Try it before you buy it...
Written: Jun 20 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: On-Off switch, rubberized exterior & high quality feel/design.
Cons: Laptop mice are supposed to be small, but this is ridiculous.
The Bottom Line: A great laptop companion, this mouse is compact, well-made and easy to install. Be sure to make sure it feels comfortable in your hand before you purchase it.
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| cwa107's Full Review: Belkin Mini-Wireless Optical (F8E825-USB) Mouse |
Introduction:
I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 and was looking for a wireless mouse that wasn't too bulky to carry around. I've now purchased 3 of these mice including the Targus Wireless Laptop mouse, A-Tech Wireless Cordless mouse and now the Belkin Wireless Optical Minimouse. I liked the Targus mouse, but since it wasn't optical, it required cleaning and wasn't versatile enough for laptop usage. I then purchased an A-Tech mouse from a local store and was very happy with it. However, for some reason, this mouse didn't include an on/off switch and as such, it ate batteries for breakfast. I did some research and found that Belkin's mouse was one of the few that actually included an on-off switch.
Initial impressions:
It's obvious that some serious consideration went into the materials used to build this mouse. The rubberized sections give the mouse a substantial feel. I also like that the battery cover comes off easily, without having to pick it open with your finger nail. This mouse is also very easy to install. While it does come with drivers for older systems, Windows XP picks it up with no problem. You simply press the connect button until the mouse finds the same channel as the receiver and you're good to go. I was initially surprised with the size of this mouse. While it is roughly 1/3 the size of a normal mouse, it lacks the width of most other laptop mice. I just can't seem to find a comfortable way to position my hand on it, though I didn't have this trouble with the other laptop mice I own.
Overall:
Based on my experience with some of the other products out there, this mouse is one of the best. Had it been designed to be just a little bit wider, it would be absolutely perfect. I think part of my problem with the size may be that being 6'2", I have fairly large hands. Those with smaller hands will probably be OK.
The resolution of the mouse is excellent and you'll enjoy using it for that reason alone. I also like the muted clicks of the scroll wheel (it only makes a slightly audible noise, but I find it to be typical of most name-brand mice).
Having an on/off switch may seem like a fairly obvious feature considering that optical mice use LEDs that consume a decent amount of power, but it seems that Belkin is the only manufacturer that incorporated it into their product. You can always take the batteries out of the other mice on the market, but I'd rather just flick a switch. Belkin's switch is mounted on the bottom and requires you to dig your fingernail into it, but it does work pretty well.
Belkin includes a lifetime warranty with this product which is great since it verifies that Belkin is confident in its product's longevity. Since you'll most likely take this mouse out on the road with you, it's good to know that it should be able to take some abuse.
Conclusion:
All in all, I found this mouse to be a worthy travel companion. Based upon its compact size, ease of installation and build quality, I can find no other fault other than the questionable ergonomics for those folks with larger hands. Movement is fluid, range is very good (about 3-4 feet from the receiver) and the quality of the materials is excellent. I enjoy using it when I've grown tired of the touchpad and pointing stick combo on my laptop. While I bought the mouse sight-unseen from the Internet, I would recommend that you get a feel for it at a local store before making your purchase as it can be a little cumbersome to use until you find a comfortable way to rest your fingers on it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $34.51
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Epinions.com ID:
cwa107
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Reviews written: 7
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