Cat and Mouse
Written: Aug 24 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Intimidates the uninitiated; keeps them off my computer
Cons: Don't use it while eating....
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| BALLLzzz's Full Review: Cirque Smart Cat Touchpad |
I can't remember exactly why I bought this product, except that I had too much money on my hands when my last mouse died, and I think the salesman at the electronics store sensed this. He said, "Forget about the mouse. Just like in nature, the Cat destroys the Mouse every time" and he showed me the Cirque Smart Cat.
Instead of rolling the mouse around on the mousepad you just move your finger around on the touch pad and it moves the cursor any direction you want it to go. There's a slight raised groove on the right side of the touchpad that you can run your finger up and down to scroll easily. It has two buttons on the bottom that function the way the regular mouse buttons work, and it's got two buttons on the side that you are supposed to be able to program to perform other functions, but I have to admit I never delved deeply enough into the readme stuff to figure out how to do this.
It couldn't be any easier to use, but for some reason novice computer users don't seem to "get it" and this is good because it keeps them from wanting to play around on my computer. I've seen it happen a dozen times...people sit down at the computer and the first thing they say is, "Where's the mouse?" I show them the cat and they timidly run their finger over the touchpad and watch as the cursor runs all over the screen, then they turn around and look back at me all confused, like, "Huh?" and I say, "Just practice it for a few minutes," and then they play around with it for a few more seconds and get all frustrated, then they get up and walk away, cussing me and my computer. Then they'll come around some other time and head for the computer, but when they see the Cat they immediately turn and walk away.
This is fine with me, because these are exactly the kinds of people I don't really want messing around on my computer. These are the same people who, back in the mouse days, used to make themselves at home on my computer, then they would inevitably come and wake me up out of a deep and peaceful sleep saying, "Hey, bud. There's something wrong with your computer, man." So it's okay with me if they can't figure it out. Kids don't seem to have any trouble with it.
The only downside to the Smart Cat I have is that it's totally impossible to eat while you're using it. Even if you just have a little bit of grease on your fingers from eating an eggroll and you try to use the cat it becomes useless and you have to go get the windex. I forget about this from time to time.
It's got a lifetime warranty which is good because I tend to be kind of abusive with my possessions, but so far I haven't had to use the warranty. I can't think of any reason to ever go back to using a mouse.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 32 I think...It was over a year ago...
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Epinions.com ID:
BALLLzzz
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Member: Balllzzz
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 52 members
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