Your Guide To Wireless

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse

Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 is a stylish affair that sits comfortably in the hand and glides smoothly across the desk. A small docking station recharges the battery, but we found you need to be very precise when placing the mouse on the dock. The wireless connection is provided by a small 2.4GHz USB stick. The two traditional buttons are joined by a smooth-scrolling wheel, which itself has three button actions, and two thumb-operated buttons Microsoft says they are for one-touch magni...

Microsoft Mobile Mouse Impresses

Previously, I have reviewed Microsoft Mobile Mouse 8000 before. Microsoft new mobile Memory Mouse 8000 is a well-designed, full-featured, and expensive input device. This wireless mouse worked great on all desktop surfaces; it even worked on rough or unusual surfaces such as glass and the keys of a keyboard. Powered by a rechargeable nickel–metal hydride battery, it can charge through a small cable that latches magnetically from the mouse to a 2.4-GHz USB receiver that also doubles as a 1GB flash drive. (You can connect the mouse via Bluetooth, too.) Business travelers will appreciate the flexibility this mouse offers; other people will find its price too high. MICROSOFT WRLS NTBK PRESENTER MOUSE 8000 Mouse or Keyboard MICROSOFT WRLS NTBK PRESENTER MOUSE 8000 NTBK PRESENTER MOUSE 8000 WINXP USB

Kensington Ci70 Wireless Desktop Set-Titaniu

If you're looking for a lean, totally wireless keyboard and mouse combo, the Kensington Ci70 Desktop Set is a great bet. The Kensington Ci70 is notable for its sleek, low-profile design. Kensington says the keyboard is roughly 35 percent thinner than a standard multimedia model, but it seems much leaner. It’s a trimmed-down multimedia keyboard that eliminates boundless buttons in favor of a limited selection that will serve the average user well. You get quick-launch controls for applications and basic controls for media-player operation. The wireless mouse is similarly svelte. It’s a comfortable, responsive pointer with a symmetrical design, making it a great choice for lefties. You can dock the mouse at the top center of the keyboard; when the mouse is docked, the PC is automatically dispatched to Sleep mode. The set is easy to set up: it simply connects to your PC wirelessly via a single USB dongle. Most people liked the feel of the Ci70, because we use laptops as much as we use desktops, and the Ci70 feels much like an oversize laptop keyboard. It doesn’t have the deep key travel or tactile response of traditional desktop keyboards, however, so those accustomed to desktop typing may not like the feel. Speed typists, on the other hand, will be able to race across the keyboard because it requires less effort to depress the keys. Kensington provides a five-year warranty and includes free technical support. The company says the combo should deliver up to six months of battery life.

Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse

The Logitech MX Air cordless mouse lets you send long distance commands with hand gestures in the air, making it ideal for controlling an entertainment PC from across the room. To set it up, just connect its tiny receiver to your PC’s USB port, and it’ll instantly come to life. Its tear-drop shape makes it comfortable to hold in the air. Unfortunately, the MX Air has no grooves for your thumb, so when you’re using it conventionally on a desk, it’s not the most ergonomic mouse around. And despite its high price of $149.99, it has only a modest 800-dot per inch resolution. In addition to left and right buttons, the mouse has dedicated back, select, play/pause, and volume buttons that glow orange when the mouse is witched on. Instead of a scroll wheel, the mouse comes with a touch-sensitive strip. Glide your finger up or down the strip, and the mouse makes an audible clicking sound that mimics a scroll wheel. Slide your finger a little faster, and not only will you scroll through documents more quickly, but the speed of the clicks increases, too. There is no trouble opening folders, browsing through pictures, or even dragging individual files to the trash with arm gestures. There’s a slight learning curve to Logitech’s motion control when using the mouse in the air, but nothing you can’t master after a day’s use. It worked well with both Apple’s iTunes and Microsoft’s Windows Media Player software on a Windows PC. There is no support for Mac OS X, however.

Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000

The Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 may cost more than you’d expect to pay for a computer mouse, but it has 1GB of flash memory built right into the transceiver (see pictures)! This rechargeable mouse also features 2.4-GHz wireless technology, four-way scrolling, and a magnifier.

Logitech Mighty Mobile Mouse

Users wanting to add a mouse to their notebook computer should take a closer look at Logitech’s new VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse. Ergonomic curves, a low-profile design, and a soft rubber grip make the VX as comfortable as it is diminutive. The mouse has five programmable buttons and a scroll wheel that has two scrolling modes. By default, the VX’s One-Touch search button provides quick access to search results in the user’s preferred search engine. A pair of AAA batteries will power the mouse for approximately six months, depending on usage. The 2.4GHz laser receiver extends just 8mm from the USB port, letting it remain plugged in without creating an ungainly bulge. You can also store it in the VX’s battery compartment. The Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse is compatible with Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later. The package includes the mouse, receiver, batteries, Logitech SetPoint software, a protective travel pouch, and a three-year limited warranty.

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 4000

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 4000 Keyboard and Mouse Combo The Laser Desktop 4000 keyboard-mouse combo is all about accessing information quickly. Integrated keyboard buttons include Web/Home; Gadgets (weather, stock, etc.); Mail; and five My Favorites buttons to configure with URLs, folders, etc. The keyboard, which uses Microsoft’s excellent Comfort Curve design, also has a Zoom lever and dual-action Function keys that can execute printing, spell checking, etc. The combo’s stellar Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 (1,000dpi [dots per [frames per second] precision) uses Intelligent Tracking System technology and includes an Instant Viewer function to display all open windows. The 5000’s Tilt Wheel also provides four-way scrolling. A Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Vista OS (operating system), along with four batteries and 27MHz RF (radio frequency) technology, power the combo up to 6 feet from its receiver. Features 54 Zoom Slider Easily zoom in on pictures, maps, documents, and Web pages?without taking your hand off the keyboard. Comfort Curve design Designed by ergonomic experts for enhanced comfort and style, the Comfort Curve Design keyboard helps your hands rest in a more natural position. Tilt Wheel Technology The entire wheel tilts to deliver smooth, accurate performance as you scroll horizontally and vertically through documents and Web pages. Three times the battery life Work longer without interruption. New optical technology helps extend battery life to as much as three times that of competing products. Smart Receiver Work wirelessly without bothersome interference. Smart technology automatically notifies you when interference is present, and then helps you reduce it.