« More Annoying Neighbors and Net Radio | Main | Mini Review : Frito Lay Flaming Hot Munchies »
Review : Targus Mini Notebook Mouse
Thanks to an chance encounter on the ferry with an art student named Amanda I found out about the Targus Mini Notebook Mouse.
This little guy is about as long as my index finger and is pretty easy to use. You have to move it with your fingers like the Apple hockey puck iMac mouse but since it is shaped like a normal mouse it is very easy to keep pointed in the right direction.
It plugs into any USB port and will work without any extra software. It should work on Mac and Linux and I actually used it with my PS2 to play some PS2 Half-Life. It is optical but for some reason it does not want to work on my Ikea white kitchen table unless I put a piece of paper or a mouse pad under it.
It has a self winding cord that does not get tangled or broken in a backpack. It takes up a minimal amount of space and is a must for any mobile user. It is the cutest little thing but I find myself glad that I slipped in my notebook case. If I am am going to be mobile for a period of time I would use it.
You can find this in the notebook accessory section of an electronics store and it is a deal at twenty bucks.This thing is really cute, cool and convenient.
Blogathon Entry 10/48
Jake at July 26, 2003 
Reviews
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.8bitjoystick.com/cgi-bin/mtype/mt-tb.cgi/275
Comments
wow...i haven't used a regular mouse since i left work in Feb...and before that it was AGES...i'm soo used to our trackball now...spoiled, i am...;)
Posted by: lilly at July 26, 2003 3:01 PM
I owned one briefly, but had to take it back because my hands were starting to hurt. It was just too small. I'd caution any guys (and most girls, for that matter) to make sure they can return it in case it ends up being unusable.
The Kensington PocketMouse Pro wireless was another bad experience. It wasn't as bad size-wise (a tiny bit small), but what utterly drove me crazy was its battery-conservation antics. It shuts down after like 7 seconds of inactivity, which basically means it always shuts down unless you keep moving the mouse in circles to stop it from going to sleep. Worse, when it wakes up, it won't begin transmitting mouse activity until you come to a complete stop first. So, the usual workflow was...
* casually move the mouse, then notice a moment later that nothing happened. Brief squirt of adrenaline and anger.
* remember that the mouse now has to stop before it'll work. Stop moving the mouse.
* Start moving it again, having had one's train of thought completely broken, and one's frustration level ratched up another notch due to the forced interruption.
What I ***REALLY*** want is a notebook with a pointer stick below the spacebar (for thumb use). I've seen a couple of such notebooks over the years (starting with the TI4000m back in '94), and have to say that it's absolutely, positively, the BEST place to put the stick. Try it sometime... move your hands up (on a keyboard with a stick) so your thumb is over the stick, and the rest of your fingers are over an imaginary home row where the numbers are) and try moving the mouse. Nirvanna. :-)
Posted by: Jeff at August 2, 2003 8:43 AM
Well I still have a full size Logitech mouse that I use for home. This is strictly for the road.
Posted by: Jake at August 2, 2003 8:54 AM
very nice site. keep up the good work.
online casinos: casino resources: http://www.online-casinos-school.com/index.php/cat-keyword-directory.html
Posted by: online casinos: casino resources at March 27, 2005 8:07 PM
