If you have ever used an IBM ThinkPad laptop you will agree that the little eraser that sticks out between the G, H, and B keys is difficult at best. I am still trying to get used to mine. Taking this little device and sticking it in a mouse was the next logical step after Microsoft released the IntelliMouse.

The ScrollPoint mouse is the IBM entry in the "Net Mouse" category that allows for single-handed scrolling and mouse function in a document or on the web. While the little nub jutting out between the buttons does work fairly well and allows for 360 degree movement, don't expect to see one on a system in the PCFuel.com lab; we are going to stick to the wheel.

The ScrollPoint is a good-looking mouse. The purple eraser between the buttons accents the jet-black finish (also available in white but not as cool). This black and purple theme is very popular with "Big Blues" engineers and seems to fit with many of their machines. The mouse is also ambidextrous in nature allowing right and left-handers to operate it comfortably unlike most of the others in this class.

There is no learning curve in operating the pointer, just push it in a direction and your page will scroll there. You can scroll side to side as well as up and down without the need to hold a corresponding keyboard key for the horizontal scroll. The eraser is also pressure sensitive like the ThinkPad pointer so the harder you press the faster you go. Unlike most of the wheel mice, which have notched scrolling which allows for a preset number of rows to be panned with a roll, the ScrollPoint gives a little more flexibility in scrolling.

This added flexibility comes at a price of course (doesn't every thing good). You may almost need a protractor at times, if you scroll at an angle by mistake, you may scroll your document right away. This doesn't usually present a problem in Word or while surfing the web but in Excel you can get lost pretty quick.

Like the IntelliMouse, the ScrollPoint has made the eraser a button also. The button feature is a little cumbersome but you can press the pointer as a middle button and launch the autoscroller. This feature allows for fast smooth page scrolling by nudging the mouse in Internet Explorer and most other Windows apps but for you Netscape users, sorry, you lose again, it doesn't work. You will have to use the normal scrolling function if you are a Netscape user.

In addition to scrolling you can also use the eraser to navigate in all Office applications and zoom in and out in many applications. The ScrollPoint's software (made by Logitech) allows for heavy customization of button options. Also included are the HyperJump and CyberJump features which provide pop-up menus with added functionality but you will have to sacrifice the eraser button autoscroller to use them.

The ScrollPoint is a quality product and has many features that go above and beyond the standard wheel mouse for under $30.00. However, the drawbacks of a difficult middle button to press and the diagonal scrolling problems may make a standard wheel mouse like the Microsoft IntelliMouse or the Logitech MouseMan+ a better option.






Recommended: No