Customer Reviews

Logitech Wireless Anywhere Mouse MX for PC and Mac

5 star:		(480)
4 star:		(109)
3 star:		(37)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

This is a great mouse. One of the best ones I have ever used. Some of the features I really like:
- The (newer) nano receiver, which can stay on the laptop at all times.
- The wireless just works. No pairing issues, no long initial wait when turning on.
- The "anywhere" part which is true! This mouse works on absolutely anything.
- All the buttons you need on a small mouse
- The great dual-mode scroll wheel for step-by-step scrolling or fast flowing scrolling.
- Good ergonomic despite the small size.
- Easy on/off switch at the bottom, which doubles as a protection flap for the sensor.
- Nice pouch.

All of this said, I am instead using a Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks (Black).
I don't think one is clearly better than the other. Choosing one vs. the other is a question of personal preference and priorities.

Here are the main differences:
- The VX Nano is quite a bit lighter (by 30-40%) and it makes a noticeable difference. The Anywhere MX is a bit heavier to begin with, but more importantly, it uses AA batteries vs. AAA for the VX Nano. Note that despite the larger batteries (about 2x capacity), The SetPoint software is predicting ~100 days for the Anywhere's AA and ~150 for the VX' AAA, so I guess the new "dark field" laser uses 2-3x more power. I thought of using AA-AAA adapters to keep the weight difference down, but that would drop the battery life to <2 months. For me, that was the biggest deciding factor with the next bullet. UPDATE: I have since discovered that the Anywhere MX can work with a single AA battery, which IMHO keeps the weight more reasonable.
- The VX Nano is quite a bit cheaper. Now that it's not the "best" Logitech laptop mouse, its price has dropped quite a bit. While the Anywhere MX price is pegged close to MSRP, the VX Nano's price is oscillating up to 40% cheaper than the Anywhere MX. That's a big difference.
- The Anywhere MX can be used on any surface. In comparison, the VX Nano can only be used on most surfaces. It's still extremely competent and works on fabric, many shiny surfaces... anything you'll normally find in a home or an office, and is much better than old red LED-based mice. It does not, however, work on transparent surfaces. If that's important, then the Anywhere MX is the only option.
- The VX Nano has the back/forward buttons on the top vs the Anywhere MX on the side for the more traditional thumb access. Advantage Anywhere MX here. Those top buttons on the VX Nano are not great and I think that was one of the main complaints. I am glad Logitech listened.
- The on/off button on the Anywhere MX is easier to use (flap to slide vs. hold for 3 seconds).
- Both mice get a pouch. The VX Nano has a mesh pouch that's a bit baggy. The Anywhere MX has a tight smooth pouch. It's a near tie.
- The VX Nano comes with a USB extension with holder to use with a desktop. The Anywhere MX doesn't. Not a big deal IMHO.
- The Anywhere MX has the new Nano receiver that can support several devices. The VX Nano has the "old" one. They are the same size though and behave identically with a single device. In particular, there is no pairing and initial latency issues as seen on Bluetooth devices.

I love this thing - it's comfortable, it has the hyper-fast scrolling that I love on my desktop mouse, it does indeed work anywhere, and the plug-and-play unifying receiver (USB stick) is teeny and does not have to be removed to put your laptop in the case. I got it for my work netbook - upon which I have to do a lot of writing.

SIZE/SHAPE: Perfect for me (I am a woman). As a portable it is a bit smaller than a traditional mouse, but that fits me better and my hand does not cramp up using it. It does not have a dramatic ergonomic curve like some bigger mice, but it does have grippy sides and a bit of shaping for your fingers (i.e. it's not just a hard plastic uniform shell).

DARKFIELD "ANYWHERE" TECHNOLOGY: I love this feature - and it's exactly what you need for your laptop... since you never know where you'll be using it and what sort of surface will be available to you. I have tried it on glass, paper, laminate, my couch, an airplane desk, a glossy desk, my leg, etc. It really does work anywhere. Love this. I used to carry a piece of cardboard in my laptop case for places without a good mouse-surface. That's gone.

