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The Road Warrior Review - Kensington Ci25M Notebook Optical Mouse

The dominant trend in computer mice, especially in rodents oriented toward use with notebook computers, is wireless technology, either via the Bluetooth interface protocol, or a variety of proprietary wireless connectivity technologies. However, some users, including this writer, still prefer the precision and reliability of a hard-wired pointing device.

With a wired mouse, you are spared the aggravation of device "pairing" (Bluetooth), the hassle, expense, and extra weight of batteries, and the response latency, cursor jumpiness, erratic precision, and (Bluetooth again) the wakeup lag that have plagued to varying degrees every wireless mouse and trackball I've ever tested.

Happily, while wireless mice grab an ever-larger share of the pointing device market, there are still many good wired mouse solutions available. Kensington, which is one of the longest-established players in third-party pointing device hardware, recently introduced a new family of mice specifically designed for use of notebook computers. I reviewed one of their wireless models, the si750M Wireless Laser Notebook Mouse here last week. It's an attractive little mouse, built to a very high standard of finish and with some innovative features, but a bit small for my hand size and afflicted with most of the typical wireless mouse distempers I outlined above.

However, Kensington has not abandoned those of us who prefer wired mice, even for road warrioring duty and offers the new Ci25M notebook optical mouse along with the several wireless models.

The Ci25M is a conventional-sized mouse with a slightly trapezoidal shape (wider at the front than the back) and slab sides that I prefer to the concave scalloped sides of the si750M. THe sides are clad with a soft rubbery plastic material embossed with hexagonal patterns to provide a more positive grip.

The split top panel that flexes to activate the left and right button clicks is also clad on this mouse with a soft, black plastic coating on its contact surfaces,, and the clickable scroll wheel is of soft black textured material as well. I found the button click action of the Ci25M. about that good as I've ever experienced on any mouse, with light effort, extremely short travel, and a positive, reassuring click. action.

I find most mice, including the Kensington si750M wireless mouse, have a stiffer button click action than I prefer, but this Ci25M model is excellent on all counts. The scroll wheel also has a comfortably low-effort action. I prefer completely smooth scrolling scroll wheels with no detent clicks, and this one is detented, but at least it offers relatively light resistance and a positive feel. Overall, the input feel of this mouse is very satisfactory.

The top half of the Ci25M is finished in a rich and lustrous gunmetal gray metallic, while the bottom of the housing is contrasting light gray, with the traction cladding on the sides and top in black. A bit of chrome to accent the dark shades would have been nice, a la Kensington's wireless notebook mice, but for a 20 dollar mouse, this unit has a very attractive and tasteful appearance with evidently high-quality materials and an excellent standard of finish.

The information panel on the mouse bottom proudly declares that it was designed in California, USA, (made in China) and it has a very smart and contemporary look. The Ci25M is delightfully light in weight, thanks in part to the fact that it doesn't carry internal batteries, and it glides smoothly and almost effortlessly on the mouse pad.

The Ci25M. is equipped with Kensington's "Diamond Eye" optical tracking technology, with an LED tracking sensor. I found the tracking positive, accurate, and responsive, and I assume a standard 800 DPI resolution.

The USB cable of the Kensington Ci25M Notebook Optical Mouse is perhaps its most innovative feature, being retractable. The cable, which is about two and one half feet (30") long when fully extended (enough to reach around the back of an iBook or 12" PowerBook to reach the left hand USB port for right-handed users, conveniently retract onto a take-up reel for neat and compact storage and carriage when the mouse is not in use. The real pulleys have ratcheted steps so the cable can be extended only as much as you need at a time.

Extension and retraction are smooth and positive, with a reassuring feel. I am a bit concerned about the small gauge of the cable itself which could be susceptible to damage and fatigue, especially where it enters the mouse's main housing. However, a retractable cable is a way to eliminate tangles and cable clutter associated with carrying a wired mouse on the road, and I do much prefer the operational characteristics of wired mouse.

No driver software huge required for use with OS X, although the three buttons are programmable with Kensington's Mouse Works software that can be downloaded for free from http://www.kensington.com .

To extend the cable, grasp the mouse housing with one hand and USB connector with the other and pull gently until they desired length is extended and the ratchet stop engages. To retract, give the cables a short tug outward to release the ratchet stop, and then converge the mouse and connector as the cable takes up on the reel.

The Kensington Ci25M Notebook Optical Mouse comes with a two-year limited warranty and free technical support.

In summary, I really like this mouse, which I would rate the most comfortable to use specifically notebook-oriented mouse I've ever tested. I prefer a larger mouse than this for desktop comfort, but the Ci25M at 3.5"L X 1.75"H X 2.25"W is as big as many "regular" mice and definitely a reasonable compromise for enhanced portability. The button and scroll action are extremely good, and the retractable cable is compact and slick, provided it stands out successfully in every day use on the road,. The mouse looks great, and with a level of style and finish higher than you might anticipate a twenty dollar pointing device.

If you're looking for a road warrioring mouse and prefer a hard wired connection, one definitely merits your consideration.

Price: $19.99

For more information, visit:
http://us.kensington.com/html/11194.html

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Charles W. Moore

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