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Logitech V550 Nano wireless laptop mouse

The first mouse you can clip to your computer

What we can't say is how that will change over time, especially if the nipple's bonded to a plastic-covered computer. If there's any residue when you remove the clip, the V550 comes with a pair of alcohol-soaked wipes to clean the laptop lid.

There's also a small tin in the package to keep all this stuff together. Another nice touch, that.

And the mouse itself? It proved a pleasure to use: as mice go, the V550 is quite a weighty one, but that makes it more comfortable to push around a desk than many of the lighter members of the species. There's a good resolution on the laser so moving the cursor around the screen is comfortable.

Logitech Nano V550

Round the back

The buttons have a light but affirmative action; the scrollwheel is weighty too so it'll run free if you flick it, though it's also ratcheted so it doesn't spin too far. But the cog teeth are widely spaced, making scrolling feel jerky and lacking precision. Pushing the wheel in switches to free-running mode, which is better.

The wheel tilts sideways for horizontal scrolling, and there's a secondary button below it that you can configure yourself, though you'll need to download the software to do so - despite the big box the mouse comes in, there's no CD in there.

A button at the back of the mouse unlatches the rodent's base, allowing you to replace the batteries and stash the unit's USB radio adaptor. This tiny accessory really is little bigger than a standard USB connector, poking maybe 5mm beyond the extent of a laptop's USB port. It was a perfect fit for the Air and the three or four other laptops we tried it with. It's small enough to connect and forget.

Logitech VX Nano receiver

The tiny receiver

Logitech bundles a handy USB extension cable with a desktop stand on the end should you choose to use the V550 with a fixed-location computer.

Finally, we come to battery life. Logitech quotes 18 months, though it admits that depends on how many hours you use the V550 each day. We'll report back in a year and a half and let you know how it went.

All the bundled items help to justify the price: £50/$60. That's a lot to pay for a mouse, especially if you don't mind one with a cable, and it's more than twice the price of Logitech's most basic cordless model. The V550 is nice, sure, but we're not entirely convinced it's twice the price nice.

Verdict

Yes, the laptop lid attachment's a gimmick. We're sure folk who like to carry their laptops under their arms will appreciate it, but if you prefer to stash your notebook in a backpack or case, it's less desirable.

But don't let that detract from the mouse itself, which is a joy to use and comes with the one of the most discreet dongles you could want. It has a luxury feel - which is handy, because you'll pay a luxury price for it.

75%

Logitech V550 Nano wireless laptop mouse

Stylish and comfortable to use, the V550 is nonetheless a little too pricey, especially if you don't need the laptop attachment gimmick.
Price: £50 / $60 RRP

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