SCROLLING: It has the hyper-fast scrolling that I have come to love on my desktop mouse (Logitech MK700 wireless keyboard/mouse). This enables me to fly through long PDFs or the like. You can easily (more easily than on my desktop mouse) switch to click scrolling - simply by pushing on the scroll wheel. You can also scroll horizontally (I use this for excel) by pushing the scroll wheel right/left.

BUTTONS: Big, slick, easy to use on/off slide button on the bottom - I use this a lot when carrying my netbook around to different offices (I keep the netbook on but don't want the mouse to accidentally click), so I like how easy this is to do with one finger (unlike some small fussy on/off buttons). Scroll wheel button converts from hyper-fast to click scroll as described above. Button below the scroll wheel brings up a window with thumbnails of all open applications so you can quickly go to where you want - I use this a lot too. And your standard forward/back buttons.

RECEIVER: Teeny. This is the best feature of the mouse. It sticks out maybe 1/4 of an inch when plugged in to the laptop, so you do not need to remove it to fit your laptop in the case or wherever. If you do want to remove it (why?) - there is storage in the mouse itself. It's a 'unifying' receiver capable of managing up to 6 compatible (i.e. Logitech) devices. Like most here, I cannot review this feature as I don't have any other compatible devices, sorry. But I still love that I plugged it in once and have never fussed with it since.

BOTTOM LINE: Small, comfortable, good features on the mouse itself - notably the hyper-fast scroll and the 'anywhere' technology - but the best feature is the tiny receiver that can easily live in your laptop without taking up space. I love this mouse!

It is great mouse, and I can definitely recommend it if you are looking for new laptop mouse. Here are some more details:
1. Appearance: It is very similar to VX Nano, but has better rubber and color coating.

2. Size: It is a bit larger than VX Nano. (I assume the new laser technology, Dark-Field might be required more space. Another obvious reason is two AA batteries are used rather than AAA batteries which are used in VX Nano. Anyway, this mouse is still small enough to easily carry around.)

3. Left & Right buttons: They are a bit heavier touch than VX Nano. I don't like heavy touch on left & right buttons because it makes my fingers get tired faster. It is my preference, so other people could like a bit heavier touch.

4. Back & Forward buttons: They are a little difficult to click with my thumb (I believe my hand is typical size). They should be located same as VX Nano.

5. Hyper-fast scrolling: I always love this scrolling mechanism since it was introduced, and it is one key reason I prefer Logitech mouse. But, there is one problem that its rubber band around the hyper-fast scrolling can be loosed in some time. After the rubber band is loosed, it makes erratic resistance while it is spinning. I guess it may not be a problem to someone, but to me, it is serious problem because I use it all the time. I think Logitech should do something about the rubber band.

6. Dark-Field Laser tracking: I don't know how much it is more accurate and precise than typical laser tracking, but I can be sure that it can be used almost any surfaces including glass & laminated surface which typical laser or optical mouse wouldn't work. It is truly amazing. You will love this.

7. Carrying Case: It is come with carrying case which seems to look better, but its size is smaller than the carrying case of VX nano. So, it has very tight fit which makes a bit difficult to be zipped. I have switched its carrying case with VX nano carrying case.

8. Battery life: at this point, I cannot say much about it, but assume Anywhere MX consumes a little bit more battery since it uses AA rather than AAA. Plus, the dark-field laser tracking mechanism might be required more power than typical laser tracking.

Last thing is "SetPoint" program which is its driver from Logitech. It gives some options to customize each button, but limitation. I might suggest "uberOptions"([...]) which allows customizing each button any way you want, but use it at own your risk.

If you use SolidWorks, Pro/E, AutoCAD, or any program that requires a lot of middle mouse button presses, do not buy this mouse. The middle mouse button is a mechanical switch that toggles between microgear (ratcheted) and smooth wheel scrolling. There's a button just behind the wheel that can act as the middle-mouse but good luck getting used to that (and then going back to a normal mouse). It's too bad I had to return this mouse bc otherwise the it seemed solid.

