Labtec optical glow mini mouse
Posted by Notcot on Jun 17, 2010 in PCs & Laptops |
Product Description
With seven glowing colors transitioning from one to the next, the Labtec Mini Optical Glow Mouse adds a touch of fun to your notebook experience
Enjoy comfort and portability with its soft touch surface, compact design and retractable cord
1000dpi optical accuracy provides smooth, precise tracking
With USB connection
Most of my online work is done on my laptop computer, but I cannot get along with the built in touch-pad and decided to use a mouse instead, after trying the normal sized mouse borrowed from my desk-top PC, I found that it was too big for the available space that I had, so I bought a mini mouse which was ideal.
After using and breaking several unbranded mini mice bought cheaply from my local computer supplies shop I decided to see what was available on Amazon, and after seeing the Labtec mini optical glow mouse, and read some positive reviews on it, I ordered one.
This is a small wired optical mouse with a USB connector that is designed for use with laptops and notebook PC’s.
The cable is approximately 70cm long with a ratcheted spool in the middle, so that the cable is stored neatly on this spool when not in use, when you pull out the cable the ratchet then holds the cable at the desired length, pull it again and the cable is rolled back into the spool again, I have found that this works very well, with the ratchet having a positive action with no slippage, the USB connector is well made and does the job it is supposed to do.
The mouse body itself is a sealed unit and it is quite small, it has a slightly narrower section in the middle making it easy to hold.
It is a standard two-button design with a single scroll wheel in-between, it has a mainly black plastic body with a translucent panel on either side and a translucent scroll wheel, which light up in ever changing colours when in use, the colour change is a slow transition from one colour to the next and there are seven different colours, there is a switch on the underside to enable you to switch the lights off when not wanted.
This is an optical mouse, so there is no ball to get dirty and it can be used on any solid surface.
It feels quite solid and well made in use, there is no give in the plastic body, the scroll wheel has a positive motion, and does not wobble about, unlike the previous ones I have had, the mouse buttons do not need a lot of pressure to operate and when you press them there is a reassuring click, the cable, connector and ratchet wheel, are all well made and work as they should, the cable on here is slightly thicker than the other mice I have had before, so it should last longer.
It is a plug and play device and there is no software to install, once it is plugged in windows will install it automatically, usually within a few seconds.
It is an easy mouse to use, the shape means that it is easy and comfortable to use, although it is quite small, it can still be used by anyone with big hands (like mine).
The optical sensor works well and interfaces with windows as it should, the mouse pointer on screen is very accurate and precise and moves smoothly making it very easy to locate and click on any on-screen buttons and links, there is no freezing of the pointer on screen or the pointer suddenly jumping across the screen for no apparent reason (a very annoying problem I had with a wireless mouse in the past), there is no time lag between moving or clicking the mouse and the action on-screen.
It can be used either left or right-handed with ease, and because it is small it does not need as much room to operate it.
In conclusion.
This is an excellent small mouse for use with a laptop or notebook PC, it is easy to use and accurate, it works well and does everything that it should do, the coloured lights make it look good especially at night, but if these become annoying they can be switched off, although they are not so bright as to become distracting.
I have been using mine for about three months now and has worked perfectly so far with no problems whatsoever.
Recommended.
(Also published elsewhere online under the same username.)
Rating: 5 / 5
I bought this mini mouse because I was infuriated by the ridiculous finger touch mouse on my laptop which seemed to mess things up. I travel with my laptop and needed something that was highly portable. This device fits the bill perfectly. It has a simple but effective rectractable lead that stows away when not in use and is large enough not to be fiddly to use. It has a scroll too. It has worked just fine from day one. The glowing colours are a bit of a gimic but if they annoy you, they can be switched off. All in all I cannot fault it!
Rating: 5 / 5
I really wanted something portable and small with a retractable lead. This mouse does everything advertised. The extendable lead is particularly good (unlike some laptop mice where the retracting mechanism seems to get stuck or give too easily, yanking the mouse away from you).
My one criticism of this mouse, which may lead to me replacing it within about 6 weeks of buying it, is that it is making my hand ache. My PC use hasn’t changed, and I’ve used both full sized and micro (smaller than this!) mice before without that problem. I’m not sure what it is about the mouse that’s causing it – perhaps the steep angle of the buttons on the front – as my hand seems very arched. The sides aren’t very grippy, and if I try to lay my hand flat I lose the precision I need from the mouse. I’m sure different hands need different mice, but this has been my experience of the product so I will include it here.
Rating: 3 / 5
I bought three of these as Christmas presents for my children. They were great for the first few weeks and the kids loved them – especially the funky colour changes. Sadly each one died within two months – the first lasting less than a month and the last giving up after about 8 weeks. I suspect that the constant retracting and lengthening caused a loose connection to develop but I can’t get the casing off to check or fix it. Cheap and fun but not reliable.
Rating: 1 / 5
Good product does everything it says on the box and has a nive finish and tactility.
I dis however get a surprise when it started changing colours I thought it just glowed red. unobtrusive though and you can turn the colour off.
Rating: 4 / 5