This is one sweet kitty!
Written: Nov 27 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: compact, comfortable, durable, one touch scrolling
Cons: poor tactile feel on buttons, cannot use a stylus
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| ds8251's Full Review: Cirque Smart Cat Touchpad |
I purchased this product in 1997 after having another mouse die on me. Once the rollerball on a mouse is contaminated with dust and grime, you might as well throw it in the trash. The SmartCat, on the other hand, has no moving parts, so theoretically it should last much longer. Despite some minor problems with this product, I can still say that I will never buy another mouse.
The SmartCat is very compact and it occupies less space than a mouse with a mousepad. It requires a very light tough of the finger to control the movement of the pointer. I never had a problem with repetitive stress injury, but I still find this product more comfortable to use during extended periods of web surfing. The downside to this product is that it is poorly suited for playing games. I only play Links 2000 on my computer, but I suspect that the problems i encountered would apply to other games. In Links, the golfer's swing is controlled by a series of mouse clicks. Unfortunately, tapping the touchpad is very inaccurate for this game. What is really needed are mouse buttons with good tactile feel. Most high end mice provide buttons with good tactile feel. The buttons on the SmartCat pale by comparison. But I digress, the SmartCat works very well in all other areas, and it has been very durable over the three years I have owned it.
The only other thing I would mention is to make sure your fingers are reasonably clean before using the SmartCat. I think that the touchpad works by sensing moisture in your fingertip. (which explains why Cirque products cannot be used with a stylus) I recently used my computer while I was doing the laundry and I had residue on my fingers after loading the washing machine. (it was bleach or liquid tide or both) For some reason, the touchpad became very inaccurate and required much effort to get the pointer to move. This continued for about a week before the SmartCat started functioning normally again. I suspect that certain household cleaners/solvents will damage the SmartCat if they are accidentally smudged on the touchpad surface.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
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Epinions.com ID:
ds8251
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Location: Milwaukee
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 2 members
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