For notebook CAD applications I recommend the Logitech VX Revolution (microgear switch is on underside). For desktop CAD applications I like the older Logitech gaming mice (G5, MX518).

Anywhere Mouse MX - even glass tables! WOW! I have been waiting for a long time for this, how many times you have been at a hotel with a glass table in your room or in the hotel dining room and have to put a piece of paper under your mouse and on the jet plane!!! Many stories I know. This is the answer, "The Anywhere Mouse MX work everywhere mouse" for your laptop.

The Anywhere Mouse MX uses an ambidextrous design that is comfortable for both right and left-handed users. One of my favorite features of the mouse is its scroll wheel The freewheeling scroll wheel isn't new to Logitech, but it is still a great feature that lets you fly through long documents and pages with a flick of your finger rather than lots of clicking and flicking with your finger.
If the freewheel mode isn't accurate enough you can simply press the scroll wheel to move between freewheel and click modes automatically. The mouse will work without drivers installed, but the Logitech software allows you to customize the buttons and accelerate the pointer if you desire.
The scroll wheel is clickable side to side and the mouse has three other buttons including two on the side that default to forward and backwards for web pages and one under the scroll wheel that acts as the middle mouse button. These buttons can be programmed to activate features of Vista like Flip3D if desired.

The big feature of the Anywhere Mouse MX is the Darkfield tracking technology. The Darkfield tech is designed to allow the mouse to track accurately on any surface including clear glass. The only catch for use on glass is that it has to be at least 4mm thick. The mouse tracked very well on all surfaces in my testing.

I could accurately use the mouse on a desktop, a mouse pad, my leg, carpet, paper, wall, a glass table top, and shiny granite counter tops. The mouse is accurate on all surfaces and its tracking ability is top notch. Another cool feature of the mouse is the Logitech Unifying Receiver. The little receiver barely sticks out of the USB port so you don't even have to remove it to pack up your notebook. It will also allow other mice or keyboards to connect to the computer using the same receiver.


Billy Amato (NYC)

Pros:
- Nano transceiver
- Darkfield tracking
- Forward/back buttons on side
- Carrying case included
- Hyper scroll wheel

Cons:
- Price
- Ergonomics (or lack thereof)
- Hyper scroll wheel (see full review)
- Storage location for nano transceiver

Full Review:
I'm a very picky keyboard/mouse person first off so a 3 rating really is probably more of a 4 but read on and judge for yourself...

Sadly, when I went looking for a mouse for my refreshed company laptop, I could not find something I was comfortable holding on to and had an appropriate set of features: nano transceiver or Bluetooth, small size, forward/backward side buttons, etc. I saw in the store the Anywhere MX and despite the price of $79.99 plus discounts I thought I would give it a try.

From an external point of view it had everything I was hoping for. I opened the box and knew what to expect. The setup was non-existent; everything was plug and play. The size was still a bit larger than I was expecting but it was still compact and usable. Amazingly, thanks to the hyped Darkfield technology, the mouse tracked on my desk and just about anywhere else I put it. The hyper-scroll, which I've used for some time on my G9 on my desktop, made scrolling through pages of text so much easier than a standard mouse wheel. The nano transceiver was one, for the first time ever, I was comfortable putting into a laptop and leaving there.

So why the 3? Well, let's start with the transceiver. Yes, it's small and tiny and is supposed to work with many of Logitech's products but as one reviewer said, that list is only 3 mice and 2 keyboards at the moment. It doesn't make it worthwhile to get the mouse for the unifying part unless you're getting one of the other items first. Moreover, the transceiver - let's say you decide to take it out - has its storage location IN the mouse. You have to take the cover off as if you were getting at the batteries to store the transceiver. It's a rather large annoyance for such a small thing.

Next, the hyper-scroll, while useful and one of my favorite inventions of Logitech from recent memory, has a flaw on this model in that to switch it from free-scroll to notched, you use the scroll wheel as if it were the middle mouse button. This means, for those who are quick to realize, that the middle mouse button feature is gone from this mouse...kinda. Actually, if you don't install the SetPoint software, XP treats the application switch button below the scroll wheel as the middle mouse button so guess it really depends if you're going to use the application switch button and the hyper-scroll wheel together or not.

