine.
I like the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000.
My BT experience is *mostly* good. The negatives for BT are mixing mouse & audio simultaneously is difficult. If you do make sure your BT receiver is on a high-speed USB port and it's BT 2.1 or better.
Even then bluetooth drivers matter a lot. So far with Vista the Microsoft drivers have turned out best. Bluesoleil drivers used to be ok, but I've had bad stability with them after the latest versions.
I also have the Microsoft bluetooth 5000. Works great, never had a problem with it, not once. I turn the mouse on, it works, that simple really. I don't use any other BT stuff at the same time, though, and I run Linux so can't tell you much about the Windows experience. I only bought the Microsoft because the shop was out of the Logitech BT mouse and I needed it in a hurry, but it's really been fine.
Never used the VX Nano. Not losing a USB port is really nice, though.
I've been trying-out the Logitech M555b mouse for a week, and I have no complaints. Hyper-fast scrolling, sleek design, and smooth performance. Not the most ergonomic mouse, but for a laptop mouse portability is more important, and this mouse fits that bill.
The M555b is the mouse I would choose. I have been using mine for a over a month and I have not problems so far. It worked out of the box and I only installed Logitech's software to get some more control over what could be done with the mouse. It may not be the most ergonomic but it feels pretty comfortable in my hand after using if for that long.
The only mouse I've used is the Logitech VX Nano. It works brilliantly, feels good in my hand. I only wish it had a cord so I wouldn't need to replace the battery (I haven't had to do it often or anything).
I mean the only wireless mouse I've used.
Definitely the VX Nano, although if you have big hands it could be a bit uncomfortable to use. Despite still using a RF receiver, I've never had dropped signals, and the tracking is accurate. Plus the receiver is tiny so you can just leave it in plugged in when traveling (if you don't use the built-in compartment).
Only complaint is that you should carry spare batteries with you. I use mine daily and still get a good 2 months between battery changes, but as there's no clear power indicator (only green or red), you never know when it might suddenly quit. Still, AAA batteries are commonplace so it's not a big issue.
setpoint can tell you your remaining battery life
I believe if you install the Setpoint software it will tell you how your battery is doing, offering a percentage or time estimate.
I love the VX Nano personally, and HIGHLY recommend it. Batteries last such a long time, very small but manageable size, and the USB dongle is so tiny I leave it in my laptop almost at all times. Only time I take it out is when I need the extra USB port...
I rock a Logitech VX Nano when I'm on the road.
At the end of the day I just flip it over, press power, and slip it into my bag, leaving the tiny USB receiver plugged into the side of the laptop. My roommate wants a new mouse, but she's not sold on the middle click being taken over by wheel spin mode, but I pointed out to her that it took no time at all to get used to using the little button below the scroll wheel as middle click.
The forward and back buttons never get used by me, partly due to location and partly due to mouse gestures (soon to me multi-touch gestures I hope) for browsing.
At home I have the Logitech MX Revolution which I really like. I came over from the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 1.0 and 3.0 side.
Is the button mapped to middle-click with the standard Windows/Mac drivers that are auto-detected? Or do you have to install the SetPoint software to get the middle-click button mapping?
What about the Hyperscrolling? Does that work with standard OS drivers, or require SetPoint installation?
Thanks
I say go with the regular Logitech LX8. It's not your normal "laptop" size mouse, but I have never really seen a reason to have a small mouse. If you have room to use a mouse, might as well have a decent size one. Very comfortable on my hands, excellent scroll wheel, and a couple of extra buttons. I use one as the "back" button on web browsers, which is an awesome feature. The receiver works well, and I've never had any problems with the mouse. Definitely worth it.
You'll probably get mad at me for saying this, but... I just use the damn trackpad. I don't understand why so many people have trouble with it (except for gaming).
when my fingers or my laptop gets too warm my trackpad stops working properly. So I either switch to the "G-Cube" mouse or use the little blue nub in the middle of my keyboard. Nub FTW :)
I'm right there with you, I like the trackpad a lot of times. I have a MacBook Pro and all the gestures for scrolling and going backward and forward are really nice.
Sometimes I do like to use a mouse and then it's another vote for VX Nano. I got one, then all my co-workers got one, then my partner. Everyone that tries it loves the frickin thing. Small but not so much that it's hard to use, and the batteries last a long time. Three year warranty is nice, I had to take advantage of it about 13 months after I bought it. My scroll wheel stopped working and they sent me a brand new one. Unfortunately I was without it for about two weeks from the time I shipped it off till I received the replacement.
Track pad + rubber nubber = waste of space for me.
