Mobiles users often require the same level of precision and features offered by high-end mouse controllers, and can quickly outgrow the standard laptop touchpad. This is especially true for gaming or multimedia uses, but even standard office tasks can really benefit from a prime notebook mouse. The challenges in this market are daunting, as not only does a notebook mouse have to offer comparable performance to a desktop model, but also do so in a diminutive format that fits the mobile target market, while being sturdy enough to handle the rigors of regular travel. This gets even tougher to accomplish when you bring wireless into the equation, but the Logitech V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks does a very good job of combining these into a very attractive package.
The V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks upgrades the Logitech mobile line to laser technology, and even goes one better with the unit's All-Terrain Laser, which features dual-laser technology for enhanced precision. Logitech envisions this mouse as an "all-terrain vehicle", capable of handling any surface you can throw at it. This is based on Philips Twin-Eye Laser technology, which can reportedly track movement at the sub-micron level. The dual-laser design is a Class 1 device, so there is no danger with looking directly into the laser.
The overall aesthetics of the V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks is quite different from the Logitech desktop models, and understandably so. The V400 Laser Cordless is less than half the size of an MX1000, but the base design is still Logitech through and through. The top outer shell is a one-piece design, ensuring that there are no cracks or crevices to detract from the overall comfort level. This mouse has a standard 2-button + scroll wheel format, but also includes Back and Forward buttons on the top-left of the unit. These are not as intuitive to use as standard thumb buttons, but that is a concession based on the unit's small footprint.
The scroll wheel offers the Tilt Wheel Plus Zoom feature, which allows left and right scrolling through documents or pictures, and a click of the scroll wheel button enables the zoom function. A rubber grip runs around the outside of the mouse, and the underside features the laser tracking mechanism, a reset button, and three "mouse feet" that look very familiar to the PTFE ones found on the G5 and G7 Laser mice. There is also a battery compartment, which slides open to reveal slot for a single AA battery (included - Duracell).
The back of the V400 Laser Cordless Mouse has a slot to store the wireless receiver, which when engaged, turns the mouse off for stress-free storage or travel. There is also a battery indicator light on the back of the V400 Laser Cordless Mouse (which turns on when the receiver is removed), just to make sure you are always operating at peak efficiency. The V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks is available in Freerider Orange and Storm Grey color schemes.
The wireless portion of the package features a 2.4 GHz digital link with a 30ft/10m maximum transmission range. The V400 Laser Cordless Mouse for Notebooks is linked through a USB micro-receiver, comparable to those found on other Logitech notebook mice, not to mention the popular G7 Laser Cordless. Similar to a USB flash drive, it attaches to an open USB port and automatically initializes from there. The micro-receiver locks into the slot on the back of the mouse for easy storage, with only a push needed to disengage the lock and remove the receiver.
This is a near perfect design, as it provides excellent mobility and ensures the unit's wireless receiver remains safe, but it still would have been nice to see Logitech include a hinged or swivel design (common on many notebook mice) so users could flip the micro-receiver up and out of the way. This translates into 1.5" of extra notebook width (or length, depending on the laptop USB design) with the micro-receiver installed, compared to less than half an inch with a hinged receiver.
The Logitech SetPoint driver implementation is very similar to the desktop version, and allows custom button assignments, monitors battery life, and has basic game support for certain functions and customs key setups. The mouse button driver tab works well, allowing right/left-handed switch (even though the mouse is physically designed for righties), and full customization of the other buttons and scroll wheel functions.
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