Moving on, this mouse, while diminutive by design, is very uncomfortable. I knew getting it that it would be similar to another Logitech product on display there and thought that maybe the newer model would fix any design issues from previous ones. Rather, they just took the same outer shell, moved a few buttons around, and repackaged it. For someone with slightly larger hands I can't use this mouse for very long or very seriously without my hand cramping up.

Finally, this mouse has a pretty steep price point as most of Logitech's tech-oriented mice have in the past. I'm not saying $80 isn't worth it but honestly this mouse should probably be half the cost considering what you're getting.

Parting thoughts: Overall, this mouse packs a lot of features into a very small space. The size is perfect for a portable mouse but that's put before comfort which is my biggest gripe with this product. For someone with a smaller hand size, who will be leaving the transceiver plugged in all the time, and who doesn't need the application switch and middle mouse button, this is the perfect portable mouse assuming you have the money to spend on it. For me, I'll be returning the mouse to the store I bought it from and getting another mouse, possibly the Performance MX, instead.

This mouse is a little small for my hand, but that is to be expected from a mouse that was designed especially for laptops and high portability. There is a larger model, so if you don't need the portability, get the bigger one.

This baby takes 2 AA batteries, which makes it hefty compared to other small mice. For me that's a good thing. It does not require both batteries to operate, so you can remove one to cut the weight a little.

The "Unifying" receiver (the USB device) is very small, which means that it does not protrude much and fits easily into the battery compartment when you hit the road. The whole mouse fits nicely into the good quality custom-fit zippered case that is included with the mouse. Looks and feels cool. The receiver can receive signals from up to six devices (keyboard, mouse, keypads, etc.).

There is a power on and off sliding switch on the bottom of the mouse. I imagine that you don't really need to use it, but it should help stretch the life of the batteries. When you switch it on, an LED on the top of the mouse lights up green to show that the batteries are holding a good charge. I'm not sure what color it turns when you're low on juice, but I imagine it would be amber or red.

It has forward and back buttons on the left side. You use these buttons mostly with browsers. I don't use them myself, but it's better to have them than not.

The scroll wheel is surrounded by textured rubber for a good grip. With a click, the scroll wheel goes between free-spinning (like a flywheel) and "click steps". Free-spinning is for fast scrolling and the click-step mode is for more careful scrolling. Nudging the wheel left or right causes the respective horizontal scroll.

The last button is just behind the scroll wheel. It works with the included software to help you select one application out of many. If you have many applications open, clicking this button causes them all to be displayed simultaneously. You then click on the one you want and it takes center stage so to speak.

Finally, the included software allows you to adjust/change function and sensitivity of the various mouse buttons and scroll wheel. My only complaint is that when I make an adjustment to the scroll wheel sensitivity, I have to close and open the browser to see the effect. In other words, changes seem to work only on applications that are opened after the change is made. That's somewhat annoying. The software also lets you check the percent charge remaining on your batteries and also has a game mode. When game mode is enabled, the software detects whether you are in a game, and if so, it changes the function/sensitivity of the mouse to whatever settings you pre-specified.

Perhaps the best feature of this mouse its "dark field" laser technology that allows it to track on just about any surface, including glass. It works like a charm. This is huge for me. I don't like having to bring/use mousepads.

Double thumbs up. This is my mouse of choice.

First of all, I don't do anything particularly special with my mouse. I want it to move the pointer (preferably with a reasonable amount of accuracy), I want the buttons to work, and I want to be able to scroll. It's also very nice if the thing is comfortable. This mouse wasn't the most comfortable mouse I've ever used but it was ok - nothing special. It performed all the required tasks to boot. Unfortunately, it only did this for 27 days.

After 27 days, it began to freeze. At first, I thought it was a computer issue but everything else worked just fine - programs kept running, the keyboard worked... The mouse pointer, however, just stopped. No amount of movement or button-clicking had the slightest impact. I finally found that turning the mouse off, unplugging the USB, plugging it back in, and turning the mouse back on, OCCASIONALLY corrected the problem - usually after two or three tries. I managed to return it just inside the 30 day window.

