Searching the Electronics section of Amazon, I was stunned at the selection that the three pages of search results presented to me. Optical, cordless, wheeled, tracked, mini, ultra-mini, retractable, bluetooth, laser -- eight million options in eight different colors, and one dubious consumer staring at the screen, mouth agape.
Some of the unconventional mice that I came across:
This sleek device is dubbed the "Razer DeathAdder 3G Infrared Gaming Mouse", and got excellent reviews on Amazon.com. One mouse-savvy user commented, "Everyone who touched it wanted one. It's lighter than it looks. I took it home and fired up UT2004 and it allowed me to spin around much faster and get a quicker bead on my oppenents' heads. And it looks pretty cool next to my Saitek Eclipse II keyboard. Highly recommended!"
Why you'd make this purchase: if you are a serious gamer. "Powered by Razer Precision, the new 3G infrared sensor on the Razer DeathAdder lets you move 2.25 times faster when compared to a standard 800 dpi optical sensor. Before the enemy sees you, he's already dead."
Whoa. Yeah. Intense.
This gem is the Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball, compatible with both Macs and PCs. This particular mouse (and trackball mice in general) have always baffled me. While I can appreciate the advantages that come with a stationary mouse (a preemptive effort to curb Carpal Tunnel), I can't help but think that this huge lug would be clunky and just all around harder to use. The reviews would vote against me, however, as the Expert averaged a 4 out of 5 stars in over 100 customer reviews.
Why you'd make this purchase: out of preference, or solely due to the medical advantages. One user's take on it: "I use a computer for hours every day, and the Kensington Trackball helps to take the physical drudgery out of PC use for me." I'll take their word for it ... and pick one up when my 22-year-old fingers no longer function properly (see: age 30).
Looking at the picture, I thought Amazon.com's precise searching capabilities were failing me. This, obviously, is not a mouse. At first glance, that is. Introducing the MoGo Mouse, a Wireless 2-button Bluetooth Mouse that looks ... remarkably like a laptop trackpad. What this pictures doesn't show you is that the upper part of the mouse actually folds down and props it up, so that viewed from the side it just appears to be a flattened version of all its previous cohorts. After some research, I figured out the draw for these little guys: they fit into the "PCI slot" of a laptop (if that's applicable to your machine), and charges while stored. The sleek convenience of caring the mouse inside the computer has obvious benefits, although I would still be weary of these unless I had used one previous to purchase. However, owners liked the product ... the only complaint was the lack of a scrolling wheel.
Why you'd make this purchase: if you are a tech-savvy professional who's always on the go ... or just really forgetful. The general consensus: a good buy. "Installation was easy, and tracking performance is great on all surfaces I've used it on. I travel for work and often have to work remotely, and the mouse is always conveniently within my reach. The battery life is good too. I've had it on for 8 to 9 hours straight with no problems."
Now, after all my browsing, I'm sad to say that I won't be breaking out of my shell and trying any of the above. One major reason: price. High tech = high expense, and I = poor college graduate. While my curiosity has been peaked on the subject, I think I'll stick with my $20 Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 in Winter Blue. But next time I'm in Best Buy, you better believe I'm going to go searching for a MoGo, and curse my not-so-disposable income.
No comments:
Post a Comment