Macopinion

The Road Warrior Review - Kensington si750m Notebook Wireless Laser Mouse

Trackpads are OK; some are better than others. I use them quite happily and comfortably when my 'Books are in portable mode. However, some folks prefer to use a mouse, even with a notebook on the road, and a wireless mouse makes particularly good sense for that sort of use.

So does a laser tracking sensor, since lasers will work on most mousing surfaces - even a pantleg or a bedspread if required.

Kensington si750m Notebook Wireless Laser Mouse is designed specifically for use with notebook computers, and its compact size makes it easy to pack around, fitting in a shirt pocket easily and small enough to use on the palmrest of a 15 inch or 17-inch aluminum PowerBook or MacBook Pro.

The Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse is not a Bluetooth device, but operates on the 2.45 GHz frequency with a nominal range of up to 30 feet, and its own dedicated receiver that plugs into a USB port on the computer or a USB hub. This has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, you don't have to be bothered with the tedium of Bluetooth pairing and wakeup lag; on the other, it eats up a precious USB port, and the little receiver module is on other loose bit with the potential to get lost.

Actually, that latter issue has been addressed by Kensington in the form of a receptacle inside the mouse itself to store the USB wireless receiver when it's not in use, and inserting the receiver in the slot also automatically powers the mouse down to conserve battery charge. This really is a mouse designed for use with portable computers.

Happily, the Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse requires no driver installation or other software, and is supported by OS X itself.

The mouse is a very smart looking unit, the test unit in a shade of metallic gunmetal blue that I find particularly attractive, (there is also a pink version, about which more in a moment), tasteful chrome accents, and scalloped concave side panels cladded with black, rubbery plastic for a positive grip. The layout is conventional, with left and right buttons and a clickable scroll wheel for the third button function.

The mouse's split top panel flexes for the left/right button click functions. This action has a nice, positive feel, but the effort is more than a bit too stiff for my taste. This scroll wheel also has a positive, high-quality feel, but stiffer resistance than I prefer.

Overall, this mouse has a high standard of finish and the feel of quality about it, and a five year warranty to back uo the impression. For example, in order to use the mouse, you need to retrieve the receiver module and plug it into a USB port. Opening the battery/receiver compartment is executed by squeezing the rear side panels of the mouse, whereupon the hinged back door of the unit drops down in smooth, slow-motion sort of like power liftgate on a high-end SUV or minivan. The effect is very cool.

Opening the mouse's back door reveals the receiver storage slot, an on/off pushbutton switch, and the battery compartment for a single standard AA cell. Kensington claims up to six months battery life, which if it proves out is very decent.

To remove the receiver from its slot, push it inward, and it will pop partly out allowing you to grip and remove it.

The receiver is finished in the same rich-looking metallic blue as the mouse, with a Kensington logo. Nicely done.

When you insert the battery, an indicator light near the scroll wheel will provide a readout of its state of charge. If the light turns green for five seconds when the mouse his first turned on, the battery is good with at least 40 percent of its capacity left. If the light flashes red every two seconds for 60 seconds, the battery has less than 40 percent capacity left, and if the red flashes at one second intervals, only ten percent of battery capacity is in reserve. No light means the battery is dead.

Removing the receiver also puts the mouse's on/off push button switch in on mode. Close the back door, plug the receiver into a USB slot, and you're away to the races.

While the mouse requires no software drivers for normal use, it is also programmable using Kensington's MouseWorks software, which is downloadable from http://www.kensington.com .

In use, I found the mouse easy to grip, although I prefer a larger mouse for comfort, and as previously noted, the buttons have a stiffer action than I prefer. Taste in mouse sizes is highly subjective, and for those of us who prefer larger mice, Kensington has that base covered as well, with their si650m Wireless Optical Mouse. My daughter, who has fairly large hands for a girl, has always been partial to small mice, and indeed this product is being pitched especially toward female users in a special si750m Limited Edition Notebook Laser Mouse with its sculpted form factor intended to fit comfortably in a woman's hand and offered in a titanium silver and pink color combination which Kensington says "complements other products and which women prefer."

With the launch of this Special Edition version of the product, Kensington also announced its support of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign to help fight heart disease, the No.1 killer of American women. To show its full support to the movement, Kensington is donating $125,000 to the American Heart Association to help raise funds and awareness so women can lead longer, heart-healthy lives.

"Our research has shown that women are under-served in the computer mouse market. They want a reliable, affordable product that is also stylish,‰ explained Christine Dumery, Kensington Marketing Communications Director. "With our new Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse, we are encouraging these consumers to 'click for a cause.' We are providing them with their own product while also supporting a program that truly benefits women."

A recent study conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association showed that women buy more than 50% of the electronic products purchased in the United States, and over 60% of the female respondents indicated a desire for a wireless mouse for their computer accessory, while 54% of the male respondents indicated such a preference. "Increasingly, manufacturers are providing cutting-edge technologies that also enhance your lifestyle, complement your working spaces and help define your individuality," Dumery explained. "What makes our limited edition mouse unique is that it offers style and the performance of our best mobile mouse with the bonus of 'feeling good' about contributing to a worthwhile cause."

As for wireless performance, whichever version of the product, the good news is that the mouse is instantly recognized by the system without having to muck around with pairing connections like you have to do with Bluetooth mice. The bad news is that Kensington's proprietary wireless protocol is similarly afflicted with the latency and imprecision that has been present to varying degrees in every Bluetooth mouse I've used.

When you move the mouse, there is a millisecond or so delay before the cursor responds, and the cursor also tends to be "nervous" when you make small movements. This is not a mouse you would want to use for precision work like fine detail image editing or drawing. I hasten to emphasize that these sort of issues are not particular to this mouse, and have plagued every wireless mouse I've ever tested to some degree.

If you, as I do, prefer a hard-wired mouse for precision, Kensington makes a notebook mouse with a retractable USB cord, the Ci25m Notebook Optical Mouse, which sells for a modest $19.99, looks great, and about which you can find out more here:
http://us.kensington.com/html/11194.html

Getting back to the si750m wireless laser mouse, I found at times the mouse would ignore clicks, making it necessary to double or triple-pump in order to execute a task, which is a behavior I haven't experienced in other wireless mouse products.

On the plus side, the mouse glides smoothly on the mouse pad or other surface.

If wireless mice appeal to you, notwithstanding the issues I've cited, Kensington's polling data indicate that you're in the majority - male or female, and the si750 Notebook Wireless Laser Mouse certainly can't be faulted for its good looks, high standard of finish, innovative convenience features, and evident high quality of materials and workmanship. I've had good, reliable service from Kensington products in extended use, and would expect no less of this mouse.

Si750m Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse Features:
* Micro size and sculpted design ensure comfort and control
* High-resolution laser tracking provides superior precision on almost any surface
* 2.4Ghz wireless technology ensures high performance and secure connectivity without interference
* Mini receiver tucks easily inside the mouse and automatically turns it off when stowed to preserve power
* Battery indicator light blinks green to red as the battery level is used. Up to 6 months of battery life on 1 AA battery.

Specifications
* Unit measures: 3.25"d x 2.0"w x 1.25"h
* USB dongle measures: 1.75"d x 0.50"w x 0.25"h
* Available USB Port; PC/Mac compatible
* 2.4 GHz wireless technology
* 5 Year Warranty

Dimensions
3.0"L X 1.0"H X 1.75"W

Warranty
Si750m Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse is backed by the Kensington 5-Year Warranty and free technical support.

Price: $49.99

For additional information on the Kensington line of input devices, visit:
http://www.kensington.com


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Charles W. Moore

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