Logitech V200 Offers Up To One Year Of Battery Life

With sales of notebook computers outselling desktop computers it comes as no surprise that Logitech upgraded their cordless notebook mouse lineup. The V200 is part of two new cordless mice with new battery management features which allow it to run up to one year before needing a battery change. Logitech now offers four mice made specifically for notebook computers, all highly compact and portable, but differing in design and features to meet the varying needs of notebook PC users.

The Logitech V200 Cordless Notebook Mouse combines an unmatched battery life of up to one year with virtually interference-free 2.4 GHz digital cordless technology - making it ideal for mobile professionals who need the best wireless technology and don’t want to hassle with changing batteries frequently.

The V200 is an update to the Logitech Cordless Notebook mouse. List of improvements include a convenient battery-light indicator that notifies you when the batteries are running low. With an one year battery life, it maybe a while before you ever see that light go on. The V200 is also plug-and-play - it include a miniature USB wireless receiver that is paired individually with the mouse during manufacturing. When the receiver is plugged in, the mouse works immediately. Unlike the notebook mouse the V200 replaced, the USB receiver conveniently snaps onto the base of the mouse, much like the Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse. This action automatically switches the mouse power off, saving battery life, while also making the mouse and receiver easy to transport.

The Logitech V200 notebook mouse carries a suggested retail price of $39.99 (see price box for current pricing). The mouse is available in four colors; black, blue, red and silver.

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Small Mouse, Big Features

The Logitech V200 Cordless Notebook Mouse can last up to a year on two AA batteries because it uses lower power 2.4 GHz digital cordless technology. The 2.4 GHz digital cordless technology also provides a stronger connection between the mouse and micro-receiver than found in conventional 27 MHz mice.

The 2.4 GHz technology gives users a range of up to 30 feet, making this mouse great for presentations. A 2.4 GHz is also less prone to interference when there are other wireless signals in the same area, a common situation in the workplace. The mouse’s powerful optical engine works on a wide range of surfaces, giving mobile professionals more flexibility when selecting a place to work. It will work on a chair at the airport or on a coffee shop table.

The V200 features Logitech’s Tilt Wheel Plus Zoom, which allows people to effortlessly scroll left, right, up and down, and zoom in and out of images, Web pages and open documents.

The Logitech V200 Cordless Notebook Mouse builds on the design of the best-selling Logitech Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks. The size and body is the same as the old Cordless Optical but now it's available in more colors other than silver and black. Other improvements to the body include a low battery LED indictor and snap-in area on the underside of the mouse to hold the 2.4 GHz USB receiver

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Setting Up, Testing & Performance

Setting up the Logitech V200 is so simple, it's idiot proof. The first thing you need to do is install the two supplied AA batteries. The top of the mouse cover pops off so you can insert the batteries. After the batteries are installed, just insert the USB receiver into any free USB port and the mouse will work. No software is required. Logitech does supplied their excellent SetPoint mouse software should you wish to change the function of the mouse buttons. However, we found the default settings to work fine.

The best feature of the V200 is the new 2.4 GHz USB receiver that snaps to the underside of the mouse. This feature was first seen on Microsoft's Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse and it's nice to see Logitech copied it. With the old Logitech notebook mouse setup, the mouse and USB receiver couldn't be stuck together so losing a USB receiver was always a possibility. With the V200 the chances of losing the new receiver is greatly reduced. The V200 instantly powers up when the receiver is detached from the mouse. Plugging the receiver back in turns the mouse off.

The range of the new receiver is something else. We were able to operation our notebook from clear across the room without any lost of signal strength. This makes the V200 ideal for presentations where you need to be separate from the notebook at a great distance, as is often the case with presentations using a notebook and a projector.

The V200 mouse works much like the old Logitech Cordless Notebook mouse, which is to say great. Because of the way the V200 is shaped, it feels a lot bigger than it really is. The mouse is very responsive to movement and button clicks. The supplied SetPoint mouse software allows you to fine tune the mouse even more but most users will be happy with the V200 right out of the box. Like all notebook mouse, the V200 lacks forward and backward buttons. Users who simply must have those buttons can use the SetPoint software to assign those functions to the 5-way mouse wheel.

Overall, the V200 is a definitely improvement over the old Logitech Cordless Notebook Mouse. Logitech has taken all the good points of the old Cordless and improved on it. The V200 has found a permanent place inside the notebook bag.