Logitech plugs in 'world's smallest' cordless mouse dongle
Don't lose it...
Peripheral manufacturer Logitech has revealed what it claims is the world's smallest USB transceiver for a cordless input device, a tiny unit that sticks less than a centimeter from the edge of the port it's plugged into.
Logitech's Nano receiver: the world's dinkiest dongle?
That may prove even smaller than Newton Peripherals' MoGo Dapter, a tiny Bluetooth dongle announced back in January but not due to go on sale until this coming autumn.
And to go with it, there's the new VX Nano mouse, a compact notebook-oriented rodent that uses the same sideways-tilting, freewheeling scroller that Logitech introduced last year with its MX Revolution - reviewed here.
The mouse is powered by a pair of AAA batteries and incorporates - as have past Logitech laptop mice - a docking bay for the Nano receiver. However, Logitech likes to think that the USB adaptor is sufficiently small that most notebook users will keep it connected to their computers.
Logitech's VX Nano mouse: freewheelin'
The VX Nano has a set of forward and backward keys, along with a Search button to trigger the host operating system's own document search facility. If you don't fancy those features, the buttons are customisable.
The VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse is due to go on sale late next month for around £50 ($100/€72).
COMMENTS
but Bluetooth is built in...
I'd hoped the proprietary RF mouse standards would die after the introduction of Bluetooth, but I guess we're not so lucky. Why have yet another dongle sticking out of the machine, when Bluetooth is usually built in, and if not, it costs less than lunch to add it?
The only possible advantage that a proprietary RF dongle could have is security, because a flaw in a bluetooth stack has more potential to do nasty stuff to the OS. That's not to say that the proprietary USB dongles aren't exploitable, just that they're a low-profile target and enjoy the obscurity that comes with that.
Nice Idea
Logitech has proven time and time again that it can produce successful products. This is no exception! Instead of a load of wires every where you got this nano dongle witch takes one USB slot and brands it 'Logitech' whilst doing its job of receiving wireless signals.
Still takes up a USB port.
I wonder what the cost of a Bluetooth license must be for Logitech (and others) to continue avoiding it. Instead, enter yet another proprietary RF dongled mouse. It's nice to see that they've made the dongle small enough to remain a permanent attachment, but please, make Bluetooth versions of some of these products!
Signed, a V270 user, glad Logitech makes at least one such device.
To: Mighty Spang
You can buy bluetooth mouse, and most laptops are bluetooth-equipped these days. Microsoft makes a good one I think, try its Wireless Laser Mouse 8000. I'm getting one myself, when I finally got laptop with integrated bluetooth :) No need for a different wireless standard.
They already did..
It's called Bluetooth! It'll work on any computer, and many PDAs. I have one mouse that I use between multiple computers.
Only problem is if they're all set to automatically use it and you're using them close together, weird stuff can happen. So I have the mouse disabled by default except on the main machine I use it on. Easy enough to turn it on when In need to use it on the others.