For nearly $60, I expect functionality that lasts a little longer. Not taking a chance with another one of these - I'll try a different one this time.

Used this in conjuction with a Logitech Wireless Keyboard K350, $53.

Love the nano USB receiver and Unifying software. Was looking for the capability to quickly transfer keyboard and mouse functionality between a desktop and a laptop without having multiple devices and this fit the bill nicely. Unifying software has to be loaded to link more than one device to a nano USB receiver. Transfering a device to different nano USB receiver on a different pc was as simple as switching the device off and back on again using the easily accessible on/off switch. The Unifying software also plays well with a Logitech Trackman I had hooked up allowing different settings for each device via a drop down selection. Interestingly settings in both the Microsoft control panel and Logitech Setpoing software affect the mouse simultaneously. For example, increasing pointer speed and/or acceleration in both has a multiplying affect on the Anywhere MX and it becomes almost too fast. Have noticed a few times where mouse settings do not seem to fully save and may disappear on reboot, but have not had time to investigate when this is happening or potential causes. Seems to be more prevalent on my Vista desktop, but not an issue with the XP laptops I have tried them out on.

Mouse buttons are well thought out for a right handed person and customizable. Position of the forward and back buttons may cause accidental pushes for a left handed person (same as my Microsoft Laser 5000 does for me as a right handed user). Other great features are the hyper-scrolling (wheel spins effortlessly) and internal storage slot for a nano USB receiver. I tend to forget the side-to-side scrolling is available, but maybe will improve with time.

My only real hesitancy in recommending the Anywhere MX is the price at $70. If you don't need to the dark field feature for use on glass, consider the Logitech M305 on sale recently for $30. The M305 doesn't feel as hefty and solid, but does have almost all the same functionality. Finding a M305 in a conservative silver and black amid all the art deco designs was strangely a bit of a challenge, but they do exist. [I also keep hoping Logitech will come out with a Trackman style mouse which uses the nano USB receiver, but their customer service department couldn't say one way or the other.]

Technology highlights:

The claim to fame for the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX is the darkfield technology that allows use over glass. To test this feature out, I put the mouse a single pane, clear glass window next to my laptop. I was impressed that it worked every bit as well on the glass as it did on the table. Then, I tried it on the vented top of a satellite receiver box, the arm of a sofa, and the corrugated surface of a TV stand. It worked well on all surfaces.

The unifying receiver that comes with the mouse is another positive. It is very small and I was able to leave it in the laptop's USB port when stowing it. The receiver sticks out from the laptop about ¼ inch, a full 1 inch less than the 2.4 GHz receiver of my Logitech VX Revolution and 1 ¼ inches less than the receiver of my Microsoft wireless 6000 keyboard/mouse.

The scroll wheel of the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX is also a nice upgrade from the Logitech VX Revolution. It works a bit like a fly wheel in that if you give it a spin and let it go it keeps turning until you stop it or the momentum wears down. Great for scrolling large documents or web pages.

Look and feel:

This is a small mouse but has about the same weight as the Microsoft 6000 and Logitech VX Revolution. It is easily 30% smaller in every dimension than the Microsoft 6000. Compared to the Logitech VX Revolution, the major difference is in the height as measured from the table to the top of the mouse. The Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX mouse is significantly shorter than its Logitech brother and I appreciated that the decreased height kept my wrist in a less extended position. The generally smaller size also means the mouse fits mostly under two fingers plus about 1/3 down the palm of my hand. The top of the mouse has a nice finish - not completely smooth like the other two mice. The "click" of the mouse is nearly effortless but remains distinct in sound and feel.

What it doesn't have:

I liked the USB receiver storage on the Logitech VX Revolution. The Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX lacks any such storage slot (unless you want to take the battery cover off), which also means you need to turn it off with a switch on the bottom (on the VX storing the receiver shut off the mouse). However, since I will be leaving the MX receiver in the laptop most of the time, these are minor issues.