CRAIG CROSSMAN | Technology Logitech's cordless mouse offers some cool features

Just about every portable computer in the laptop and notebook category has some kind of built-in device to move the mouse pointer.
Most have the ubiquitous trackpad. Others, such as the IBM Thinkpad models, offer an additional cursor control such as the TrackPoint.
That's the little red nub found at the center of the keyboard you operate like a tiny pressure-sensitive joystick using a fingertip.
And while there's quite a number of these mouse alternatives out there for the mobile crowd, I still prefer using a mouse with my laptop.
When it comes to mobility, size is of great importance.
There are a number of portable mice available, but I want to tell you about a new model that blows the others out of the water.
The Logitech V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse is an amazing little piece of technology that rivals not only the portable mice in its class, but gives most desktop models a run for the money.
What's important
The V500 begins with what I feel are the two most important features in any mouse these days. The V500 is cordless and uses optical tracking.
It also uses Logitech's newest "All-Terrain Optical Engine," which the company claims is their highest-performance compact tracking solution available.
This technology lets the V500 accurately track the mouse's movements on the widest variety of surfaces.
That's important, since portable mice tend to find themselves operating on a wider variety of surfaces as opposed to desktop models that sit around all day on the same desk, usually on a comfortable mouse pad.
All of that is certainly nice, but this little mouse had three other really cool features.
The first is that the V500 offers window scrolling without the conventional mechanical scroll wheel that's normally between the left and right buttons.
Instead you'll find a four-way solid state scroll panel. You simply slide your index finger up and down or left and right to move the selected window in the corresponding direction.
Secondly, the body of the mouse expands. By moving a small slide switch underneath the V500, you release a small wedge that protrudes from the bottom and angles the entire mouse an additional 7 degrees.
This articulation makes the mouse fit more naturally in the cup of the hand when it is in use.
Returning the chassis to its collapsed state lets it fold flat for packing.
And thirdly, when you first release the expanding portion of the chassis, it also ejects a built-in 2.4-gigahertz micro-receiver. Just plug the tiny receiver into any available USB port and you're ready to use the mouse. When finished, just return the micro-receiver back into the V500's chassis and collapse it flat.
This is a clever answer to the problem of trying to find yet another place to pack the receiver that too often gets easily misplaced or lost.
This solution truly makes the V500 an all-in-one package.
Limited-edition colors
The V500's fused aluminum skin give the mouse a cool, solid feeling of quality and comes in a limited-edition black and silver Midnight Accent, and a limited-edition Mandarin, which is an orange and silver model.
The standard model is a silver body edged in a light blue.
The V500 works on two AAA batteries, is compatible with both PC and Macintosh platforms, comes with a carrying case, includes the Setpoint software to take advantage of the V500's features and sells for $69.95.
If you have a portable computer and are considering a mouse, you should definitely be checking out the V500 from Logitech. Check it out at www.logitech.com.
XCraig Crossman is the host of the radio show "Computer America," (http://www.computeramerica.com/).
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