Gimme one of them ol' screen mounted trackballs like I had in my second laptop, the Compaq LTE Elite http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=220459806586
That worked better than any desk-bound mouse or trackball, with your hand at a natural angle, left & right click buttons on the back of the monitor. Total control. Don't need to carry another mouse either.
Trackpads are a hit-or-miss affair for me. On my home Asus, it's pretty accurate and works great, on my work Dell, it sucks. The Dell trackpad is slow, inaccurate, just plain crap. I never use it, prefer the trackpoint (and you have to disable the trackpad because your palm interferes - that never happened with all the Thinkpads I've used) if I'm moving around the office and not using my VX Nano.
Personally, I'm completely for Bluetooth mice. No problems, and no receiver. I'll make use of the extra USB port, that's really the only thing I care about. Better range too, and sometimes better reception depending on direction.
That said, I like the mighty mouse and bluetooth keyboard. It works fine with windows, but the Mighty Mouse doesn't feel right to everyone. The wireless keyboard is compact, but there's more options there.
don't ask me why I thought it said "keyboard and mouse" .... oops.
Well, I still love the mighty mouse.
The mighty mouse is very average and the wireless version is much worse. I have both...
The wired one, it's shell is exactly the right height off the surface for the cable to fit and frequently you try and click only nothing happens. If the cable or the shell were even 2mm different you'd know or it wouldn't happen.
The scroll/click ball seems great at first but get a tiny grain of who knows what in there and it fails, grinding away (it can be cleaned). Then if the mouse isn't held straight you go to roll the ball and nothing works because you are rolling slightly diagonal.
Then there's the click shell with -two- buttons, which are really one but depends on angle of pressure so you go to click right and it does left anyway (set for 2 in prefs) because of some subtle angle or pressure. This is really hopeless for any gaming. The wireless one is far worse at this.
Forget using the alleged side buttons and in fact turn them off before they catch u unawares, they have bad ergonomics and poor feedback for if you press them.
Then we come to Bluetooth, which one imagines works well and mostly it does. Mostly. It is good with battery life, excellent actually.
So hmmm, what's left. Oh you get what looks like a flying mouse or something if you hold them just right with the sensor light shining out... Um yah!
Oh and finally, they are hopeless on semi opaque surfaces and many others also colour sensitive.
If I was Steve at Apple having a fit over some product design, well it would be the mighty mouse and I'd have a tennis ball throwing machine pelt them at the designers randomly throughout the day until they got it right.
To conclude, forget the mighty mouse
Personally, the Microsoft Arc mouse works well for me. It's accurate, has a good scroll wheel, good battery life, and folds nicely to fit in my bag. It also fits better in my hand than the nano ever did.
Just my two cents
Completely agree! And its a good conversation piece =P. Frickin' cool gadget to have.
But its so nicely packaged and well though out. Receiver magnitized to the underside, flipping open causes it to turn on, nice pouch that it fits perfectly in. And the matte black one feels really good.
Only slight complaint is that the back button is a bit out of reach. Oh and since the laser is all the way at the front, a little more awkward for accurate gaming lol.
I use the Arc also and have been very pleased with it. It is accurate, durable, comfortable in my hand and so far, great battery life.
Agreed, It's compact, works really well, and it's sexy
I've tried a lot of different ones on my notebook, Microsoft, Logitech, laser, optical, gaming, desktop, cordless, whatever -- too many to count, but by far the most comfortable to use in a tight space, and if you don't mind a thin cord, the cheap Logitech V100 (like $15 online or free with some notebooks) is my preferred choice. Back to the basics, no need to go fancy here, it just works like a champ every time. You won't regret it. Spend the money on something else.
vx nano has my vote
I've got the Logitech VX Nano for my work laptop, I like it except the scroll is too "loose"
Also have a Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse 5000 that I use for my Macbook Air and I absolutely love it
I'd recommend either, with the MS one holding a slight edge because it doesn't need a receiver obviously
Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000. Blue track works excellent on my glass desk at work, and its receiver is just as small as the nano vx I used to have (that my wife has now).
I've used quite a few, and can't say anything is "awesome".
The Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 has a USB dongle that may be just as small as the Logitech VX Nano's, but at least on my work Thinkpad, it sticks out far enough that you still have to remove it. Also its too small. And it doesn't work with Linux. So forget that, its on the shelf.
I'm currently travelling with a full size Microsoft Blu-Track Mouse. Works perfectly. Keeps my hands from cramping up with extended use. Yeah, I know, I can't recommend it to anybody else either.
My experience with a Microsoft bluetooth mouse under Windows Vista on my wife's Dell XPS 13 laptop was that it woudn't remain connected. That was like a year ago, and she's gotten used to the trackpad since. Haven't gone near a bluetooth mouse since.